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SPECIFICTION
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Gjalla

sognevo.com

Free plan WindowsmacOSLinux
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Spec score 7.6 #12 of 35 in Guitar Amp Software

What it is

Gjalla is a free, open-source guitar amp simulator for black metal and other raw styles. Sognevo, a one-person project making dark-music audio plugins, provides it for Windows, macOS, and Linux as VST3, CLAP, and, on macOS, AU, plus a standalone application. The processing chain includes input trim, noise gate, pedal, preamp, tone stack, power section, presence, cabinet, frost, and output trim. Its pedal offers 90s distortion, HM-2-style chainsaw, and starved-transistor fuzz voicings. Three analytic cabinets are included; WAV or AIFF impulse responses up to two seconds can be loaded, or the cabinet can be disabled for an external loader. Six factory presets, meters, editable knob values, undo and redo, tooltips, and a resizable interface are provided. Host latency is reported as six samples, stated as 0.13 ms at 48 kHz. There is no packaged release yet, so users must build from source or follow GitHub releases. A build requires Git, CMake 3.22 or later, and a C++20 compiler. Gjalla is GPLv3-or-later and has no telemetry, network access, update checks, or accounts.

Spec sheet

What it does
Gjalla is a free, open-source guitar amp simulator aimed at black metal and other raw styles.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Integrations
Gjalla can be loaded in a DAW as VST3, CLAP, and, on macOS, AU; it also has a standalone version.Read 8 Oct 2026 · sognevo.com
Privacy
The maker states that Gjalla has no telemetry, network access, update checks, or accounts.Read 8 Oct 2026 · sognevo.com
Support
The maker invites users to open an issue on the plugin repository or email [email protected] for problems or feature requests.Read 8 Oct 2026 · sognevo.com
License
Gjalla is licensed under the GNU GPL version 3.0 or later.Read 8 Oct 2026 · sognevo.com
Build requirements
Building from source requires Git, CMake 3.22 or later, and a C++20 compiler.Read 8 Oct 2026 · sognevo.com
Cabinets and IRs
It includes three analytic cabinet voicings and can load WAV or AIFF impulse responses up to 2 seconds, or disable the cabinet for an external IR loader.Read 8 Oct 2026 · sognevo.com
Download status
The maker says there is no packaged release yet and directs users to build Gjalla from source or watch the GitHub releases page.Read 8 Oct 2026 · sognevo.com
Formats and operating systems
It offers VST3, CLAP, AU on macOS, and standalone builds for Windows, macOS, and Linux.Read 8 Oct 2026 · sognevo.com
Latency
The simulator reports 6 samples of latency to the host, stated as 0.13 ms at 48 kHz.Read 8 Oct 2026 · sognevo.com
Maker and audience
Sognevo describes itself as a one-person project making free, open-source audio plugins for black metal and other dark music.Read 8 Oct 2026 · sognevo.com
Pedal voicings
The pedal has three voicings: a 90s distortion style, an HM-2 style chainsaw, and starved transistor fuzz.Read 8 Oct 2026 · sognevo.com
Presets and controls
It includes six factory presets, input and output meters, editable knob values, undo and redo, and a resizable GUI with tooltips.Read 8 Oct 2026 · sognevo.com
Signal chain
Its processing chain includes input trim, noise gate, pedal, preamp, tone stack, power section, presence, cabinet, frost, and output trim.Read 8 Oct 2026 · sognevo.com

Plans and prices

Free Free Free and open-source; GPLv3 or later Read 8 Oct 2026 · sognevo.com

Every Gjalla plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Free and open-source under GPLv3 or later
  • Three pedal voicings for raw distortion styles
  • Loads WAV or AIFF impulse responses
  • Available as plugins and standalone app
  • No telemetry, network access, or accounts

Limits

  • No packaged release is available yet
  • Source build requires Git, CMake, and C++20
  • AU format is limited to macOS

Who it suits

It suits guitarists and audio producers making black metal or similarly raw sounds on Windows, macOS, or Linux. It also fits users comfortable building open-source plugins from source.

Verdict

Gjalla offers a focused raw-style amp chain with impulse-response loading and low reported latency across three desktop operating systems. The absence of a packaged release makes source-building part of the current setup.

Where Specifiction places it

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