PedalNetRT

PedalNet-RealTime trains guitar effect/amp neural network models for use with the SmartGuitarPedal, SmartGuitarAmp, and WaveNetVA plugins. You can train a model using this repository, then convert it to a .json model that can be loaded into the VST plugin. Effective for modeling distortion style effects or tube amplifiers.

Video walkthrough of model training and usage on YouTube

The following repositories are compatible with the converted .json model, for use with real time guitar playing through a DAW plugin or stand alone app:

SmartGuitarPedal

SmartGuitarAmp

WaveNetVa

Email your best json models to smartguitarml@gmail.com and they may be included in the next plugin release.

Info

Re-creation of model from Real-Time Guitar Amplifier Emulation with Deep Learning

Notice: This project is a modified version of the original Pedalnet, from which
the model, data preparation, training, and predition scripts were obtained. 9/25/2020

For a great explanation of how it works, check out this blog post.

Setup (Locally)

Jupyter Notebooks for Google Colab are available in notebooks

1. Install Python 3 with pip package manager

2. Install git

3. Create and enter virtual environment

   python -m venv .

   . bin/activate

4. Clone the repository

   git clone https://github.com/GuitarML/PedalNetRT.git src/

5. Enter the directory and install the dependencies using pip package manager

   cd src

   python -m pip install -r requirements.txt

   (Optional development dependencies)

   python -m pip install -r requirements-dev.txt

Setup (Docker)

1. Install Docker

2. Install (Nvidia) GPU drivers (from pytorch-lightning manual)

   # Add the package repositories
   distribution=$(. /etc/os-release;echo $ID$VERSION_ID)
   curl -s -L https://nvidia.github.io/nvidia-docker/gpgkey | sudo apt-key add -
   curl -s -L https://nvidia.github.io/nvidia-docker/$distribution/nvidia-docker.list | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/nvidia-docker.list
   
   sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install -y nvidia-container-toolkit
   sudo systemctl restart docker
   

3. Create data/ and models/ directories

4. Add your input and output .wav files to the data/ directory

5. Run the docker image with desired training parameters

   docker run --rm -it \
      -v "$(pwd)"/data:/data \
      -v "$(pwd)"/models:/models \
      --gpus all \
      ghcr.io/guitarml/pedalnetrt data/ts9_test1_in_FP32.wav data/ts9_test1_out_FP32.wav
   

6. Get your model from the /models directory

Data

data/ts9_test1_in_FP32.wav - Playing from a Fender Telecaster, bridge pickup, max tone and volume
data/ts9_test1_out_FP32.wav - Split with JHS Buffer Splitter to Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer (max drive, mid tone and volume).
models/pedalnet/pedalnet.ckpt - Pretrained model weights

Run effect on .wav file: Must be single channel, 44.1 kHz, FP32 wav data (not int16)

python train.py data/ts9_test1_in_FP32.wav data/ts9_test1_out_FP32.wav

# specify input file and desired output file
python predict.py my_input_guitar.wav my_output.wav

# if you trained your own model you can pass --model flag
# with path to .ckpt
# For example:
--model=models/your_model_name/your_model_name.ckpt

Train:

python train.py data/ts9_test1_in_FP32.wav data/ts9_test1_out_FP32.wav

# When training your own model add this flag:
--model=models/your_model_name/your_model_name.ckpt

python train.py --resume  # to resume training

python train.py --gpus "0,1"  # for multiple gpus
python train.py --cpu # for cpu training
python train.py -h # help (see for other hyperparameters)


# The data preparation is included in train.py, but you can run prepare.py separately before training if desired:
python prepare.py data/ts9_test1_in_FP32.wav data/ts9_test1_out_FP32.wav --model=models/your_model_name/your_model_name.ckpt

Test:

python test.py # test pretrained model
python test.py --model=your_trained_model.ckpt  # test trained model

Creates files y_test.wav, y_pred.wav, and x_test.wav, for the ground truth output, predicted output, and input signal respectively.

Model Conversion:

The .ckpt model must be converted to a .json model to run in the plugin. Usage:

python export.py --model=your_trained_model.ckpt

Generates a file named "converted_model.json" that can be loaded into the VST plugin.

Analysis:

You can also use "plot.py" to evaluate the trained PedalNet model. By default, this will analyze the three .wav files from the test.py output. It will output analysis plots and calculate the error to signal ratio.

Usage (after running "python test.py --model=your_trained_model.ckpt"):

python plot.py

Training Info

Differences from the original PedalNet (to make compatible with WaveNet plugin):

1. Uses a custom Causal Padding mode not available in PyTorch.
2. Uses a single conv1d layer for both sigm and tanh calculations, instead of two separate layers.
3. Adds a conv1d input layer.
4. Requires float32 .wav files for training (instead of int16).

Helpful tips on training models:

1. Wav files should be 3 - 4 minutes long, and contain a variety of chords, individual notes, and playing techniques to get a full spectrum of data for the model to "learn" from.
2. A buffer splitter was used with pedals to obtain a pure guitar signal and post effect signal.
3. Obtaining sample data from an amp can be done by splitting off the original signal, with the post amp signal coming from a microphone (I used a SM57). Keep in mind that this captures the dynamic response of the mic and cabinet. In the original research the sound was captured directly from within the amp circuit to have a "pure" amp signal.
4. Generally speaking, the more distorted the effect/amp, the more difficult it is to train. Experiment with different hyperparameters for each target hardware. I found that a model with only 5 channels was able to sufficiently model some effects, and this reduces the model size and allows the plugin to use less processing power.
5. When recording samples, try to maximize the volume levels without clipping. The levels you train the model at will be reproduced by the plugin. Also try to make the pre effect and post effect wav samples equal in volume levels. Even though the actual amp or effect may raise the level significantly, this isn't necessarily desirable in the end plugin.
6. This WaveNet model is effective at reproducing distortion/overdrive, but not reverb/delay effects (or other time-based effects). Mostly untested on compressor/limiter effects, but initial results seem promising.