# Simulating an FX Loop **URL:** \ **Category:** Nano Cortex\ **Created:** [March 21, 2025, 5:27am UTC](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/t/simulating-an-fx-loop/17652 "2025-03-21T05:27:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Igigi](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/unity.neuraldsp.com/igigi/32/7617_2.png) [@Igigi](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/u/Igigi)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2025, 5:27am UTC](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/t/simulating-an-fx-loop/17652/1 "2025-03-21T05:27:26Z")
Hello, if I had a preamp I wanted to use with the nano cortex amp sim, such as a boss metalzone, but want to recreate the effect I would have running through the amps effects loop, how would I do this ? As running into a "clean " amp will lead to undesirable results for me. Perhaps making a capture of the pedal ? Or just running without an amp head ? ---
**Author:** ![Igigi](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/unity.neuraldsp.com/igigi/32/7617_2.png) [@Igigi](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/u/Igigi)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2025, 7:03am UTC](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/t/simulating-an-fx-loop/17652/2 "2025-03-23T07:03:52Z")
Okay guys, don’t answer all at once. ---
**Author:** ![cardinal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b9bd4f/32.png) [@cardinal](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/u/cardinal)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2025, 2:26pm UTC](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/t/simulating-an-fx-loop/17652/3 "2025-03-23T14:26:09Z")
Easiest would be to capture the pedal and use that in the amp slot. Or save a preset with no capture active and use the actual pedal and just have the Nano’s IRs and delay/reverb active. ---
**Author:** ![WillOhWell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ebca7d/32.png) [@WillOhWell](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/u/WillOhWell)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2025, 6:07pm UTC](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/t/simulating-an-fx-loop/17652/4 "2025-03-23T18:07:56Z")
You could also run a capture of a power amp in the capture block and have the preamp in front of the Nano Cortex, if you really wanted to include the coloration from a power amp in your tone. This would simulate the guitar → metalzone → fx return of amp → cab setup. The power amp capture isn’t strictly necessary though, since the purpose of the power amp is to amplify the signal to “speaker level”, and that is not needed when using cab modeling/ IRs. (A capture doesn’t of course do the power amplification, but would give you the power amp’s sound signature) You can probably find power amp captures in the Cortex Cloud (QC also comes with some, not sure about NC). You can also make your own using a load box of some sort. ---
**Author:** ![Igigi](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/unity.neuraldsp.com/igigi/32/7617_2.png) [@Igigi](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/u/Igigi)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2025, 3:26am UTC](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/t/simulating-an-fx-loop/17652/5 "2025-03-24T03:26:35Z")
Thanks guys, I’m gonna be sure to give both things a try. A power amp is a pretty sweet idea if anyone has one captured. Or I can even try something stupid like capturing my PA system. Maybe it’ll give me a clean enough sound ---
**Author:** ![WillOhWell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ebca7d/32.png) [@WillOhWell](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/u/WillOhWell)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2025, 7:02am UTC](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/t/simulating-an-fx-loop/17652/6 "2025-03-24T07:02:56Z")
Just be careful that you are not running a “speaker level” amplified signal back to the Nano Cortex when capturing or you could damage it (and the power amp too). The preamp straight into IR approach should work well too.