NAM is an open-source technology that captures real amps, pedals, outboard gear, and even full signal chains as neural models. A2 is its second-generation architecture, officially released on June 2, 2026, and it was built from the ground up to deliver better sound quality while using fewer computational resources. That efficiency is what makes it practical to run these models onboard an audio interface.
Until now, NAM models have mostly lived in computers and pedals/amp modelers. With the i73 PRO®, they become part of the interface itself: the models are processed onboard, rather than relying on the computer’s CPU, and sit right alongside the Heritage Audio preamps the i73 PRO® is known for. For guitar and bass players, that means dialing in an amp tone and running it through a studio-grade front end, all in one unit.
The custom-built loader accepts .nam captures of amps, combos, pedals, effects, and outboard gear, along with IRs. And because NAM is an open format, i73 PRO® owners can tap into the TONE3000 community, home to enormous libraries of captures shared by players and engineers around the world, and download any model to load straight into the interface. That opens up a sonic palette of hundreds of thousands of models, from classic amps and boutique pedals to studio outboard.
The NAM loader is one more step in what sets the i73 PRO® apart. Its built-in mixer can run any Heritage Audio plugin directly on the interface’s DSP, and these plugins are free for i73 PRO® owners. The same mixer can also host any VST3 plugin for monitoring, so players and engineers can shape what they hear while they record, with amps, effects, EQs, and compressors all inside the interface. Together with the NAM loader, it turns the i73 PRO® into a complete monitoring and tone-shaping platform, in a single unit.
THE HERITAGE AUDIO WAY
“Our goal with the i73 PRO® range has always been to make the front end of a home studio as good as it can be. With the built-in loader, an i73 PRO® owner can play through any amp, pedal, or piece of outboard in the NAM universe, with no plugin, no extra device, and no latency to worry about. And, as always with our i73 PRO® community, we’re giving it to you for free,” said Peter Rodriguez, founder of Heritage Audio.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
• Built-in loader for NAM A2 models + IRs and TONE3000 captures.
• Loads amps, combos, effects, and outboard captures.
• Zero latency, processed on the interface’s own DSP.
• Access to hundreds of thousands of models from the NAM community.
• Free firmware update for i73 PRO® interfaces available today.
• Built-in mixer also runs any Heritage Audio plugin on the interface’s DSP, free for owners, plus any VST3 plugin for monitoring.
NOTE FOR OWNERS: To get the new features, update your i73 PRO® firmware and download the new Mixer app.
For more information, visit www.heritageaudio.com.
About Neural Amp Modeler (www.neuralampmodeler.com)
Neural Amp Modeler (NAM) is open-source software created by Steve Atkinson. Follow NAM on Facebook and YouTube.
