NDSP Quad Cortex

It's kinda interesting the knock on the limited amount of models but I've found a few damn cool captures of amps that aren't modeled in the QC (or Fractal). I know it's not the same thing but it's to meet the same need...getting a tone you really enjoy. There are amps I've wanted modeled in the Fractalverse for a long, long time. Now I have some pretty damn nice captures of some of those on the QC.

Now the knocks on the quality of models or captures I totally understand. But so far I haven't been disappointed. Sure, some models/captures don't speak to me but I've been able to find plenty that I quite enjoy.
 
Day 2 of the QC - connected it to my Mac and I don't get output from my Mac to the QC despite it being the selected output device in system settings. No audio whether I'm in Logic or just playing music. Ugh.
 
the biggest issue NDSP has is that PCOM, if they stay at the rate of 2 of them every 4 -6 months , that's going to be a long long road .

The consequences of that are in the digital world things move fast and competition can catch up . look at the recent ToneX, Nam and Hotone development.

Both Fractal and Line6 I am sure know exactly what their next gen products are going to look like

So if we are generous and say NDSP somehow speeds up the rate of available plug ins , we can still pretty much expect a similar slow 2 or 3 updates for QC in 2025, giving up a year is a lot of time

I will be really curious to see wants in the next update , do they go back and update some of the amps already there or add a simple variant like a triple Recto and then just have the Nolly /parrelaxe compatible

I suspect NANO will continue to evolve as that is likely the easiest product to just add more delays reverts from the QC

**the other thing that has caused them grief is they really don't have any kind of Marketplace , so a lot of the main tone partners have been affected by that
 
Elric said:
I can agree with this. I wouldn't expect anything non-plugin related to happen for the next couple of years in QC land. If you can't live with that keep on not buying one.

Anything not plugin related that does manage to squeeze in feels like a bonus from that perspective. :p Owning all of the plugins doesn't hurt either...

Their mode of operation is very clear and has been consistent for a couple years now. They are methodically making QoL updates, fixes, etc; and trying make good on their PCOM commitment. Not expecting a lot of major new device models. This should surprise no one here.

It's primarily a captures first device, IME. I don't care much about new amp models, TBH. They're hardly needed. If they are going to do new 'device' models, they should focus on FX. That is something where they are not completely competitive in their price range.

I'm much more in favor of the data management improvements, etc, than new amp models. That was an absolute nightmare on the first FW. The subfolders thing has been awesome, f.ex. Side chaining is great, really awesome addition for gates, etc. They've done a bunch of stuff like this along with recent updates but people scorekeeping here don't notice it because they are just commenting on the thing not using it.
Click to expand...

I've acknowledged multiple times that they've improved the workflow/QoL since I last owned it. In fact, I'd say they've done more to improve their UI/UX in the past year or two than Fractal, who have lots of low-hanging fruit things they could implement on the current gen of hardware but choose not to.

That being said, "their mode of operation is very clear and consistent" is farcical. They have repeatedly said TINA will enable faster, better guitar amp modeling. That's hardly "We're clearly communicating to you all not to expect much that isn't related to PCOM."
 
For you folks in here that actually have or have used a QC (or NC) what have you found are some of the most dynamic amps? Ones that go from pretty clean to pretty heavy just using the guitar volume knob (boost/OD allowed).
 
Last edited:
deadpool_25 said:
For you folks in here that actually have or have used a QC (or NC) what have you found are some of the most dynamic amps? Ones that go from pretty clean to pretty heavy just using the guitar volume knob (boost/OD allowed).
Click to expand...
The Victor Squid does that from what I've tested; that's using the same amp block. Not sure about the others though - maybe the BE-100 in there might do it too on the Rhythm channel.
 
GTR37 said:
the biggest issue NDSP has is that PCOM, if they stay at the rate of 2 of them every 4 -6 months , that's going to be a long long road .
Click to expand...
TBH, this isn't the biggest issue for me. They've got plenty of amps in the thing.

The biggest issue for me is trying to integrate it into a larger setup. It is simply too noisy when compared to the other units, to be able to effectively do this. The gain staging when using the send/return I/O is extremely annoying, and it isn't very transparent. Put a drive pedal in there and you just don't get the same signal quality that you do when you plug into the pedal directly.

And then there's the output of the unit itself. It is very quiet compared to Helix and Axe3. Which means plugging it into an audio interface or a poweramp, you end up having to push the levels.

Both of these add additional noise to the entire system, and it is quite annoying. I don't think their hardware engineering is all it is cracked up to be.

As ever, the Axe3 absolutely kills it when it comes to pure quality.

BUT ... the QC is really really fun to use, the built in amps are great, the fact you can run at least 4 captures in every patch is great, and their effects are good enough to get the job done; the Mind Hall and Lush Plate reverbs save the day when it comes to reverbs, the delays are good, but nothing special. The pitch effects are decent.

It's like... there isn't any one single stand out thing about the QC where I can say, I think it is THE BEST ... but as an experience, it really holds itself together.
 
Orvillain said:
It's like... there isn't any one single stand out thing about the QC where I can say, I think it is THE BEST ... but as an experience, it really holds itself together.
Click to expand...
It's frustrating when that is the case.

I think the Hotone Ampero 2 Stomp is very similar in this regard where none of its fx or amp models are the best by any measure, but it's all "good enough" with a good computer editor and very good onboard user interface.

It's just harder to forgive those problems when the Quad Cortex is about 3.5x the price of the Hotone.

But similarly, I have a hard time looking at the new Fractal VP4's dated user interface and feel I want to pay over 900 euros for it, even though I know it would likely do everything my way more expensive pedalboard does, and obviously do way better fx than the Hotone.

I do think there is still one stand out thing on the QC: its ability to run multiple captures in a single preset. There's no other unit on the market that does that afaik. Whether this is relevant to most users is a whole another question though.
 
laxu said:
It's frustrating when that is the case.

I think the Hotone Ampero 2 Stomp is very similar in this regard where none of its fx or amp models are the best by any measure, but it's all "good enough" with a good computer editor and very good onboard user interface.

It's just harder to forgive those problems when the Quad Cortex is about 3.5x the price of the Hotone.

But similarly, I have a hard time looking at the new Fractal VP4's dated user interface and feel I want to pay over 900 euros for it, even though I know it would likely do everything my way more expensive pedalboard does, and obviously do way better fx than the Hotone.

I do think there is still one stand out thing on the QC: its ability to run multiple captures in a single preset. There's no other unit on the market that does that afaik. Whether this is relevant to most users is a whole another question though.
Click to expand...
I really like the ability to add more than one capture, and I may not have purchased the QC if it didn’t have that ability. I have always just used my physical Maxon OD because I just liked it better than any OD model I’ve tried (even if it were just a sliver better, or in my head, idk). I captured it with the QC last night and it sounds damn near identical, and now I’ve taken my physical OD out and everything is in the QC.
 
Orvillain said:
TBH, this isn't the biggest issue for me. They've got plenty of amps in the thing.

The biggest issue for me is trying to integrate it into a larger setup. It is simply too noisy when compared to the other units, to be able to effectively do this. The gain staging when using the send/return I/O is extremely annoying, and it isn't very transparent. Put a drive pedal in there and you just don't get the same signal quality that you do when you plug into the pedal directly.

And then there's the output of the unit itself. It is very quiet compared to Helix and Axe3. Which means plugging it into an audio interface or a poweramp, you end up having to push the levels.

Both of these add additional noise to the entire system, and it is quite annoying. I don't think their hardware engineering is all it is cracked up to be.

As ever, the Axe3 absolutely kills it when it comes to pure quality.

BUT ... the QC is really really fun to use, the built in amps are great, the fact you can run at least 4 captures in every patch is great, and their effects are good enough to get the job done; the Mind Hall and Lush Plate reverbs save the day when it comes to reverbs, the delays are good, but nothing special. The pitch effects are decent.

It's like... there isn't any one single stand out thing about the QC where I can say, I think it is THE BEST ... but as an experience, it really holds itself together.
Click to expand...
I think the noise issue is a valid thing especially if trying to integrate with other gear
Even the nano cortex seems to be of the same design
That is frankly ridiculous that people have to spend $550 then have to purchase and I spot , cioks, canvas isolated power supply

So yes in that aspect I agree the hardware design is not the best , as that does not happen w Fractal , Line6
Kemper , Headrush etc and I honestly thought they would have learned fromQC and not made the same mistake going fwd w Nano but looks like not
 
mikah912 said:
I've acknowledged multiple times that they've improved the workflow/QoL since I last owned it. In fact, I'd say they've done more to improve their UI/UX in the past year or two than Fractal, who have lots of low-hanging fruit things they could implement on the current gen of hardware but choose not to.
Click to expand...
"More UI progress than Fractal" is what I would call an understatement. :D

mikah912 said:
That being said, "their mode of operation is very clear and consistent" is farcical. They have repeatedly said TINA will enable faster, better guitar amp modeling. That's hardly "We're clearly communicating to you all not to expect much that isn't related to PCOM."
Click to expand...
Elric never said NDSP's communications were clear or accurate; he said their actual M.O. is clear and consistent. It's good we have a couple of years of empirical evidence to draw on - whether that means steering clear or embracing the product for what it is.
 
GTR37 said:
I think the noise issue is a valid thing especially if trying to integrate with other gear
...
That is frankly ridiculous that people have to spend $550 then have to purchase and I spot , cioks, canvas isolated power supply
Click to expand...
I'm still - after years of talking about it - not convinced that the one thing implies the other. Has anyone observed a noise problem and then quantifiably corrected that problem by dumping money into an alternate power supply?

If I had to hazard an (admittedly ignorant) guess, I'd say the noise floor has more to do with the reduced footprint of both QC and NC. When you put 10 lbs of shit in a 5 lb bag... induction gonna induce. (Also: 2 prong AC, but this is not unique to QC/NC.)
 
mbenigni said:
I'm still - after years of talking about it - not convinced that the one thing implies the other. Has anyone observed a noise problem and then quantifiably corrected that problem by dumping money into an alternate power supply?

If I had to hazard an (admittedly ignorant) guess, I'd say the noise floor has more to do with the reduced footprint of both QC and NC. When you put 10 lbs of shit in a 5 lb bag... induction gonna induce. (Also: 2 prong AC, but this is not unique to QC/NC.)
Click to expand...
Yes apparently when they buy the coiks or canvas the noise is gone , at least what the FB users are saying
You may right on the size of chassis and just the general spacing available on the PCB

It like with a tube amp you generally try to get the transformer far enough away from the input jack
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

N
Captured an Engl Savage 120 with the Quad Cortex today
Replies
0
Views
225
nightlight
N
E
Live Ready Sound Quad cortex preset with 8 amp captures as way to buy capture pack
Replies
9
Views
410
Deadpan
Deadpan
N
Neural DSP Quad Cortex doubler on real amp: Aristides 060 into Engl Savage 120
Replies
5
Views
471
timbuck3
timbuck3
N
Neural DSP Quad Cortex is really growing on me, just the (Gojira) 5150 is worth the price of admission imo
2
Replies
23
Views
2K
mbenigni
mbenigni
N
How is the Quad Cortex for bass? Playing through a bunch of Neural bass presets
Replies
2
Views
401
nightlight
N
Back
Top