Neural DSP Quad Cortex

Neural DSP Quad Cortex - 4-Core digital effects modeling processor & profiler floorboard

Quad Cortex is currently the most powerful floor modeling amplifier in the world. Boasting 2GHz of dedicated signal processing power from its Quad-Core SHARC® architecture, running complex signal chains, and even processing multiple instruments is a breeze. This huge amount of processing capacity provides practically limitless sound design possibilities. Navigate the device with its gorgeous 7” multi-touch display and proprietary stomp + rotary actuators, and discover how intuitive and quick every function is. You want to run four amplifier models, stereo reverbs, and a plethora of other effects simultaneously? Quad Cortex won’t even break a sweat.

Neural Capture

Neural Capture is Quad Cortex’s flagship feature. With Quad Cortex, you can capture, share and download your favourite rigs’ sounds. Equipped with Neural DSP's unique biomimetic AI technology, Quad Cortex can learn and replicate the sonic characteristics of any physical amplifier, overdrive, and cabinet with unprecedented accuracy. Unlike any other, its sophisticated neural network algorithm perceives sound akin to human perception, making it the most natural-sounding capture solution on the planet right at the date of introduction.

Neural DSP is collaborating with some of the best producers and sound designers to provide an ever-growing collection of free rig captures in addition to our full-circuit models.

As good as it gets

Quad Cortex packs a vast amount of state-of-the-art emulations of popular gear, featuring unprecedented accuracy and unbelievably natural dynamic response.

Cabsim

With over 1000 meticulously captured impulse responses, Quad Cortex ships with one of the most extensive IR collections on the planet - and it is the only of its kind equipped with virtual microphones that can be positioned around the speaker like in a real studio. Third-party IRs are extremely easy to load.

Powerful parametric EQ

Absolute control at your fingertips. Taking full advantage of the 7” multi-touch display, the built-in parametric EQ is intuitive and fun to use. Unparalleled Intuitiveness and flexibility!

User Interface

With its massive 7” multi-touch display, Quad Cortex is indeed very easy to use. Effortlessly create even the most complex signal paths. Control every feature and function of the Quad Cortex in the same way you control a tablet or smartphone.

Switching Modes

Switching modes couldn’t be easier, providing easy access to features and switch customization.

• Stomp Mode: Assign and activate any block in a rig to a footswitch like you would with an analog pedalboard. Use the up & down footswitches to navigate through Presets.
• Scene Mode: Scene Mode allows you to specify a footswitch to activate and control the settings of any number of blocks in a rig. Footswitch A could toggle a drive pedal through an amp & cabsim for a heavy rhythm tone; Footswitch B could toggle an overdrive and stereo reverb and delay for a beautifully saturated lead tone. Use the up & down footswitches to navigate through Presets.
• Preset Mode: Preset Mode gives you instant access to 8 virtual rigs - one on each footswitch. Scene Mode allows you to toggle the parameters of any number of blocks in 1 rig. Preset Mode will enable you to have eight completely different rigs. Use the up & down footswitches to navigate through banks of Presets in your Setlist.

Unbelievably compact

Using advanced mechanical design and manufacturing techniques, Neural DSP is successful to not only build the most powerful floor modeler/multi-effects processor on the planet, but also managed to pack it all in an extremely compact format.

Gig View & Setlist

Setlists are Quad Cortex’s way of making presets incredibly easy to organise. A Setlist can contain 32 banks of 8 Presets, and you can create as many setlists as you like. Setlists allow users to categorize their presets by band, project, album, or anything else! The Gig View is added to all modes (Stomp/Scene/Preset), making it even easier to see what's on the display when you're standing above the Quad Cortex.

Gig View allows you to visualize what the footswitches are assigned to instantly. This visualization utilizes the entire screen.

WiFi updates

Quad Cortex downloads updates wirelessly, negating the need to connect it to a computer with a USB cable.

Components

Quad Cortex comes in a stylish, anodized aluminum unibody, with laser engraved graphics that never fade. The 7" multi-touch display is armoured with a chemically strengthened protective glass and a reinforced touch sensor panel.

Technical specifications

• 7” display with multi-touch sensors
• An ever-growing collection of hyper-realistic virtual devices
• Neural Capture™
• Proprietary stainless steel 'stomp + rotary' actuators
• 2GHz Quad-Core SHARC® architecture
• WiFi module for wireless preset sharing, cloud backups, over-the-air firmware updates, and more!
• Anodized aluminum unibody
• Quad Cortex can be used as a high-fidelity interface, with Cirrus Logic codecs and an ultra-low-latency USB audio transmission
• Weight: 4.2 lbs / 1.9 kg
• Dimensions: 29 x 19 x 4.9cm / 11.4 x 7 x 2”

Connections:

• Dual combo inputs: TS, TRS, and XLR, variable impedance and level controls, built-in microphone preamps, and phantom power supplies
• Dual effects-loops: ideal for embedding external mono, or stereo effects into your signal chain, as well as additional input/output jacks
• 1/4” output jacks: two mono, balanced (TRS) outputs provide pristine sound quality and optimal noise performance
• XLR output jacks: two mono, balanced XLR output jacks
• Headphone output: ideal for quiet practicing
• MIDI In, Out/Thru: receive and send MIDI messages to automate switching and control of every parameter in Quad Cortex, as well as controlling other units
• Dual expression inputs: connect up to two expression pedals. They can be assigned to control wahs, volume, as well as pitch-shifting algorithms
• USB: Ultra-low latency audio transmission, firmware updates, MIDI, and more
• Capture Out: Used for QC's biomimetic AI technology, Neural Capture.
• 11 stainless steel 'stomp+rotary' actuators allow for switching and rotational control (just like the footswitches and knobs you are used to, but practically unbreakable)
• All audio connectors are Neutrik®

Quad Cortex gives you complete control over the routing of your inputs & outputs. You can even repurpose the two effects loops as additional inputs/outputs to allow for rigs with four instruments and various output customizations. Routing outputs becomes even more flexible when using Splitters. For example, you might want to send a stereo signal with a cabsim to a front of house engineer, but a separate signal without a cabsim to a cabinet on stage.

Tapping any I/O device on the Dashboard displays a menu that shows further information and allows you to control its parameters. Adjust parameters by using the multi-touch display or by rotating the corresponding footswitch for rotary controls.

Input devices can have their impedance changed, 48v enabled, and their type toggled between mic & instrument. Input gain can also be adjusted. Output devices each have an optional ground lift and a level control independent of the Quad Cortex’s master volume. Expression pedals can be calibrated via the Dashboard too. You can assign an expression pedal to any device, and it can control multiple parameters at once.