Quad Cortex Mini

[AZG]

Many touring acts had full size QC’s in rack drawers and many more users have them sitting on desks. In both instances the footswitches of the QC are just extra size and weight. To me this is just “Rack Cortex” akin to what the Axe FX is for Neural. Full power of their flagship bit in a studio/rack format. I say ‘rack’ as 4 of these can fit in a single rack drawer and I’m not sure the traditional rack format is more useful or a better design than this in 2026. It also is great for users who want it for a desktop/studio use only.

tldr - Quad Cortex ideal for live, Mini Cortex ideal for Studio (or live with a rack setup)

I actually prefer this idea as a rack solution than the standard rack device like the AxeFx III. If only it had a dedicated/integrated foot switch controller option like Fractals FC6 and FC12. Works well on desktop or rack and can be used on the floor if needed. I would love to see Fractal, Line 6 and Fender run with this idea and improve it. Fender already has poo switches, so they have one advantage there.

 

[ejecta]

Briefly, but that post was edited out - but yes - I do believe we'll see a device from FAS with a touchscreen.

And the TI SoC I think FAS will use for next gen is

Just adding a touch screen doesn’t tell you much to be honest. It’s how it’s implemented that matters imho.

 

[Dez]

I actually prefer this idea as a rack solution than the standard rack device like the AxeFx III. If only it had a dedicated/integrated foot switch controller option like Fractals FC6 and FC12. Works well on desktop or rack and can be used on the floor if needed. I would love to see Fractal, Line 6 and Fender run in with this idea and improve it. Fender already has poo switches, so they have one advantage there.

I'm kinda thinking of making an enclosure/box for it so it sits under your monitor facing me like the front of a rack

 

[Whizzinby]

View attachment 58284

Cool perspective on the size. Flagship device with full DSP and features, but only barely bigger than a Big Sky.

 

[TubeStack]

TBH, I think the reverbs on QC are a lot better than the reverbs on HX.

Yeah, good point, I remember you saying that.

I don’t use reverb on effects units at all. If I use any reverb, it’s just a touch from the actual amp, so it’s not on my radar.

 

[GTR37]

I actually prefer this idea as a rack solution than the standard rack device like the AxeFx III. If only it had a dedicated/integrated foot switch controller option like Fractals FC6 and FC12. Works well on desktop or rack and can be used on the floor if needed. I would love to see Fractal, Line 6 and Fender run with this idea and improve it. Fender already has poo switches, so they have one advantage there.

Just use an airwalk honestly I think it less than $100

 

[AZG]

Just use an airwalk honestly I think it less than $100

I want scribble strips on a remote foot switch so it’s easy to see what you’re doing. It’s one of the things that makes Fractals FC foot switches so great. Plug and play with all the information you need.

 

[deadpool_25]

I know nothing about the Quad Cortex or Neural DSP except they make like... plugins you can use on your computer for recording and then the modeler stuff and the QC for live use?

I've been kind of interested in some of their plugins. But I don't want to use my laptop at all. Can the Quad Cortex and this new Mini run their plugins/profiles without the use a computer? Like when I see videos of their Granophyre or Archetype or Fortin plugins, the actual Quad Cortex or Mini can run those and I have full access to the plugin features?

And can I run these devices right into a power amp and get a live sound?

Ok so let’s say you buy a QC or QC Mini. Out of the box although it will have a ton of great sounds onboard, it will not have access to any of the devices from the plugins (since you don’t own them already).

Next you buy a plugin that is already ported to the QC.* You connect the QC to wifi and log into your NDSP account (that you just created while buying the plugin). Next time you start up your QC you’ll be able to load the devices from the plugin you bought. You’ll even be able to load up the presets from that plugin.

You’ll can actually do all that without ever touching a computer since you can create your NDSP account and buy the plugin from your phone.

Yes, you can run either the QC or Mini into a power amp and cab no problem.

* The plugins that are already ported to the QC are:

Cory Wong X
Plini X
Gojira X
Nolly X
Nameless X
Soldano SLO-100 X
Parallax X

The other “X” plugins, like Rabea X, Mayer X and Petrucci X are going to get ported but we don’t know when. And NDSP has been very slow with adding plugins.

As far as I can tell NDSP isn’t working on porting the Granophyre, Cali, NTS, Morello, Morgan, Asato, Boogie Mark II C+, Tone King, or Abasi. Some of those make sense not to ever bother with though imo.

 

[deadpool_25]

Dual Cortex was actually a literal Neural DSP trademark for a time. It's not a difficult premise to come up with: Half the DSP of the QC, less footswitching and I/O for a more affordable/smaller box.

I don't think sales success is a good metric for anyone but the company themselves. We'd all be buying Boss Katanas if sales success was how we pick what to buy.

The QC Mini is actually very much in my wheelhouse. It's probably the closest to the "FM0" concept people have been asking from Fractal. Yet, I'm more likely to pick up say a smaller Helix Stadium, or wait for their HX Stomp-ish device, or even pick up a VP4/AM4. Or at least wait to see if any gremlins come out with the QC Mini.

I just have a deep distrust of NDSP at this point after following the QC development arc. Last year was a pretty bad year for QC updates and it starts to become clear why: devs tied up with Nano and QC Mini development. We will have to see how this year turns out. They've put out some new reverbs which is nice, but not much else moving the needle in any direction.

I'm not saying other companies are perfect either. I expect Fractal to largely ignore UI matters much to my chagrin, but deliver big time for sound related ones. Boss is best approached with low expectations for updates. Line6 is the company that I trust to deliver on all fronts.

Some interesting stuff here to me. And while I see a Lott of the same things, my perspective on most of them is just different.

For example, the development arc as you put it has been a bit of a train wreck in some ways but where the QC is now is so very much better than when it first came out. I initially preordered it and canceled that before it released due to concerns (especially about the lack of plugin support; that was the main attraction for me and without it I saw no need to move away from my beloved Fractal). I followed it through Forums and YouTube and friends and shook my head a lot of the time. It took until the PCOM update for me to get one. I can’t remember if it was that update or the one after where I was really happy with it. So it took until a while but now I’m extremely happy with it.

I abhor NDSP’s “soon” marketing strategy, and they made that stupid ass long video. Yuck. They also had tha security thing. People don’t talk about it much but that was fucking ridiculous. So the corporate side of NDSP has been…frustrating. The products themselves have been excellent (like the plugins) or grown from meh to excellent (like the QC). IMO obviously.

You say last year was a pretty bad year for updates. While I can’t remember what came when exactly, some of the recent updates have been pretty great imo. For example the new reverbs and effects and V2 captures are all excellent stuff. I feel like there was other stuff too but can’t specify. So while you look and say “meh” I look at those things and and am pretty happy with them. Different perspectives.

All good and I’m not disagreeing with you. I’m just saying it’s always interesting how two people can look at the same thing and have vastly different opinions, both/all of which are perfectly valid.

 

[deadpool_25]

This QC Mini is interesting. It’s too expensive and too powerful for many of the folks who wanted a Dual Cortex, and not a major move for most of those who already have a QC. I’m happy with my QC and the idea of a smaller one never even occurred to me. Now that it’s here I’m like “oh…good idea.” As has been said, I don’t recall anyone asking for this. At least not from NDSP. As has also been mentioned the FM0 sure had/has some traction. Interestingly I never thought the FM0 was interesting. But I was always thinking about floorboar use for my modelers. After setting up my office/studio space and putting the QC on the desk, I can see the allure of a smaller unit.

I suspect the people asking for something like the Mini may have been some touring artists who keep it in racks and whatnot. They have a direct line to NDSP rather than posting on forums and I’d think their desires would carry significantly more weight than forum posts.

Or it could have been a totally internal idea where they were trying to fill a desire/need that people didn’t even know they had. If that’s the case I’d actually be even more impressed.

 

[paisleywookiee]

This QC Mini is interesting. It’s too expensive and too powerful for many of the folks who wanted a Dual Cortex, and not a major move for most of those who already have a QC. I’m happy with my QC and the idea of a smaller one never even occurred to me. Now that it’s here I’m like “oh…good idea.” As has been said, I don’t recall anyone asking for this. At least not from NDSP. As has also been mentioned the FM0 sure had/has some traction. Interestingly I never thought the FM0 was interesting. But I was always thinking about floorboar use for my modelers. After setting up my office/studio space and putting the QC on the desk, I can see the allure of a smaller unit.

I suspect the people asking for something like the Mini may have been some touring artists who keep it in racks and whatnot. They have a direct line to NDSP rather than posting on forums and I’d think their desires would carry significantly more weight than forum posts.

Or it could have been a totally internal idea where they were trying to fill a desire/need that people didn’t even know they had. If that’s the case I’d actually be even more impressed.

I do think a "Dual Cortex" but otherwise the same form factor, at a lower price, would have cleaned up more. But I really see this being popular with "stick it in a rack drawer" touring acts.

 

[ian_dissonance]

I do think a "Dual Cortex" but otherwise the same form factor, at a lower price, would have cleaned up more. But I really see this being popular with "stick it in a rack drawer" touring acts.

Same form factor at half the DSP and $850 would even have had me interested, lol.

 

[dws2384]

Same form factor at half the DSP and $850 would even have had me interested, lol.

People are vastly overestimating what removing a DSP chip would save from the cost.

The same people who say they want one at half the cost and DSP would be the first ones here complaining when they run out of horsepower with a simple signal chain and a couple of V2 captures.

 

[Desertdweller]

Many touring acts had full size QC’s in rack drawers and many more users have them sitting on desks. In both instances the footswitches of the QC are just extra size and weight. To me this is just “Rack Cortex” akin to what the Axe FX is for Neural. Full power of their flagship bit in a studio/rack format. I say ‘rack’ as 4 of these can fit in a single rack drawer and I’m not sure the traditional rack format is more useful or a better design than this in 2026. It also is great for users who want it for a desktop/studio use only.

tldr - Quad Cortex ideal for live, Mini Cortex ideal for Studio (or live with a rack setup)

This is 100% the answer. I keep my FM9 under my desk and almost never use the pedals too. Being able to rack 3 or 4 of these mini QCs in a rack drawer is a boon for touring bands.

 

[ian_dissonance]

People are vastly overestimating what removing a DSP chip would save from the cost.

The same people who say they want one at half the cost and DSP would be the first ones here complaining when they run out of horsepower with a simple signal chain and a couple of V2 captures.

And then there’s software that works across different configurations. From the software end I’m sure only changing the footswitches and I/O was very economical comparatively.
There’s no pleasing everyone, so you trade one bitchfest for another.