The NDSP Nano Cortex…

[Sedaxel]

So, insane as it seems with all the discussions in the other NDSP threads, I’ve started seriously looking at the Nano Cortex as a potential device for me. I recently acquired a Tonex One to swiftly turn around and sell it along with my HX Stomp. I was planning on getting an AM4 but the price is ridiculous in EU. So I’m fine with a pared down device.

I have some questions though. Firstly, for those that has had the device for a while, what are the main gripes and pain points? Are there any effects types that suck?

Owner here.

Cons:

- No global volume feature. You need to use an effect slot having level parameter that could be controlled by expression pedal (through exp or CC1 midi). That isn´t really "global", since you can have different presets with different effects and CC1/exp assignations.

- Obviously: no display. If you need some current preset indication, you need to pair it with a phone or (better) use an external MIDI controller with display (I use a Luminite Graviton M1).

- Still lacking some MIDI functionality. You can switch presets and toggle effects, but can only use one CC message to control parameters. For me, if it only had another CC for controlling parameters (to use 2 expression pedals) it would be more than enough.

- If you use both outputs (L and R) simultaneously, you can´t have them summed (to have the exact same signal on both, no matter if stereo effects are present) unless one of them has IR bypassed. This means that, if stereo effects are used and you want IR active on both outputs (because you want to use your own stage FRFR while sending to FOH another identical signal) you would lose the stereo imaging. You´d only hear the left signal through the L output, and the right signal through the R output. Yeah, you can easily solve it using an external DI box with link port, so not a big problem. Stereo imaging is summed to mono if only one output is used or, if both are used, being one of them with IR bypassed.

- No gapless switching. Not a big deal for me, can perfectly live with it since I don´t notice too much gap, but other users are very annoyed by this. I suspect most of that is because built-in switches work on release, and that makes some delay feeling. I use a MIDI controller, so I don´t quite notice a deal-breaker gap.

- No PC editor. I don´t need it and wouldn´t use it anyway… but many find it´s important.

- Obviously, if you need complex chains, you´ll be on the limit. You know, 2 pre effects, capture, IR, 3 post effects… plus some utility effects which don´t use slot (gate, transpose). For my use case, I´ve not found anything I couldn´t do so far.

- No weird effects. There are the basics, and I feel them quite good. I like them better than Helix LT ones, for instance.

- Not an infinite variety of models in each effect category (a few ODs, few choruses, few compressors, etc). If you need some particular effect, chances are that it´s not there. Not a problem for me so far.

- Semi fixed signal chain. Not all effects can go in a pre slot, others can´t in post.

I think there´s not much more cons for me.

On the other hand, I love it because:

• Sounds and feels stellar.
• It can capture in device, so no input gain guessing. Almost any capture you load in it will sound good. Let alone if it´s from a good source (Amalgam and the likes)… in such that case, it´s almost impossible to go wrong.
• Over the top build quality. It has the most “premium” feeling out of any modeler I had or tried.
• Captures are made in a couple minutes (V1). Regarding V2 capturing, it´ll be available in the next firmware update (according to NDSP). It can already play V2 captures, though.
• Great form factor.
• Relatively low consumption. I power it up with my pedalboard PSU.
• Great updates pace.
• Switches, even being just 2, are wide spaced so they are actually quite useable live.
• I got mine for 480€.

 

[Jkist7]

Owner here.

Cons:

- No global volume feature. You need to use an effect slot having level parameter that could be controlled by expression pedal (through exp or CC1 midi). That isn´t really "global", since you can have different presets with different effects and CC1/exp assignations.

- Obviously: no display. If you need some current preset indication, you need to pair it with a phone or (better) use an external MIDI controller with display (I use a Luminite Graviton M1).

I basically fully agree with everything you wrote. However, was just a little confused about these two points. You mean per preset there isn't a global volume, right?

My closest work around has been to just tweak the capture level, as for the most part it can functionally act as an overall volume control. As for true global volume, yes it does have one. The level control is exactly this, raises and lowers the entire device volume globally, so that all presets are raised and lowered by the same amount.

As for the second bullet, no there is no LCD display giving you preset names or anything, but I only use 4 presets on gigs anyways, and the unit makes it pretty easy to tell which of those 4 you are on. Its either the left or right switch, and from there its either the yellow or purple preset.

Here's a unique "hack" people might not know. If you have an expression pedal, you can use it as a footswitch to toggle on or off various effects in a preset. In this way, you can sort of have 8 presets.

I have a dotted 8th delay on my clean we use for one song specifically, and I can easily toggle it on with my exp pedal.

Anyways, yeah its not a perfect device, my biggest issue has been that it will disconnect from my phone after awhile, then I can't get it to connect again until I power cycle the device. I suspect it could be my phone causing the issue though.

But on the positives, I agree with everything Sedaxel said. I've tried a bunch of capture devices, Tonex, Kemper, etc, and somehow the Nano was the quickest and easiest to get great feeling tones with. Even the stock captures and cabs are very good. Feels very natural to play through as well.

 

[Progressive_disclosure]

Owner here.

Cons:

- No global volume feature. You need to use an effect slot having level parameter that could be controlled by expression pedal (through exp or CC1 midi). That isn´t really "global", since you can have different presets with different effects and CC1/exp assignations.

- Obviously: no display. If you need some current preset indication, you need to pair it with a phone or (better) use an external MIDI controller with display (I use a Luminite Graviton M1).

- Still lacking some MIDI functionality. You can switch presets and toggle effects, but can only use one CC message to control parameters. For me, if it only had another CC for controlling parameters (to use 2 expression pedals) it would be more than enough.

- If you use both outputs (L and R) simultaneously, you can´t have them summed (to have the exact same signal on both, no matter if stereo effects are present) unless one of them has IR bypassed. This means that, if stereo effects are used and you want IR active on both outputs (because you want to use your own stage FRFR while sending to FOH another identical signal) you would lose the stereo imaging. You´d only hear the left signal through the L output, and the right signal through the R output. Yeah, you can easily solve it using an external DI box with link port, so not a big problem. Stereo imaging is summed to mono if only one output is used or, if both are used, being one of them with IR bypassed.

- No gapless switching. Not a big deal for me, can perfectly live with it since I don´t notice too much gap, but other users are very annoyed by this. I suspect most of that is because built-in switches work on release, and that makes some delay feeling. I use a MIDI controller, so I don´t quite notice a deal-breaker gap.

- No PC editor. I don´t need it and wouldn´t use it anyway… but many find it´s important.

- Obviously, if you need complex chains, you´ll be on the limit. You know, 2 pre effects, capture, IR, 3 post effects… plus some utility effects which don´t use slot (gate, transpose). For my use case, I´ve not found anything I couldn´t do so far.

- No weird effects. There are the basics, and I feel them quite good. I like them better than Helix LT ones, for instance.

- Not an infinite variety of models in each effect category (a few ODs, few choruses, few compressors, etc). If you need some particular effect, chances are that it´s not there. Not a problem for me so far.

- Semi fixed signal chain. Not all effects can go in a pre slot, others can´t in post.

I think there´s not much more cons for me.

On the other hand, I love it because:

• Sounds and feels stellar.
• It can capture in device, so no input gain guessing. Almost any capture you load in it will sound good. Let alone if it´s from a good source (Amalgam and the likes)… in such that case, it´s almost impossible to go wrong.
• Over the top build quality. It has the most “premium” feeling out of any modeler I had or tried.
• Captures are made in a couple minutes (V1). Regarding V2 capturing, it´ll be available in the next firmware update (according to NDSP). It can already play V2 captures, though.
• Great form factor.
• Relatively low consumption. I power it up with my pedalboard PSU.
• Great updates pace.
• Switches, even being just 2, are wide spaced so they are actually quite useable live.
• I got mine for 480€.

Thanks, really good info! Does anyone know if it's easy to adjust audio volume from USB (for example connecting a phone via USB for backing tracks) on the device?

I can get one for approx 550 euro where I'm at, which is about half of what an AM4 would cost me. A QC Mini would be 2.5 times more expensive at least and I just want a device for headphone playing, occasionally with a capture of my power amp and with some post-FX. Having spent more time with MainStage and Logic Pro after dumping my Stomp and Tonex One, I don't see a need for a big ass modeler that can do everything just for home playing.

Edit: I also have an expression pedal and a Boss MIDI footswitch (FS-WL-1 or whatever they call it) that I can program to work with it. Does that mean that preset changes have a lesser gap when MIDI controlled?

 

[Jkist7]

Thanks, really good info! Does anyone know if it's easy to adjust audio volume from USB (for example connecting a phone via USB for backing tracks) on the device?

I can get one for approx 550 euro where I'm at, which is about half of what an AM4 would cost me. A QC Mini would be 2.5 times more expensive at least and I just want a device for headphone playing, occasionally with a capture of my power amp and with some post-FX. Having spent more time with MainStage and Logic Pro after dumping my Stomp and Tonex One, I don't see a need for a big ass modeler that can do everything just for home playing.

The Nano has a dedicated headphone volume knob on the back (independent of the master volume). Usually if you want to play with backing tracks you can set the Nano at a comfortable level, then use your phone's volume to "mix" the backing track audio where it sounds good. That's how I've always done it. I haven't tried playing along to backing tracks on the Nano yet, but on other devices this is typically how its done.

I can try it out when I get home and let you know if I run into any issues.

 

[Progressive_disclosure]

The Nano has a dedicated headphone volume knob on the back (independent of the master volume). Usually if you want to play with backing tracks you can set the Nano at a comfortable level, then use your phone's volume to "mix" the audio where it sounds good. That's how I've always done it. I haven't tried playing along to backing tracks on the Nano yet, but on other devices this is typically how its done.

I can try it out when I get home and let you know if I run into any issues.

Thanks. I have iPhones, so might not be able to set volume on the phone. Idiotic thing #652344345654345 with Apple.

Update: I’m a dumbass, found it later in the manual so it’s possible.

 

[Progressive_disclosure]

Sorry for peppering with questions but I haven't found definitive answers: Is there a way to do captures of plugins over USB without having to use a separate audio interface?

 

[Sedaxel]

I basically fully agree with everything you wrote. However, was just a little confused about these two points. You mean per preset there isn't a global volume, right?

My closest work around has been to just tweak the capture level, as for the most part it can functionally act as an overall volume control.

Yes, you can adjust capture level, but it´s per preset, not globally. And yes, using that instead of a slot effect level parameter should be perfectly fine I didn´t notice it... good tip, mate!

As for true global volume, yes it does have one. The level control is exactly this, raises and lowers the entire device volume globally, so that all presets are raised and lowered by the same amount.

Yes, you are right. I was refering to a global volume pedal function, just didn´t explain myself accurately.

As for the second bullet, no there is no LCD display giving you preset names or anything, but I only use 4 presets on gigs anyways, and the unit makes it pretty easy to tell which of those 4 you are on. Its either the left or right switch, and from there its either the yellow or purple preset.

Agree. For simple gigs, it´s useable and simple. Not perfect because when you, say, are in a "left preset" and want to go to one of the "right presets", you the right switch but if you don´t remember the preset it had the last time you were in said right siwtch, you don´t really know which preset you are going into... once pressed, if it´s not the preset you wanted to go, you need to press again... so, for important or complicated gigs, I prefer to avoid that switching.

Here's a unique "hack" people might not know. If you have an expression pedal, you can use it as a footswitch to toggle on or off various effects in a preset. In this way, you can sort of have 8 presets.

Good tip. I didn´t explore these kind of workarounds because I just prefer the simplicity of "one press, one preset", and getting it displayed in the Luminite. But for not too complex gigs, that solution looks good.

 

[Sedaxel]

Sorry for peppering with questions but I haven't found definitive answers: Is there a way to do captures of plugins over USB without having to use a separate audio interface?

Never even considered that, so can´t tell you for sure. I´d say that you can´t capture anything that isn´t coming through the capture port... so I guess you need to DAC you plugins in order to send the analog signal in through the capture XLR/jack.

 

[R590]

Sorry for peppering with questions but I haven't found definitive answers: Is there a way to do captures of plugins over USB without having to use a separate audio interface?

This is from the manual. It might actually work—let me see if I can capture one of my NDSP plugins. BRB!

Edit: I misread that table a bit. I do not think this is possible.

 

[Progressive_disclosure]

This is from the manual. It might actually work—let me see if I can capture one of my NDSP plugins. BRB!

Edit: I misread that table a bit. I do not think this is possible.

View attachment 58553

Yeah I guess you’d have to run cables to/from an interface. Not a gigantic deal but I’d wager there’s a fair amount of Nano owners who has a couple Archetypes they’d lillebror be able to take with them.

I do have an amp with a line out I can do some captures of so I’d just start there. Thanks for checking!

 

[Sedaxel]

Edit: I also have an expression pedal and a Boss MIDI footswitch (FS-WL-1 or whatever they call it) that I can program to work with it. Does that mean that preset changes have a lesser gap when MIDI controlled?

Sorry, didn´t notice this edit in your post.

The switching gap is a little tricky for me because I don´t seem to care too much about it, so surely it´ll be better that any other mate tells his opinion.

Mine is that, maybe, the use of external footswitches would soften the gap because they work on press, instead of on release (like built-in switches do). On release could add-up some gap time just because the mechanical time it takes from the brain command of pressing the switch till the moment the foot releases the switch. But the "sound pause" should be the same, since the signal is not stopped during the proccess, but only when the mechanical command is activated. So... I couldn´t really tell what you´ll feel and how much would you care.

 

[Progressive_disclosure]

Sorry, didn´t notice this edit in your post.

The switching gap is a little tricky for me because I don´t seem to care too much about it, so surely it´ll be better that any other mate tells his opinion.

Mine is that, maybe, the use of external footswitches would soften the gap because they work on press, instead of on release (like built-in switches do). On release could add-up some gap time just because the mechanical time it takes from the brain command of pressing the switch till the moment the foot releases the switch. But the "sound pause" should be the same, since the signal is not stopped during the proccess, but only when the mechanical command is activated. So... I couldn´t really tell what you´ll feel and how much would you care.

Thanks for getting back about it! I don’t think I’ll be so disturbed about it. I’d imagine it’s similar (hopefully smaller) than the gap when switching presets in an Archetype plugin. At the same time time I’m not performing so it’s not a deal breaker for me.

Heavily leaning on getting a Nano and basically calling it quits. I really need to practice more and write some songs instead of gear chasing and tone tweaking.

 

[Lysander]

I really need to practice more and write some songs instead of gear chasing and tone tweaking.

(man, i applaud you)