NDSP Quad Cortex

[Mikael Dez]

I for one can't wait for the blind shootout of QC1 and QC2

You won’t be able to tell the difference in a mix anyway /s

 

[jellodog]

It's funny that people think that something weird is going on with the changing of the codecs / converters.

This happens all the time when parts are no longer available.

For example, it happened to RME. They had to switch their RME ADI-2 DAC FS from AKM to ESS chips and codecs back in 2021.

 

[Lysander]

It's funny that people think that something weird is going on with the changing of the codecs / converters.

This happens all the time when parts are no longer available.

100%

My guess is that NDSP had no option but to announce it because, as mentioned in the FAQ, the new codec they chose actually changes I/O functionality.

 

[Mikael Dez]

Could the codec change be a reason for their slow updates? I have no business pretending to know what’s entailed with software/hardware development lol

 

[mikah912]

Could the codec change be a reason for their slow updates? I have no business pretending to know what’s entailed with software/hardware development lol

Think about it: No non-plugin content was announced aside from a metronome, but they had time to nail every model/device AND preset from Cory Wong X for this upcoming 3.2 firmware in additional to the same for Parallax X and Nolly X.

 

[Lysander]

Could the codec change be a reason for their slow updates? I have no business pretending to know what’s entailed with software/hardware development lol

Mostly guesswork, but: no, not likely. The QC is a glorified Linux box, where all it takes to support a codec chip is a new driver.

 

[Los-D]

Game Changer ??

 

[Orvillain]

RexSmegmus

 

[laxu]

Mostly guesswork, but: no, not likely. The QC is a glorified Linux box, where all it takes to support a codec chip is a new driver.

It will still require extensive testing, and those feature changes to the I/O settings. So it will take more time, but we are talking about a few developers and testers working on this, while the rest work on other stuff.

The plugin development seems to be the real beast for them. Is there even a payoff when all the existing plugins are done in like 2-3 years? They haven't put out much of anything new on the plugin front for ages. Even with regular 50% off sales and plugin compatibility with QC, there's only so much people are willing to buy.

Let's take a look at the features that were unique to the QC when it launched.

• Touchscreen user interface in a flagship modeler. That's now become a standard feature even on the budget end. it's only a matter of time until Line6 or Fractal releases a more user friendly modeler. QC still good.
• Processing power. QC can run more complex presets than many of its competitors. QC still good.
• Captures. Kemper used to be the only game in town. Now captures are found on much more affordable boxes, and Tonex even does them better than the QC. QC no longer unique.
• Captures + modeling. While the QC can run significantly more captures in a single preset, Hotone does the modeling + captures thing reasonably well. QC unique feature diminished.
• Form factor. Ampero 2 Stage is about the same size, A2 Stomp is much smaller. QC has a bigger touchscreen and way more encoders/footswitches, with the caveat that they are more cramped. QC unique feature diminished.

So a bit of a mixed bag.

 

[Jarick]

It will still require extensive testing, and those feature changes to the I/O settings. So it will take more time, but we are talking about a few developers and testers working on this, while the rest work on other stuff.

The plugin development seems to be the real beast for them. Is there even a payoff when all the existing plugins are done in like 2-3 years? They haven't put out much of anything new on the plugin front for ages. Even with regular 50% off sales and plugin compatibility with QC, there's only so much people are willing to buy.

Let's take a look at the features that were unique to the QC when it launched.

• Touchscreen user interface in a flagship modeler. That's now become a standard feature even on the budget end. it's only a matter of time until Line6 or Fractal releases a more user friendly modeler. QC still good.
• Processing power. QC can run more complex presets than many of its competitors. QC still good.
• Captures. Kemper used to be the only game in town. Now captures are found on much more affordable boxes, and Tonex even does them better than the QC. QC no longer unique.
• Captures + modeling. While the QC can run significantly more captures in a single preset, Hotone does the modeling + captures thing reasonably well. QC unique feature diminished.
• Form factor. Ampero 2 Stage is about the same size, A2 Stomp is much smaller. QC has a bigger touchscreen and way more encoders/footswitches, with the caveat that they are more cramped. QC unique feature diminished.

So a bit of a mixed bag.

The one killer feature though is running multiple captures which I don't think anyone else can do. So I could run a capture of a Greer Lightspeed into a capture of a Friedman JJ Junior, neither of which are available in any modeler. You can even do whole chains, so you can have a capture of say a Deluxe Reverb on one side, a capture of an AC30 on another, and then a chain of drive pedal captures out front. And I think captures run less DSP than modeled amps for instance.

 

[laxu]

The one killer feature though is running multiple captures which I don't think anyone else can do. So I could run a capture of a Greer Lightspeed into a capture of a Friedman JJ Junior, neither of which are available in any modeler. You can even do whole chains, so you can have a capture of say a Deluxe Reverb on one side, a capture of an AC30 on another, and then a chain of drive pedal captures out front. And I think captures run less DSP than modeled amps for instance.

Realistically, I don't think most people do that though, or they settle for an "all in one" capture with the drives included. It is a cool feature tho.

Personally I'd rather run a modeled drive pedal than a capture of a drive.

 

[Jarick]

Realistically, I don't think most people do that though, or they settle for an "all in one" capture with the drives included. It is a cool feature tho.

Personally I'd rather run a modeled drive pedal than a capture of a drive.

The P&W crowd loves to run dual amps and a lot of them were using dual Tonex.

I'm with you on drive pedals though, I captured a bunch of pedals and the models were close enough I never bothered. I'm not great at hearing those subtle differences maybe.

 

[AFKAEjay(retired)]

Realistically, I don't think most people do that though, or they settle for an "all in one" capture with the drives included. It is a cool feature tho.

Personally I'd rather run a modeled drive pedal than a capture of a drive.

The P&W crowd loves to run dual amps and a lot of them were using dual Tonex.

I'm with you on drive pedals though, I captured a bunch of pedals and the models were close enough I never bothered. I'm not great at hearing those subtle differences maybe.

I don’t use dual amps simultaneously, but I have 2 drive captures, 3 preamp captures (of 1 amp) and a poweramp capture in a kitchen sink preset…so at least one uses it
I don’t think I’d ever wanna go back to unit that can’t do that tbh. Not so much cause I think captures sound better, but because I like my digital setup to be exactly like my analog,#consistancyacrosssetups, really appreciate the combi of scenes/stomps..and…I never have to question if digital is “as good”, cause I can do that observation myself while capturing.

 

[mbenigni]

Power Consumption: Quad Cortex units with the new codec are more energy-efficient, reducing power consumption by up to 50%. However, the power requirements remain unchanged: 12V DC 3A (center negative), as marked on the chassis.

I don't know how you are supposed to interpret this. If the power requirements are the same, where is that power consumption benefit? Will it just stay a bit cooler in some area of the PCB?

I think it means that overall power consumption is reduced, but peak power requirements during some function (probably at boot time) remain high enough that the same minimum voltage/ current requirements need to be met by the PSU.

 

[mbenigni]

Live tuner in gig view, too Which i grew to love on Fractal, and i always wish Helix had.

I don't see why it has to be a half-measure like this though. The edit/ grid view could use an always-on tuner as well. Even if it had to be something tiny. When you're in grid view you're typically right on top of the QC anyway.

 

[Whizzinby]

 

[Mikael Dez]

I really am, though.

 

[norminal]

To be honest, it’s actually a nice metronome.

The integration with the looper is really cool.

 

[laxu]

To be honest, it’s actually a nice metronome.

View attachment 44179

The integration with the looper is really cool.

What kind of options does the Sound menu have? Like can it work as a crappy drum machine like the one on my Hotone can by playing a very short drum loop?

 

[norminal]

What kind of options does the Sound menu have? Like can it work as a crappy drum machine like the one on my Hotone can by playing a very short drum loop?

I don’t own a QC. My comment was based on what I read in the update notes. I haven’t dug into the manual yet, but I hear it has a good looper.