My Thoughts on the Neural DSP Quad Cortex
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- čas přidán 4. 03. 2024
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I’ve gigged with tube amps for 50 years. Tried Fractal and Helix and Headrush. Decided modeling was no where good enough for me. When the Quad Cortex came out I thought why even bother. The you tube reviews sounded great to me so I bought one. Within a few days I was blown away by what I was getting. It is my main live and recording device. I can’t imagine ever going back. I agree it doesn’t sound like a tube amp. When I compare it to my amps the Quad sounds better to me. Never thought I’d say that. Great time to be a guitarist.
cool
What couldn’t you get from the fractal that you can with the QC? I have an axe fx iii and my bassist has a QC. Both are capable of producing awesome tones for live and recording. Couple of the best units for sure. I wouldn’t trade my axe3 for a QC though!
@@jaboozled I think it was just a little too complicated for a first time modeler purchase, and I didn’t get everything out of it that it was capable of. I Probably didn’t give enough time to learn it. I’m sure it’s capable of great tones. Although from watching many, many, reviews on modelers, one thing I’ve noticed. Different people find some modelers pleasant to the ears and others digital or unpleasant sounding. Not sure why, I guess everyone’s ears are just different. I have a friend who is also an accomplished guitarist. He loves the Helix, I find it completely unsuitable for me and my playing. It sound unnatural to me. He loves it. So if you like the sound YOU are getting from a device, it doesn’t matter what someone else thinks about how it sounds when they use it.
Intro was great as always and that silver burst sounds great - think 2 or 3 times before getting rid of it😆 Love your honesty when it comes to gear, that is one of the things that make your content great! Have a great day!!
Thanks so much Mojo!
Honest insights! I made the modeler plunge and picked up a Fractal FM3 as my backup rig. Nothing beats a tube amp and pedals, but having a backup modeler I can go direct, gives me peace of mind.
Awesome Eric! I agree. Thanks so much!
Appreciate the honest no BS take. I played one and wasn’t impressed tone or feel wise compared to a tube amp. Practicality wise though it’s great! For fly gigs or quick gigs with 3-4 songs
thanks so much!!
I own a Kemper and I agree. For me it's not as much a sound thing as it is a question of feel. It sounds more like a recorded sound than a live amp.
Due to severe back problems, I had to compromise and I've gotten used to it (playing it exclusively since 2019). But nothing beats an actual amp or cab moving that air behind you.
The thing that made QC really sounding great for me was
1finding a brand of IRs i like, ML sound for me
2(which is more important) in the IR block , use the Low Pass, I cut to like 8800hz. Also1.0ms Pre delay instead of the 5m.s thats default.
Little stuff like that made to me the difference between wanting to sell it and actually loving it.
I have 0 experience with tubes as they are expensive and nobody rly has them around here, but for a lot of contexts, a good modeller( any of the big names) and learning tricks ( sadly is needed but hey. options) can make a guitarist life easier and more enjoyable
We all need to know where you got the plexiglas protectors. Great vid btw.
The one way I enjoy using the QC is plugged into my PowerStation and then into a real cab. It gets closer to a real amp with the amp in the room feel but there is still something slightly missing. The benefit is that you can have a bunch of amps in a single unit routed to different cabs if you have a cab switcher. Keep up the great work!
thanks!
the amp sounds of fractal an dsp and kemper are grea!!..love it...
awesome
Fantastic device, I love mine an for 40+ yrs I’ve been a tube amp user, tried a pod when they came out and back then they weren’t as good but I was blown away by the device, the power supply is junk, they need a few updates but it’s pretty good
Awesome
It sounds exactly like a tube amp if it’s mic’d up through a pa. No one claims it sounds like sitting in front of a tube amp.
I've been using a Quad Cortex for almost two years now and I think it's a much more versatile tool than just an "amp modeler" as a lot of people put it. The routing options and internal effects alone seem like it could easily replace a good chunk of session guys' pedals (M5, H9, Timeline, Flint, any modulation effects) while probably being able to minimize space. There's even some options on it that wouldn't be possible otherwise, like using the capture feature to add some outboard gear to your pedalboard. I use a couple different Neve captures in my setup, which I definitely couldn't justify otherwise. Even if you still use real amps and drive pedals, the functionality on the QC can't be oversold. Excited to see how you like it if you dig in past the amp modeling.
cool thanks for watching bro
Hi Justin, the only rule : "whatever works for you"! Of course we all evolve along the years and slowly refine whatever we're after, but, as long as it works for you, you're good ! Always had peculiar guitars and taste, so I'm kind of the opposite of what normal people would go for, but you know what? It works for me!
Take care, keep playing and keep up the good work!
Thanks so much Pedro
@@justinmeyersguitarist Thank you for your efforts & for answering. Take care!
Hi Justin, could you make a video about the M9? How you use it and what your favourite presets are? Wish you the best!
yeah possibly! thanks so much
Where the QC shines is capturing your existing amps. It’s not difficult. It’s actually surprisingly easy. And sounds much better than the models on board. That was my experience with it.
cool.
I disagree, any capture I made wasn't close to my amp.
@@johnpannella I can see that happening. Of the 6 amps we captured, 4 of them came out great, just about spot on. 2 of the smaller wattage amps weren’t as close, and for sure didn’t sound as much like the amps. I’m not sure why it didn’t translate as well with a 10 or 12 watt amp, but in my case, anything 30watts and up translated surprisingly well. That said, I’m sure everyone’s experience is different.
Get a QC power supply from Sweetfoot pedals. Only $80. 👍🏻
I feel when i had it it just sounded like a too processed guitar sound, not the raw sound i get from miking an amp. So that made it hard to process/eq/compress/ any further in the mix, seemed like there wasnt anything left for the eq to «grab» kindof. But probably one of the best digital solutions out there
For sure
Hey Justin, thanks for the video. Do the cioks DC7 + crux really help with the noise/grounding issues?
Yes
Hey, have you tried capturing any of your amps yet? Apologies if you mentioned that in the video, I was listening in the background while doing some things around the house. When I had mine I made some captures of my Third Power British Dream and used them instead of the stock amps and it vastly improved my experience with the QC. Also, the vemuram jan ray capture that comes stock on the QC is basically the only one I found that I like. Check it out if you haven’t! I think it’s called ‘Vemural Ray’
i haven't tried out the capture process yet!
as for power supply... you can get a flat power supply (laptop style) ver cheap and mount it under the pedalboard with no problems (if powering only Quad). So i dont think its a major problem. Its 25-30 bucks, and well made, specially for live use
I would enjoy hearing you play the Quad Cortex on this channel some when you are comfortable with it.
Sure! In the intro clip I was plugged up to the quad cortex!
Oh man, if you started faking us out, as in, guess which one was real I'd probably lose.@@justinmeyersguitarist
lol!!@@danielrose703
Id love to know your thoughts on the effects vs your M9
I love the jhv3 m9 sounds incredible
They will 100% replace tube amps. Reason being is that the only better “experience” you mention is for the benefit of the guitarist and not the listener.
To the listener, there is no difference.
Nowadays, kids are looking for ease of use and are far more susceptible to pick the quad cortex or another modeller. Plus they look cooler in their eyes because they don’t have the experience of playing big old amps.
They are used to iPhones and touch screens.
So love it or hate it, amps will die out.
They will probably be back though in the next trend cycle.
interesting.. to each their own
Yeah man. Im not disagreeing with you but I am explaining what I am seeing. @@justinmeyersguitarist
Great playing during the intro👍🏻 which amp on the QC were you using?; im guessing maybe the Friedman BE100?
I've moved over to modeling, as here in the u.k, some venues a pretty small and i gave up the hassle of bringing a huge pedla board, 2x12 cab and head. As i also sing whilst playing guitar, the QC made a lot of sense re; being able to use scenes to switch multiple pedals with one tap. Haven't gigged with the QC yet, but for home recording it's been awesome. Had a Fractal ax8 before, which was great, but the UI on the QC I've found suits be better personally.
Thanks bud. I was using a Jcm 800 model. Yes it’s super easy to use
Justin, I bought a Quad Cortex about a year ago. I never liked it from Day 1. No matter how much tweaking I did from EQ, High Pass Filters, changing the input gain level, and on and on it never sounded good to me. I own some of the amps that are in the Quad Cortex and not one of those amp models sounded like my amp. An example is the Fender High Power Tweed Twin; I own one. The model in the Quad Cortex wasn't even close. Same with my 65 Deluxe Reverb, not even close. Also, the Neural Capture capability; I captured a few of my amps to see the comparison, again, not even close. I sold my Quad Cortex just a few days ago and I'm glad that I did. I just wasn't going to use it. Give me a real tube amp any day. I have also tried the Line 6 HX Stomp, that lasted a week and I sold it. I've tried the UA pedals, sold every one of them. Even the Strymon Iridium, sold it.
haha. yeah nothin beats a great tube amp. im just thinking of using this thing for fly gigs so i can just carry on everything i need for the gig. not have to rely on random backline, just a compromise ive had to make for gigs like that but besides that im tube amps all the way!
Have you looked at the Friedman IR-X if you’re looking for something compact but not digital? Two channel tube preamp in pedal form with the ability to load IRs. Haven’t tried one myself yet, but my buddy is loving his!
To me the biggest sell of the Quad Cortex isn't even the modelling itself, it's the interface. They nailed it. Not even Fractal or Line 6 have worked that part out yet. First time I got my QC in 2021, first ten minutes I had a tone. My Helix was okay, but eventually I needed IRs to make it sound good.
yeah it is super easy to use for sure
So dude, is this gonna replace the small HX stomp based board u had?
Great question! I’m thinking it will. I’ve had that board for years now at this point, may be time to just go with this. Maybe get a board done up like I was saying in the video that will fit within a carry on suitcase.
I haven't tried any of those units unfortunately. I'm afraid I would like them because I'm a lazy shit.
[Edit: Get one of those D'Addario boards that have the option to extend. You could extend the board when or if you wanted to use those analog pedals like you were talking about]
Lol
in the room these things don't sound as good as amps, but hearing it live through a P.A. you can't really tell the difference
I have tried and tried and tried, over 10’ish years all kind of the newest digital stuff. It can sound kind of okay, but it never ever inspire me. I totally aggree with you, its not even close to the whole experience of a real tube amp.
Thanks so much!!
I don't think you could tell the difference blindfolded through studio monitors and I'm sure a crowd doesn't care. The difference in tone in the room is immense though. For touring, nothing beats it without someone else carrying your stuff.
im sure i could actually and also my job is to provide the absolute best to the crowd. i also have the same approach with my fans here on youtube so i don't think like that as in "oh its good enough".. i strive to put the absolute best out there i can
@@justinmeyersguitarist I use amps so no skin in this game but a lot of pro guitarists have not been able to tell the difference in A/B tests. Digital makes sense - Derek Wells played AT&T Stadium with a UA Ruby and Edge sells out the Sphere nightly. I don't think they are putting out less than the best.
Why do u think I went out and bought one of these things lol. It’s a practical tool for certain applications
@@justinmeyersguitarist I don't know dude - you wrote earlier that you wouldn't use it because it isn't good enough for your fans. I'm confused.
Lol I guess we’ll keep this comment thread going cause it promotes the video but not at all what I said. All I said is it’s different from tube amps and doesn’t sound the same, not the same experience. Certain situations like fly gigs, something like this makes a lot of sense as I don’t have to check a pedalboard and worry about if the board makes it to the gig or not, or even if it does, I have to plug it up into some suspect backline gear. I can just throw this thing in a backpack and call it a day, it’s a compromise that I HAVE to make for a situation like that. Keeps consistency, and less stress involved with flying.
I think you wrong about noiseless cioks.My quad cortex sound best with P.A speaker My favorit Fenders new fr fr speakers.
Lee1💙💙