Neural DSP Workflow Hacks: Integrating Amps, Pedals & EQs Like The Pros

Neural DSP plugins? Yeah, they’re pretty much staples in any modern metal producer’s toolkit, and they deliver absolutely killer amp tones right out of the box. But if you’re just loading presets and calling it a day, you’re missing out on a whole other level of sonic alchemy. The real magic often lies in how you integrate these powerful tools – breaking them down into their core components and strategically combining them with other plugins or even other parts of the Neural DSP ecosystem. This is where you move from just using an amp sim to truly crafting a signature sound.

Ready to learn how the pros do it? Let’s dive in.

The Modular Mindset: Deconstructing Neural DSP Plugins

First things first: stop thinking of a Neural DSP plugin as a single, monolithic block. Most of these incredible tools are designed with modularity in mind. Their individual sections – the stompboxes, the amp head, the cabinet simulator, the post-EQ – can often be used independently. Producer Spiro Dussias highlights a key feature: you can usually just double-click the little icons for these sections at the top of the plugin interface to engage or disengage them. This simple act transforms the plugin from an all-in-one solution into a collection of individual, high-end virtual gear pieces you can patch together however you like.

Workflow Example 1: Spiro Dussias’s Multi-Plugin Chain – The Surgical Strike

Producer Spiro Dussias is a master of this surgical integration, often chaining elements from multiple Neural DSP plugins to build his ideal guitar tone. His approach is a fantastic example of how to cherry-pick the best bits from each plugin.

Input Tightening (Boost Pedal)

Spiro often starts his chain with the Fortin Cali Suite. But here’s the kicker: he’s typically only using its formidable boost pedal section, specifically the “Grind” feature. This is very similar in character to the legendary Fortin 33 pedal or the classic TC Electronic Integrated Pre-amp that bands like Meshuggah used to tighten their front end. The amp and cab sections of the Cali Suite? Bypassed. The sole purpose of this first stage is to sculpt and tighten the low end of the DI signal before it hits the main amp model, keeping things punchy and articulate, especially for modern metal.

The Core Amp Tone (Omega Granophyre)

Next up in Spiro’s chain is often the Neural DSP Omega Ampworks Granophyre, but again, with a twist: he’s primarily interested in only its amp section. Here, he dials in the core distortion character, experimenting with the Granophyre’s various tube emulations (like EL34s or 6L6s) and its powerful “Voice” switch to get the exact midrange presence and gain structure he’s after.

Cab & Final EQ (Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ Suite)

The raw, amped-up signal from the Omega then gets routed into another Neural DSP plugin – typically the Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ Suite. And you guessed it, he’s only using the cab section and its post-EQ. Why? Because this plugin contains some of the most sought-after Mesa cab IRs, meticulously captured by Adam “Nolly” Getgood, including those legendary ’03/’04 Celestion V30s. After the cab, he uses the plugin’s own graphic EQ for final tonal shaping, perhaps boosting some lower mids or carving out precise frequencies to make the guitar sit perfectly.

This multi-plugin approach gives Spiro unparalleled control: the exact boost he wants, the specific amp character he needs, and the precise cab sound and EQ curve for the final touch.

Workflow Example 2: Buster Odeholm’s Hybrid Approach – Amp Core & External Processing

Buster Odeholm (Humanity’s Last Breath) showcases another potent workflow, often using a Neural DSP amp core but surrounding it with his favorite external IRs and a suite of dedicated processing plugins.

Pre-DI EQ – The Foundation

Before his signal even sniffs an amp sim, Buster meticulously EQs the raw DI guitar signal. This is a critical step, especially for ultra-low tunings. By cutting specific “scratchy” frequencies (he often targets areas between 5kHz and 8kHz pre-amp ) or managing low-end bloom before the amp, he fundamentally shapes the distortion character, ensuring clarity and avoiding unwanted fizz or mud.

Neural DSP Amp Head (Fortin Nameless)

For his core amp tone, Buster frequently turns to the Neural DSP Fortin Nameless Suite, prized for its aggressive, tight, and articulate high-gain sound. Again, he’s typically only using the amp section, bypassing its built-in pedal and cab simulations.

External Cab Simulation (TSE via BlueCat)

Instead of Neural’s internal cabs for this particular chain, Buster often sends the output of the Nameless amp to Two Notes Torpedo C.A.B. (TSE), which he loads within BlueCat Audio’s PatchWork. This allows him fine-grained control, like blending a boost pedal effect if he were using one within TSE itself. He’s a fan of Ryan Harvey’s cab IRs for their “super subby” character.

Post-Amp Saturation & EQ (Saturn & EQs)

The signal shaping doesn’t stop there. After the cab, Buster will often employ plugins like FabFilter Saturn for harmonic saturation, which can be great for adding back mids or body that might have been cut at the amp stage. Further surgical EQ and dynamic EQ are then used to nail the final tone and ensure it punches through the densest mixes.

Why Integrate? The Benefits of a Modular Workflow

So, why go to all this trouble instead of just using one plugin as is? The advantages are significant:

Ultimate Tonal Control

This is the big one. You get to mix and match your absolute favorite virtual components. Love the way a specific Neural DSP amp breaks up, but prefer the cab IRs from another developer or plugin? No problem. Want to use a specific overdrive model before hitting that amp? Easy.

Familiar Tools & IR Libraries

You can seamlessly integrate Neural DSP’s world-class amp modeling with cab IRs you’ve collected over years, or with that one post-EQ plugin you know inside and out for sculpting guitars.

CPU Efficiency (A Potential Bonus)

While it varies from plugin to plugin, by only enabling the sections you actually need, you might save some valuable CPU resources. Every little bit helps when your sessions get massive.

Unleashing Creative Sound Design

This modular approach isn’t just for corrective work; it’s a gateway to seriously creative sound design. Imagine running parts of one Archetype plugin into another, or using just the pedalboard from one Neural plugin to feed a completely different hardware amp or amp sim. The possibilities are pretty much limitless.

Don’t Forget Pre-Processing the DI – Setting the Stage for Greatness

We’ve seen it in both Spiro’s and Buster’s workflows: processing your DI signal before it hits the main Neural DSP amp section is a non-negotiable part of crafting professional metal tones.

Boost Pedals: The Tightness Tyrants

Using a boost pedal emulation (like the Fortin Grind, often with its own gain knob kept around noon for maximum articulation ) before the amp is classic. It’s not always about adding more gain, but about shaping the EQ—specifically by cutting excessive lows and tightening the response—making the amp react in a more controlled and aggressive way.

Strategic EQ: The Distortion Whisperer

As Buster Odeholm demonstrates, careful EQ cuts and boosts on the DI can radically change how the amp sim distorts, allowing you to pre-emptively tackle fizz or enhance pick attack. For more on this, our EQ hub page: Carve Your Core: EQ Strategies for Mixing Modern Metal is a goldmine.

Light Compression: The Dynamic Smoother

While not always necessary for super high-gain rhythm guitars that are already quite compressed by the amp, a touch of light compression on the DI can sometimes help even out the dynamics before hitting the amp. Dave Otero mentions this for bass DIs going into Parallax, but the principle can apply to guitars if you need a more consistent signal feeding the distortion stage. For more on managing dynamics, check out our Compression hub page: Metal Compression Secrets: Beyond Just Making It Loud.

Final Thoughts: Build Your Dream Rig

The takeaway here is simple: Neural DSP plugins provide an incredible suite of tools, but their true power is unlocked when you treat them as a collection of high-end components rather than fixed entities. By understanding how to deconstruct them and integrate them with other processors (or even with each other in creative ways), you can build virtual guitar rigs that are perfectly tailored to your vision. So, go ahead and experiment – turn off those cab sections, bypass those amp heads, and start patching together your dream tone.

Want to see these kinds of advanced integration techniques used in actual metal mixing sessions by the producers who craft the sounds of your favorite bands? At Nail The Mix, you get behind the console every month with a new world-class producer. And if you’re ready for a deep dive into all aspects of modern metal production, our comprehensive course, Unlock Your Sound: Mixing Modern Metal Beyond Presets, is waiting for you.