Covering everything from first start instructions, navigation, and Preset building all the way through to setup examples and advanced MIDI controls. Comprehensive guides to every Quad Cortex feature.
User Manual
Quick Start Guide
♻️ Both documents will remain digital to ensure the latest version is always distributed and to reduce excessive paper waste.
Quad Cortex
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Рынок напольных процессоров эффектов уже не будет прежним. Neural DSP — комания, которая делает самые передовые гитарные плагины на данный момент, разродилась своим opus magnum в виде моделирующего процессора Quad Cortex. Скептик спросит: ну и что? накинули цифр в характеристики DSP, добавили модный тачпад и ту самую фигню «как у кемпера». Но все не так просто! Давайте разберемся и рассмотрим основные фишки по порядку.
Начнем с действительно мощного ядра процессора. Тактовая частота 2ГГц для одного лишь девайса с эффектами — весма солидно! Вычислительные мощности Quad Cortex позволяют запускать до четырех и без того передовых на рынке моделей усилителей с множеством эффектов одновременно и создавать абсолютно уникальный для себя звук. Этому поспособствуют более 50 высококлассных усилителей, 1000 кабинетов и 70 эффектов в библиотеке процессора. Продвинутый параметрический процессор также сыграет в этом не последнюю роль.
Технология Neural Capture — гордость компании и новейшее слово в музыкальном мире. Развитие технологий машинного обучения и нейробиологии, заключенное в Quad Cortex, позволит пользователю прибора записать абсолютно любой усилитель или эффект обработки и сделать его «слепок» с невероятной точностью. Биометрический метод, примененный компанией, позволил процессору воспринимать звук записываемого дейваса так, как будто его слышит человеческое ухо. Таким образом вы услышите максимально есетственное звучание, которое только могут предложить современные технологии.
Стоит поговорить и про формфактор с управлением. Корпус и элементы управления изготовлены из анодированного аллюминия и абсолютно неубиваемые при небольшом весе и смехотворном размере (Quad Cortex меньше 15″ Макбука). Надежно защищен и семидюймовый сенсорный экран, благодаря которому управлять процессором очень приятно, благодаря принципу Drag-n-drop. Также важным моментом при использовании прибора является мобильное приложение Neural CNS Mobile, где вы сможете находить бесконечное количество пресетов и делиться ими с сообществом.
The Quad Cortext by Neural DSP is an incredible floor modelling device with more inputs and outputs than a swiss army knife. One of the reasons you bought the Quad Cortext might have been the potential and small form factor, as well as the promised ability to run the Neural DSP Archetype VST plugins natively.
Sadly, the Quad Cortex does not allow you to run your plugins on the device itself (yet), but Neural DSP is working on the functionality, and it will eventually come. Until it does, how can you use the plugins with your QC?
There are two approaches you can take as a temporary stopgap.
Reamping DI
The Quad Cortex is a modeller as well as an audio interface. You can send the processed signal into your computer and the direct input (DI), which is unprocessed and the direct signal from your guitar.
Using a DAW like Reaper, you can create a track that uses the DI from the Quad Cortext. You then apply your Archetype plugin onto the track. It’s not the same as a native plugin on the Cortex itself, but it’s the same result.
Capture the Archetype plugin(s)
The flagship feature of the Quad Cortex is the ability to capture amps, pedals and a little known feature: capture VST plugins.
You can dial in your favourite Archetype sound, whether it’s Plini or Gojira, then capture the preset by routing the plugin through to your Quad Cortex and capturing it.
Admittedly, capturing is a lot more work, but the result will give you a sound capture that gives you that Archetype sound and without reamping or anything else.
Table of Contents
The Neural DSP quad cortex is a modeler. It’s built with some advanced algorithms and technology. They have been making great amplifier plug-ins for a while now. All while quietly designing the device. If you have ever played one of their plug-ins, you know it’s good stuff.
Well, we are happy to report that the hype is real! This unit is going to give every other modeler on the planet a run for their money! And because Neural DSP has been making guitar plugins that players have been enjoying for so long, you know this unit will be good!
Features
Let’s have a look at some key features!
- Quad Core SHARC DSP technology.
- Built In Wi-Fi.
- Amp capture capabilities.
- Intuitive controls and layouts.
- Simultaneously Run 4 Rig Models.
- Built In amp, cab, FX sims.
- Foot switches act as potentiometers.
- Small, light, portable.
Who Is This For?
The Neural DSP Quad Cortex is designed for players who need exceptional sound. All in a lightweight and compact unit. Guitar tube amps are some of the best sounds available. They can be too heavy and bulky for some players and their needs.
The Quad Cortex is small and powerful. With the new algorithm that can reproduce the sound of your amp. And add all the effects and functionality you could ever want. This makes it great for intermediate and professional guitarists who often gig and need incredible portability.
Quad Cortex Score
- Sounds
- Versatility
- Build Quality
- Ease of use
Sound Performance
As a guitar player I prefer tube amps over modelers, just want to be honest. But this is probably the closest to a valve amp I have heard from a modeler yet! Selecting from any of the amp models on board will produce the cleans you are looking for, all day long. But I am not surprised by this or the great effects, as a device with this kind of power should produce it in spades.
What I am most impressed with are the distortion and overdrive sounds this unit can produce. There are over 50 amps that come loaded in the quad cortex. Which most players will recognize with modified names.
One of the first amps I tried was a Friedman BE model that I got into and boy what a treat. The sound was spot on, but what surprised me the most was the feel! One of the things that I see modelers struggle with is the feeling you get from an analog tube head. But clearly, Neural DSP has been working hard to capture even this.
Digging into the strings felt very natural and the tone was organic! I did also notice that the low mids were better on this modeler than any I have tried before. Not only that, but the EQ performed better. Especially with captures than any other modeler. The quad cortex seems to keep the voice of the amplifier captured when tweaking the EQ.
I could keep going on, but that should paint a picture for you. I mean, let’s face it, there are over 50 amps in this sucker! That is a lot of tones. So check out this video to hear them for yourself!
PROS
- Built using quality processes.
- Tons of amp models included.
- Rig capture your favorite amplifiers.
- Easily configure signal paths.
- Run Up To 4 rigs at once or stereo.
- Sounds and feels great.
CONS
- Getting one might be tough.
External Hardware
- Height: 2″.
- Width: 11.4″.
- Depth: 7″.
Thanks to the aluminum chassis, the unit is very light at 4.2 pounds! This modeler can be carried in a backpack as its footprint is quite small for what’s inside. All the text on the device is laser engraved as well, which is great as it will never wear out.
The stainless steel foot switches are dual-purpose and act as knob controls. This is something very new, but they feel very sturdy. According to Neural DSP, they had a robot pushing the buttons for weeks at a time in order to prove durability. This is a great indication of a well-made part.
The color display is 7″ and well-lit. Its brightness made it easy to see the selections and configurations. The screen is also touch-sensitive. This is to allow you to make selections right from the display itself. It is smooth and responsive and protected by Corning protective glass!
All connections are made from the front of the unit. It is well-designed and includes all the inputs and outputs one would need for a super versatile rig! Some jacks are dual-purpose and high quality.
The instrument cable connection points are smooth and rigid, including the XLR outputs. Because they are Neutrik connectors, you know you have a rock-solid I/O section!
Layout and Controls
The preset mode works like other modelers, where you can select blocks and add them to a signal chain. You can start by adding an amp model, or a cab, and then insert FX or utility blocks anywhere along those chains. You can also run 2 different rigs in stereo! All of this is intuitively laid out on the screen.
The rotary controls are very handy here, as you can then fine-tune the settings. Select a block and the LEDs will light up at each control to show you what you can adjust. This can be done for all blocks from amp tone to noise gates! It took us no time at all to figure this all out.
Stomp mode allows you to assign and activate any block in one of your “rigs” to your choice of the foot switch. This makes it really easy to set it up like you would a pedal board and access your settings. Then, scene mode lets you access many settings within a rig simply by using a foot switch to activate.
Things get real when you begin to create set lists. This allows you to save your presets by user-defined category. And each set list can contain 32 banks of 8 presets, which can then be controlled by the foot switches.
Digital Cabinets And Microphones
The quad cortex comes preloaded with 1000 cabinet IRs apparently created by Adam “Nolly” Getgood who is known for his Cab Sims. So you will not ever run out of great cab sounds in this unit. And they do sound incredibly good!
You can also change settings within each cab IR to allow for microphone placement, selection, distance, pan and so much more!
Expression Pedal Capable
The Neural DSP quad cortex does not come with an expression pedal. But there are 2 connections on the unit for them. So you can connect expression pedals to the device. You can also set parameters on what you want to be controlled and how. For this review, we did not use these connections. But they are there for those who use expression pedals for wah, volume, and pitch shifts.
Connectivity
The device comes with 2 Dual effects loops that can accept your favorite stomps. You can then configure them into your “rig” signal chain anywhere you want using blocks. They can be configured as either 2 mono loops or a stereo.
And wouldn’t you know it, they sound and work great! The versatility of adding effects is crazy.
Mono And Stereo Outputs
Configuring your rigs is super easy. But the beautiful thing is that you can run them in stereo or mono as the unit has 4 outputs! The 2 XLR and TRS output jacks will allow you to configure them any way you want by setting them up in the software.
The unit also has a jack for the rig capture signal and a headphone output!
Amp Capture Feature
The 2 inputs on the unit provide 48V phantom power. This is to allow you to power your microphones when connecting to them. In order to capture your rig or amp sound, you will need to connect a microphone to these inputs.
Once connected, you can adjust the impedance and input preamp. All from within the quad cortex to get the strongest signal. If you have ever used a Kemper, you will know what capturing an amps frequency is all about.
Notable Competitors
If the Quad Coretx isn’t quite your thing, there are other great modelers out there. Here are a few others that are similar to the Neural.
Kemper
The Kemper modeler is the first and original modeler. It became well known very quickly because of the powerful versatility it offered. It’s used by big bands on tours because of the great sound and flexibility it offers. Plus, it comes in many different platforms like stomps and rack mount.
Line 6 Helix
The Line 6 Helix is also a heavy weight in the modeler world. Line 6 has been into DSP effects and sounds for the entirety of their business. They have done a lot of things right. The Helix is one of them. It’s also loaded with great amp sounds and effects. This is also worth looking into.
Final Thoughts on The Quad Cortex
This is by far the most versatile modeler on the planet as of the release date. It is an expensive unit for sure. But in comparison to some of the other modeling on the market, the price is super competitive.
I have been very interested in this device since the release at NAMM in 2020. But due to manufacturing delays, it took them a long time to finally ship to customers. But once it arrived, It was just as I remembered when I first tried it at NAMM.
The intuitive layout and ease of use were apparent right from the start. It was easy to simply fire it up and start putting together preset rigs with ease. You will need the manual for some items, but It’s simple to use.
I was super impressed by the sounds we were able to get from this modeler. We do feel they are the closest to a tube head that is possible today. I enjoyed capturing some of my favorite valve heads and running them in parallel. The feel is nearly there, but still the closest I have experienced from a modeler.
This is THE device to own with all that it has to offer. The ability to share presets with friends via Wi-Fi and to use the USB port to update or record. The unit is a masterpiece of modelers. I recommend it, especially to those who are just getting into the digital game.
I can see Neural DSP improving on it as time goes by, but as it is now, it’s a great unit with tons of versatility like no other. However, if it’s not quite what you are looking for. Then I would also suggest you look at the Line 6 POD go.
FAQs
Where is the Quad Cortex made?
Neural DSP makes the Quad Cortex in Helsinki, Finland. The company is led by Douglas Castro. He is also the Darkglass founder.
Does Quad Cortex work as an interface?
Yes, the Quad Cortex also works as a low latency audio interface. It comes with a USB type-B cable that allows you to connect it to your Windows or Mac computer. The audio is incredibly good and can be used directly for albums and other recordings.
Is the Quad Cortex an amplifier?
No, the Quad Cortex itself does not work as an amplifier. You can’t drive a loudspeaker with it directly. But it emulates amplifiers. You can then send the signal to a power amp to drive speakers. Or you can use a PA system or recording interface to capture the sound of a full guitar rig.
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Рынок напольных процессоров эффектов уже не будет прежним. Neural DSP — это комания, которая делает самые передовые гитарные плагины на данный момент. Сегодня она разродилась своим opus magnum в виде моделирующего процессора Quad Cortex. Скептик спросит: «Ну и что? Накинули цифр в характеристики DSP, добавили модный тачпад и ту самую фигню «как у Кемпера»». Но не всё так просто! Давайте разберемся и рассмотрим основные фишки девайса.
Начнем с действительно мощного ядра процессора. Тактовая частота 2ГГц для одного лишь прибора с эффектами — это весьма солидно! Вычислительные мощности Quad Cortex позволяют запускать до четырех передовых моделей усилителей с множеством эффектов одновременно и создавать абсолютно уникальный для себя звук. Этому поспособствуют более 50 высококлассных усилителей, 1000 кабинетов и 70 эффектов в библиотеке устройства. Продвинутый параметрический процессор также сыграет в этом не последнюю роль.
Технология Neural Capture — это гордость компании и новейшее слово в музыкальном мире. Развитие технологий машинного обучения и нейробиологии, заключенное в Quad Cortex, позволит пользователю прибора записать абсолютно любой усилитель или эффект обработки и сделать его «слепок» с невероятной точностью. Биометрический метод, примененный компанией, позволил процессору воспринимать звук записываемого дейваса так, как будто его слышит человеческое ухо. Таким образом, вы услышите максимально есетственное звучание, которое только могут предложить современные технологии.
Стоит поговорить и про форм-фактор с управлением. Корпус и элементы управления изготовлены из анодированного аллюминия и абсолютно неубиваемы при небольшом весе и смехотворном размере (Quad Cortex меньше 15″ Макбука). Надежно защищен и семидюймовый сенсорный экран, благодаря которому управлять процессором очень приятно, по принципу Drag-n-drop. Также важным моментом при использовании прибора является мобильное приложение Neural CNS Mobile, где вы сможете находить бесконечное количество пресетов и делиться ими с сообществом.
Amp modeling has advanced leaps and bounds in recent years, and one of the pioneers of this next generation of gear has been Neural DSP. While they don’t have the mass market brand presence of Boss or Line 6, they have become something of a major player in the world of FX and modeling thanks to their revolutionary Quad Cortex.
The Quad Cortex is the first hardware item from Neural DSP, who are mostly known for their plugins, and it has made quite a splash since its introduction. At its core, it’s modeled around the same plugins that put this brand on the map, but does this stomp-box-style FX and modeling unit live up to the reputation it’s built? Keep reading to see what we found.
Contents
- Neural DSP Quad Cortex: Who Is This For?
- Neural DSP Quad Cortex: Appearance / Features / Controls
- Neural DSP Quad Cortex: Performance/Sound
- Other Amp Modeler/FX Units to Consider
- Kemper Profiler
- Line 6 Helix
- Final Thoughts on the Neural DSP Quad Cortex
Neural DSP Quad Cortex: Who Is This For?
The Neural DSP Quad Cortex is aimed primarily at intermediate players, but the incredible sound quality and huge array of features makes it a great choice for advanced guitarists and working musicians, too. The price point may seem high at first, but with Sweetwater’s financing options you can usually pick up a Quad Cortex for somewhere around $50 a month, putting it within reach of most players.
Neural DSP Quad Cortex: Appearance / Features / Controls
Quad Cortex — The most powerful floor modeler on the planet
The Quad Cortex is a great-looking unit. It’s built within an anodized aluminum housing and we particularly liked the matte black finish. As we mentioned earlier, this is Neural DSP’s first attempt at hardware, so (for now) there is no rack-mounted version. It’s available as a stomp box only.
The centerpiece of the exterior is the 7-inch LED touchscreen. Without giving too much away, we found it to be bright and thanks to the semi satin finish, it was easy to read in all lighting conditions, including under harsh stage lighting. The touchscreen is clearly the way that Neural DSP intended users to interact with the unit. The touch response was excellent and very similar to that of an iPhone – accurate and responsive.
All of the Quad Cortex’s features can be accessed by the LED screen or by programming the presets to the 8 available stomp buttons. You can easily cycle through menus using the multifunction mode/tempo/tuner stomp buttons, too. Over on the left, there’s a large volume/power knob.
On the back of the unit, you’ll find all of the available inputs and outputs. Starting from left to right, you’ve got the two combo inputs, which can accommodate standard ¼” jacks as well as XLR, TS, and TRS. These inputs are equipped with preamps and phantom power supplies in case you’re planning to run a microphone through the QC.
Next, the dual send and return loops. Not only do these loops allow you to embed mono and stereo effects through the signal chain, they also act as additional input and output jacks.
One row over, the Quad Cortex gives you a further 2 mono outputs. These outputs are balanced and offer incredible sound quality. It features a headphone-out and 2 XLR outputs.
There is a MIDI in and a MIDI thru/out control to allow for sending and reception of MIDI signals. Ultimately this MIDI control allows you to automate the entire range of functions of this pedal. Additionally, there are a pair of expression pedal inputs, which can be rigged to allow you to control wah, pitch changes, or volume using a pedal.
Next, you’ll find the USB port, which is of course used for firmware updates, audio transfer, and even MIDI control. On the extreme right, you have a 12v DC power input.
The fit and finish of everything on this pedal is absolutely incredible. The stomp switches offer rotary control as well as click-in click-out, and are made out of stainless steel. Neural even goes so far as to call them unbreakable.
Neural DSP Quad Cortex: Performance/Sound
Baris Benice — 8 Presets | Quad Cortex
We’ve been waiting to get our hands on this ever since it was announced at winter NAMM 2020. This is one of the most anticipated gear releases in recent memory, so we were truly hoping it would live up to the hype.
One of the things we noted first was just how compact this unit is considering what it’s capable of. One of the things that helped Neural DSP to make the Quad Cortex so compact was the combination stomp button rotary dials. This kept the deck of the unit clear, which makes the playing experience so much better. The rotary motion is used to control the parameters within the settings you activate from the touchscreen, and the hardware and software interact beautifully.
The homepage gives a very nice visual of the signal flow you have set up within your system in a sort of digital representation of a daisy chain of pedals on a board, showing the linear flow from guitar to amplifier.
After we spent some time exploring the vast number of modes and pages, we decided it was time to check out the amplifier model presets. We found that the presets were good, but certainly benefited from some of the extra EQ found onboard. Tonal possibilities are practically limitless if you understand what you’re doing with compression and EQ, though.
One thing we did note was a slight hiss when amp profiles were played with low gain. This went for both the presets and the Stage Right Profile we made. With the gain turned up, the hiss is pretty much eliminated, but you’d probably want to introduce a noise gate if you were planning to record anything clean.
One of our favorite features was the ability to play with the cab settings. Not only are you able to modify the amp parameters, you can even adjust the position of the virtual microphone to wherever you’d place it by the speaker on a physical cab. This is an incredible advancement and brings game-changing dynamics to this unit, especially for those planning to record with it.
Another incredible feature of this pedal is the ability to capture the profiles of amps, heads, or even entire rigs using the Neural Capture functionality. If you’ve used a Kemper before, the process will be quite familiar. But in the case of the QC, we were blown away by how quick and easy it was. Once we’d selected Neural Capture, we were presented with a full visual setup guide to walk us through the process of connecting the amp we wanted to model. In this case, our little 5w Stage Right tube amp. The process took quite a while, but the results were outstanding, with absolutely no discernible difference between the live amp and the modeled version in the Quad Cortex.
Of course, we had to spend some time with the preset FX built into the unit, too. While not disappointing, they weren’t the strongest element of the Quad Cortex. There were models based on many of the most popular pedals on the market (think Klon, Tube Screamer, etc.), but as presets, they didn’t quite match what you’d expect from an equivalent standalone stomp box. We adjusted the parameters on some of the effects and did manage to get some really great tones in the end.
If you aren’t having any luck adjusting any of the preset FX to your liking and you already own, or can borrow, a particular pedal you’re looking to emulate, you can always use the Neural Capture to model it, too.
Other Amp Modeler/FX Units to Consider
The Neural DSP Quad Cortex is one of the newest units of its kind on the market. There are still, of course, alternatives to consider if the QC isn’t quite what you’re looking for:
Kemper Profiler
Kemper’s Profiler Amp Head is one of the originals (along with the Axe FX), and still is one of the best when it comes to amp profiling. It’s renowned for its incredible sound quality, huge variety of presets, and seemingly endless parameter modification abilities.
It is available in both rack-mounted form and as a floor-based stomp box. Both the rack and floor-mounted versions are much less portable than the Quad Cortex, but on the plus side, they feature better sounding preset FX out of the box.
Check out our full Kemper vs Quad Cortex head to head here.
Line 6 Helix
Line 6 is one of the big names when it comes to digital effects processing, so you shouldn’t be surprised to see them in the company of giants like the Kemper and Quad Cortex. There are multiple versions of the Line 6 Helix available and, like the Kemper, you can buy it in rack- or floor-mounted configurations.
Helix models have a lot of aftermarket support available in terms of downloadable, premade amp, and FX models, although they really excel when it comes to modeling and modifying new FX and amps.
Check out our full Helix vs Quad Cortex head to head here.
Final Thoughts on the Neural DSP Quad Cortex
We had a lot of fun experimenting with the Neural DSP Quad Cortex. There are so many thousands of available settings that it would take months to explore them all. As an amp and pedal modeler, the Quad Cortex is incredibly impressive. It can mimic anything you throw at it in a very convincing way. And while the presets aren’t the most exciting, you don’t buy a Quad Cortex for preset FX and amps alone.
Something worth noting, however, is that the Quad Cortex operating system is still in its infancy. Updates will come in the future and if we know anything about Neural DSP, it’s that they are always improving upon their existing products. Things like the hiss we heard on clean tones will almost certainly be fixed in future releases and we have no doubt that we will see improvements with the preset amps and FX, too.
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Simon is an Orlando based musician, but originally hails from Newcastle, England.
He started playing bass and guitar in 1998, and played the local scene throughout his teen years before life got in the way.
Favorite Genres: Blues, Classic Rock, and he’s not ashamed to admit — EmoView all posts
