After playing a Kemper for the last 6-7 years, I’m looking to try something new and decided to buy a QC. While I wait for it to arrive, I’ve been watching QC videos but I still have a question about scenes.
Correct me if I’m wrong here, but my understanding of scene mode is that I can basically create 8 different presets/sounds and have them available to me via any of the 8 stop switches. And using scene mode will avoid any gap in sound when switching between those 8 scenes. Which leads to my question.
One concern is lag when switching between scenes. From what I’ve noticed in videos, it looks like I’ll get that lag when in scene mode if I switch from bank to bank. For example, let’s say I’m in scene 1A and want to switch to a preset found in scene 3B. From what I’ve been able to see, there won’t be a smooth audio transition from that scene to the next one in a different bank and the effects won’t spillover either. The transition is only smooth if switching from one of the presets in the SAME scene/bank. Is that all correct?
Second question, and my bigger worry. Let’s say I’m staying within the same scene bank for this example. If I want to have one of the presets in the scene to be a Marshall with a bunch of effects, but then want a completely different amp with different effects for my clean tone in that scene, is that possible and will that provide a smooth (gapless) transition when switching between the two? And if that is possible, will I need to have both of those amps loaded in each preset in that scene (and just disable the one I don’t want)? Basically, does each preset in the scene have to have the same effects and amps loaded and then I just turn on the ones that I want to use - meaning, I’d need to have two amps loaded in my presets even though I’m only going to use one for each sound. I’m just wondering if I’m going to have to waste processing power by having to have multiple amps loaded into a preset even though I’m only using one for that preset, if I want to have a scene that has presets which use different amps.
First we should clear up the vocabulary.
A preset is one grid with 4 rows which can be used in parallel or chained and filled with blocks (amps, effects, cabs/IRs).
Inside of a preset you can have up to 8 scenes in scene mode. Any parameter on any block can be set to “scene assign” so it can change when switching scenes. This is also true for turning blocks on off/bypassing them.
Alternatively there is stomp mode, where you can bypass one or multiple devices like on a good old pedal board. And then there’s hybrid mode, which splits that into 4 stomps and 4 scenes.
Banks are just groups of presets for naming purposes.
Switching between presets has a noticable gap while the new signal chain is loaded. There are no effect trails and the like when switching between presets.
Switching between scenes inside of a preset has no gap. Technically there is a very short crossfade when switching amps, which is not a problem most of the time but there are ways around that if really necessary (using a splitter and crossfading between the two amps). There are also gaps on some amp models with channel switches. In that case you can simply put another copy of the amp on the grid and switch between them.
Your second question:
Basically that’s how it works. The QC has enough processing power and room for blocks that you can easily have two or more separate signal chains for multiple amps.
You can also use the same effects and just switch between amps or run amps in parallel and crossfade between them or use them in a stereo setup.
I wouldn’t see that as “wasting processing power” either. In my opinion that’s one of the biggest strengths of the QC. You can have a complete rig with multiple amps (clean, crunch, lead or just different flavors) in one preset.
If you don’t need a drastically different sounds between songs, you could play a whole show on one preset.
Hi.
There is no noticeable lag or audio gap when switching between scenes. There is a bit between Presets but I recommend not changing Presets during a song unless there is a break in guitar. I use Scenes for different types of set ups ie Overdrive, Fuzz and Metal. But stay within the Preset for the song. Within the Preset I typically have buttons assigned to change between clean, crunch, overdrive and solo, and a mix of different effects for the other 4 buttons. And all my scenes have a mix of different amps eg Fender Blues for my clean and crunch, Marshall JVM for my OD and solo. These are captures of my own combo amps. And again to confirm, switching between these modes is seamless.
And it took me a while to grasp scenes because I was so used to stomp boxes but there are many advantages to scenes eg, you can go from clean with no delay or effects to overdriven solo with delay, flange and compress etc with one button.