NDSP Quad Cortex

[Jarick]

I get the point about the company but the device itself is used by enough professional and touring people to make the first part of that literally incorrect. But I still understand your general feelings in that regard. IJS

Hey man, don't rain on the parade of non-QC users taking their victory laps!

 

[Jarick]

Whenever I get tripped up with a looper (including the QC's), it turns out to be some synchronization setting I've forgotten to disable. Have you looked into that on the AxeFX III?

100%, specifically with the Fractal you need to disable hold functionality on the FC to properly loop. It's annoying.

 

[mbenigni]

100%, specifically with the Fractal you need to disable hold functionality on the FC to properly loop. It's annoying.

That was going to be my next guess (hold vs. momentary or press vs. release), but my fingers got tired.

 

[Orvillain]

Whenever I get tripped up with a looper (including the QC's), it turns out to be some synchronization setting I've forgotten to disable. Have you looked into that on the AxeFX III?

Yeah did all that. I'll have another look some time. It aint my focus right now. If I want loop and jam, I just grab my DD-8 at the mo.

 

[Orvillain]

100%, specifically with the Fractal you need to disable hold functionality on the FC to properly loop. It's annoying.

What, completely... or just for the specific switch?? Because AFAIK, the default layout doesn't have a hold modifier on any of the looper buttons.

 

[Jarick]

What, completely... or just for the specific switch?? Because AFAIK, the default layout doesn't have a hold modifier on any of the looper buttons.

I dunno, you may want to mess around with it.

Are you trying to use the far right switches? I think there's the hold both far right switches to select layout feature that messes things up. Maybe try a different switch if that's the case?

 

[JiveTurkey]

I dunno, you may want to mess around with it.

Are you trying to use the far right switches? I think there's the hold both far right switches to select layout feature that messes things up. Maybe try a different switch if that's the case?

Absolutely. Check those layouts for hold, just in case.

 

[Orvillain]

I vill czech.

 

[deadpool_25]

I understand your point also. But just bear in mind I'm speaking for myself here. Not for everyone else.

There are pretty unacceptable issues with the Quad Cortex when it comes to integrating it into a wider rig. Most of the artists I've seen who use the Quad Cortex - one of my favourites being a band called The Ocean - are using it as a standalone device, where most of the issues I am talking about are drastically minimized. You simply wouldn't notice how poor the signal quality is unless you were running 4-cable-method, or integrating external pedals into the FX loops.

Even the guys around here who do that have corroborated my view.

At various times in the past couple of years, I've had the Helix, Boss GT1000, Axe FX III, Kemper, and Quad Cortex, side-by-side in various combinations, along with a raft of pedals, and I can honestly say that the Quad Cortex is the nosiest bit of equipment I've ever tried to use with a valve amp. It simply is not professional enough in that context.

It doesn't really factor into my assessment the fact that a band can tour with the unit, plug in the main outs into the FOH, and route the other outputs to their IEM's and play a show. That isn't my world, and the fact it can do it is irrelevant to me.

And it really is a shame. Because algorithmically, I think it sounds great. Not as good as the Axe FX III, but better than the Helix in many cases. The stock effects were not even that bad, there just wasn't enough variety. Being able to load plugins on it is really cool, and I did enjoy running the plugins I own on it. It was a shame that not everything I owned was already supported - considering the device launched in 2020. That was five years ago if we're counting.

The looper block is genuinely really good. They nailed that. To this day, I'm still not sure if I'm a shit guitarist, or if the Axe FX III and default FC12 layout is buggy or what. I don't know. But I rarely seem to get a good loop using the Axe III and FC12; whereas with the QC I did. With the Flashback X4 I did. With the DD500 I did. Kinda strange.

Ultimately, I think they made a consumer device. Not a professional one. Which is fine. There is space - arguably most of it at this point - for consumer electronics. But I think Fractal wipe the floor with it just for raw circuitry and understanding of digital audio conversion and how to best optimize it to reduce noise, aliasing, and harmonic distortion.

Gotcha. Fractal is far more thoughtful in terms of multiple use cases and such. Cliff is pure fucking genius in this arena. It almost seems unfair.

The QC does seem more targeted at using it almost exclusively as a standalone device. The bands I've seen using them have been using them that way....wait. Now that I think about it, Rabea is using his in a hybrid rig. Wonder if he's having/ignoring noise issues or if he did something to solve them. I can't even remember if I tried to run the QC through my EVH head when I still had the EVH.

I love the QC as it fits my current needs quite well. Form factor, great sounds, pretty easy to use to get what I want, and I do love the ability to use the plugins it has now. Half the time I'll just load up a factory Gojira X preset and roll with it.

Anyway, I definitely understand no piece of gear is gonna work for everyone. I loved my FM9 as well.

 

[Orvillain]

Wonder if he's having/ignoring noise issues or if he did something to solve them.

Think he's probably just rolling with it coz he aint as anal as me.

 

[fiftyshadesofslay]

Gotcha. Fractal is far more thoughtful in terms of multiple use cases and such. Cliff is pure fucking genius in this arena. It almost seems unfair.

The QC does seem more targeted at using it almost exclusively as a standalone device. The bands I've seen using them have been using them that way....wait. Now that I think about it, Rabea is using his in a hybrid rig. Wonder if he's having/ignoring noise issues or if he did something to solve them. I can't even remember if I tried to run the QC through my EVH head when I still had the EVH.

I love the QC as it fits my current needs quite well. Form factor, great sounds, pretty easy to use to get what I want, and I do love the ability to use the plugins it has now. Half the time I'll just load up a factory Gojira X preset and roll with it.

Anyway, I definitely understand no piece of gear is gonna work for everyone. I loved my FM9 as well.

I think he realised that he works with both an amp company and a modelling company and thought “damn, got to make this stupid hybrid rig work somehow or I’ll be out of a job”