How to configure calibrated captures?
I’ve recently started playing around with NAM captures and I’m having a hard time understanding how to use the calibrated amps. Some articles that I’ve read have instructed to set my audio interface gain (using a Scarlett Solo) at 0 and enter the maximum input level in the NAM plugin as 12dBu. Other articles have instructed to not set my gain at 0, and instead turn it up until just below clipping and then adjust the NAM level accordingly (e.g., decreasing the level as gain increases I guess?). I’m not sure which advice to go off of.
Here’s what I’ve found through experimentation—when I use a calibrated amp head (with IR), set my interface gain to 0, enter 12dBu in the NAM plugin settings, the tone I get sounds clipped and very “digital” if that makes sense. When I turn my interface gain up to just under clipping (right at 9 o’clock) and decrease the maximum input level to somewhere around 4dBu, the sound is much cleaner. However, I do have to turn the output significantly to get a good volume.
I guess my question is—am I doing this right? I haven’t been able to find a super clear guide online, so I’m kinda just going by ear, but I’m also not sure how much to trust my ear since I’m very new to the world of amp sims (and amps in general—I’ve only been playing electric for about 6 months after years of playing exclusively acoustic). I think the stock GarageBand amp sims sound better than most of my attempts at configuring NAM, so that tells me I’m probably doing something wrong considering all of the praise I see for many top rated captures online.