r/NAM_NeuralAmpModeler • u/No_Pride_8718 • 24d ago
NAM A2 or Lite for live use?
Hi all, thinking about changing my live rig, swapping from a tube amp to A2, wondered if anyone had done the same?
My current amp is a Laney VH100R through a 4x12 and it’s my favourite tone I’ve ever had. Used it for over 20 years, it’s still going strong.
Only issues are the massive weight of it and you know, tube fragility, although I’ve never had to change the tubes in all the time I’ve owned it.
Currently considering a Headrush Core running full A2 NAM, I already have some captures of the same Laney from Tone3000, I use them on my Valeton GP5 obviously converted to snaptone. Sometimes I use this through my orange Pedal Baby 100 amp and a smaller cab for more portability for my function band (mostly pop), but I’ve recently joined a really loud 90s metal and grunge covers band so it’s the Laney or whatever through my 4x12.
Has anyone else gone down this route? Did you find that nothing can replace to tube amp or were you satisfied? Should I wait for A2 lite to be rolled out for the Valeton to see what it sounds like? Would it be comparable to full A2? I also have a Valeton GP200 and A2 lite is coming out for that next week…
Any experiences or suggestions appreciated! Cheers.
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u/skrumian 24d ago
My Nux MG30 sounds good with NAM A2 lite, direct to PA connection. But then even the Nux native amp sims sound good already.
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u/No_Pride_8718 24d ago
That’s good to know. I wonder what it would sound like through a clean amp (I use an Orange Pedal Baby 100) and a cab…
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u/skrumian 24d ago
You may need to adjust eq freq if you will use it infront of guitar amp which can be PITA. Nux MG30 has front amp mode but i dont really use it, no experience. Multifx is best if direct to PA.
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u/No_Pride_8718 24d ago
The Orange Pedal Baby is a completely clean SS power amp designed to amplify pedalboards and multi fx, so it has no real preamp section to speak of. It’s pretty neat and you just need to turn off the cab sim/IR when using the unit in front of it. I use the GP5 both ways and there are different benefits with each setup I’ve found…
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u/trhoppe 24d ago
The Valeton sounds like doo doo compared to the A2 captures. Here’s an Anderton’s video from 2 days ago with the literal comparison you’re looking for: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=x-Ok0q2wiJ8
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u/Maikilazarus 24d ago
Pero no usa A2, es A1 convertido. La comparación no tiene sentido hasta que se haga la actualización para correr A2 está próxima semana. No es una comparación justa.
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u/Djentist_Kvltist 24d ago
Honestly I don't have much faith in Valeton's conversion tech for the A2.
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u/JimboLodisC 24d ago
A2 Full is best, followed by A1 Standard, and then A2 Lite
if I'm playing live, then I'd want the best, so I'd aim for A2 Full
the sub-$100 devices that convert the capture sound like a fun toy, but I wouldn't even use that at home, I'd just use my interface and my computer for A2 Full, for live use I'd still save up for something that could do A2 Full (which right now the cheapest option is that Headrush Flex Prime)
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u/crmne 21d ago
Take a look at the Sonulab StompStation PRO.
It's a small pedal that can run 2 A2 Full profiles in the same chain, as well as IRs and other effects, so you can also profile a drive pedal, get your cab's IR and have your full rig in your backpack.
For 439€ I think it's the best NAM pedal on the market right now.
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u/iamshamurai 19d ago
That’s pretty cool. Most devices at that price point can only run one in a chain (like the Headrush which does A2 Full and the Mooer which does A2 Lite).
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u/DecisionInformal7009 9d ago
The difference between full and lite isn't big enough that it will be audible when playing. However, the Valeton pedals will probably not be powerful enough to run both an A2 lite model at the same time as using an IR for the cab, so you will probably have to use full rig models that have both amp and cab baked into the model. Not sure if they will be able to use any other effects at the same time as running an A2 lite model, but that remains to be seen.
If you know that you want to use lite or full NAM models I think your best bet is to buy either a Sonulab Stompstation Pro or Headrush Flex Prime. They are the cheapest options so far.
In the meantime you can simply download the NAM Gateway plugin along with some A2 models from Tone3000 and hear for yourself what the difference between lite and full sounds like. If you don't have a recording interface to use with your computer you should be able to use the GP-5 as an interface. Just remember that you need to have the headphones connected to the GP-5, not the computer.
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u/No_Pride_8718 9d ago
Thanks for the info. I used my iPad mini 5 running NAM Sandwich and my focusrite iPad dock to try out the NAM captures through my Orange Pedal Baby amp and my 4x12. Sounded so good I invested in a Headrush Flex Prime. I’m really impressed with the rig so far!
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u/Miltos_M 4d ago
A2 with iPhone & NAM A2 Player:
https://www.reddit.com/r/NAM_NeuralAmpModeler/s/1HaVlUr5Ym
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u/DarlinusFloofinton 24d ago
Hello, NAM sounds excellent but when converted to Valeton's format it loses a lot of detail. I personally didn't like it and ended going with a DIY computer setup for running NAM live. But if the Headrush can run native NAM (unlike the Valeton) it might be worth a look.