NDSP Quad Cortex

[laxu]

I know us FAS fans love constant updates but it's not needed . The QC has just about everything you'd need. Id say everything but obviously it's not the case for everyone.

Are more amps and effects cool? Absolutely, and when you compare it to the competition, it is lacking. But in its current state, its more than capable. Add in the capture side of things and it somewhat covers missing amps. I know a capture isn't the same as a full model but QC owners can play a Badlander equivalent on their QC, something people have been wishing for since the Badlander launch in the fractal world.

I feel we are a tad too harsh on the QC at times. They deserve the eye rolls but it is a good sounding device with plenty going for it.

It's the other effects selection and quality that I have more complaints about. Drives and amps could be easily augmented with captures from day one. But I was not happy with the mod, delay, reverb sections of the QC when put head to head against the Helix or Fractal back when I had it on release. The list of those has grown, but I don't think they have updated the quality?

https://neuraldsp.com/device-list has a good number of "announced but not released" devices, and it seems they have even replaced some drive/amp models with just captures?

Considering the ~3.5x price of the QC vs my Hotone A2 Stomp, the list of models on offer are not too far off. While especially amp/cab models are better on the QC, I feel like the Hotone punches above its price range, while the QC feels like it's not quite delivering for the money.

The two companies are also similar in a way, where you just don't know what either are going to do, or when.

 

[Warmart]

Good thing that QC isn’t taking a backseat to plugins. Almost thought NDSP was going to do their usual ‘say one thing, do another’ approach with it after PCOM came to be, but they’ve done nothing but prove me wrong! Those QC updates have been astounding!

I could be wrong, but they have to convert plugins to "X" so they can be ported to the QC. For what that's worth, lol - I'm happy as shit with Nameless, the only one I own that isn't ported is Granophyre.

 

[mbenigni]

But the same is true of an HX Stomp. I'm not dropping $1700 for "close" or "just about everything". To me, a flagship floor modeler should be it.

Considering the ~3.5x price of the QC vs my Hotone A2 Stomp, the list of models on offer are not too far off.

I don't think of the $1700 price tag as being proportional to the variety of content at all. That's just not the point for me. $1700 is a reasonable price because of the ease of use, extensive I/O, and flexible routing. You're not gonna get anything comparable south of a Helix Floor or FM9. That puts prices in the same ballpark. Meanwhile the HX amps and cabs don't (IMO) sound as good, and neither the Helix nor the FM9 are nearly as easy to use.

So $1700... yes, that stings a little. But there's no alternative that does the job as gracefully. Yet.

 

[mikah912]

I could be wrong, but they have to convert plugins to "X" so they can be ported to the QC. For what that's worth, lol - I'm happy as shit with Nameless, the only one I own that isn't ported is Granophyre.

Granophyre, unfortunately, isn't on their porting schedule at all. They have 10, I think, that haven't been announced, and I believe won't be gotten to until 2026.

Since they don't seem to be able to convert more than two per major firmware update, that would put the completion of plugin conversion likely around 2028.

Always fun when a device finally offers the features promised before launch eight years later!

 

[mikah912]

I don't think of the $1700 price tag as being proportional to the variety of content at all. That's just not the point for me. $1700 is a reasonable price because of the ease of use, extensive I/O, and flexible routing. You're not gonna get anything comparable south of a Helix Floor or FM9. That puts prices in the same ballparl. Meanwhile the HX amps and cabs don't (IMO) sound as good, and neither the LT nor the FM9 are nearly as easy to use.

So $1700... yes, that stings a little. But there's no alternative that does the job as gracefully. Yet.

Very well-said. I love that it ticks your boxes (and so many other people's).

Honestly, the content thing is just a self-inflicted wound. Had they set no expectations by NOT listing all of the content that was going to launch (but didn't) and by NOT promising any plugin conversion at all prior to launch, the conversation around the device would be very different.

My take on it, however, isn't based on groupthink or dashed expectations. I butted my head against the stuff missing when I owned it, and I really only needed the company self-clowning, then refusing to engage directly in public dialogue to push me off the ownership ledge.

I'm certainly not going to pretend there aren't compromises with an FM9. There are! But I can bridge the comparative lack of "ease of use" with smart preset/scene management and preparation before a gig. I can't bridge the lack of effects on QC I use regularly at all.

Also, the HX stuff is in a really, really good place sonically as of 3.8. I still don't bother much with their cabs, but York Audio IRs work on every device.....

 

[Elric]

It's the other effects selection and quality that I have more complaints about. Drives and amps could be easily augmented with captures from day one.

Agree. No one who has kept the unit is bent about 'missing' amps or rate of development for new amps/drives because they either use it as a captures first device or they have settled on some core amp/drive models and are good.

In capture land, if I want a 'new' amp or drive, all I've got to do is go to the cortex cloud and search for whatever I'm interested in. So really you can get 'new stuff' on demand from a device like this, if you need Fractal-levels of novelty/churn and you are capture-tolerant.

Agree that FX development would be biggest bang for the buck for existing users, as LaXu notes. I don't do tons of deep FX, but I can understand why some folks might say this is not at the level of FAS/Helix. I mostly stick to some core FX on this and the FAS units and don't feel like the QC is super inadequate for that kind of deal.

 

[deadpool_25]

To be fair, it probably won't be available to use on a Quad Cortex until then either given that it's at least three major firmware updates away.

He said 2025, not 2052.

 

[Stone]

what are these captures that are on demand on the cloud ? Just amps and effects or complete chains ?
Say I wanted a complete chain of In example Black Sabbath the mob rules, how do you go about finding that specific tone and chain?

 

[Mongillo19]

what are these captures that are on demand on the cloud ? Just amps and effects or complete chains ?
Say I wanted a complete chain of In example Black Sabbath the mob rules, how do you go about finding that specific tone and chain?

There are captures of individual amp heads, amp head and cab, and pedals.

There are also presets that include any block the QC has to offer.

Depends on if you are after a specific amp or preset. Also, I can't think of many any modeling repository that is going to be as specific as you mentioned with your Black Sabbath criteria. Id recommend just looking up what amps they use and go from there. If it's not available as a model, search for a capture of it.

I do see there is a preset that is on the axe exchange but have fun with a Axe Fx II patch from 2014

 

[deadpool_25]

Id recommend just looking up what amps they use and go from there. If it's not available as a model, search for a capture of it.

This.

 

[paisleywookiee]

Petrucci X has to be made first. I think Nolly and Cory Wong next.

Looks like Cory Wong first, unless they're being developed in parallel.

Through a Shure GLXD16 wireless system, Wong runs his guitar into his Neural DSP Quad Cortex, which runs a beta version of his Archetype: Cory Wong plugin, based off of a melding of a Dumble and a Fender Twin. The signal hits an onboard envelope filter and rarely used pitch shifter, then exits out the effects loop into a Wampler Cory Wong Compressor, Jackson Audio The Optimist, and a Hotone Wong Press. The signal goes back into the Quad Cortex, where there’s a preset phaser, stereo tape delay, and modulated reverb, plus a freeze effect. Two XLR outs run to front of house, while two run to Wong’s Mission Engineering Gemini 2 stereo cabinet.

 

[Jynx]

Looks like Cory Wong first, unless they're being developed in parallel.

I think they're releasing two at a time so it should be both together.

 

[paisleywookiee]

I think they're releasing two at a time so it should be both together.

I think it's interesting and pretty cool it's good enough in beta for Cory to tour with.

 

[mikah912]

I think they're releasing two at a time so it should be both together.

Yup. they're both scheduled for CorOS 3.3: https://quadcortex.wiki/PCOM_Schedule

 

[mbenigni]

what are these captures that are on demand on the cloud ? Just amps and effects or complete chains ?

Yes.

Say I wanted a complete chain of In example Black Sabbath the mob rules, how do you go about finding that specific tone and chain?

When you find out, let me know! (If you find a good Sabbath Bloody Sabbath preset, I'll cut you a check LOL.)

As for the advice that you find out e.g. what gear Tony was using and look for captures of those, bear in mind that using similar gear is only half the battle, probably less. Determining how that gear was dialed in, what additional effects were applied in post, etc. can be challenging.

 

[Stone]

There are captures of individual amp heads, amp head and cab, and pedals.

There are also presets that include any block the QC has to offer.

Depends on if you are after a specific amp or preset. Also, I can't think of many any modeling repository that is going to be as specific as you mentioned with your Black Sabbath criteria. Id recommend just looking up what amps they use and go from there. If it's not available as a model, search for a capture of it.

I do see there is a preset that is on the axe exchange but have fun with a Axe Fx II patch from 2014

Ahh no it could be anything just used that as an example as for me I make my own on my FM9 was just curious as to how the qc cloud and captures function

 

[GTR37]

Yup. they're both scheduled for CorOS 3.3: https://quadcortex.wiki/PCOM_Schedule

I bet 3.4 reallys f****

 

[deadpool_25]

Yup. they're both scheduled for CorOS 3.3: https://quadcortex.wiki/PCOM_Schedule

You know, looking at that schedule, what does "P-I" mean? I wonder if they could release the next five all in the next update but are choosing to slow roll them.

 

[Jynx]

You know, looking at that schedule, what does "P-I" mean? I wonder if they could release the next five all in the next update but are choosing to slow roll them.

Plugin probably.

 

[laxu]

Yup. they're both scheduled for CorOS 3.3: https://quadcortex.wiki/PCOM_Schedule

How the hell are they picking which ones to convert?

You'd think it would be easier to start with their latest plugins (closest to whatever QC needs), or at least most popular ones which I assume would be e.g Petrucci.