What Are Guitar Presets and Why Do You Need Them?
- Noise Harmony
- Mar 11
- 3 min read
Updated: Apr 5
So, you play guitar and you’ve probably heard people talk about guitar presets. But what are they, really? Well, they’re basically ready-made sounds for your guitar processor or amp. You just load them up and start playing—no need to spend hours messing with knobs and settings. Sounds pretty good, right? In this post, I’ll break down what guitar presets are, why they’re actually pretty awesome, and how to use them. I’ll also tell you a bit about some of the most popular processors out there, like Line 6 Helix, Kemper, Neural DSP Quad Cortex, Fractal Audio Axe-Fx III, and IK Multimedia ToneX.
So what are guitar presets anyway? They’re saved sounds with all the settings ready, making them perfect for people who don’t want to spend time tweaking and just want to enjoy playing. They’re also a great way to learn and grow because they let you see different ways to build tones and try new ideas without all the hassle. A preset usually includes a combination of amps, cabs, effects like reverb and delay, modulation effects, compression, EQ, and much more, all dialed in to create a specific sound.
Check out our custom-made presets for Line 6 Helix!
NH_VALEFOR_L_LION
NH_LunarShine
Other names for guitar presets are patches, tones, and profiles (especially if you use a Kemper). A lot of these presets can also be used with impulse responses (IRs) to make them sound even better. If you’re not sure what impulse responses are, we’ve covered that in detail in our article: What Are Impulse Responses? Now that you know what presets are, let’s look at some popular processors that use them
There are many guitar processors that use presets. Here are some of the most popular ones:
Line 6 Helix — Known for great amp models and effects.
Kemper — Famous for “profiling” real amps, which means it can copy the sound of almost any amplifier.
Neural DSP Quad Cortex — A powerful and compact floor modeler with a 2 GHz dedicated Quad-Core SHARC signal processor.
IK Multimedia ToneX — Focuses on detailed amp and effect simulations.
Fractal Audio Axe-Fx III — an incredibly versatile multi-FX processor able to reproduce the sound of a huge array of industry-leading stomp boxes and studio effects.
For more details and everything about guitar processors, check out: Guitar Processor Lineup in 2024.
Also check:
…but Hey! How Can I Be Sure That My Guitar Will Sound Good with a Preset Purchased?
Alright, so you’re probably thinking, “But wait, every guitar sounds different, right? Different pickups, different strings—how can a preset sound good on all of them?”
Fair question! A guitar’s tone really does depend on a lot of stuff, so making presets that sound good on any guitar is definitely a challenge. At Noise Harmony, we’ve taken that challenge head-on. We’ve got a huge library of DI recordings (those are clean, raw guitar sounds, by the way) from all kinds of guitars, plus a bunch of our own instruments. The tone of an electric guitar also is influenced by the following factors - pickup type and height, string type and age, guitar wood, setup (action, fretwork), monitoring system, room acoustics, and, of course, the player.
And don’t worry, our tones aren’t just some boring, recycled sounds you’ve heard a million times before. Every preset comes straight from us, made with some pretty creative techniques and a lot of trial and error. We love making new sounds, and we want to help you find your own unique tone too.
Every pack includes a detailed guide that will help you fine-tune the preset to suit your guitar, ensuring you’ll be satisfied with the result. The guide is simple enough to follow, even if you’re not very familiar with gear.
So, don’t wait—give it a try! And if you’re still on the fence, check out our FREE section. Get the tone your playing deserves!
Want to learn how to create your own reverb presets on the Line 6 Helix? Watch this video!”
So, What’s the Deal with Guitar Presets?
Very well, so here’s the deal. Thanks to this article, you now know what guitar presets are and why they’re super handy. We also talked a bit about impulse responses and how they can make your presets sound even better. Plus, we covered DI signals and checked out some of the most popular guitar processors out there.
Presets make things simple. So, why do you need them? You get great sounds instantly, and you can focus on what really matters — playing music and having fun.
If you liked it, make sure to visit our store!
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