NDSP Quad Cortex

[Mongillo19]

Yeah I hear a lot of people talking shit about touch screens and "poo switches" (which is actually pretty funny), but I feel like they make the QC incredibly easy to use. I don't even have the editor installed on my computer. I keep forgetting it even exists tbh.

I honestly never jived with the QC editor. I had a hard time telling what effects were active or not and then just like on the QC if I made a change I would tap outside the parameters box and it would revert back to what was initially there

The QC is infinitely easier to use than FAS devices but flip side I think people overstate how hard the fractal is to use

 

[AFKAEjay(retired)]

Despite the massive update history of other brands, when I would buy again, and judge units on what they do today, I’d go for the QC again. So, for my requirement list they did something right from the start, or with the releases since then.
Sure…I have my wishlist for the QC, but even if those never get fulfilled I expect to use the QC for years to come.

Personally I don’t think they are gonna abandon development of free updates.They simply have to stay competitive to other units in the same price range, and the competition won’t be sitting still. Unless the whole market shifts to some kind of “pay for functions”…

 

[Mikael Dez]

I like this guy's series on the QC, it's nice for my ape-brain

 

[Jarick]

I actually think their slate of amp models is competitive, for the most part.

Admittedly, there's no Dumble or Orange, but most every other amp family is well accounted for. Multiple Fenders, 5150/5153 and Mesa Boogie amps are there, and unlike Line 6 - they mostly model this stuff with all switches/modes/options from the jump. Helix, by comparison, still has just one channel/mode of Dual Rectifier after all this time. The Helix Mark IV models all of the channels but is missing all of the switches.

The QC effects are most definitely a problem, but it's super clear that past assurances of "We'll keep expanding content forever" or "If you think we intend to put future development behind a paywall, nothing could be further from the truth" were.....let's be charitable and say they were inaccurate.

But combining profiling with their modeling proved to be a stroke of genius because they'll always have "new content" - it's just that it's user-generated.

Agreed, I do think they could use with some more variety in amps but right now it has the basics well covered.

For me the big issue was delays and reverbs. The modulation effects are pretty solid as are the drive pedals, but I really want things like the Space Echo and better/more realistic reverbs. Some other stuff too.

Also if I had some tube amps and pedals I loved, I would try a lot harder to make the QC work for me. Capturing those and integrating into an all in one rig would be killer.

I'm super happy with my QC/VP4 setup. The QC's amp tones are fantastic IMO and I can find absolutely any tone I could want. There are amps I wished were in the Fractalverse but weren't. I've found good captures of all of them.

I kinda wish they'd do more/faster with PCOM but I'm not sure why I care so much at this point. Like I want them to do Cali but in the meantime I could just make a few captures. Or download them...I'm sure they're on the cloud...actually never mind I just grabbed 4 presets and 6 captures in less than 2 minutes.

Yeah the effects, while pretty good imo, are lacking compared to Fractal. They're good enough that I didn't need the VP4 but it is certainly value added. Now I feel super satisfied with my digital rig.

Yeah I'm spoiled that I just play at home so don't have to worry about transportation. QC's benefits from a hardware side are much lower in that case when I prefer the sound of Fractal effects. I've been intrigued by the Nano (or Tonex) now that I have an amp worth capturing, but also I have the amp and a reactive load I can just run with the Fractal.

So for me, again I still really dig the QC, I just wish they would make it more of a killer device, and I have stuff that I like more.

 

[deadpool_25]

The QC is infinitely easier to use than FAS devices but flip side I think people overstate how hard the fractal is to use

Yup. People exaggerate literally everything.

 

[deadpool_25]

I like this guy's series on the QC, it's nice for my ape-brain

Yeah I like that guy's channel. No annoying intros, no beating you over the head with like/sub requests...basically none of the shit that annoys me on YouTube these days. Just good, informative content.

Yeah I'm spoiled that I just play at home so don't have to worry about transportation. QC's benefits from a hardware side are much lower in that case when I prefer the sound of Fractal effects. I've been intrigued by the Nano (or Tonex) now that I have an amp worth capturing, but also I have the amp and a reactive load I can just run with the Fractal.

So for me, again I still really dig the QC, I just wish they would make it more of a killer device, and I have stuff that I like more.

Understandable. I also only play at home but my guitar rig is in a different room from my PC. I've been procrastinating on updating the VP4 because I need to bring the pedalboard "all the way" into the other room (it's like 10 lbs and 30' to give a clue into the depth of my laziness).

I've had an Axe FX II, an FM3, and an FM9. None of them have been truly perfect (close though) but all of them have been great. I have a QC and while that's not perfect either, it's also great.

I feel like the QC/VP4 gives me the best combination for me in terms of sound, size, and capabilities. At least for now.

With all that said, I vastly prefer Fractal as a company to NDSP. That's not to say I dislike NDSP overall. Describing them I'd say, "they do some some pretty annoying things and seem pretty slow to make updates and deliver on promises, but they make some products I really like." Describing Fractal it's more like, "I fucking love that company."

But actual use cases are where the rubber meets the road and for my current use case the QC/VP4 setup is killer.

 

[Mongillo19]

Yup. People exaggerate literally everything.

 

[deadpool_25]

Hahah. I didn't mean it as a jab at you, though I understand how it couldve been taken that way. Sorry!

It was me typing that as you say, people exaggerate the issues with all modelers. Like how people complain that it's nearly impossible to use the Fractal on-unit interface to edit when it ain't that hard.

And then it just turned into me making it an ironic joke. Clearly not a good one lol.

 

[Mikael Dez]

Quad Cortex Development Update #56

This article covers the upcoming CorOS 3.1.1 update, which will include ESS Codec support, and previews what’s planned for CorOS 3.2.0.

neuraldsp.com

 

[2dor]

Metronome!!! Finally!

 

[GTR37]

Still sounds like a bit of a wait
New Codec in June
Then update shortly after so July / August likely

 

[Lysander]

Quad Cortex Development Update #56

This article covers the upcoming CorOS 3.1.1 update, which will include ESS Codec support, and previews what’s planned for CorOS 3.2.0.

neuraldsp.com

Wow, the QC now has a new audio codec chip Board revisions are very common in the electronics world, but this one is significant enough that it changes I/O features.

 

[Mongillo19]

Hahah. I didn't mean it as a jab at you, though I understand how it couldve been taken that way. Sorry!

It was me typing that as you say, people exaggerate the issues with all modelers. Like how people complain that it's nearly impossible to use the Fractal on-unit interface to edit when it ain't that hard.

And then it just turned into me making it an ironic joke. Clearly not a good one lol.

I thought it was a good joke for what it's worth

 

[Mikael Dez]

Wow, the QC now has a new audio codec chip Board revisions are very common in the electronics world, but this one is significant enough that it changes I/O features.

View attachment 43851

INB4 the new dweebs who buy a QC corksniff at the old chip

 

[Mongillo19]

Atleast they are adding an additional plugin? Bummer no new amps or effects.

The discord has been having a meltdown tho

 

[Mikael Dez]

Atleast they are adding an additional plugin? Bummer no new amps or effects.

The discord has been having a meltdown tho

Every 3 minutes those asshats have been asking if there's any news lately lol

 

[deadpool_25]

I should be happy about the Cory Wong X being added ("soon" ) because I've had that one for a long time. I never use it though. I can't even remember why I bought it. Must've been a big sale. And I was probably drunk.

 

[Mikael Dez]

I was probably drunk.

Are you me?

 

[Mongillo19]

I should be happy about the Cory Wong X being added ("soon" ) because I've had that one for a long time. I never use it though. I can't even remember why I bought it. Must've been a big sale. And I was probably drunk.

I wonder if they pushed his along since he's been touring with the QC. Obviously Rabea has been a huge advocate for it but with the Synth block, I think it adds a challenge

 

[Mikael Dez]

I wonder if they pushed his along since he's been touring with the QC. Obviously Rabea has been a huge advocate for it but with the Synth block, I think it adds a challenge

That synth block, and Petrucci’s acoustic amp are the only devices I’m seriously looking forward to. I have too much fun with that synth lol