What I think about the Quad Cortex
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 มี.ค. 2024
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Spending a couple hours with the QC now, I definitely love the UI more than anything else I've tried. I think you could probably get all the same tones with any of the other comparable units (Axe FX III, Kemper, Helix, etc,) but the thing that sets this unit apart is the layout of the physical interface, and the ease of use. It's also a lot less intimidating to me, for some reason.
If I had my choice, in a perfect world, I'd take bits and pieces from all of these units and mix and match them, but for now I'm gonna keep going with the QC to see how it deals with live performances every night. Wish me luck!
Good luck and happy tinkering, I'm sure you'll come up with all kinds of new ideas with it! 🎸
Hell yes! I love the QC!! Hope to see Archspire patches on the Cloud soon!
Curious on why you and Tobi changed to Kemper? What kind of settings/ profile do you have on it? Can you make a Video going thru your Kemper please n thanks!!!
Hell yeah. In a little tech death band in Illinois, We’ve had gigs when shit goes bad wrong and 2 or 3 of us just run off of the left leads qc 😂
@@DONFRANK007 Tobi does all the Kemper tones, Dean's said before he doesn't know much about them at all
Unpopular opinion: more or less every modeller since ~2010 is perfectly capable of doing the job. Keep in mind axe fx 2 was released in 2011. Do you really need all the shiny knobs and hype and more premade profiles you'll end up never using? Given how most metal guitarists stick to a few rhythm tones, all of this gear-chase is just a distraction from making music.
I agree in some basic way, but there's some notable quality of life improvements in recent years.
The UI for the older AxeFx units is so incredibly difficult to use on the fly, you basically need to use axe edit, especially on stage tweaking things before a set.
The line 6 UI is great, but as Nick said, the DSP can often be lacking.
The Kemper takes 3 minutes to boot up, and has a ridiculous front face of buttons that looks intimidating to most players (maybe I'm just speaking about myself here.)
The Quad is actually the first unit I've looked at and immediately understood how everything worked. They took normal UI ideas from smart phones like tapping and dragging, and made it very obvious without having to consult the manual much before you start building. Also the DSP power would have been impossible in 2011.
So on principle, yes I agree gear can sometimes be a distraction from the creative process, but if you have an easier time making the unit do the thing you want, I'd say that's a net positive.
@@DeanLambSolo game dev, here
- tools are a means to an end. If you spend less time setting things up, you spend more time working.
Some yes, but saying "every" is a very bold statement.
I agree that modern processors are all capable of achieving great tone. That’s why things like UI are what’s important. The QC is so easy to use that you end up spending way less time turning knobs and way more time playing. Your objection is actually why I love the QC. I never thought I’d stop using fractal but compared to the QC it’s a major time sucker. Plus I can create patches that allow me to do things that my axe fx 2 just can’t.
@@DeanLambplease upload your patches/captures to the cortex cloud and give us your user name. I will totally come to your house and put your dishes away.
5:55 has to be the badonk
Best amp model they have for metal
Dean. You've gotten this one handed man who'll never be able to play guitar to watch your videos, that says a lot. No but in all seriousness (I do really have one hand) it's fun to watch you, and especially you claine violently abuse each other!
Just do tapping with the hand you do have.
Im sure you could come up with some awesome unique stuff.
@@RumpleStiltzkin-bu5he I've learned in life that it's more frustration than it's worth in most cases to try super hard to do something which is unlikely to ever work as well as desired, vs. just picking less frustrating thing. I'm a drummer, and I've only drummed maybe 3 years in my life in total, rest of the time I'm confined to sitting in my wheelchair and drumming on different objects. I know so many songs' rhythms and want to play so badly, I even have a great Tama kit just sitting in storage I just can't play since 6 years ago. It sucks to have so much desire musically, especially when my genre is metal where it's all about using actual instruments. It's not just having one hand, it's also that the hand I do have is missing 2 fingers and is tiny, so can't grip guitar necks, and I have no legs. Sorry I wasn't clear about it lol, didn't mean to take it so seriously.
@KytexEdits sorry to hear it, brother, but do what you can. The frustration comes from wanting too much too fast.
I dont know what its like and im not claiming to. I hope you find happiness in any endeavors you decide to tackle.
@@KytexEditsGlad you're still so passionate about this stuff though dude. Hit me up on IG anytime we're playing near you and I'll come say hey. :)
@@DeanLambOh wow that's so kind of you Dean, I actually met you after your show in Gothenburg. You were talking to some other guys and I kind rolled up to you in my wheelchair while you were walking away from them (well, I was in my wheelchair) and asked you to sign the tour t-shirt, funny thing is you asked me where to sign and I kind of freaked out and said "wherever" and you ended up signing it but the pen didn't work LOL. Either way, thanks for the signing and thanks for a great show, anytime ya'll will come close to Sweden I'll see you, it was a great time!
Love this vid, thanks Dean! Always love to see the behind the scenes of sculpting out the core of music, and indulging the nerdiness!
I just listened to the Riffhard podcast from 2021 where you were a guest and you were talking about the Quad Cortex. Now I see that you got it and I'm unreasonably excited for you :D congrats! Well deserved!
Nick is the man and his videos really helped a lot when I jumped on the Helix bandwagon recently. I'm sure your tones are going to crush on the upcoming tour.
It's incredible all the tools there are for creation and execution, both in the studio and live, thank you very much for the explanation and demonstration. 🤘🏼
Looking forward to seeing you guys in Austin!
I've tried a QC at a local gear store once and it was certainly awesome. What keeps me on my Kemper instead are two factors: The Kemper has an internal power supply and is already paid for.
Yeah the power amp being inside the Kemper is pretty hard to beat. That was the main selling point for me as well.
And, the Kemper Performance mode beats all the competition for live.
No lies, been watching you for a while, first comment, this is definitely your style of vids/reviews, of products. Very helpful 👌 thanks!
I'm a huge neural and darkglass fan, love their stuff to bits. They're also local to me so gotta represent 🤘
Mine gets in Tuesday and im so stoked
Yay! Nick!
I love my line 6 pod go and yes I also use it with a orange super crush 100 watt head and two 4x12s but honestly you get the best of both worlds when you record quietly and practice in your office space.
I had a zoom 505 (yes I'm that old) and the fp01 expression pedal back in the day and once I had the sounds and effects I wanted from the patches locked in, that was it. If one could get the same or similar experience from this one would consider investing.
P.S. A year ago was my first time seeing Archspire live when you came to Ireland. Please come back some day.
The shirt buttoned all the way up. Fuggin' gangster!!!!
That red Pod bringing back hella memories 😂
Bogner cabs IRs are the best in the market for low tunings. I have tried so many and I always get back to the Bogner ones.
Releasing these presets??? Looking forward to seeing y’all in Dallas!
It's pretty sick! If you upload any presets in the future please do share on the cloud. Thanks for the great channel 🎛
I barely play live but practice and do things at home and i fucking love digital, you can do so much more without sacrificing space. I know it has it’s cons but for me it just do wonders and i love it for that
Yeah I doubt I'll ever switch to analog amps live, and definitely never at home, unless I build a studio of some kind. It's all about space, versatility and volume.
I started with an HX stomp, then got a quad cortex. Now I play live using the stomp in the effects loop of the QC and I can’t see myself ever needing anything more, it feels so overpowered
The stock cabs are great, but Tonefactor XR IRs, and bogren's just bring it to life imo. Favorite piece of gear I've gotten so far..maybe
I am looking at my Line 6 Pod 2.0 right now 🍻
Still jamming on my pod xtlive.
This was a great video. Do you think you’ll ever create a Neural Cloud artist account and release this or other presets?
I still have my pod 2.0. Although, I don't use him/her anymore... I still appreciate it.
FYI…yes the Cortex has a dual IR loader in its current OS build…it’s amazing.
ILOVE NICKKKK
Can't wait til the Quad Bandicoot comes out
Dean - wish there was a capture of the old Madison Divinity II!! Haha
I haven’t tried any of these modelers, but have looked at them a lot. Have you tried the newest axefx stuff? I’m curious what the ease of use differences are. I’m also curious how soon they’ll be implementing their plugin use on the QC.
Man I remember having the first Line6 Pod and I remember the tones being OK for the time, but I also remember never really getting a ton of use out of it because of massive latency issues on my PC. Thankfully PC's have come so far that latency is not at all an issue these days, at least for me... because I'm addicted to neural plugins.
Only the MVPs do the dishes... best of the best
Yo where do I get that Robin Hood shirt!? Favorite Disney movie growing up!
It''s the Badonk that got captured from the Helix, isn't it?
The pod 2.0 was ok, the pod xt was the shit!! I had every pod up to the helix, when I jumped ship to fractal, no looking back. Kinda hard to outdo the axe fx 3 IMO,. I haven't checked out the cortex, but I'd love to.
I set up a tone that I use live with this thing in 5 minutes and I barely tweaked it. It just sounded so much better then what I did on my ax8 with hours of tweaking that I was like "yeah I'm not touching it anymore".
All of these units can sound amazing, but it's really just about which unit is easiest for you to use. I think the QC nailed it with the UI
I still run PODs.
Now i use the HD500 but i still have my X3 live and my old 2.0 just like that one haha
Dude the Pod HD500 fucking rips, I used it forever. The helix is the next step up, but the HD500 sounded great.
I still run my trusty Pod HD as bass preamp into our band rack. I planned to upgrade to something like a Darkglass, but every other band practice my mates gush over how brutal my bass tone is... so now I kinda don't wanna use something else anymore lol. Pods are really good if you know what you're doing
Shit I had the OG POD. The non digital one and I loved it. Lived on Recto when I wasn't playing clean through my Danelectro Baritone (LP style)
5:18 new archspire riff?
I wonder how the axe fx ultra compares to the quad cortex
Would that amp happen to be the bandonkadonk?
This is probably a stupid question, but can you also use the Quad cortex as an Effects pedal as well? Like can you plug it into the effects lupe in an amp and use it that way as well?
do you like rectifiers? II know you play tight technical, does their sag work for you at all?
How could I get these tones ?
Yeeeee get that money
Dean, please upload your patches to the cortex cloud and give us your user name. I would be eternally grateful.
Ill stick to the VCR. I have all my tone matches, I built or copied over 180 of them and my recorded tones are great.
Hey Mr. Lamb, I still can't find any Kemper Soundpacks from you. 🤔
Am I just too dumb?
The quad cortex is amazing! If you want to buy any captures, Ampguru has amazing captures of amps.
4 levels of giving Matt an 8 string kiesle and one of these
Would you recommend the Rode headphones? I am picking between the Beyerdynamic 770 and these Rodes...
I like them, they're pretty comfy. I wouldn't know to suggest them in terms of fidelity if you're looking for something specific, however. I just like them for all-purpose use.
@@DeanLamb thanks, I'm just looking for headphones to play guitar
MY TONES!!!
Does the quad cortex finally have all of the features that they promised it would ship with years ago? Did they stop programming it in a way so your data isn’t publicly available?
I've heard rumblings of unhappy customers waiting for features that were promised that haven't been delivered, yeah. Haven't paid attention to it much, since I basically just got this thing a couple weeks ago.
So.... where's my Dean QC profiles? :)
The reason I don’t like these types of units is because it’s always a piece of hardware that aims to get you locked into a walled garden of software. This means that any additional software purchases will be exclusive to the provider of the hardware.
In my opinion a pure software solution is a better way to go. Just get a good laptop and you can install any amp modeling software and you’re not locked into getting it from the provider of your expensive hardware modeler. You can always get a midi controller to control the program changes from the floor. But these hardware modeling units take the computer software and lock it in through the hardware unit. So if you want to change software streams you can’t.
I totally agree, and in a perfect world we'd be running all three stringed instruments off of a single laptop, and everything would be sooooo easy.
However I've always been worried about putting everything at one point of failure like that. I completely trust a laptop for running a tone, but running multiple just seems like asking for trouble. Especially when laptops are much more multi purpose, whereas a physical amp modeler has a sole function.
In the future though, I'm always open to new setups. I would love to fly with just my laptop and not have to worry about big bulky physical units.
i was certain that footage was from namm 2020
the pod coming out the year i was born is a painful reminder im almost 24 lol
You're so close to death now. 🪦
What are dishes?
Btw, the quad is amazing 🤘
No i used to program patches with my eyes closed
I can appreciate the quad cortex has flaws and it’s not for everyone, but I love mine so much. I play it every day and the price tag is worth it just for the foot switch buttons doubling as turntable knobs to adjust effects and Amps.
Turning a knob with your hand to adjust sounds is so just better than a mouse or an interface.
Will the QC bring back the f*$#!@& tension in the music?
Fractal audio for life!
Will it chug?
I believe yes
Badonk?
I've personally found the stock tones on a Helix are kinda mid... kinda meh. I'd really have to work the Helix to get a tone that I'd really like. The QC is quite the opposite. For my ear it just seems like out of the box the QC tones are amazing.
Well Dean, hopefully my VIP entry will win me one \m/
Hey quick Q: while this unit does look rugged enough to be a decent floor unit, you think it would fare well on like a tour? I like the *concept* of it but in my mind I'm thinking: "Yeah this thing is kinda expensive I need to just get a midi switch and leave this by the amp since otherwise it's begging for an enthusiastic drunk to just spill a beer on it"
I plan on putting it in a rack shelf, far away from drunk people. 🍺
Just got a midi controller for it for this exact reason. Had the vocalist spill water over it at a gig. It survived but I ain't going through that again ever lol
@@awaitingchaosbandYeah, we've been programming patch changes for almost 10 years now, so I don't need it anywhere near me. Although I do use a peterson strobe tuner on stage, near my cab.
@@DeanLambI have mine in a rack and I use an airstep paired with a widi master to control it. Totally wireless and works great.
1:45 - Dean uses a bean.
Ever been called Bean Hamm? idk just a thought...
Dean, do you not own any amps?
Correct
I actually seek desperate help with PEQ!
Can’t believe you didn’t go for the black and gold hardware?! None the less getting excited for the slight possibility of your tones on cortex? 😳
WTF I did NOT know there was a black and gold unit. Dude that looks so much sicker!
@@DeanLamb time to contact Sweetwater haha!
@@fitzy7684They don't have it! I guess it was a limited edition. Weak!
I thought you already had a QC....Maybe i am getting you confused with Thomas McRocklin.
Nah, I've been using a kemper for a couple years, switched from an axe fx II xl +
Have you been working out? Your arms seem very toned now. Are we about to get our body builder Dean arc? Is this all to make Tobi feel bad? Find out on the next episode of Archdeaner.
I own a Kemper and barely how to use it. My guitar player is my tone man and guitar tech 😂
Hahaha yeah I'm kinda the same way with the Kemper. Tobi built our live tones.
@@DeanLamb gotta love when you get a guy who understands all the gear. My buddy built us an entire IEM rig and is now automating changes with a click, there is no way I'd know how to do that 😂 but stoked to see you guys in Calgary !
Also, the headrush feels more intuitive and is easier to use than the quad cortex. It also ships with the features it promises
That's just your opinion on more easier. The quad cortex is very simple and easy. Plus it does a great job at capturing amps and it's so easy to use. Also sounds better than the headrush.
Really? Cause i can't imagine any more intuitive than the QC. Its so dead simple you don't need a manual at all.
@@asymmetrymedia9838the headrush touchscreen did it years before and has only built on it with the prime.
@@asymmetrymedia9838 I agree the Quad Cortex is way more intuitive. I call b.s on that guys opinion respectfully
I've used both, Quad cortex has much better routing and amp feel . The headrush stuff is great too, but the quad beats it out in most aspects imo
The worst thing about the Quad Cortex is the way Neural sold so many of them based on the claims of future compatibility with their plugins, only to never deliver it because it now seems that it is beyond their technical knowh-how and / or the capabilites of the unit.
3 and a half years after release, this functionality still isn't available to users, it's probably time Neural we're honest and admit they're never going to get it working.
it's all just twisting knobs, virtual or not. and we all need someone to twist our knobs.
I feel bad for you. Dean, you never got to experience the guitar. Rack processors of the 80s that were just the best sounds. Some of them were amasing lexicon rocktron digitech PV.
yoooooooooo! love the vids!
I was the 666th like and this makes me feel accomplished
Im ngl the only reason im this early is because i farted so hard it woke me up from a dead sleep. Great video, dean!
CHUBBY BUNNY HAHAHAHAH
Let me send you some of my Quad captures. If you like them, I'll puke. If you hate them, I'll puke even harder. It's a win/win.
Hello fellow gear nerds, and a special hello to Dean’s left nipple.
Hi 🍼
Ugh using that emoji was a disgusting idea, I'm sorry
Playing this on mute because I want to support the channel but I don't want to spend $2k in a week
I have a Quad Cortex now, I hate you...or maybe I hate me. Either way thanks!!!
Nothing can replace tube amps live, every bands mix I see nowadays is just bass and drum because everyone is using modelers now and can't cut in a mix. Bring back mids and tubes😊
Cutting through the mix is a matter of frequency curve and volume. Tube amp will not magically do it by being tube amp. Spoiler alert, mids can be upped in digital modeler as well. Tube amp can do it by being f* loud but that can be neutered in PA anyway.
Analogue amps are heavy and expensive in transit.
@@reav3rtm Then why does everyones digital tone suck balls live? From locals to pros its all the same, until I see someone using a real amp. Sevendust and Static-X souded AWFUL as the most recent example.
@@TheRiffingFatboy You made claim that requires proof first. Tone is also quite personal taste don't you think. Anecdotal evidence doesn't cut it. You can't extrapolate from two bands to entire music industry. Devin Townsend uses Fractal Audio modelers live and I have yet to see anyone saying his live tone sucks. Same with Archspire. I attended concerts that band sounded terrible live because of how inappropriately volume of their tube amps was adjusted. You couldn't hear shit it was that f* loud. Perhaps live experience does not depend (anymore) on whether audio chain is analogue/digital, but on whether it's put together by clever person. Times of Line 6 Spider are long gone.
There is reason why increasingly more and more bands abandon analogue live setup. Proof is in the pudding and they tried it.
It's a really expensive product
So we've ascended to the level of marketer now? Good for you Dean. I hope you're seeing returns from this. Personally...kinda tired of gear pushing videos, however if you bring value to the video, i makes it 100 times more worthwhile.
Well, I hear you, and I'm honestly not really a gear guy. These types of videos will be few and far between on my channel, but when the opportunity arises to try new stuff that might make my live tone better, it does pique my interest. Thanks for watching! :)
@@DeanLamb Considering switching live setups to QC or looking how it works for live playthroughs at home first just out of curiosity?
Definitely planning on making this my live rig, starting with the headliner we have this June. :) @@reav3rtm
@@DeanLamb Good luck! I can imagine it's huge undertaking, such a change. I watched some some of the videos about how your live setup works, midi-heavy with individual in-ear monitors and stuff. Not sure how QC would be involved in it but it all seems pretty nerd level complex :) Just three months of setting it up and testing. Will be interesting to hear your thoughts in upcoming videos.
$1,700? lol!!!
Super hard pass
All the gate keeping elitists are gonna tell you the other modelers are better
Alternative title:
'What Quad paid me to say about thier product'
"Their" 😂
Neural didn't pay me for this video, but Sweetwater did sponsor it. I do like the QC a lot so far, but I'm not beholden to Neural DSP in any way.
As a certified numbskull (I'm a shittier Oli) the amount of choices you guitarists have is dizzying. There's a pedal for fart effects for cripes sake
It sounds pretty good, probably because of the dishes in the background.
༺❀⛥⛧⚜️🌹࿗🤘🏻࿘🌹⚜️⛧⛥❀༻
POD HD pro X and the floorboard version slap, anyone who disagrees didn’t use one properly 🫡
I agree, I love those units.
At this point the Quad is the best sounding interface on the market in terms of editablity, (is that a word?😂) and tone. Dean is spot on about it just FEELS right!
No way, Fractal's FM9 over Quad Cortex any day, especially in terms of editable parameters, tone, amp/effects options, servicing with constant updates (meaning new amp models, effects, and features like gapless switching... for free... every few months), and customer service.
Plus look at Fractal's marketing strategy. It's a couple channels who basically just teach you how to use the device because it speaks for itself after that.
Capturing is going to be a thing of the past here, soon, imo
@AmericanNationalist852 appreciate your opinion but agree to disagree. 😃 Fractal has some nice sounds but there's just no comparison between the two, the tones all bleed together(to my ears) on the Fractal whereas the Quad's shaping sounds more natural!
I'd be stoked to checkout the FM9 as well, I've heard good things!
@@RoosterOvenMittz6969 I mean you might like the sounds better, that's subjective obviously (though in guessing you've never spent any significant time with a fractal device), but you're 100% wrong on parameter editing (you can edit the parametes of freakin' parameters lol). I think that's it's biggest downfall; it's honestly just too complicated for most guitar players. But if you do figure it out, sorry, not sorry, there's no way you're not getting better tones with a Fractal device
QC almost exclusively exists for its capturing at this point
@@AmericanNationalist852 I actually switched from the Fractal to the Quad, I DO know what I'm talking about and I'm just not gonna fanboy out over something that isn't as good as something else, Fractal isn't paying me so my opinion is that the quad is better, get over it. Lol