How METAL Can This FREE Amp Sim Get?? NaLex Ninja Demo and Review
Mar 16, 2024If you’re looking for a whole new amp to add to your collection, virtual amp simulators are in my opinion, the best way to go. They are accessible, take up no space (except for the space on your hard drive), and oftentimes they’re free. All these highlights can be found in the NaLex Ninja amp sim. Stay tuned because I’ll run you through how I set this up in an original song. Then I’ll give you an overview of the amp sim, discuss some of its features, show you some raw guitar tones you can get from it (see video), then I’ll share my final thoughts.
Elite Tones Cheat Sheet
If you don't already have a copy of my Elite Tones Cheat Sheet, you're definitely gonna wanna check it out! It'll help you dial in killer amp tones and give you the tools you need to make amp sims sound real.
Mix Setup
The NaLex Ninja didn't require much tweaking for me to get it to sound good in an original tune. I kept the default settings for all guitar parts. Here is a list of additional plugins I used for each guitar part:
Heavy Rhythm Guitar 1
- ML Sound Lab MIKKO 2 Free Cabinet Simulator
- Stock Noise Gate
- Stock EQ
- JS Saturation
Heavy Rhythm Guitar 2
For the second rhythm guitar part, I kept everything the same except for the cabinet simulator. Instead of using the MIKKO 2, I used the NadIR Free Cabinet Simulator.
Lead/Solo Guitars
The only difference between the lead guitar tones and Heavy Rhythm Guitar 1 is the addition of a stock delay plugin to make the solo pop.
NaLex Ninja Overview
The Ninja was developed by NaLex and is primed for metal and rock players. I think you can find a taste of old-school and modern metal sounds when using it. This amp sim lends itself mostly to dirty, high-gain, distorted tones. If you’re looking for a “cleaner”, more articulate distortion sound, it may require some tweaking.
Features
This is a no-frills amp simulator with standard controls you would see on most other amps. For more dynamic tone options, it features a clean-drive channel switch, so you don't necessarily need to use a different plugin for clean tones. Like many other amp simulators, the Ninja requires a cabinet simulator or an impulse response loader. If you don't use these additional plugins, you'll get an unpleasant wave of static.
Here is a quick list of cabinet simulators/impulse response loaders that can get you started with using the Ninja right away:
Final Thoughts
The NaLex Ninja has been a new go-to amp sim whenever I plan to lay down ideas or just noodle around. It works especially well for metal and rock players, or anyone who is looking for a dirty, overdriven guitar tone. To make it sound good, you’re gonna need to download the amp sim itself, some sort of cabinet simulator/impulse response loader like the ones listed above, and my Elite Tones Cheat Sheet. All of which are free. The amp sim and the IR loader will start you off with the sounds and the cheat sheet will give you tips on how to make this amp sim, or any other amp sim, sound real with tips on how to dial in killer tones.
Watch the full demo and review here: How METAL Can This FREE Amp Sim Get?? NaLex Ninja Demo and Review
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