The Annual NAMM predictions rumours thread 2024

[SeeD]

I would however wake up thinking “How will I ever be able to play these surf songs without a ‘spring’ reverb model??”

 

[mbenigni]

For some reason, I was thinking about exactly this this morning. My guess is they would go with the same sized screen regardless, so they could get better price per volume on the part, and invest less in R&D for an OS and UI overhaul. Fewer switches/encoders, less I/O, and half the processing power (a la Stomp vs. Helix Floor) would seem likely, but...

Here's a very crude mockup (good ol' MS Paint LOL) of where NDSP could take a "Dual Cortex" design without significantly impacting UI/UX. Move a hard power switch to the back, make the top right footswitches assignable to bank up/down vs. tempo/tuner per user preference, and make the top right encoder assignable to various global volumes similar to the QC "big knob" at top left. Take my money.

 

[JiveTurkey]

In what universe? Like all of a sudden he doesn’t know what happens a few bars ahead.
By that logic they’d record every tune all the way through since punching in requires to much to remember where in tune one is.

God help us if he ever breaks a string.

Stuff goes wrong. Perfection is for guys editing rather than playing.

I'm sure there's a potato cam somewhere of him letting a drunk guy use their face for a whammy bar that will appease your strict criteria

 

[mbenigni]

I would however wake up thinking “How will I ever be able to play these surf songs without a ‘spring’ reverb model??”

That is entirely fair. :)

On the other hand, the Spring reverb on my FM3 also sounds like shit. Sure, I could upgrade to an FM9... or I could run a Tre-Verb next to my QC and still have a smaller footprint (and a UI I actually like using.) Different ways to skin a cat.

 

[SeeD]

Here's a very crude mockup (good ol' MS Paint LOL) of where NDSP could take a "Dual Cortex" design without significantly impacting UI/UX. Move a hard power switch to the back, make the top right footswitches assignable to bank up/down vs. tempo/tuner per user preference, and make the top right encoder assignable to various global volumes similar to the QC "big knob" at top left. Take my money.

View attachment 18089

FTLOG let`s get the screen postion right on the next version!
no more ...

 

[mbenigni]

You can't please all of the people all of the time.

 

[mbenigni]

FTLOG let`s get the screen postion right on the next version!
no more ...

If you want to actually use those switches with human feet, like ever, you'd need a much bigger screen. I expect one of the aims of a Dual Cortex would be to make it less expensive than a Quad Cortex.

 

[TubeStack]

FTLOG let`s get the screen postion right on the next version!
no more ...

That really doesn't affect me anymore. Got used to it pretty quick and now I just go for the right knob every time (TWSS).

 

[JiveTurkey]

I think it's probably worse for some because the knobs are soooo close-ish to being in line with the screen? The TBP encoders were off by a bit more iirc so my eyes just adjusted to the discrepancy a bit easier?

 

[SeeD]

That really doesn't affect me anymore. Got used to it pretty quick and now I just go for the right knob every time (TWSS).

Yeah me too, I work this thing really fast, and I usually know what encoder to twist. Don`t need to think at all, just reach for the right knob

But on the next one.. I would go a bit bigger on the screen

 

[metropolis_4]

That is entirely fair. :)

On the other hand, the Spring reverb on my FM3 also sounds like shit. Sure, I could upgrade to an FM9... or I could run a Tre-Verb next to my QC and still have a smaller footprint (and a UI I actually like using.) Different ways to skin a cat.

Yeah the QC isn’t alone in having terrible digital spring reverb. Those old Fractal ones are bad too, and I also hate the one in Kemper. But I do think QC wins the prize for being the worst of the worst in this category.

Spring reverb has oddly become one of the main considerations for me in choosing my next gear because it’s one of the features with the biggest differences between devices

 

[SeeD]

I think it's probably worse for some because the knobs are soooo close-ish to being in line with the screen? The TBP encoders were off by a bit more iirc so my eyes just adjusted to the discrepancy a bit easier?

If I could, I would move the MIX text ..and so on...to be on top of the knob, and not on the side. I get why they did it, to be able to see what knob we are twisting ( on screen ) This way they could move the knob a bit to the left.
And if it`s just 3 knobs ( TS,OD..) I would use encoder 2-3-4 insted of 1-2-3. as this is making my eyes go wierd

 

[mbenigni]

Yeah me too, I work this thing really fast, and I usually know what encoder to twist. Don`t need to think at all, just reach for the right knob

But on the next one.. I would go a bit bigger on the screen

If screen prices continue to drop as they have in recent years, that will certainly be possible for a QC MkII or whatever. I agree that it would be preferable to eliminate the big knob, or move it above the preset up switch, and stretch the screen across the full width of the A-H switches. Not likely for our theoretical lower-cost DC, though. (And not half the problem in its current state as it's sometimes made out to be.)

(EDIT: Of course you also have to consider where you can find or make room for all the h/w "under the hood".)

 

[metropolis_4]

If screen prices continue to drop as they have in recent years, that will certainly possible for a QC MkII or whatever. I agree that it would be preferable to eliminate the big knob, or move it above the preset up switch, and stretch the screen across the full width of the A-H switches. Not likely for our theoretical lower-cost DC, though. (And not half the problem in its current state as it's sometimes made out to be.)

One thing that still sticks out to me is how much I loved on Kemper Stage having constant visibility of my signal chain at all times even when using the screen for something like tuning. The problem with one big screen is when that screen only shows one thing, like how on QC when you turn on the tuner you can’t see anything else.

If anyone is going with bigger screens I hope they start utilizing the screen space better by splitting it with different views rather than just showing one single thing at a time

 

[DrewJD82]

I totally get where you're coming from here. FAS absolutely slays NDSP for quality and variety of FX.

On the other hand... I so rarely wake up thinking, "How will I ever be able to play my guitar today without a 'The Cytherians' reverb model?? Oh the horror the horror." Sometimes it all seems a little bonkers. Could do with a happy medium, maybe.

Sure, but the same could be said for any amp/effect. I never once said “Man, I gotta write something using a IIC++ model” until I used the IIC++ and found it might be my favorite amp ever.

 

[mbenigni]

Sure, but the same could be said for any amp/effect. I never once said “Man, I gotta write something using a IIC++ model” until I used the IIC++ and found it might be my favorite amp ever.

Absolutely. It seems reasonable to say, "No one needs 100 delay algorithms", right up to the point where your personal favorite gets pared back.

Pretty slick using the MkIIc++ as your example. You knew I'd fall for that, didn't you?

 

[JiveTurkey]

Yeah the QC isn’t alone in having terrible digital spring reverb. Those old Fractal ones are bad too, and I also hate the one in Kemper. But I do think QC wins the prize for being the worst of the worst in this category.

Spring reverb has oddly become one of the main considerations for me in choosing my next gear because it’s one of the features with the biggest differences between devices

For me; the whole reverb craze started with the TBP 60 cycle hum vid. And pretty much ended once I had one IRL and went FAS verbs are I think Kemper (non spring) verbs are gorgeous as well. Helix has a few newer good ones.

 

[TubeStack]

The problem with one big screen is when that screen only shows one thing, like how on QC when you turn on the tuner you can’t see anything else.

Isn't this the same with Fractal and L6? (ie. main tuner takes over whole screen)

The always-available small tuner on the FM's is awesome, loved that.

The dumbest screen-related thing to me on the QC is that using tap tempo takes over the whole screen with a giant bpm display that lasts for a few seconds. Very unnecessary and potentially debilitating, if you need to quickly access a switch for anything else right afterwards.

 

[JiveTurkey]

Tuners are weird. I like my Polytune better than any of my digital gear tuners. Not sure why; maybe just because it matches the polytune clip on that has served me well over the past 4-5 years.

 

[metropolis_4]

For me; the whole reverb craze started with the TBP 60 cycle hum vid. And pretty much ended once I had one IRL and went FAS verbs are I think Kemper (non spring) verbs are gorgeous as well. Helix has a few newer good ones.

For me 90% of the time I don’t use any reverb; when I do, I use it as a special effect kind of thing. And the two main types I use as special effects are spring and the big ambient pad sort of reverbs. So those are the two that I need to be good.

Also when I just sit and play for fun one of my favorite things to play is old surfy instrumental stuff like The Ventures