NDSP Quad Cortex

[Mongillo19]

I couldn't have put it any better myself if I tried to explain my situation with the QC.

Still on the fence as to whether to "serve two masters" by keeping both of them...

Think of the cool guitar you could have instead of a backup unit for us scoundrels who dwell at home

 

[mbenigni]

so its the gui and knobs that put it in top place for you? If the gui and knobs were on the fm3 it would be reversed?

Not really, no. The QC is still a higher end unit (at a higher price) than the FM3 in many ways, more comparable to AxeFX 3 or Helix Floor. In order to bump my QC, the FM3 would need more processing power, phantom powered mic inputs, etc.

That said, if it had a comparable UI, and in light of all its effects, amps, and deep editing features... there'd be absolutely no question as to whether to keep it.

 

[mbenigni]

Think of the cool guitar you could have instead of a backup unit for us scoundrels who dwell at home

I honestly think I’ll get more use and enjoyment out of another QC. But I do (also) need a 2nd Jem Jr for kicks. Just have to flip enough stuff to cover both.

 

[DrewJD82]

I honestly think I’ll get more use and enjoyment out of another QC. But I do (also) need a 2nd Jem Jr for kicks. Just have to flip enough stuff to cover both.

I played one of the new black JEM Jr’s this past weekend, the fingerboard felt alright on that one. The first few jatoba boards I felt were a hard Nope, but I could definitely get on with the one I played this weekend. And aside from the weight of the body itself, all the CNC cuts/sanding were spot on to a ‘real’ JEM, I was actually pretty impressed with that, thinking there’d be some corners cut around the monkey grip or lion’s claw.

Hell, if you look into the cavity under my trem on my JEM they sprayed over a bunch of wood burrs/sawdust, it’s remarkably not-well done.

 

[mbenigni]

I played one of the new black JEM Jr’s this past weekend, the fingerboard felt alright on that one. The first few jatoba boards I felt were a hard Nope, but I could definitely get on with the one I played this weekend. And aside from the weight of the body itself, all the CNC cuts/sanding were spot on to a ‘real’ JEM, I was actually pretty impressed with that, thinking there’d be some corners cut around the monkey grip or lion’s claw.

Hell, if you look into the cavity under my trem on my JEM they sprayed over a bunch of wood burrs/sawdust, it’s remarkably not-well done.

Man, I’m just flat out in love with my white Jr. It’s absurd that a tree-fiddy used guitar can be this playable. It totally looks the part of a Jem. (The only bit they skipped is the 4 scalloped frets, and I can’t say I miss them.) Of course the bridge isn’t even in the same ballpark as a real Edge, but it gets the job done. Neck carve, balance, the overall geometry of the instrument are a direct hit.

 

[DrewJD82]

Man, I’m just flat out in love with my white Jr. It’s absurd that a tree-fiddy used guitar can be this playable. It totally looks the part of a Jem. (The only bit they skipped is the 4 scalloped frets, and I can’t say I miss them.) Of course the bridge isn’t even in the same ballpark as a real Edge, but it gets the job done. Neck carve, balance, the overall geometry of the instrument are a direct hit.

The neck is still the most surprising thing to me because it’s a believable JEM neck as far as dimensions go. Seemed the black one was a tad rounder than the white ones I played but I’m going off a 4-year old memory of a 30-second evaluation.

 

[timbuck3]

Not really, no. The QC is still a higher end unit (at a higher price) than the FM3 in many ways, more comparable to AxeFX 3 or Helix Floor. In order to bump my QC, the FM3 would need more processing power, phantom powered mic inputs, etc.

That said, if it had a comparable UI, and in light of all its effects, amps, and deep editing features... there'd be absolutely no question as to whether to keep it.

WHAT about fm9 vs qc?

 

[la szum]

Tone IS very subjective and I listen to a lot of Isolated guitar tracks and most tones of the guitar are lets just say less than stellar and can sound like ass, fizz and no bottom end whatsoever , but now put that in the mix and it's Like wow!! what a fucking tone

This is why I don't trust tones created and constructed in isolation. Especially when
they are not intended to be played in isolation anyways, but in the context of a song,
band, entire mix of instruments.

 

[SeeD]

I got the Axe 3 setup and did a quick comparison of an AC15 into a stock 2x12 AC30 cab with each. No surprise I found the fractal to sound brighter than the QC. Both are good though.

I may tinker with some DI tracks I already have setup and run them through each, along with the Helix. I did this earlier in the year but never released them.

Would be interested to hear the same amps across the amps with stock cabs for each unit as well as the same IR across all.

When folks do comparison of models I think it would be okey to give the parameters some `give` of 10 - 20 % leeway as some of the parts used in amp have 10 - 20 % differences from amp to amp.
I laugh when folks set the bass,mid,treble to `5 ` and they dont sound exactly the same. Cliff have said this a lot of times that not all amps sound the same set to the same values.
So I find it normal that models dont match 1-1 at all settings

I think Fractal and Quad Cortex sound really good, and have some nice sounding models. And we are soon in 2024, and things sound just good, and will get even better. What a time to be alive

 

[laxu]

When folks do comparison of models I think it would be okey to give the parameters some `give` of 10 - 20 % leeway as some of the parts used in amp have 10 - 20 % differences from amp to amp.
I laugh when folks set the bass,mid,treble to `5 ` and they dont sound exactly the same. Cliff have said this a lot of times that not all amps sound the same set to the same values.
So I find it normal that models dont match 1-1 at all settings

I think Fractal and Quad Cortex sound really good, and have some nice sounding models. And we are soon in 2024, and things sound just good, and will get even better. What a time to be alive

The correct way is to pick a reference tone, then see if the other device gets there. This can be your favorite settings on your current modeler, your favorite real amp etc.

Of course, that only tells one story so best to compare multiple settings and see how it behaves, how turning down your guitar volume behaves etc.

The "knobs pointing the same way" approach does not work due to component variance and reference amps used by different companies are going to be just as varied. There is a good reason why e.g Fractal has something like 6+ Marshall Superlead models, ignoring channels/jumpered/variants.

 

[mbenigni]

WHAT about fm9 vs qc?

Are you asking about FM9 vs QC or are you asking about some theoretical FM9 with a completely different UI/UX vs QC?

Even if the latter, I’m not really in the market for another battleship-sized product; a UI as effective as QC’s serves me best on my desk, on top of a cab, etc. (If I were performing regularly I might very well change my tune, of course.)

(Also, I dig the whole Capture and Cloud exchange thing.)

 

[duzie]

Lets listen to this and then in the Mix its Like wow really thats the same guitar ??



and



Woot !!

Just piling on Mike lol
Scroll to 2:03 here and listen to this lead tone

 

[Stone]

Just piling on Mike lol
Scroll to 2:03 here and listen to this lead tone

100% Glorious Fizz and No Bottom end
then one has to wonder all these anti Modelling folks that say Modelers have too much fizz and Bee's ...huh ???

 

[Foxmeister]

The "knobs pointing the same way" approach does not work due to component variance and reference amps used by different companies are going to be just as varied.

In the particular case of Fractal, they use idealised pots which exactly follow the design specifications, whereas I believe Line 6 model the actual pots on their reference amps.

Neither approach is "better" IMO, but it does mean you might need significantly different control positions across modellers to achieve the same sort of tone.

 

[Jarick]

Those fizzy tones may sound good in a studio mix but they aren’t going to hold up in live settings at high volumes.

Also it has to be pushed at the right frequencies. You don’t want tons of 8-12k in the guitar. You want push in the upper mids, the 2-3k range.

When I measured tube vs solid state power amps, the tube amp was rolled off in the highs and lows.

When I tone matched the Axe FX 3 against the Friedman IRX, the tube preamp was rolled off in the highs and lows.

That’s what I hear between the Axe FX and the Neural early on.

 

[Achilles]

When I measured tube vs solid state power amps, the tube amp was rolled off in the highs and lows.
When I tone matched the Axe FX 3 against the Friedman IRX, the tube preamp was rolled off in the highs and lows.

Isn't this simply one of the characteristics of vacuum tubes in general? They tend roll off so sweetly?

 

[FPFL]

That QC power brick dongle to a skinny cable is a non-starter for me with gear at that price. I'd prefer a bigger device with a standard 3 prong cable. If they make a Gen2 that'd be something.

 

[Jarick]

Isn't this simply one of the characteristics of vacuum tubes in general? They tend roll off so sweetly?

I’m not sure but it’s one reason I prefer the sound of certain things. I think it’s probably not the tubes as much as the overall circuit because tubes are used in hifi stereos.

 

[Jarick]

That QC power brick dongle to a skinny cable is a non-starter for me with gear at that price. I'd prefer a bigger device with a standard 3 prong cable. If they make a Gen2 that'd be something.

It is a stupid little cable. On the plus side it’s cheap to replace if needed. I’ll probably get a second one.

Would have been better to have a laptop style cable if not a serious IEC. I mean it’s a $1800 unit, should have a real power supply.

It seems similar to the Friedman IRX one too. That also had the big brick with skinny cable and interchangeable plugs.

 

[FPFL]

Isn't this simply one of the characteristics of vacuum tubes in general? They tend roll off so sweetly?

No not at all.
This is the kind of thing people say on the internet who have a romantic view of tubes fueled by hype and unchallenged by real world use.
I've played tube amps that will tear your @#$%^ head off with high end shrillness and sizzle.

Tubes don't make an amp good or bad, better or worse. Tubes amps can sound amazing, awful or really pedestrian.
Yes there are some real @#$% tube amps out there! They aren't magic!
There is no consistent tube sound across all tube amps, bc tubes are just one part of a much larger design.