Introducing the Nano Cortex by NeuralDSP | Secret Weapons

[@markjohnstonofficial]

Yeah I know that clip is in there twice. Sorry about that.

[@borjar.6373]

Do a video like that for the free neural amp modeler nam .. you wont regret it .. keep on the good work mate

[@wksnjes4100]

Please do the video on capturing a plugin!

[@RhettShull]

Intro track is killing man!

[@HarrisonBeam]

Agreed

[@markjohnstonofficial]

Thanks man. The new Balance and Composure singles really have a stranglehold on me these days.

[@acousticaacousticduo1458]

It’s so nice to see musicians with KZbin channels supporting each other. Yes, I agre, Mark seems to always nail these opening tracks. I always love your tracks as well, Rhett. Totally different than Mark’s but you can feel the passion for your respective styles in each others work. IMO

[@nikhilnarahari8424]

Just wanted to say I love your style bro (both musical and analytical). Your videos are always among the most helpful when talking gear, or music in general. Thank you 🤘🏽 🤘🏽

[@sbrave2]

Love the workflow of your captures especially utilizing the OX, echo pre and the analog pre! You answered one of my biggest questions re: MIDI and enabling single effects. That's a bummer of a workaround. Hopefully will be fixed in a future update. Thanks!

[@kevindaniels676]

I am a big fan of your content ! I am going to buy the Nano Cortex, I can't wait !!

[@kevindaniels676]

Update: Bought the Nano Cortex. I love it !!!

[@adnanyub]

Thank you Matthew McConau... I mean, Mark Johnston ♥️ such a killer player. Insightful video 💡

[@jeremystephens6048]

Great demo as always. They were so close but did miss the mark for me. Its the exact issues you stated that was the first thing I looked into about it.

[@ryndanriley5348]

A lot of people have pointed out the hx stomp elephant in the room. I think it's important to keep things in mind: 1. Remember to distinguish this as a capture device. You get this if captures are what you want. You already have gear you like, you don't want to spend forever tweaking, and you don't need everything under the sun. 2. For almost everyone, that means the hx stomp is still the best option. But not because it's better than this, but because it's different from this in ways that are more useful to most guitarists.

[@CorNigrum]

As a guitar player looking for realistic but dynamic high gain sounds, the HX Stomp has been underwhelming. It's great value for money when it comes to effects, and we have to thank Line6 for keeping on updating the platform, but to me, it's not the best choice for realistic amp sounds, which are most important to me. I haven't tried the Quad Cortex yet, but from what I gather, it's better at amp sounds than effects, so I assume it's really about what you're looking for. Not being able to choose the effects (right now) is pretty silly though; I'd rather have a vibe or tremolo and tape echo to get some 70's sounds.

[@heymrguitarman7637]

I dunno. I never got on with the HX stomp. It just didn't feel or sound inspiring to me like others do. Each to their own but for me these are a different thing to serve a different player.

[@kylefletcher8489]

Great review. I appreciate your honest comments. I have a QC and love it. I also have a hybrid analog board with a hx stomp on there. I’m contemplating getting this to take my favorite captures to out on my analog board if I need to go direct. And it would be nice to throw in the bag as a backup to my QC. I agree. A couple midi CC commands to turn on/off effects would go a long way

[@davedraws76]

That picking pattern is so good

[@Stereostupid]

This box is killer!! ❤

[@christophertrimmer625]

Neat! Thanks for the rundown Mark.

[@thetoneshepherd]

Thanks a ton for this Mark. Very helpful. This likely isn't for me because of many of the limitations you mentioned. But I still love my QC and will keep using that 🤙🏼

[@markjohnstonofficial]

If you’re someone with a QC already, I think this is a really specific use case. There’s nothing here that can’t be done with the QC except fit inside a cargo pants pocket or be powered on a regular pedalboard.

[@JakeClarke-e1j]

Proper muso. Love your content dude!

[@MasWardoyo23]

Pro Player this one😁🤟Nice the sound 🔊

[@Kjetil_MB]

Amazing intro track man!

[@redminus]

some people predictably complaining about the price... but as someone who has (and really likes) 3 of the UAFX amp pedals, I feel like for the capture alone you almost can't do better 🤷‍♂

[@JohnB-im3eu]

I like how you say predictably like it's people just complaining and not because the nano is glaringly overpriced for what it is. Guitarists love sucking up to big companies for some reason.

[@JemmyJems]

Awesome Demo Mark!!

[@leavingsoulsBO]

So here is my gripe that pretty much seems to fly over those videos I'm seeing, and I kind of hoped this would address it since you actually posed some criticism: no fx loop. I have a single effect board which I use for writing and jammin and I like to call my "palette board". Curently the brains of it is my trusty ol HX stomp which, since I output in mono, gives me two separate loops in which I can have some pre and post FX (not to mention I use the dual inputs to have one running my drives and one a clean signal). This flexibility allows me to switch from a dry, high gain sound to a completely clean and wet with one footswitch if I need. Considering the footprint is similar in this device I kind of hoped it would allow a similar routing flexibility, since I've been using some Boutique Tones captures recently on my QC and I really love the way they sound and how dynamic they are; which simulated amps just can't get near to. So yeah, to me it seems like a glaring omition since we are talking about a pedalboard designed unit and I'm kind of disappointed it's something it's not talked about at all

[@markjohnstonofficial]

It didn’t even occur to me to cover that because for a device like this I feel like most effects I would reach for are either “pre” or “post” and, beyond that, I don’t really see where they;d even fit a loop (much less a stereo loop) in an enclosure this packed together. I think my thoughts on a loop can basically be folded into my thoughts at the end of the video “this isn’t gonna replace a QC and it’s not meant to.” If you need the full feature set you probably just need the full size thing.

[@flixbert]

@@markjohnstonofficialfor recording at home it’s totally a none issue. But for live use the missing fx loop kinda sucks because you need an additional DI box. Without post effects you wouldn’t need one because the unit has trs outputs (even with a ground lift). Would have been an easy thing to integrate an fx loop and place it after the amp section in the chain. Lose the capture feature to make space. I feel like most of the folks using this won’t do their own captures anyway.

[@spawn302]

​@@markjohnstonofficialI think the only part where this becomes an issue is for those who like the saturation from running reverb/delay into the front of an amp, or those who have a drive with multiple "sides" they want later in the chain.

[@metalskinn460]

I'm in the same boat myself. I was hoping to use this live with my existing pedal board and amp just to get more tones for my live rig and some at home practice. Wish they had just dropped the capture features and pedal blocks and added FX loop/routing options instead..

[@markjohnstonofficial]

I can only speak to my own preferences and tendencies on this stuff but as I get further and further into tube amps and what I like about gain staging tube amps I find that I *don’t* want stereo effects ahead of my amps. I like the sound of delay and reverb that gets some grind by my amp but only in the center. I did a video a ways back on this channel where I talked a bit about this but I *really* find that I dislike the sound of distorted stereo effects in a guitar context.

[@MattLawrence3]

Best in the business!!!

[@paulmarron8004]

Hi Mark, great video ! Just a quick point though because you won't be able to use stereo into a mono amp block anyway. Any stereo input would sum to mono as there is only one preamp - if you want to have stereo in then use 2 x Quad Cortex Nano units, left to one and right to the other. The Stereo out is also a "pseudo" stereo out in that it provides a mono left and mono right which can be onward processed with stereo units. Thanks for another epic video though, I do enjoy watching them and hearing your playing

[@vansoko]

very good channel...excellent... thank you

[@TonyBlackNYC]

nice work

[@PacoDiValo]

You always sound good

[@estebanpontoriero4299]

Great video, Mark!! Congrats. Question: I would like to know if it's possible to capture a small plugins chain I use normally in Logic (a slot for some Neural Plugin EQ block + another slot for some Neural plugin preset ). Thanks a lot!!

[@esdrascarvalho5747]

O melhor vídeo que vi até o momento da nanocortex

[@Bfguitar19]

MISO means I’ll have to buy two of them replicate my stereo rig and with all of the other features that the QC offers it seems like I’m better off sticking to the QC!

[@nightknight6845]

I really wish they would've made the out an XLR so you don't need an additional DI.

[@sunjaewon7511]

The outputs are balanced TRS, so you can use a TRS-XLR adaptor to go direct!

[@nightknight6845]

@@sunjaewon7511 that’ll work! Thank you!

[@DannonEvans]

Subscribed ✊🏾✊🏾

[@aleksao.7340]

I didnt see anyone talking about changing presets from clean to lead in a practical way. Can you for example change from IIB preset to IB just by clicking once on a footswitch? I think this is really important for live use.

[@alexwong7]

I think the outputs are balanced TRS. Do you need the DI box? Great review.

[@Michael_Is_Avg]

I have the science mother Preamp and might use this moreso as a ua ox stomp replacement for cab Sim (with having midi and headphone out) and can pull double duty to handle bass duties as well. One issue I have with the ua ox stomp is the app issues connecting, so having another app based pedal is a bit leery, but hopefully it works better. Some cons it seems, but some of the main ones aren't big for me or seem likely to be fixed via updates. Thanks for the great video. I think I might wait a while to see how this is supported and improves along the way before grabbing.

[@markjohnstonofficial]

I’ll say this; app connectivity here is MUCH more consistent than the UA stuff

[@Michael_Is_Avg]

@@markjohnstonofficial thanks for the update! Slightly curious if you use an android based or an apple product? I found when I borrow my spouse's iPad I have much fewer issues with UA things than on my Google pixel phone, but not sure if something similar could be the case with this device. Really appreciate you and cool to hear your sound and work flow progressing and changing with the studio space. Gear is cool and all, but love the songs and demo tracks you're doing

[@Shelpa]

Man, these intro tracks dude.

[@duarteestelita7257]

😮 Rock & Roll .. that intro man!

[@barnshart9662]

Hey Mark. You left in two identical clips of you talking about the fixed effects blocks. You might one to edit that out! Cheers!

[@markjohnstonofficial]

No way to edit that out without Re uploading it a new file and losing the existing views and conversations on the comments and all that

[@KingzStringz]

If you add an expression pedal can you choose where it is in the chain? like, can I have it placed right before the effects as a volume pedal?

[@modesti-music]

Hey guys ! is it also possible to use only post effects, by bypassing pre fx, capture & cab ? I found no mention of this anywhere...

[@JackSole17]

Wowzers very cool! Great demo, very honest! I’d love to know why they left it mono in, especially at that price! I feel like it had to have been purposefully left out? But man that would be mandatory if I was creating this pedal! Interesting nonetheless!

[@egasGarage]

Hi Mark, Astonishing demo as always, this might be silly but i have Two Notes Opus, so i hope you can help with thi scenario, if i put nano with still use IR from Two notes opus, does the Nano allow it? since nano has fixed linear signal chain. i still rely on my Two notes for my Victory V4 amps. So the point is, does Nano cortex is chain able with the two notes opus (while i am use its modulation & delay on the preset) Thanks!

[@johnnyway8667]

Nice track. What drum samples/plugin did you use for drums?

[@markjohnstonofficial]

Mixwave Aaron Gillespie

[@JudgeFredd]

Like you i don't capture so i don't need the capture feature... wish they would split this feature for more signal chain options

[@markjohnstonofficial]

This IS a capture device at its core. If you don’t want to use captures it’s just not the pedal for you.

[@JudgeFredd]

​@@markjohnstonofficial Using captures made/sold by others but i don't capture amps by myself so i don't need the capture feature. Just need a Cortex player.

[@JonSeeMusic]

Noticeably better sounding than the ua amp pedals? Have the dream currently.

[@nicolasrivera5310]

Killer bass lines!!!

[@markjohnstonofficial]

I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t my favorite part of the entire video.

[@seal-nowweretalking6753]

Ditto !!

[@joaovitorsouza3282]

Its input is P10 mono ou P10 Stereo, btw? Great huggies from Brazil.

[@Johnnycoretv]

i hope they release the NanoCortex+ where it has one more foot switch

[@compucorder64]

As I understand it, It won't support plugins (PCOM), because it's captures, not modelling. So that for me, makes it probably not a runner. What I really want is a pedal to run the amp models from my Morgan Suite, Tone King Imperial mk.III and Fortin Cali Suite. Unless it can run those amps via the captures? I have bunch of Amalgam Captures I use with Tonex on my PC. So, was thinking of getting a Tonex. I had thought mono-in would be a deal breaker. But maybe not, because I think pedals like the Boss Dimensions D, Boss DM-101, and Mercury X could sound good. And I can use mono reverb and mod pedals before the input (OBNE Dark Star, Boss CE-2W).

[@waynedoherty7758]

For the price you can get two ToneX ones Stereo amps or amp and pedal capture. If it had full effects it might have been a winner.

[@compucorder64]

​@@waynedoherty7758 Pretty much. I would have rathered a pedal that was capable of just running the amp model side of their desktop plugins (no FX, mono input, mono output). Even just the Plini models in a box, sort of like what UAD did with the Dream'65, Lion etc.. I don't like it when manufacturers hobble their more affordable versions to such an extent. I understand they want to preserve all their Quad Cortex sales, and I completely get cost cutting on I/O, scaling down and ditching the display, reducing controls or even DSP horsepower. But, for £500, they didn't leave much reason to want this one. Their competitors, Line6, IK, HoTone will be relieved because this is a bit no mans land. I'm not sure they understand that the vast majority of people don't have the equipment, time or inclination to do good quality captures. And often only use a few different types of amps anyway, so it's easier to go to someone like Amalgam and get your three favourite amp's captures for the price of 2. It's worth paying $30 for their great amps, time and skill.

[@waynedoherty7758]

@@compucorder64 yep Their amp sims and a few FX blocks would have been killer. Too much hubris on this one.

[@compucorder64]

@@waynedoherty7758 Yes. Though, in part it's maybe just not intended for us. It does have a genuine use case. Which would be touring musicians, maybe working larger gigs, with IEMs, silent stages. That have stable of fantastic studio amps, that need something portable to bring those tones live. But, that higher-end market is a smaller minority than us, who just want really great modelled amp tones, like the plugins, and maybe even some a pair of modelled drive pedals (e.g. TS, Bluesdriver).

[@dash4786]

So as someone who doesn't really have a lot of amps and won't be using the capture feature, living in an apartment I was wondering if I could buy this and just download IRS that have heads & cabs from somebody on the cloud and use my line 6 powercab on the raw setting and get some good tones? Or maybe just the IR heads and use the built-in cab simulation in the power cab.

[@markjohnstonofficial]

The cortex app DOES have a ton of captures from a various artists. It’s pretty rad.

[@dash4786]

@@markjohnstonofficial and it can be used with a FRFR cab?

[@diegozaralba]

I know its not a digital Delay but it would be perfect FOR ME to have some kind of Tap tempo, Is there any solution for that? NOT USING EXTERNAL DELAYS. I don't see any tempo or time options 1/8 1/4 dotted options etc ... please please what do you think ? I usually

[@ChrisAdkins1985]

Soon has come

[@bhargavgajjar6387]

So what if I want to do a tap tempo in live gig

[@ptalley316]

I’m thinking of running this into my HX Stomp effects loop, would this work??

[@TheSunderKing]

Any chance to get the captures / presets?

[@JustinZak7]

Can you do tap tempo via MIDI?

[@diegozaralba]

Tap tempo is something I don't know how could I solve, Ive seen the manual and theres nothing there 😢

[@VanjaSpirin]

Can it run allreaday purchased Neural plugins? If no, how is it better than Tonex One, which is 1/3 of the price and doing the same thing?

[@Grant_Ferstat]

The power shouldn't be an issue for something like a CIOKS DC7 Mark. The Nano requires 9-12 volts @600ma. A DC7 output is 660ma at 9 volts.

[@otfan522botjournalismisdea2]

Great playing Nueral had a missed opportunity here though. They should have used the HX stomp as the template. If they did I would have ordered one. As it is this too limited to do the kinds of signal routing I want or I would have to buy two of them.

[@Markrspooner]

Those intros are so good ❤

[@chyke01]

The 5 fx are fixed? You can only change the capture and cab?

[@markjohnstonofficial]

Yeah, right now the other effects are their full featured versions but you can’t swap them out.

[@chyke01]

Welp, as a long time QC user I really want to like this release and was hopeful it would be an integrate-able pedalboard solution so the QC could be a standalone grab and go. I wish they would've taken a look at the similar products in the arena and see what they offer. The HX Stomp is a clear winner in this category in almost all areas except the capture feature, and it's how old at this point? Full stereo I/O and mapping with stereo captures would've been the jam.

[@joutynathan4168]

A format with a touchscreen like the hotone ampero mini would have been 100 times easier to use and make you way less dependant on the app

[@TheAlexRosas]

The MISO choice was very intentional. They saw people buy multiple ToneX pedals and wanted to bank on people running two nano cortex units. Big bummer honestly. Was excited until I saw that.

[@brianangiel3347]

the section starting at 15:10 repeats at 17:24

[@markjohnstonofficial]

The perils of editing in the beta version of Resolve 19. Misfortune.

[@joutynathan4168]

Your tones depends on neural dsp keeping the app running, No app in a few years eventually and you can’t change a lot of things with your little brick

[@stephenmestrada]

Is it stereo in through TRS?

[@markjohnstonofficial]

Mono In, Stereo Out.

[@stephenmestrada]

@@markjohnstonofficial thanks sorry for asking a question im sure is in the video i just had the burning question before watching it haha.

[@NegativeNope]

@@markjohnstonofficial Sweetwater shows the input as TRS in

[@markjohnstonofficial]

@@NegativeNope sweetwater is incorrect.

[@matthewhoward4284]

literally just take this same SHARC concept and just bake an Archtype Plugin into some hardware. That's what they should have done.

[@borjar.6373]

Nam free neural amp modeler is the best

[@ChrisJones-ht9zn]

I love your reviews and videos as well as your enthusiasm but i think it's clear that Neural have missed the mark with this unit. What i mean is that the demographic for decent sales of this unit just isn't there. Ignoring the hate that is littered across the internet, it's clear to me that there isn't a large market for this product at this price, or at least i can't see it.

[@JBStreeter]

Just get an HX Stomp folks

[@CorNigrum]

I could live with the limitations, if Neural would make it possible in the future to change out the chorus, echo and reverb. If we could load our own choice of effects for those blocks, this would be a great backup or grab-and-go rig with the essentials to make it through a gig.

[@travis43]

I guess I don't see the point of the capture features of you have access to a library of amp and cab sims.

[@guitartoneSA]

Exactly. 95% of guitarists using Profilers or Capture units never make a Profile.

[@dasczwo]

ok. they fumbled the qc, with vst in a very bad way. This: quite great. when i heard rumors i thought, great, itll be a grand. price ok, considering i paid 400 for ruby (your fault marc) +capturing didnt expect that. Bravo. +Power: 600ma? my hx guzzles 3a runs on 2a... ok, tone x one needs less - mono in? serious ? why? there is no reason in 2024 to manufacture a dsp based digital device with mono in. even i was born stereo. i get it when zoom does it with the 50g. Seriously neural dsp? do you think this choice will motivate anyone to get the qc? its either laziness or product crippling. cmon, even tonex one has trs in and out. that should be standard. LAME! - no ccs is sad. -fixed blocks: well, as a innovative company pushing the boundarys of modern digital modelling they chose to return to the routing flexibility of a venerable predecessor lurking under my couch: Digitech rp1. comp, dist, chorus, delay (but many and greatone!) reverb. it has one of my favourite ambient verbs btw. what is the reasoning here neural to fix the block positon? cant be dsp. SAD you crippled it so much. i NEVER wouldve bought a QC. without the possibility to change the blocks and have some more fx types i probably wont buy THIS. SAD. Product cripplers. so lets wait if line 6 gives us a new flagship with full dsp in a hx stomp format. til then its ruby for modelling and hx stomp for effects. drives in front.

[@TonefulPraise]

CIOKS DC7 does 660 @ 9v 😁

[@markjohnstonofficial]

Coiks continues to be the most impressive solution in the game.

[@robdavies9478]

A lot of the top tier solutions will allow for >500 @ 9v from a 500 9v output provided the total output of the power supply isn't exceeded in aggregate. My Fender LVL12 can power my Eventide H90 for example.

[@TonefulPraise]

@@markjohnstonofficialCioks has been the best PS I’ve ever had.

[@robertmiddel5582]

Dc7 will give you 660 mA at 9V

[@adilsonobelard9690]

all videos is pos production pedal overprice

[@redminus]

dingus

[@Aletheia_Z]

Nice intro demo but I think ToneX One is better than this, people who have real amps to capture don't need a crippled device like this to capture amps, they do it on the bigger units, people who want to buy a sub-500 dollars pedal want to LOAD captures not make them, Neural DSP could have reduced costs by making this a loader like ToneX One and put a 3rd switch to have 3 captures ready to recall, that's it, people who want to use this to integrate on pedalboards do not need more delays or FX, they already have them , they just want a good capture loader and ToneX One nailed it with its size and price

[@VanjaSpirin]

precisely for the 1/3 of the price

[@malcolmflavell]

This is a great device for people trying to bring big tones to a small gig in a small package

[@The_resurrected1887]

Wrong

[@Aletheia_Z]

@@The_resurrected1887 You're wrong, thanks for participating 😂

[@arcarsenal72]

I actually think IK could take notes from Neural here. If they had a slightly larger unit including modulation, verb, and maybe throw in a delay? It would be game over. Namely because Neural needs that plugin/hardware bridge like ToneX. I agree the capture stuff isn’t needed at this size though. Devout ToneX guy btw.

[@oderusurdugus]

Doesn't sound good to my ears, what a rip-off for the price

[@ambientriffs9689]

So expensive

[@stevieknighten]

All those terrible videos just to get it that wrong. Bring on the comments 😂🍿

[@ZacharyRyanMusic89]

They got nothing wrong. Think about the Kemper player. 200 dollars more I think? And this arguably can do more

[@markjohnstonofficial]

People’s reactions to teaser videos tells me a lot about them.

[@stevieknighten]

@@markjohnstonofficial oh please! As much gear as you review you know this thing is a let down.

[@markjohnstonofficial]

@@stevieknighten I have a section of the video in the chapters where I call out the drawbacks and concerns I have with it. I am broadly very positive about it and if they can push out a couple software changes (mostly midi related) then I will have basically zero qualms with it at its size and price point.

[@stevieknighten]

@@markjohnstonofficial yes I know. I watched the whole video. I always look for your videos first on new gear because I like them that much. I believe people were hoping for an HX Stomp version of the QC. I mean a fixed signal path with fixed blocks!? It’s 2024 come on.