How to Dial in the Bogren Digital MLC S_Zero 93 Amp Sim

When you’re chasing a specific modern metal guitar tone, the amp sim you choose really matters. While any decent EQ can carve out frequencies, not all amp plugins can deliver that tight, aggressive, and articulate grind we’re all after. This is where specialized tools like the Bogren Digital MLC S_Zero 93 and their Ampknob BDH come into play.

This isn't just another amp sim. It’s a hyper-focused plugin designed to nail a very specific, and very brutal, sound. Created by legendary producer Jens Bogren, this thing is a monster. But simply loading it up and cranking the gain isn't going to get you a mix-ready tone.

Let’s dive into what this plugin is, how to dial it in, and how it fits into the bigger picture of your guitar production workflow.

What is the Bogren Digital MLC S_Zero 93?

At its heart, the MLC S_Zero 93 is a meticulously modeled emulation of a rare, custom-modded amplifier. We're talking about an MLC S_Zero 100 head—which itself is a heavily modified Marshall JCM800 2203 Kerry King signature model, tweaked by the wizards at Mike Custom Guitars in Sweden.

Yeah, that’s a mouthful. But what it means for you is that this plugin isn't trying to be a versatile, do-it-all amp. It's built for one purpose: delivering a savage, high-gain modern metal tone that stays incredibly tight and clear even under extreme distortion. It captures the percussive attack and mid-range snarl of a classic modded Marshall, pushed into the 21st century.

Dialing in the MLC S_Zero 93: Actionable Settings

Getting a great sound out of this plugin is all about understanding how each stage affects the final tone. Don't just turn the knobs—think about what each one is doing.

The Input Stage: Your First and Most Important Move

Before you even touch the amp's gain knob, you need to control the signal hitting it. This is where most bedroom producers go wrong. Cranking the gain on the amp itself can lead to a fizzy, undefined mess.

The Solution: Use a Boost Pedal.

Place an overdrive plugin before the MLC S_Zero 93 in your signal chain. A classic Tube Screamer-style plugin (like the TSE 808 or Waves GTR Stomp) is perfect for this.

• Drive/Gain: Set this very low, or even at zero.
• Tone: Keep it around noon or slightly brighter to add some bite.
• Level/Volume: Crank this up to 80-100%.

This technique doesn&#39t add much distortion. Instead, it tightens up the low-end, pushing the amp’s preamp tubes harder and shaping the frequencies for a more focused, aggressive attack. It’s the difference between a flubby chug and a percussive modern metal djent.

The Amp Controls: A No-Nonsense Guide

Now that your input is sorted, let&#39s look at the amp itself. The layout is simple, but the controls are very interactive.

• Gain: Start with the gain around 5-6. For modern metal rhythms, you often need less gain than you think, especially when quad-tracking. Too much gain swamps the tone in fizzy saturation and kills your note definition. The real heaviness comes from a tight performance, a solid bass, and hard-hitting drums—not from a dimed-out gain knob.
• Bass, Mids, Treble: This is your core tone-shaping section. A great starting point for modern metal is to keep the Bass relatively low (around 3-4), push the Mids (6-7), and set the Treble to taste (around 6). The mid-range is where your guitar&#39s power and aggression live. Scooping it at the amp stage often leaves you with a tone that disappears in the mix.
• Presence: This knob adds high-end bite and sizzle. Be careful with it. Too much can make your tone harsh and thin. Start around 5 and adjust it based on how much cut you need in the final mix.
• Master Volume: In the plugin world, the master volume can affect the simulated power amp saturation. While you don&#39t need to crank it for volume (you have a fader for that), experimenting with it between 4-7 can add a little bit of extra character and harmonic complexity.

The Secret Weapon: The Built-in Cabs & IRs

An amp head is only half the sound. The cabinet and microphone simulation is arguably more important for the final tone. The MLC S_Zero 93 comes with a fantastic built-in cabinet section loaded with Jens Bogren’s personal Impulse Responses (IRs).

The dual-cab IR loader is powerful. Don&#39t just stick with the default.

• Experiment with Blends: Try blending two different IRs. A classic combo is mixing a Celestion Vintage 30-based IR (for mid-range punch) with a G12T-75-based IR (for a slightly scooped, heavier character). Pan them slightly apart to create a wider stereo image right inside the plugin.
• Mic Placement Matters: Click and drag the virtual microphones. Moving a mic closer to the center of the speaker cone will make it brighter and more aggressive. Moving it to the edge will make it darker and warmer. Small movements can make a huge difference, similar to real-world methods like the Fredman Technique.
• Load Your Own: If you have a collection of your own from our guide to the best impulse responses for metal guitars, you can load them right into the plugin and bypass the stock cabs.

The Bigger Picture: Your Amp Sim is Just One Piece

Having a killer plugin like the MLC S_Zero 93 is awesome, but it&#39s not a magic bullet. Your skills as a producer and mixer are what will ultimately make or break your track.

Sculpting the Tone with EQ and Compression

Once you’ve got a sound you love coming out of the amp sim, the real work begins. Your raw guitar tone needs to be shaped to fit into a dense metal mix.

• Post-Amp EQ: This is non-negotiable. Use a flexible parametric EQ (like FabFilter Pro-Q 3 or your DAW’s stock EQ) after the amp sim. Start with a high-pass filter to cut out all the useless low-end rumble below 80-120Hz. Then, use narrow, surgical cuts to tame any harsh, fizzy frequencies, often found between 4kHz and 8kHz. Get all the details on EQing metal guitars here.
• Guitar Bus Compression: After you&#39ve recorded your main rhythm tracks (usually two or four), route them all to a single stereo bus. Applying a bit of light compression here can glue them together, making them sound like one cohesive, massive guitar wall instead of four separate performances. An SSL-style bus compressor or a FET-style compressor like an 1176 can work wonders.

Does the Specific Plugin Really Matter?

Yes and no. For a specific task like getting this particular modded Marshall sound, the MLC S_Zero 93 is a fantastic choice. But could a world-class producer get a monstrous tone with another amp sim? Absolutely.

The truth is, your creative decisions matter far more than the specific tools you use. A pro mixer like Jens Bogren could likely get a mix-ready tone with your DAW&#39s stock amp sim because he knows exactly how to EQ, compress, and process the signal around it. People get hung up on collecting plugins, thinking the next purchase will solve their mix problems. It won’t. Mastering the tools you already have is the fastest way to improve.

Nail The Mix: See How the Pros Do It

Dialing in sounds is one thing. Making them work together in a full, dense, and professional-sounding metal mix is a completely different skill set. Reading articles and watching YouTube videos can only get you so far.

Imagine watching the exact producers who mixed albums for bands like Gojira, Lamb of God, and Periphery mix one of their actual songs, from scratch, right in front of you. At Nail The Mix, that’s exactly what you get. We give you the raw, unedited multitracks from massive metal songs every month, and you get to watch the original producer build the mix—explaining every plugin, every fader move, and every creative decision along the way.

If you’re ready to stop guessing and start learning the real-world techniques that the pros use, check out the full catalog of Nail The Mix sessions.