NDSP Quad Cortex

So I think the general consensus is that w amp captures you either like it or don't and that you should move on to a different one rather than use its eq or gain parameters in the block to tweak it. Is that sort of correct or nah? Is that why you will see a bunch of the same ones but slightly different settings?



Also maybe related but maybe not. Do you put an eq block after the amp block? Which one and what is your strategy w it?



I play through different cabs at shows and we never get long sound checks so adjusting an eq block is more feasible than trying a few different captures.
 
So I think the general consensus is that w amp captures you either like it or don't and that you should move on to a different one rather than use its eq or gain parameters in the block to tweak it. Is that sort of correct or nah? Is that why you will see a bunch of the same ones but slightly different settings?



Also maybe related but maybe not. Do you put an eq block after the amp block? Which one and what is your strategy w it?



I play through different cabs at shows and we never get long sound checks so adjusting an eq block is more feasible than trying a few different captures.
If I don’t like a capture I’ll move on right away, there are so many of them out there that I’d rather find the right one and really only tweak minimally. You can EQ the capture a bit so I’d probably try to tweak it at the amp block. You could always throw an eq after the amp just in case, but I’d do it after the amp!
 
So I think the general consensus is that w amp captures you either like it or don't and that you should move on to a different one rather than use its eq or gain parameters in the block to tweak it. Is that sort of correct or nah? Is that why you will see a bunch of the same ones but slightly different settings?



Also maybe related but maybe not. Do you put an eq block after the amp block? Which one and what is your strategy w it?



I play through different cabs at shows and we never get long sound checks so adjusting an eq block is more feasible than trying a few different captures.
Since the original tone stack is already baked into the capture, I like to think of the tone controls in the capture block as a post-amp EQ. It is very much like putting a very basic EQ pedal in the fx loop of an amp. It will help you sculpt or fine tune the capture, but you need to like the core tone of the capture first.

If you need even more granular control (more frequency bands), then an EQ block after the capture block will get you there.
 
So I think the general consensus is that w amp captures you either like it or don't and that you should move on to a different one rather than use its eq or gain parameters in the block to tweak it. Is that sort of correct or nah? Is that why you will see a bunch of the same ones but slightly different settings?

If a capture is close I don’t have any qualms about using its knobs to adjust things. If it sounds good I’m fine with it. I really don’t give a shit if it’s not accurate to how the real amp reacts. As long as I end up happy with the tone, I figure that’s the important part.

Also maybe related but maybe not. Do you put an eq block after the amp block? Which one and what is your strategy w it?

I’ll sometimes use some EQ after the amp. Maybe lowpass in the cab if I’m using my PXMs (which seem to get a little fizzy), and also a parametric EQ cutting around 400Hz which seems to reduce the little bit of boxiness those speakers have in comparison to a real cab or even my FR-12s. I may also cut around 4k. So kinda some super basic mixing tricks I guess?

I play through different cabs at shows and we never get long sound checks so adjusting an eq block is more feasible than trying a few different captures.

Makes sense to me. An EQ can just target specific issues much easier than the broader adjustments you might get from using the amp knobs or switching captures/models completely.
 
So, posting here since the Nano Cortex thread is mainly me posting…

I got a Nano last week and got to spend a little time with it this weekend. Really enjoying the whole package even if it’s quite limited (that’s actually what I was after).

Now I’d like some tips on who to follow and what captures to check out! Any members who are up for it? Please send me your recommendations and/or usernames here or via DM. :-)

I must say though that Neurals own V2 caps seem quite good. The Driftwood Purple Nightmare and Savage 120 caps I previewed sounded quite useable straight from the bat. No weird input levels or tweaking needed.

I also tried capturing my amp and coming from NAM and Tonex the experience was quite different. In just a little while I made three captures and could just get going. Having everything in one box is definitely a much more polished experience than Tonex… And it just sounds really close even though the Nano is still using V1 for capturing!

I’m going to wait for V2 before going into the deep end on capturing my amp, but can send over V1 caps if anyone is interested in a Fireball 25 with or without a Precision Drive for boosting.
 
So, posting here since the Nano Cortex thread is mainly me posting…

I got a Nano last week and got to spend a little time with it this weekend. Really enjoying the whole package even if it’s quite limited (that’s actually what I was after).

Now I’d like some tips on who to follow and what captures to check out! Any members who are up for it? Please send me your recommendations and/or usernames here or via DM. :-)

I must say though that Neurals own V2 caps seem quite good. The Driftwood Purple Nightmare and Savage 120 caps I previewed sounded quite useable straight from the bat. No weird input levels or tweaking needed.

I also tried capturing my amp and coming from NAM and Tonex the experience was quite different. In just a little while I made three captures and could just get going. Having everything in one box is definitely a much more polished experience than Tonex… And it just sounds really close even though the Nano is still using V1 for capturing!

I’m going to wait for V2 before going into the deep end on capturing my amp, but can send over V1 caps if anyone is interested in a Fireball 25 with or without a Precision Drive for boosting.
Man, I'm really considering getting a Nano when V2 comes to it. I had the QC twice and it's a great unit for playing with a band but overall overkill for my needs at the moment.

The Nano though, with NCv2 capturing tech + the ability to double as a compact audio interface is going to look pretty attractive; just wish it had some sort of on-board display but it is what it is.
 
Man, I'm really considering getting a Nano when V2 comes to it. I had the QC twice and it's a great unit for playing with a band but overall overkill for my needs at the moment.

The Nano though, with NCv2 capturing tech + the ability to double as a compact audio interface is going to look pretty attractive; just wish it had some sort of on-board display but it is what it is.
Yeah the package right now feels just right for me, except the lack of V2 capturing. I already have an OK’ish audio interface and digital setup on the Mac plus my one and only tube amp with cab and full analog pedalboard.

I really don’t need an advanced hardware modeler and I’m through with buying cheaper stuff than underdelivers in weird ways. The QC Mini of course fits the bill except it’s gross overkill for me and I’m too frugal to spend that amount of money when not playing with a band.

I thought the app-dependence would be a buzzkill but it’s been very responsive and has good design compared to Tonex and other app-based stuff. I’m also happy to not have to see the Helix desktop editor as often as before. Only thing I’m sorely missing is the ability to run audio from my phone over Bluetooth for backing tracks etc. but that’s common for all hardware modelers I’ve been looking at.
 
So, posting here since the Nano Cortex thread is mainly me posting…

I got a Nano last week and got to spend a little time with it this weekend. Really enjoying the whole package even if it’s quite limited (that’s actually what I was after).

Now I’d like some tips on who to follow and what captures to check out! Any members who are up for it? Please send me your recommendations and/or usernames here or via DM. :-)

I must say though that Neurals own V2 caps seem quite good. The Driftwood Purple Nightmare and Savage 120 caps I previewed sounded quite useable straight from the bat. No weird input levels or tweaking needed.

I also tried capturing my amp and coming from NAM and Tonex the experience was quite different. In just a little while I made three captures and could just get going. Having everything in one box is definitely a much more polished experience than Tonex… And it just sounds really close even though the Nano is still using V1 for capturing!

I’m going to wait for V2 before going into the deep end on capturing my amp, but can send over V1 caps if anyone is interested in a Fireball 25 with or without a Precision Drive for boosting.
To answer your question, I follow artists that I like: Sorceron, OlaEnglund, DustieWaring, EugeValovirta. Some of the people I follow are because I bought captures (like GuitarJon/SonicDriveStudios). And I’ve followed a bunch of folks here. My username is MikaelDez! https://cloud.neuraldsp.com/cloud/u/MikaelDez

Oh, and SuperNovaTone has a free Dual Rec capture that's SICK
 
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To answer your question, I follow artists that I like: Sorceron, OlaEnglund, DustieWaring, EugeValovirta. Some of the people I follow are because I bought captures (like GuitarJon/SonicDriveStudios). And I’ve followed a bunch of folks here. My username is MikaelDez! https://cloud.neuraldsp.com/cloud/u/MikaelDez

Oh, and SuperNovaTone has a free Dual Rec capture that's SICK
Thanks! Followed you and a bunch of other names I recognized!
 
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So, posting here since the Nano Cortex thread is mainly me posting…

I got a Nano last week and got to spend a little time with it this weekend. Really enjoying the whole package even if it’s quite limited (that’s actually what I was after).

Now I’d like some tips on who to follow and what captures to check out! Any members who are up for it? Please send me your recommendations and/or usernames here or via DM. :-)

I must say though that Neurals own V2 caps seem quite good. The Driftwood Purple Nightmare and Savage 120 caps I previewed sounded quite useable straight from the bat. No weird input levels or tweaking needed.

I also tried capturing my amp and coming from NAM and Tonex the experience was quite different. In just a little while I made three captures and could just get going. Having everything in one box is definitely a much more polished experience than Tonex… And it just sounds really close even though the Nano is still using V1 for capturing!

I’m going to wait for V2 before going into the deep end on capturing my amp, but can send over V1 caps if anyone is interested in a Fireball 25 with or without a Precision Drive for boosting.

I've long since moved on from Quad Cortex, but the wealth of modded Marshall QC captures (almost all of which he personally modded) from Headfirst Amplification (AKA @Burger on this very forum) are must-haves for any QC owner.

They're V1, I believe, but were soooo, so good. Really hope he provides some stuff for Proxy when it lands on the Helix Stadium.....
 
1770068130171.png


QC spotted behind Jordan Rudess
 
Anybody that wants to see why I think Nameless is the king of their plugin lineup, load preset “Clean Distortion Fat” by Felix Martin. 😮‍💨
 
So, posting here since the Nano Cortex thread is mainly me posting…

I got a Nano last week and got to spend a little time with it this weekend. Really enjoying the whole package even if it’s quite limited (that’s actually what I was after).

Now I’d like some tips on who to follow and what captures to check out! Any members who are up for it? Please send me your recommendations and/or usernames here or via DM. :-)

I must say though that Neurals own V2 caps seem quite good. The Driftwood Purple Nightmare and Savage 120 caps I previewed sounded quite useable straight from the bat. No weird input levels or tweaking needed.

I also tried capturing my amp and coming from NAM and Tonex the experience was quite different. In just a little while I made three captures and could just get going. Having everything in one box is definitely a much more polished experience than Tonex… And it just sounds really close even though the Nano is still using V1 for capturing!

I’m going to wait for V2 before going into the deep end on capturing my amp, but can send over V1 caps if anyone is interested in a Fireball 25 with or without a Precision Drive for boosting.
Glad you are digging the Nano! I know it gets a lot of criticism (especially before firmware 2.0), but I think it’s a fine mini-rig/capture player. A screen would be nice, but I don’t find it to be a big deal. For practice, I don’t really go beyond the 4 presets which is actually a plus for me. On switch 1 I have clean and crunch, and on switch 2 I have heavy rhythm and a lead tone. That’s all I need for practicing most things, but it’s easy enough to jump into the app if I need something different.

This is way overkill, but I have a Walrus Audio Canvas Rehearsal which used to live on a large pedal board at the end of the chain so I could get a headphone out and bluetooth backing support from my phone. It’s a bit pricey for what it is, but it works great and I see decent used prices fairly often. I had the Rehearsal and the NC mounted to a very small board for a while, but eventually just started to use a USB-C cable to my iPad for backing tracks. This keeps the footprint smaller and lighter, and the iPad will also reliably power the NC so no additional power supply is needed.

If bluetooth is essential, then something like this works well if you don’t mind the expanded footprint and power needs:
1770081950537.png
 
Anybody that wants to see why I think Nameless is the king of their plugin lineup, load preset “Clean Distortion Fat” by Felix Martin. 😮‍💨
Nameless rips! It’s equally as awesome on the desktop and the QC. I don’t think I’ve tried that preset—I’ll check it out!
 
Glad you are digging the Nano! I know it gets a lot of criticism (especially before firmware 2.0), but I think it’s a fine mini-rig/capture player. A screen would be nice, but I don’t find it to be a big deal. For practice, I don’t really go beyond the 4 presets which is actually a plus for me. On switch 1 I have clean and crunch, and on switch 2 I have heavy rhythm and a lead tone. That’s all I need for practicing most things, but it’s easy enough to jump into the app if I need something different.

This is way overkill, but I have a Walrus Audio Canvas Rehearsal which used to live on a large pedal board at the end of the chain so I could get a headphone out and bluetooth backing support from my phone. It’s a bit pricey for what it is, but it works great and I see decent used prices fairly often. I had the Rehearsal and the NC mounted to a very small board for a while, but eventually just started to use a USB-C cable to my iPad for backing tracks. This keeps the footprint smaller and lighter, and the iPad will also reliably power the NC so no additional power supply is needed.

If bluetooth is essential, then something like this works well if you don’t mind the expanded footprint and power needs:
View attachment 58753
Nice, thanks for the tip! I might follow that route and just get an iPad for it. I have the last gen phone with Lightning connector so I’m stuck with adapters and shit just for getting some audio right now.

Yep for me having four presets available will cover most practice use cases without needless fiddling around. I also have a midi footswitch I could hook up with TRS MIDI if I want to toggle FX but I’m actively trying not to go into shit like that right now and just get to fucking practicing and playing instead.

I would like though to get some of the blends of IR’s I’ve now got set up in the Nolly plugin so need to look into the Logic Pro Space Designer and see if I can figure it out. Also reeeeally close to try to capture some plugin tones as well so I have them available on the Nano.

And then all the time for actually playing is gone…
 
Are there any good tips for playing using headphones to stop getting ear fatigue and discomfort?
 
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