QJams Manual & Reference Guide

Introduction & Philosophy

QJams is a lightweight, natively compiled C application built for real-time audio and video workflows. It is designed around a unified single-window philosophy: no screen switching, no separate recording suites, and fully automated audio/video synchronization.

The application centers around the Session Manager (the 12-track layout on the left) and The Timeline (the dual waveform display on the right), allowing you to build, edit, and export complex multi-track arrangements or single-take live performance videos entirely on the fly.

Section A: Workflows & How-To

1. Starting a New Session & Managing Media

• Booting Up: Ensure your audio interface (e.g., Neural DSP Quad Cortex) and webcam are connected. QJams features autonomous hardware discovery; you can also hot-plug or power-cycle your gear while the application is actively running. If you don't have a webcam the video window will be hidden and QJams will function normally with the video functions disabled.

• Loading Media: Drag and drop any audio file (FLAC, WAV, MP3) or video file (MKV) directly onto the app window, or click the Load Media button on the Command Post.

• Using Playlists: Load an existing .m3u playlist into a preset slot to sequence your backing tracks. You can manually drag and drop tracks to reorder them or trigger an alphabetical sort.

2. The 12-Track Session Manager

QJams video lives permanently as an integrated visual layer alongside your 12 stereo audio tracks.

• Laying Down a Rhythm: Select a base track in the Session Manager, adjust your input gain and backing track volume using the dashboard spinners, and hit record. The engine captures your performance and webcam feed simultaneously.

• Stacking Overdubs: Select the next track row in the Session Manager (or use the shortcut) to seamlessly jump to the next layer and record a new pass without stopping playback.

• Working with External Video: When you load an external MKV video via "Load Media," the video dots appear on the timeline to mark its boundaries. Right-clicking these external video dots will display a formal warning that deleting external video tracks is not supported, preserving your source media.

3. Precision Editing & The Clipboard

The right side of QJams is large dedicated to the timeline. The canvas where the waveforms of the 12 track layers become visible. Most editing functions live here and you invoke them using shortcuts. If you click on the little keyboard button in the audio bar, a small help screen pops up that shows all available shortcuts. For convenience, you can drag it somewhere on your screen and keep it open until you've memorized all shortcuts.

4. Precision Editing & The Clipboard

QJams separates edits into Global Master Edits (affecting the entire session timeline) and Individual Track Edits (affecting only the currently selected layer).

• Creating a Loop Region: Hold Shift and click-drag across the top waveform canvas to highlight a specific time region. Hit Esc to clear the loop and return to linear playback.

• Master Editing: Use the Master Scissors on the dashboard to surgically cut, V-fade, or crossfade (blend) across all active layers simultaneously within the selected loop region.

• Single-Track Clipboard Assembly: Highlight a region on a specific track and press Ctrl + C to copy. Moving the playhead and pressing Ctrl + V destructively overlays the snippet at that position, automatically advancing the playhead to the end of the clip for rapid phrase chaining (ideal for building drum loops). Use Ctrl + Shift + C to copy across all layers simultaneously.