Effects Reference
This section documents every effect available in Soundshed Guitar. Each page covers what the effect does, what every parameter controls, and practical tips for getting the best results.
How to add an effect
- Open the Signal Chain Editor tab.
- Click an effect category in the FX Browser on the left.
- Click the effect name to add it to the end of your chain, or drag it into position.
Effect categories
Amplifiers
Amp effects model the core amplifier character of your tone — the most important piece in the chain.
| Effect | Description |
|---|---|
| Neural Amp Model (NAM) | Loads a neural capture of a real guitar amplifier |
| NAM Blend | Mixes two or more NAM models together |
| Built-in Amp | Classic "Heavy American" preamp with full tone stack and power stage controls |
Cabinets
Cabinet effects simulate the speaker cabinet and microphone, completing the amp tone.
| Effect | Description |
|---|---|
| IR Cabinet | High-quality cabinet simulation using an Impulse Response file |
| Simple Cabinet | Lightweight cabinet shaping with bass, presence, and brightness controls |
Dynamics
Dynamics effects control the volume envelope of your signal — quieting noise, controlling sustain, or preventing clipping.
| Effect | Description |
|---|---|
| Noise Gate | Silences the signal when it falls below a threshold — kills amp hum and hiss between notes |
| VCA Compressor | Fast, punchy compressor — tightens attack and adds sustain |
| Opto Compressor | Smooth, musical compressor with a slower, more transparent response |
| Brickwall Limiter | Hard ceiling that prevents the output from ever going above a set level |
Drive & Saturation
Drive effects add grit and harmonic richness by pushing the signal into clipping.
| Effect | Description |
|---|---|
| Overdrive | Soft, warm clipping — like a transparent boost into a tube amp |
| Distortion | Hard, aggressive clipping with more sustain and edge |
| Fuzz | Extreme, woolly saturation inspired by vintage fuzz pedals |
EQ
EQ shapes the tonal balance by boosting or cutting specific frequency ranges.
| Effect | Description |
|---|---|
| Parametric EQ | Four independent bands with adjustable frequency, gain, and Q (bandwidth) |
Delay
Delay effects create echoes by feeding a delayed copy of the signal back into the mix.
| Effect | Description |
|---|---|
| Digital Delay | Clean, tempo-based delay with adjustable time, feedback, and mix |
| Stereo Doubler | Very short delay that widens the stereo image and thickens the tone |
Reverb
Reverb effects simulate acoustic spaces — from small rooms to large halls and beyond.
| Effect | Description |
|---|---|
| Reverb (all types) | Room, Chamber, Spring, Advanced, and IR Convolution reverbs |
Modulation
Modulation effects add movement and animation to the tone through periodic changes in pitch, phase, or volume.
| Effect | Description |
|---|---|
| Chorus | Thickens the sound by mixing a slightly detuned, delayed copy |
| Flanger | A sweeping, jet-like comb filtering effect |
| Phaser | Swirling, phase-cancellation effect — smooth and cyclical |
| Tremolo | Rhythmic volume pulsing |
| Auto-Wah | Envelope-controlled filter that opens and closes with your picking attack |
| Auto Arpeggiator | BPM-synced arpeggiator that steps through chord intervals in time with the tempo |
Pitch
Pitch effects shift or harmonise the pitch of your signal.
| Effect | Description |
|---|---|
| Pitch Shift | Shifts pitch up or down by up to 12 semitones with optional mixing |
| Transpose | Integer semitone transposition for drop tunings and capo simulation |
| Octave | Blends octave-up and octave-down voices with the dry signal |
Utility
Utility nodes control signal level and routing.
| Effect | Description |
|---|---|
| Gain Stage | Simple gain adjustment at any point in the chain |
Synth
Synth effects convert your guitar signal into a synthesiser-style sound.
| Effect | Description |
|---|---|
| Synth Saw | Guitar-to-synth voice using a sawtooth oscillator driven by your picking |