NDSP Quad Cortex

[Mongillo19]

I don't know about "killing it" per se. Depends on exactly what we mean by "killing it" (and in what time frame.) Will the Stadium better the QC? In many ways, yes. But I also think the QC has its own strengths, and there's enough space in the marketplace for both to coexist. The main problem is how/ whether NDSP will be able to price the QC to compete once Stadium Floor starts pulling its sales.

Yeah as DP mentioned above, we often hear people claim "product killer" for new units.

However, in most instances units still have pros and cons that differ.

I do believe the Helix Stadium line overlaps with the QC enough that it will be the closest to a "killer" as we've seen. The stadium (non XL) is a smaller size, does both profiling and modeling, touchscreen, easy to use. All things that were "unique" to the QC at launch.

QC still has the rotary encoders, PCOM (kinda?), and even more compact, and perhaps more flexible patches?

Id like to think the stadium will light a fire under NDSP but I'm not so sure

 

[Orvillain]

Death Reigns.

 

[paisleywookiee]

But I also think the QC has its own strengths,

What’s that? Making you wait longer, so the release is sweeter and feels so good?

 

[Los-D]

 

[Orvillain]

 

[mikah912]

However many other mistakes NDSP makes, the Quad Cortex should survive for one pretty important reason: It's not a Helix or Helix Stadium Floor.

It's the alternative, just as a bespoke plugin approach is the (pricey) alternative to a single all-encompassing suite like Helix Native.

For better or worse, lots of people have made up their mind on Line 6 products as a whole, and while Stadium will make more than a few re-examine that.....the rest aren't reachable. For those, there is still just one combo that offers ample processing power, modeling, capture, and extensive multi-effects in a single compact package.

 

[Orvillain]

 

[JiveTurkey]

However many other mistakes NDSP makes, the Quad Cortex should survive for one pretty important reason: It's not a Helix or Helix Stadium Floor.

It's the alternative, just as a bespoke plugin approach is the (pricey) alternative to a single all-encompassing suite like Helix Native.

For better or worse, lots of people have made up their mind on Line 6 products as a whole, and while Stadium will make more than a few re-examine that.....the rest aren't reachable. For those, there is still just one combo that offers ample processing power, modeling, capture, and extensive multi-effects in a single compact package.

 

[Whizzinby]

The QC will do fine. It’s still the sleekest device out there and they’ve captured a large pocket of the non-old-fart-prog-djent-IG markets. Their dev focus on plugins also leans into those markets even further.

I even wonder if some portion of their base is particularly interested in “legacy” brands. Tones are only half the battle. If Showcase ends up delivering, I’d be curious if that might attract some of the dudes running fully automated sets, but otherwise I’m not sure tones alone are going to drive anyone from their platform of choice.

 

[JiveTurkey]

Neck Tattoo screensaver player capability is a big plus

 

[mikah912]

View attachment 53821

Processing power is low-key buns.

 

[JiveTurkey]

Processing power is low-key buns.

Powered By Potatoes™

 

[mikah912]

The QC will do fine. It’s still the sleekest device out there and they’ve captured a large pocket of the non-old-fart-prog-djent-IG markets. Their dev focus on plugins also leans into those markets even further.

I even wonder if some portion of their base is particularly interested in “legacy” brands. Tones are only half the battle. If Showcase ends up delivering, I’d be curious if that might attract some of the dudes running fully automated sets, but otherwise I’m not sure tones alone are going to drive anyone from their platform of choice.

Yeah, I forgot to mention they have a chokehold on the young-ish modern prog/metal/neo-soul audience. Lots of endorsers/Archetypes to sell it to them along with relentless advertising/brand deals.

 

[Mongillo19]

Yeah, I forgot to mention they have a chokehold on the young-ish modern prog/metal/neo-soul audience. Lots of endorsers/Archetypes to sell it to them along with relentless advertising/brand deals.

To be fair I don't think there is anything wrong with this. For example, people seem proud to know that Metallica, Def Leppard, etc use the same units they do (and rightfully so!)

With that said, I personally get more interest out of what bands that I listen to use (Trivium, Knocked Loose, etc) and in those scenarios, it's the QC.

Very well could be an age thing though

I don't think it's wrong either way

 

[mikah912]

To be fair I don't think there is anything wrong with this. For example, people seem proud to know that Metallica, Def Leppard, etc use the same units they do (and rightfully so!)

With that said, I personally get more interest out of what bands that I listen to use (Trivium, Knocked Loose, etc) and in those scenarios, it's the QC.

Very well could be an age thing though

I don't think it's wrong either way

Yeah, to be clear....it's effective marketing, and that's my day job. Line 6 seems to be targeting completely different (and broader) market segments, and that's fine too.

 

[synthpenguin]

If you're happy with the sound and features of the QC as it is, its smaller size and existing ecosystem can be pros for a lot of people.

If I had to choose, part of me would want to go Helix Stadium for the eventual better captures (unless NDSP does some sort of update here), for Line 6's excellent support track record (!), for the better UI and screen (by all accounts), and for the presumed better build quality / quality control (and warranty service), but on the other hand the smaller size, multiple instrument inputs (when compared to the non-XL Stadium), and better reverb would all be big real world pluses for me. Helix's reverb is still lacking imo, and some of their modulation is too, and it doesn't seem like that will change soon, and the Stadium's size would involve me really changing around how I set things up, and at the gain of a lot of features I probably would not end up using.

I think the eventual Stadium Stomp would easily win over the QC for people (like me) who don't necessarily want or need a big floor modeler, but until then the QC will still have its niche with new buyers, not to mention people already bought into the ecosystem. Right now, the QC hits a sweet spot for people who want something physically smaller, but need a bit more horsepower than the Stomp.

 

[mbenigni]

Yeah as DP mentioned above, we often hear people claim "product killer" for new units.

However, in most instances units still have pros and cons that differ.

I do believe the Helix Stadium line overlaps with the QC enough that it will be the closest to a "killer" as we've seen. The stadium (non XL) is a smaller size, does both profiling and modeling, touchscreen, easy to use. All things that were "unique" to the QC at launch.

QC still has the rotary encoders, PCOM (kinda?), and even more compact, and perhaps more flexible patches?

Id like to think the stadium will light a fire under NDSP but I'm not so sure

Agreed. (Except for the bit about more flexible patches. Stadium wins here by a considerable margin, due to multiple parallel paths per lane.)

 

[Los-D]

View attachment 53821

 

[mbenigni]

What’s that? Making you wait longer, so the release is sweeter and feels so good?

The secret is: don't bother waiting.

 

[mbenigni]

If you're happy with the sound and features of the QC as it is, its smaller size and existing ecosystem can be pros for a lot of people.

If I had to choose, part of me would want to go Helix Stadium for the eventual better captures (unless NDSP does some sort of update here), for Line 6's excellent support track record (!), for the better UI and screen (by all accounts), and for the presumed better build quality / quality control (and warranty service), but on the other hand the smaller size, multiple instrument inputs (when compared to the non-XL Stadium), and better reverb would all be big real world pluses for me. Helix's reverb is still lacking imo, and some of their modulation is too, and it doesn't seem like that will change soon, and the Stadium's size would involve me really changing around how I set things up, and at the gain of a lot of features I probably would not end up using.

One thing's for sure, though: NDSP won't get away with their absentee landlord routine for much longer. Not if the Helix team is as engaged as they were through the early years of the OG Helix. (Or right up to present, really.) I think Showcase is going to pull in a lot of customers once they start seeing the (many) practical applications, and if Line 6 continues to support with new features at their usual pace... it will be hard for anyone to ignore.