Looking for the best impulse responses for metal? You are in for a treat because we have reviewed some top-tier guitar Impulse Responses for metal aficionados. Metal and its various sub-genres rely on a down-tuned guitar tone that is bone grinding, aggressive and layered with filthy rich distortion. Some of the best impulse responses for metal on our list can be used in tracking down tuned rhythm guitars, playing blistering fast gainy arpeggios, and chugging riffs.
Luckily, all the metal guitar IR’s on our list can be loaded into your favorite IR loader or digital amp modeler such as Line 6 Helix, Boss GT 1000, Headrush Gigaboard, Quad Cortex, Kemper and more. So, are you ready to find out the best metal IR’s? Without further ado let’s get started.
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4+ Best Impulse Responses for Metal 2024
1) Jens Bogren Signature IR Pack: Downtuned
Created using the cabs and gear heard on some of the greatest metal albums over the years, the Jens Bogren Signature IR Pack:Downtuned encapsulates some rich tones of the early Death Metal, Black Metal, Thrash Metal and Speed Metal era with a penchant for Djent on the side.
Especially, if you are a metal guitarist who likes to down tune their guitars to Drop A, Drop B, or even Drop C tunings, these guitar Impulse Responses are a must have in your impulse response library.
We are talking about 30 Mix-finished IRs specifically meant for low-tuned guitars with a bass-heavy low end (ideally with humbucker pickups).
These impulse responses are mix-ready, that is they are EQ’d, Mic’d and tailored to fit into any mix without the need of any tweakage by you.
You can recreate legendary metal guitar tones inside your DAW since these Impulse responses were profiled from cabs used on top metal albums.
What’s more, the Jens Bogren Signature IR Pack: Downtuned is compatible with all software and hardware IR loaders including the likes of Boss GT 1000, Line 6 Helix, Boss GT 1000 Core, Quad Cortex, Kemper, to name a few.
SEE ALSO: Best Acoustic Guitar Impulse Responses
2) Jens Bogren Signature IR Pack: Lead + Clean
If you are looking for a solid IR collection for playing metal Lead guitar and clean picking tones (as heard in ambient progressive metal songs), the Jens Bogren Signature IR Pack is definitely worth a gander.
This massive IR pack of metal guitar richness by Swedish producer and recording engineer Jens Bogren features over 41 Lead Impulse Responses, 20 Clean Impulse Responses that are all mix-ready and pre-EQ’d.
You will just have to throw the Jens Bogren Signature IR Pack: Lead + Clean IR collection in your IR loader whether it is software or hardware such as Axe FX, Kemper Profiler, Quad Cortex, Boss GT 1000, etc. and you are ready to rock n roll.
The novelty factor is that these metal Impulse responses can sit in a dense mix with multiple layered guitars and shine through without clipping nor pierce your ears with unpleasant harshness.
You can also use them as clean acoustic guitar IRs for bridge section or interludes of your compositions.
All in all, the Jens Bogren Signature IR Pack: Lead + Clean is one of the best impulse responses for recording metal guitar.
SEE ALSO: How to make Impulse Responses in your DAW.
3) Kristian Kohle IR Pack: Rainbows and Chainsaws
Renowned producer, songwriter and mixing engineer, Kristian Kohle of Powerwolf, Aborted, Eskimo Callboy, and Benighted fame has released his own collection of metal IR packs that will certainly come in handy.
Recorded at the Kohlekeller Studios in Germany, the Kristian Kohle IR Pack: Rainbows and Chainsaws features 13 studio IRs for fast modern metal, 15 filthy IRs for downtuned guitar hell.
This impulse response library is Mic’d and mixed to fit in a dense mix with layers of multiple instruments including Drums tracks, Orchestra tracks, Strings, rhythm guitar tracks, etc.
These metal IR packs are suitable for a plethora of genres from vintage Doom Metal, to Death Metal and symphonic Black Metal. You get a massive tonal palette to choose from with over 14 different speaker settings in 4 cabinet IRs.
Mic’d and mixed to fit a dense mix, the Kristian Kohle IR Pack: Rainbows and Chainsaws features is compatible with all software and hardware IR loaders such as Quad Cortex, Boss GT 1000/Core, AXE FX, Kemper, Line6 Helix, and more.
Check out this collection of Best Free Impulse Responses for Metal and Rock.
4) Jens Bogren Signature IR Pack: Rhythm
Rounding up our list of the best impulse responses for metal is another solid pack from Jens Bogren titled the Signature IR Pack: Rhythm.
As the name implies, if you are looking for a near replica heavy rhythm guitar tone on the greatest metal records of the bygone era, this one’s a no brainer.
The Jens Bogren Signature IR Pack: Rhythm features the exact mics, cabs, and analog chain as heard on some of your favorite metal records.
You don’t have to waste time trying to change mic positions to record a crunchy metal rhythm guitar part, or balance EQ to bring clarity, and excitement to your guitar tone.
Simply throw in the mix-finished Jens Bogren Signature IR Pack: Rhythm in your convolution reverb plugin with free IR loaders and enjoy a lively metal guitar tone at the ready.
With over 35 awesome rhythm guitar IRs profiled from cabs and real jam sessions, this EQ’d and Mic’d impulse response collection for heavy rhythm guitar doesn’t need tweaking.
These Bogren Digital IR’s offer a smooth, analog top-end with no sibilance or clipping.
As with all the typical Bogren Digital impulse responses, this IR pack is also compatible with various software and hardware impulse response loaders that run the gamut from Quad Cortex, Boss GT 1000, AXE FX, Kemper, Line6 HX Stomp/Helix and many more…
SEE ALSO: You can also check out these 100+ free Marshall Cab IRs as well.
