Bilmuri’s Massive Guitar Tone: Amps, Layers & Smart EQ

Nail The Mix Staff

Ever crank a Bilmuri track and wonder how Johnny Franck and Will Carlson get those guitars to hit like a ton of bricks? It’s a killer blend of modern metal punch and indie-alt character. We dove into a breakdown by Will Carlson to see exactly how those tones are sculpted, from the DI all the way to the master bus. Get ready to take some notes, because there are plenty of actionable tips here you can try in your own productions.

Want to see these techniques in action on a full Bilmuri mix? Check out the Nail The Mix session with Johnny Franck and Will Carlson where they mix a Bilmuri song from scratch.

The Foundation: Starting with a Clean and Strong DI

Before you even think about amp sims, the quality of your DI signal is paramount. Will emphasizes getting this right from the source.

Guitar and Pickups

The go-to axe for a lot of Bilmuri's sound is an American Strat. This versatile guitar provides a great starting point, capable of handling both heavy distorted tones and cleaner, spankier parts.

Initial DI Processing

A standard part of Will's guitar chain involves cleaning up any noise at the DI stage. Being particular during tracking minimizes issues later, but a good noise gate or noise reduction plugin is always handy.

To give the DI a healthy level before hitting the amp sim, JST Clip is used. This isn't about aggressive clipping, but rather boosting the signal cleanly to drive the virtual amp appropriately.

Crafting the Core Tone: Amp Sims & Cab Choices

With a solid DI, it's time to build the actual tone. Neural DSP plugins feature heavily, alongside some choice cab sims.

Amp Sim Selection: Go Jira and Gain Staging

For the main heavy tones, the Archetype: Gojira plugin from Neural DSP is a key ingredient, specifically using the "Fatso" setting on the "wow" (wah) pedal model.

Gain: Less is More

A crucial point Will makes is not to overdo the gain on the amp sim. Because the DI is already well-maintained through compression (both plugin and playing dynamics), you can often use less gain than you might think. Pushing the gain too hard leads to a "big fuzzy saturated mess" where pick attack and articulation are lost. A cleaner, more articulate DI allows for more control and clarity, even with heavy distortion.

Master Volume's Impact

Don't overlook the master volume on your amp sim! Will highlights that, just like a real amp, the master volume on Neural DSP plugins significantly affects the tone and how the amp model reacts. He mentions the Nolly 5150 model as a prime example where adjusting the master can yield several different tones, from "blown out and wild" when cranked, to "wimpy" if set too low. So, experiment with that master volume – it’s a powerful shaping tool.

Pre-Amp EQ

Before hitting the main amp block in the Go Jira plugin, there's an EQ boosting around 4dB at 8kHz. This adds some initial bite and air.

Cab Sim Power: GGD Zilla Cabs

For speaker emulation, GetGood Drums Zilla Cabs are a frequent choice, particularly for Bilmuri's style, but also versatile enough for indie, alternative, and pop-rock.
The typical setup involves:

  • Two instances using an angled cab with a Friedman speaker model.
  • A third instance with an MD421 microphone model on a different speaker, specifically to bring in more low-end fullness.

Refining the Tone: Essential Bus Processing

Once the individual guitar tracks are sounding good, they often get routed to a guitar bus for further shaping and gluing.

Guitar Bus Chain Overview

Will's guitar bus typically features a couple of dynamic EQs and Soothe2.

Dynamic EQ for Problem Frequencies

Dynamic EQs like FabFilter Pro-Q 3 are used to tame "nasty ringy stuff" that can pop out. These are set up to react to specific frequencies as they become problematic. A common move is a dynamic band on the low end, especially if there isn't much chugging. He also generally rolls off everything above 16kHz, considering it mostly noise. Understanding EQ strategies for mixing modern metal can really help you pinpoint and solve these issues.

Soothe2 for Ultimate Smoothness

Oeksound Soothe2 is a go-to for taming harshness in digitally modeled amps, which can sometimes sound "spiky" or "sharp."
Key points for using Soothe2 effectively:

  • Dial it in specifically for the tone: Presets might not cut it.
  • Avoid overly harsh sharpness settings: High sharpness values can introduce artifacts and degrade the audio. The goal is to make it sound smooth, not shred the guitar tone.
  • Use it as a dynamic EQ: Adjust attack and release settings so Soothe2 dynamically catches problematic frequencies that a static EQ (like the Pro-Q 3 bands mentioned earlier) might miss if the harsh frequency moves around.

Adding Character and Punch: Individual Track Effects

Beyond the amp sim and bus processing, individual tracks get their own treatment to sit right and add impact.

Compression: The Unsung Hero of Heavy Guitars

While not explicitly named in the initial overview, the Waves Renaissance Axx (R-Axx) compressor becomes a staple across many of the guitar tracks. It’s praised for its ability to control dynamics and add punch, becoming an indispensable tool once discovered. For more on how compression can shape your metal tracks, check out these secrets.

Saturation with Decapitator

A favorite for adding character is Soundtoys Decapitator. Used subtly on the "E Channel" setting (based on a Chandler preamp), it helps bring guitars to the front and adds a pleasing EQ curve. It can make the guitars sound "more real," as if they're blasting out of the speakers, bringing fuzz and presence forward.

Layering for Width and Texture: Building the Wall of Sound

Bilmuri's sound often involves multiple guitar layers, each contributing something unique.

Cleaner Tones with the Nolly Archetype

For cleaner, spankier parts, the same white Strat is used, but this time running into the Archetype: Nolly by Neural DSP.

  • The bright switch on this amp sim is a highlight, perfect for poppy, articulate clean tones. Playing with a more reserved dynamic allows the cleanliness to shine.
  • The cab setup here might be slightly different, perhaps another SM57 on different speakers, just to vary the texture.

Adding Space with Reverb

For adding dimension, LiquidSonics Seventh Heaven reverb is a current favorite.

  • Settings like "Small Room" or the renowned "London Plate" and "Large Wooden Room" (a recommendation from Matt Huber) are used. This plugin is praised for its exceptional sound quality, even making Will rethink his go-to vocal reverbs.

Octave Layers Revisited and Enhanced

Octave guitar parts add a lot of the signature Bilmuri vibe.

  • Signal Chain: Often similar to the main tones – FabFilter Pro-Q 3, JST Clip, and into the Go Jira amp sim.
  • Amp Settings: For these layers, the depth on the "wow" pedal might be turned down (as low end isn't the focus), and the 8kHz in the pre-amp EQ might be boosted even more. The low end in the cab sim is also often reduced.
  • Parametric EQ: Quick adjustments with a parametric EQ (like Pro-Q 3) help these layers sit perfectly.
  • Renaissance Axx: This compressor is often used aggressively on these layers, sometimes with a super-fast attack. This crushes the pick attack, emphasizing the noise, feedback, and sustained character of the part rather than the transient.
  • Post-Compression EQ: Further EQing notches out more low-end, shapes the fuzz (e.g., around 2.5kHz or 3.9kHz), and tames any annoying frequencies.

Incorporating Demo Guitars: When Magic Strikes

Sometimes, parts tracked for the demo just have a certain magic. Will mentions fighting to keep some octave single-coil parts from the demo because they simply sounded cool and couldn't be perfectly replicated. These are then processed similarly, often getting the Renaissance Axx and Decapitator treatment to fit into the main production.

Beefing Up Breakdowns with Humbuckers

For extra beef and midrange punch, especially in breakdown sections, the white Strat (this time likely using its humbuckers if it has them, or a humbucker-equipped guitar) comes in. These parts might follow the main chugs but with a more mid-focused, scooped sound, again using a similar octave tone preset but with adjustments like more 8kHz.

Bringing It All Together

Crafting Bilmuri's guitar tone, as detailed by Will Carlson, is a masterclass in leveraging modern tools with smart, fundamental audio practices. It’s about:

  • Starting with an excellent, clean DI.
  • Choosing the right amp sim (Neural DSP Gojira, Nolly Archetype) and understanding how to manipulate its gain and master volume.
  • Utilizing quality cab sims (GGD Zilla Cabs) and blending mic options.
  • Smart EQing, both static and dynamic (Pro-Q 3, Soothe2), to clean up and shape.
  • Strategic use of compression (Renaissance Axx) and saturation (Decapitator).
  • Thoughtful layering to create width, depth, and unique textures.

These techniques are potent, and you can apply them to your own rock and metal productions. Imagine getting to see pros like Johnny Franck and Will Carlson apply these concepts, troubleshoot issues, and make creative decisions in real-time, on real songs.

That's exactly what Nail The Mix offers. Each month, you get the original multitracks from incredible artists and watch the producer who mixed the record build it from the ground up. If you're serious about elevating your mixes, seeing how Bilmuri's tones are dialed in during their Nail The Mix session is an invaluable learning experience. For a deep dive into modern metal mixing beyond just presets, check out our comprehensive guide to Unlock Your Sound: Mixing Modern Metal & Beyond Presets.