Top 7 Free Neural Network Guitar VST Plugins in 2025
Did you know that some music tools use neural network to model real hardware imperfections?
They basically recreate iconic guitar pedals and amplifiers at the component level. Neural network let them capture subtle analog nonlinearities that traditional digital signal processing (DSP) misses.
The result? Authentic guitar tone with low latency and CPU usage, without the hardware cost. Let's dive into the top 7 free neural network guitar VST plugins available in 2025.
1. AIDA-X: Universal AI Amp Modeler & Neural Effect Player
AIDA-X loads RTNeural models to emulate guitar amps, distortion pedals, and complete effects chains. This free VST plugin supports AU, CLAP, LV2, VST2, and VST3 formats for cross-platform music production.
The AIDA-X plugin was developed through a partnership between MOD Audio and AIDA DSP, this AI music production tool evolved from Arduino-based audio shields to become a flexible model player for the MOD Audio ecosystem.
Built on RTNeural with FFTConvolver for cabinet impulse responses. Uses advanced combined models trained at multiple gain stages, enabling real-time parameter adjustment of the neural network.
Price: Completely FREE and open-source.
Download: AIDA-X GitHub | MOD Audio Page | AIDA DSP Plugin Bundle Github
2. Chow BYOD (Build-Your-Own-Distortion): Custom AI Pedal Creator
This free guitar VST lets you build custom distortion effects by chaining 43 modules including drives, tone shapers, and utilities. Create your own signature overdrive pedal in this virtual pedalboard environment.
Everything started in 2019 with Jatin Chowdhury's class project for Music 420, where he made a tape emulator. Today, Jatin project has evolved into ChowDSP, a research lab focused on AI music production tools such as BYOD.
Uses RTNeural for neural network-based components alongside traditional DSP circuit modeling, delivering minimal aliasing and authentic analog behavior.
Price: FREE and open-source (GPL license).
Download: ChowDSP Website | GitHub Repository
3. Chow Centaur: Neural Network Klon Centaur Emulation
An authentic digital recreation of the iconic Klon Centaur overdrive pedal ($3,000+ on the used market). This pedal was hand-built since 1994 by MIT researcher Bill Finnegan's, and has become the "holy grail" of overdrive.
This free guitar pedal VST delivers transparent overdrive that preserves your guitar tone while adding warmth and harmonic richness.
Features dual modes—Traditional (nodal analysis) and Neural (real-time recurrent neural network using RTNeural). The machine learning model captures the legendary 9V-to-18V voltage doubling circuit.
Price: FREE VST3, AU, and LV2 plugin for desktop and iOS.
Download: ChowDSP Guitar Pedal VST | GitHub
4. GuitarML Proteus: Capture Your Own Guitar Amp & Pedals
Proteus is the leading AI music production tool for creating neural models of your own guitar amplifiers and effects pedals. This free VST plugin supports both "knob captures" (full parameter range) and "snapshot captures."
Engineer Keith Bloemer launched GuitarML in 2020 to democratize amp modeling. After three years optimizing network architectures, Proteus emerged as a free alternative to Kemper and Neural DSP, enabling anyone to capture their gear's unique tone.
Uses LSTM neural networks trained via backpropagation and the RTNeural engine, achieving just 2% CPU usage on a 40-layer network—competing with commercial plugins.
Price: FREE with optional Patreon support.
Download: GuitarML.com Free VST Plugins | Proteus GitHub
5. Stompbox: Complete AI Guitar Pedalboard
A full guitar amplification and effects pedalboard simulation with neural amp modeler support, cabinet IRs, time-based effects, and MIDI control. Runs headless on Raspberry Pi for DIY hardware builds.
This system built by Mike Oliphant bridges hardware (Raspberry Pi audio) and software (DAW plugins), offering a built-in tuner, looper, and comprehensive effects chain for modern guitarists.
Integrates Neural Amp Modeler and RTNeural alongside algorithmic DSP effects. Features remote UI and VST3 modes for flexible music production.
Price: FREE and open-source.
Download: Stompbox GitHub | VST3 UI
6. ToobAmp: Raspberry Pi Neural Guitar Effects
22 LV2 plugins optimized for Raspberry Pi, including TooB Neural Amp Modeler, ML amp models, cabinet IRs, and classic guitar effects. Perfect for DIY guitar pedal hardware projects.
Robin Davies created ToobAmp for the PiPedal project, proving neural networks can run efficiently on $35 computers and making AI guitar effects accessible to hobbyists.
RTNeural and NAM models specifically optimized for ARM processors, delivering professional guitar tone on low-power hardware.
Price: FREE and open-source.
Download: ToobAmp GitHub | PiPedal Project
7. guitarix: The Linux Legend Gets Neural Networks
Guitarix has been the cornerstone of Linux audio since the 2000s. The addition of machine learning amp modeling in versions 0.45.0+ represents a major evolution for open-source music production. Now, it supports both NAM (.nam files) and RTNeural (.json/.aidax) modules. Offers modular preamp/amp models, effects, and cabinet emulation.
Integrates RTNeural engine alongside two decades of DSP development, allowing users to blend neural network amp models with traditional circuit models.
Price: FREE and open-source (GPL).
Download: guitarix GitHub | LinuxMusicians Forum
How to make my own AI Guitar Effects?
Every plugin in this list was built using RTNeural, the open-source deep learning framework specifically designed for real-time audio processing. Created by Jatin Chowdhury, RTNeural enables efficient neural network inference with minimal latency and CPU usage, making AI-powered guitar effects practical for both studio and live use.
RTNeural supports multiple backends (Eigen, XSIMD, Accelerate) and neural architectures including Dense, LSTM, and Conv1D layers—perfect for modeling the nonlinear behavior of tubes, transistors, and analog circuits.