Quad Cortex Mini

[Sascha Franck]

Weird analogy. Do you think they make good hardware and plugins?

Yes (even if there's plenty of room for possible improvements). But the analogy is still right because the number of sales doesn't say anything about the quality of whatever product.

 

[Dez]

 

[Boudoir Guitar]

You mean this is why keyboarders all over the place are doing just that?

keyboarders all over the place are using a laptop and audio interface as a live guitar rig?!?

 

[Aleksi]

Could be a coinkidink, but I'm seeing two QC's, a VP4 and an AM4 (!) locally for sale after the QC mini was announced. And this is a fairly small market.

 

[Sascha Franck]

keyboarders all over the place are using a laptop and audio interface as a live guitar rig?!?

Obviously not as guitar rigs - but there's really only one reason why it's not as feasible for guitar players, namely the issue of where to place the dreaded laptop. And well, possibly because guitar players are less tech savy than keyboarders.
Otherwise, a laptop based setup could easily mop the floor with pretty much any dedicated modeler given sound, functionality and usability.

 

[MirrorProfiles]

Can’t help but this is predominantly made for live players to have on a rack shelf (which is extremely common for the QC) OR for people to have at home on their studio desk. Probably just fine on a board too if its literally just for switching/display.

Maybe the point it hits home hardest is how rack gear is less desirable to most players than these kind of things. There is quite a lot of gear I'd personally prefer in a rack format but the market dictates something more gadgety. There's potentially so much cabling hanging out of these things that I personally wouldn't want to move it around much. And if it's on a desk or in a studio, or in a live rack, the cable management is way nicer in a rack format.

Still, the live guys will velcro+shelf it and get on with their lives, and home users will just deal with the cable mess (probably because most are only using the bare minimum of I/O most of the time).

I also wonder about a QC micro (all externally controlled). Really depends on how small the unit can be with no screen at all. Presumably the screen isn't really taking up THAT much more space on the unit.

EDIT: come to think of it, pretty much every touring band I've ever seen using QC's is using them on a rack shelf. I've worked with some guys who bring them in on their own but I really can't think of many using them on a pedalboard. Maybe this one is a little more pedalboard friendly? I imagine it'll still end up on the shelf.

 

[Sascha Franck]

pretty much every touring band I've ever seen using QC's is using them on a rack shelf.

I noticed that, too. After all, the footswitch spacing isn't laid out well for a busy stage performance.

 

[Sedaxel]

Weird analogy. Do you think they make good hardware and plugins? I can’t keep up on who has petty vendettas and who’s a legit observer

Yeah, agree. Comparing NDSP with fast food is a little... off. Come on, NDSP makes GREAT software and hardware. Maybe the best available... even being a matter of opinion, there´s absolutely no doubt that their products are second to none.

 

[Sedaxel]

EDIT: come to think of it, pretty much every touring band I've ever seen using QC's is using them on a rack shelf. I've worked with some guys who bring them in on their own but I really can't think of many using them on a pedalboard. Maybe this one is a little more pedalboard friendly? I imagine it'll still end up on the shelf.

Yeah, I find it hard to use on the floor because of switches spacing. Nevertheless, I know three mates that use it as a pedalboard. That said, one of them started to bring his big tube amps with one of his bands (rock punk band in dangerous stages), since He is afraid of what could happen to it.

It seems a rack is a better place for the QC.

 

[Sascha Franck]

Comparing NDSP with fast food is a little... off.

I wasn't doing that, read again.
What I'm saying is that the number of sales of *any* product isn't an indicator for quality.

 

[Sedaxel]

What I'm saying is that the number of sales of *any* product isn't an indicator for quality.

Ah, OK. I agree with that.

My opinion on the market success (or fail) is this:

I think that there´s one fact (first batch is sold out) and one especulation (maybe they delivered very few units, so the sold out isn´t necessarily due to a good market reception or quality product). So far, only one of those things is a known truth.

 

[MirrorProfiles]

I noticed that, too. After all, the footswitch spacing isn't laid out well for a busy stage performance.

I’m not sure that’s the deciding factor, I’m sure whatever gear they’re using would be racked up and ready to go (and controlled externally if required). They want all the rig patched up and locked in, rather than a slew of cables running all over the place that need setting up every single gig.

I think even though the OG QC is a floorboard, you wouldn’t really want to shove a Helix Stadium or FM9 into a rack. The OG seems to be quite a good middle ground (like the AM4 and HX stomp are), where they can be used in any number of ways.

Fractal and Line 6 obviously sell rack units, although I bet Line 6 would have a good idea of how many rack rigs are made with an HX stomp on a shelf vs the rack helix.

 

[[Nathan]]

I wasn't doing that, read again.
What I'm saying is that the number of sales of *any* product isn't an indicator for quality.

You seem to ride this line of bad faith engagement and I can’t tell if it’s straight up trolling or just some English conversion thing.

High sales mean people like the item. That generally means they’re doing things right over the competition for whatever reason. The products aren’t going to fit every guitarist in every scenario but it’s funny hearing people try and cut them down or want to drop some wisdom on how they should have done xyz. Of course there’s always room for improvement but at the same time, the high sales also suggest they’re getting a lot of things right.

 

[Orvillain]

I am genuinely puzzled by the pricing of this unit. The only thing I can think is, the regular QC is going to raise in price over the coming months.

 

[Lysander]

I am genuinely puzzled by the pricing of this unit. The only thing I can think is, the regular QC is going to raise in price over the coming months.

Nah, i doubt it. I reckon the QCM shares most components with its big brother - the form factor is dictated by the fact it uses the exact same display as the QC.

It is a weird price point thou.

 

[Orvillain]

Nah, i doubt it. I reckon the QCM shares most components with its big brother - the form factor is dictated by the fact it uses the exact same display as the QC.

How does that relate to what I said though?

 

[Sascha Franck]

rather than a slew of cables running all over the place that need setting up every single gig.

Well, for me it's two cables into the pedalboard (guitar signal and power) and 1-2 out (FOH and monitor feed). Couldn't be much easier.

 

[Sascha Franck]

High sales mean people like the item.

Yes.

That generally means they’re doing things right over the competition for whatever reason.

Yes.

But none of that indicates quality.

 

[Dez]

I’ve thought on the price quite a bit and I think it’s a fair price - but I’m in the target audience here. Bedroom guitarists that want excellent quality hardware that makes sense for their situation will eat this up vs a floor modeler. Desk units always seem to be choked out and carved up to save on cost

 

[Lysander]

How does that relate to what I said though?

That any factor decreasing (or increasing) the price of the QC would correlate to the QCM as well. It's mostly the same 6-year old hardware.