# Dark Days free amp packs — how to use them

Two free downloads, usable in any DAW on Windows/macOS/Linux.
Licence: CC BY 4.0 — free for anything, including commercial releases;
credit **Dark Days** and link back to **https://darkdays.net**.

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## What's in each pack

**DarkDays-Ampeg-VH-140c.zip** — a neural capture (NAM profile) of the
Ampeg VH-140C at its highest unscooped gain:

- `DarkDays-Ampeg-VH-140c-DI.nam` — the amp alone. You add a cabinet
  IR after it. Most flexible.
- `DarkDays-Ampeg-VH-140c-Rig.nam` — amp **plus** mic'd cab
  (Sennheiser MD421 on a Mesa 2x12 with Celestion Vintage 30s).
  Load and play, nothing else needed.

**DarkDays-Mesa2x12-V30-IRs.zip** — 26 cabinet impulse responses of
that same Mesa 2x12: ten MD421 mic positions plus three curated
mixes, at 48 kHz (root folder) and 44.1 kHz (`44k1/`).

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## Quick start (5 minutes)

1. **Get a NAM player** (free): the official *Neural Amp Modeler*
   plugin from neuralampmodeler.com — VST3/AU, works in Reaper,
   Ableton, Logic, Cubase, FL, GarageBand, anything.
2. Unzip both packs somewhere permanent (e.g. `Documents/DarkDays`).
3. On a guitar track, insert **Neural Amp Modeler**.
4. Click its model slot → load **`DarkDays-Ampeg-VH-140c-DI.nam`**.
5. Click its IR slot → load **`DarkDays-Mesa2x12-V30_cap_1in.wav`**
   (use the file from `44k1/` if your session runs at 44.1 kHz).
6. Play. That's the buzzsaw.

No IR slot in your player? Use the **Rig** profile instead of DI —
the cab is baked in.

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## Getting a good sound

- **Input level matters.** Feed the plugin roughly what a guitar
  pickup puts out. If your interface has a Hi-Z/instrument input, use
  it; if the sound is fizzy-thin, lower the input gain, if it's limp,
  raise it.
- **The amp is already at full gain.** Don't stack a distortion in
  front — a clean or tight boost (Tube Screamer-style, gain at zero,
  level up) is the classic move if you want it even tighter.
- **Gate it.** This much gain wants a noise gate before the amp
  plugin for palm-muted riffing.
- **Pick your mic position:**
  - `cap_1in` — brightest, most aggressive. The tight-metal default.
  - `cone_*` — warmer, rounder.
  - `edge_*` — darkest, smoothest.
  - `_2in` / `_grille` — a little more air and room than `_1in`.
  - `edge_1in_offax30` — off-axis, softer top without going dark.
  - `MIX_Tight` / `MIX_Balanced` / `MIX_Deep` — pre-blended
    multi-position mixes; `MIX_Tight` for rhythm walls.
- **Double-track it.** One take panned left, a second take panned
  right. Don't copy the same take — play it twice.
- **Sample rate:** root files are 48 kHz, `44k1/` are 44.1 kHz. Most
  IR loaders resample automatically, but matching your session rate
  is always the cleanest.

## Works in

- Official Neural Amp Modeler plugin (free)
- Anything that loads `.nam` profiles or `.wav` IRs — most modern amp
  sims accept the IRs even if they don't read NAM profiles

## Credit

Free under CC BY 4.0. When you use these on a release, credit
**Dark Days** with a link to **https://darkdays.net** — that's the
whole price.