Best Voxengo Boogex Settings for Metal, Rock, Blues, and Clean Tones

How to Get Realistic Amp Sounds with Voxengo Boogex (Step‑by‑Step)Voxengo Boogex is a free, CPU‑efficient guitar amp and speaker cabinet simulator that can produce surprisingly realistic tones when used correctly. This guide walks through preparation, signal chain, Boogex controls, cabinet and mic simulation, EQ and dynamics, re-amping and automation, and mixing techniques — with practical step‑by‑step settings and examples so you can get a convincing amp sound from clean DI recordings.

Quick overview: what Boogex does well

Boogex models an amp’s preamp/saturation and a speaker cabinet’s frequency response, including selectable impulse responses (IRs). It also includes basic filtering, a noise gate, and a simple convolution engine for cabinet simulation. It’s best used on DI (direct input) guitar/bass tracks where you want to dial in amp character without recording a real amp.

What you’ll need

A DI or re-amped guitar/bass recording (WAV/AIFF).
A DAW (Reaper, Ableton Live, Logic, Cubase, Pro Tools, etc.).
Voxengo Boogex plugin (VST/AU/AAX).
Optional: third‑party cabinet IRs (for more realism), a noise gate, and an EQ plugin.

Step 1 — Prepare the DI track

Record a clean DI with a good pickup balance and consistent playing. Aim for 0 dBFS peaks around −6 to −12 dB to leave headroom.
Trim silence and remove obvious performance noise. Use a transient‑aware gate if needed but keep it gentle — Boogex will interact differently with raw transients.

Step 2 — Insert Boogex and set input level

Add Boogex on the DI track as the first insert (before time‑based effects such as reverb).
Set the input gain so the plugin’s meters show healthy signal but do not clip; aim for peaks around −6 to −3 dBFS inside the plugin. Too hot and you’ll get unintended distortion; too low and saturation will be weak.

Practical starting point:

Input: 0 dB (adjust per signal).
If your DI is quiet, boost by +6–+12 dB, but monitor for clipping.

Step 3 — Choose an amp character

Boogex has a “Drive” control and character shaping rather than discrete amp models. Use these controls to set the initial amp behaviour.

Starting settings:

Drive: 4–6 for mild to moderate overdrive; 7–9 for heavier distortion.
Tone (if present in your Boogex version): set to center and adjust later.
Low/High filters: keep them flat initially.

How to tweak:

Increase Drive for more harmonic saturation and compressed feel.
If the sound becomes too fizzy or buzzy, reduce Drive or tighten the high‑end with the High‑cut filter.

Step 4 — Speaker/cabinet selection (convolution)

Boogex supports built‑in cabinet simulations and external IRs. This is the most critical step for realistic tone.

Options:

Use Boogex’s built‑in cabinet models for quick results.
For greater realism, load high‑quality third‑party IRs (you can find free and commercial IR packs). IRs simulate speaker cone, mic placement, and cabinet resonance.

Practical steps:

Load a 4×12 or 1×12 IR for guitar depending on style. 4×12 for heavy rock/metal, 1×12 for vintage/clean tones.
Experiment with different IRs — slight changes in mic distance/angle have big tonal effects.
If using built‑in, pick a cabinet that matches the genre (e.g., “British 4×12” style for rock).

Step 5 — Microphone placement simulation

Boogex often includes mic position or mix controls. If it doesn’t, use multiple IRs (close + ambient) blended together.

Technique:

Close mic: bright, attacky, more presence. Pan slightly off center for stereo mixes.
Room/ambient: lower level, adds depth and natural reverb.
Blend close + room (e.g., 80% close / 20% room) to taste.

Step 6 — Use filters and EQ inside Boogex

Shape the amp before adding external EQ.

Helpful settings:

Low‑cut (high‑pass): 80–120 Hz to remove rumble and unnecessary low end (especially for single‑coil guitars).
High‑cut (low‑pass): 6–10 kHz to tame harshness from DI and heavy drive.
If Boogex has a presence or tone knob, use it subtly to add sparkle or body.

Example:

High‑pass: 100 Hz
Low‑pass: 9 kHz

Step 7 — Add dynamics: gate and compression

Control noise and tighten sustain.

Noise gate:

Threshold: set so string noise and amp hiss are reduced but palm‑muted chugs still pass cleanly. Typical threshold −40 to −60 dBFS depending on noise floor.
Attack: fast (1–10 ms), Release: short to medium.

Compression (outside Boogex):

Light compression after Boogex can even out level and add sustain. Use 2:1 ratio, 3–6 dB gain reduction for transparent smoothing, or more for a saturated vibe.

Step 8 — Parallel processing and re‑amping for realism

Parallel chains let you combine multiple amp characters and maintain clarity.

Parallel heavy/clean blend:

Send the DI to two tracks with different Boogex settings: one with high Drive and dark IR for chunk, another with low Drive and bright IR for articulation. Blend to taste.

Re‑amping:

If you have a physical amp and re‑amp box, route the DI out and record a miked amp to blend with Boogex for hybrid realism.

Step 9 — Post‑Boogex EQ and tone shaping

Use a parametric EQ to make the amp sit in the mix.

Common corrective moves:

Cut 200–400 Hz if the tone is muddy. Use a narrow Q and −2 to −6 dB cut.
Boost 1.5–3 kHz slightly for pick attack and presence (+1.5 to +3 dB).
Shelf cut above 8–10 kHz if the tone gets brittle.

Use a spectrum analyzer to spot resonances or problem areas.

Step 10 — Spatial placement: reverb, delay, and stereo width

Keep time‑based effects after Boogex to avoid muddying the amp simulation.

Reverb:

Use small plate or room reverb short decay (0.8–1.5 s) for natural space. Keep level low (10–25% wet).
Delay:
Use slap or short timed delays (50–150 ms) for width without smearing.

Stereo width:

Slightly detune or pan duplicated tracks for rhythm parts. For single lead, keep centre or slightly off center depending on mix.

Example presets (starting points)

Rhythm — Modern Metal

Drive: 8
IR: 4×12 tight mic (close)
High‑pass: 90 Hz
Low‑pass: 8 kHz
Gate: threshold −50 dB, fast attack
Parallel: add clean DI + light overdrive 30% blend

Blues — Clean with grit

Drive: 3–4
IR: 1×12 vintage, slightly off‑axis
High‑pass: 100 Hz
Low‑pass: 10 kHz
Presence: +1.5 dB in 2–3 kHz
Reverb: small room, 15% wet

Troubleshooting common issues

Harsh high end: lower Drive or apply a gentle low‑pass around 8–9 kHz.
Thin tone: use a fuller IR (larger cabinet) or boost 120–250 Hz slightly.
Loss of pick attack: blend in an unprocessed DI or low‑drive Boogex parallel track.
Muddy mix: HPF at 80–120 Hz and cut 200–400 Hz.

Tips for maximum realism

Use high‑quality IRs; they make the biggest difference.
Combine close and room IRs to simulate mic distance.
Record DI clean and experiment with re‑amping or multiple Boogex instances.
Use subtle modulation or small timing differences when doubling tracks to emulate real player/amp variance.

Quick checklist before bouncing

Input levels healthy (no unintended clipping).
Cabinet IRs chosen and mic blend set.
Filters and EQ clean up problem frequencies.
Gate and compression tame noise and even dynamics.
Time effects placed after Boogex.
Stereo placement and levels balanced in the mix.

Voxengo Boogex can produce highly realistic amp tones when you treat it like a full amp+mics chain: start with a clean DI, pick good cabinet IRs, set drive and filters carefully, use gates/compression judiciously, and combine parallel chains or re-amped recordings when needed.