Q Virtual Amp Features Guide
What Q Virtual Amp Does
Q Virtual Amp is built to help players shape their sound, practice more easily, and manage pedalboard setups in one place. To get the most out of this software, pair it with an audio interface with your device manufacturer's ASIO driver.
Core features
- Live amp and pedalboard experience for running your instrument through a customizable chain of effects.
- Audio input and output selection so you can choose the gear you want to play through.
- Input channel selection for audio interfaces with multiple channels.
- Quick audio controls to start, stop, or restart audio whenever needed.
- Direct Monitor mode for hearing your clean signal without the pedalboard processing.
- Master Volume control for adjusting the overall output level.
- Input level meter so you can quickly see whether signal is reaching the app.
- Pedal on/off switching to compare your sound with and without each effect.
- Drag-and-drop pedal reordering to change the order of effects in the signal chain.
- Add, remove, and reset pedals directly from the pedalboard view.
- Save Pedalboard to create a file containing your current pedalboard settings for later use.
- Load Pedalboard to bring a saved setup back into the app.
- Built-in tuner for checking pitch and tuning up quickly.
- Built-in metronome for practicing with a steady click at your chosen tempo.
Pedalboard workflow
Once unlocked, the pedalboard is designed to be quick and hands-on:
- Add a pedal from the built-in pedal list.
- Turn it on or off as needed.
- Adjust its controls to shape your tone.
- Drag it into a new position to hear how order changes the result.
- Reset or remove it if you want to start over.
- Save the pedalboard so the full setup can be loaded again later.
How to use key controls
- Turn a pedal on or off by clicking the small virtual LED next to the pedal name. When it is lit, the pedal is active.
- Reorder pedals by dragging the colored tab on the left side of a pedal and dropping it into a new spot in the chain.
- Adjust each effect using the sliders on the pedal. This lets you quickly dial in more gain, tone, level, mix, tempo, and other settings depending on the pedal.
- Reset a pedal with the Reset Pedal button if you want to return it to its default settings. Double-click a slider to reset just that value.
- Remove a pedal with the Remove Pedal button if you no longer want it in the chain.
- Add a new pedal by clicking Add Pedal and choosing one from the list.
- Save your setup with Save Pedalboard and bring it back later with Load Pedalboard.
- Use the tuner by turning it on, then playing a single note so the display can show whether you are sharp, flat, or in tune.
- Use the metronome by pressing Play/Stop and setting the tempo to the BPM you want for practice.
Available Pedals
Drive, tone, and dynamics
| Pedal | What it does | Controls |
|---|---|---|
| Fuzz | Creates a thick, buzzy, aggressive fuzz tone. | Fuzz adjusts the amount of fuzz/saturation. Tone makes the sound darker or brighter. Level sets the pedal's output volume. |
| Overdrive | Adds warm, amp-like breakup that responds well for classic crunch tones. | Drive increases the amount of overdrive. Tone shapes brightness. Level sets output volume. |
| Distortion | Produces a heavier, tighter, more aggressive high-gain sound. | Drive increases gain and intensity. Tone shapes the top end and overall bite. Level sets output volume. |
| Compressor | Smooths out volume peaks and helps notes ring out more evenly with added sustain. | Threshold decides how soon compression starts working. Sustain increases the amount of evening-out and note hold. Level sets output volume. |
| 10 Band EQ | Lets you shape your overall tone by boosting or cutting specific frequency ranges. | Gain adjusts the incoming level into the EQ. 31, 62, 125, 250, 500, 1k, 2k, 4k, 8k, 16k adjust those frequency bands. Vol sets the overall output level after EQ. |
| Filter | Rolls off high end for a darker, smoother, more controlled tone. | Cutoff decides how much brightness is allowed through. Level sets output volume. |
Time, space, and movement
| Pedal | What it does | Controls |
|---|---|---|
| Delay | Adds repeats and echo for depth, rhythm, and lead ambience. | Time ms sets the spacing between repeats. Feedback controls how many repeats you hear. Mix balances dry sound and echoed sound. |
| Chorus | Creates a wider, shimmer-like doubling effect for a fuller sound. | Rate Hz changes the speed of the movement. Depth ms changes how wide the chorus sweep feels. Mix blends the effect with the dry signal. |
| Phaser | Adds a sweeping, swirling motion often used for classic vintage textures. | Rate Hz controls sweep speed. Depth controls how strong the sweep is. Feedback increases resonance and intensity. |
| Flanger | Produces a jet-like sweep with a more dramatic, metallic movement than chorus. | Rate Hz controls sweep speed. Depth ms changes the width of the sweep. Feedback increases intensity and resonance. |
| Reverb | Adds a sense of room, space, and sustain to make the sound feel bigger. | Dwell controls how long the reverb hangs on. Tone makes the reverb darker or brighter. Mix balances dry sound and reverb. |
Utility pedals
| Pedal | What it does | Controls |
|---|---|---|
| Tuner | Helps you tune by showing the current note and whether you are centered on pitch. | On/Off turns pitch monitoring on or off. |
| Metronome | Provides a steady click for timing and practice. | Play/Stop turns the click on or off. Tempo / BPM sets the speed. |
Support
If you run into any issues or need help, please contact support@herbdesigngroup.com.