For the past year or so, I’ve been working on a super user-friendly amplifier design environment called Volterra Workbench... Or something.
The goal is to capture not just the sound of real amps, but the feel, interaction, and behavior — and to let builders prototype, simulate, validate, and even PLAY an amp design before ever soldering a component.
I think of it like compiling a real amplifier into a realtime playable DSP model.
At a high level, Volterra combines real circuit simulation, machine learning techniques, realtime DSP modeling, and interactive design tools into a drag-and-drop amp design canvas. Sounds complicated, but it's actually meant to be really easy.
A typical workflow looks something like this:
- Drag and drop tube stages, tone stacks, transformers, phase inverters, power sections, etc. onto the design canvas
- Modify component values and circuit parameters in realtime
- Render the design into a full SPICE simulation netlist
- Preview the amp through a realtime audio engine with interactive controls
- Probe points throughout the circuit with built-in test and analysis tools
- Identify issues like instability, oscillation, grounding problems, or unexpected frequency behavior before building hardware
- Refine the design, compare revisions, and experiment quickly without rebuilding physical prototypes
- Export the schematic/netlist into KiCad for PCB design, or build point-to-point / turret board layouts traditionally
- Export a playable .vam model for use in the Volterra Player plugin
- Load and play the amp directly in a DAW alongside traditional .nam captures
Some highlights so far:
- Modular drag-and-drop amplifier design environment
- True physics-based SPICE simulation combined with advanced machine learning techniques
- Use built-in circuit blocks or edit directly in KiCad for fully custom designs
- Hyper-realistic tube modeling: Koren/Ayumi-based models enhanced with proprietary nonlinear behavior layers
- Real-time audio preview with fully interactive amp controls
- Accurate passive tone stack modeling with real component interaction
- Built-in oscilloscope, signal generator, and analysis/test suite
- Validation and diagnostic reporting helps identify instability, oscillation, grounding, and design issues early
- Full schematic, netlist, and circuit export support
- Native .vam format supports fully interactive amp models rather than static snapshots
- Volterra Player loads both .vam and .nam models
[EDIT] The link: https://epic-devices.com/product/volterra-workbench
I couldn't think of a better way to do this, so I've re-worked it slightly. It works in the browser, but elements of the fitment pipeline need to run on a local python server. That means, if you want to change anything, it needs to do a spice calc and run it through the fitment pipeline to give the audio engine back the right realtime stuff. That runs via an installer. Right now, it's beta and marked as $0 on my website, but you still need to add it to the cart and check out so it can give you a license code. I will never send spam, but may send updates for major features or revisions. For helping me out and sending feedback, you will have access to the full enchilada forever. I did include a trial flow, if you just want to poke at it without registering. The URL for that is workbench.epic-devices.com. It'll give you like 7 sessions before it asks to license (which, again, is free for you).
Unfortunately, I don't have a very good way to give feedback yet, so for the time being, maybe just add it to the thread and we can discuss!
[End of edit]
Still a ton of work ahead, but it’s finally reaching the point where I’m excited enough to start showing people what’s possible.
Let me know if you're interested in kicking the tires. I'd love some feedback. You may notice the circuit below is a Plexi type circuit by looking at the blocks. 
JK, I honestly don't know what I'm going to do with it yet. I'm open for suggestions. 