Installing NAM (Neural Amp Modeler) on Linux

Prerequisites: This guide assumes familiarity with Linux terminal usage and basic music production concepts. If you need background on either, consult the REAPER manual and the Linux filesystem hierarchy overview before continuing.

What is NAM?

NAM (Neural Amp Modeler) is an open-source project that uses deep learning to model the behavior of guitar amplifiers and pedals. On Linux, it runs as an LV2 plugin developed by Mike Oliphant. The plugin loads .nam and .json (RTNeural) model files inside any LV2-compatible DAW. Models are sourced primarily from Tone3000, a free, open repository of community-contributed amp captures.

Step 1: Update the System

This guide targets Debian-based distributions, including Linux Mint. If you are on Arch or another base, the package manager commands will differ — consult your distribution’s documentation for equivalents.

Run the following with elevated privileges:

sudo apt update -y
sudo apt upgrade -y

Reboot after the upgrade completes:

sudo reboot now

Step 2: Install Build Dependencies and Python

After rebooting, install the packages required to compile software from source:

sudo apt install build-essential zlib1g-dev libncurses5-dev libgdbm-dev \
  libnss3-dev libssl-dev libreadline-dev libffi-dev wget

Install Python 3:

sudo apt install python3

Verify the installation:

python3 --version

You should see a version string returned. The exact version will depend on what your distribution ships.

Note: Python is required to build the NAM LV2 plugin from source. It is not required at runtime once the plugin is compiled.

Step 3: Prepare the LV2 Plugin Directory

LV2 plugins on Linux are loaded from ~/.lv2 by default. Create this directory if it does not already exist:

mkdir -p ~/.lv2

Open the directory in your file manager:

xdg-open ~/.lv2

Step 4: Install the NAM LV2 Plugin

Download the prebuilt LV2 plugin bundle from the mikeoliphant/neural-amp-modeler-lv2 GitHub releases page.

Extract the downloaded archive and place the resulting .lv2 bundle folder into ~/.lv2. The directory structure should look like this:

~/.lv2/
  neural_amp_modeler.lv2/
    manifest.ttl
    neural_amp_modeler.so
    ...

Step 5: Configure REAPER to Recognize the Plugin

REAPER does not automatically scan ~/.lv2 on first launch. You must add the path manually:

1. Open REAPER.
2. Go to Options > Preferences > Plug-ins > LV2.
3. Add ~/.lv2 to the scan paths if it is not already listed.
4. Run a full plugin scan.

After the scan completes, the plugin will appear under developers/MikeOliphant in the plugin browser.

Important: NAM is a loader plugin. It produces no sound on its own. It requires a compatible model file to function.

Step 6: Download a NAM Model File

Tone3000 hosts a large library of free amp captures. Browse the site, find a tone that suits your needs, and download the corresponding .nam file.

Create a dedicated directory for your model files:

mkdir -p ~/Music/NAM_Audio_Files

Extract the downloaded archive and move the .nam file into ~/Music/NAM_Audio_Files.

Step 7: Load a Model in REAPER

1. Insert the NAM plugin on a track in REAPER.
2. Open the plugin interface.
3. Use the file browser inside the plugin to navigate to ~/Music/NAM_Audio_Files and load your .nam file.

The plugin will now process audio through the selected amp model.

Troubleshooting

Plugin does not appear after scanning. Confirm the .lv2 bundle is placed directly inside ~/.lv2, not nested in a subdirectory. Verify REAPER’s LV2 scan path includes ~/.lv2. Re-run the scan.

REAPER does not detect ~/.lv2 automatically. The ~ in the path expands to /home/yourusername. If REAPER requires an absolute path, enter /home/yourusername/.lv2 explicitly.

No audio output from the plugin. Confirm a .nam model file is loaded in the plugin interface. Without a model, the plugin outputs silence.

apt commands fail with permission errors. Ensure you are prefixing commands with sudo. Running bare apt without elevated privileges will be rejected on a standard user account.