Old School vs New School - Can the Quad Cortex do this?

[@BourkeTommy]

Multieffects and amp modeling is so good now that it’s hard to justify bringing the real thing. Nothing will fully replace big speakers moving air right next to you, but the convenience and flexibility is so worth it. I’m using an hx stomp rig, and an added bonus is less tap dancing once you’ve set up your presets well.

[@BourkeTommy]

Also I agree with you 100% that the typical audience member wouldn’t notice a bit of difference even if there is a slightly better result in certain scenarios with the amp.

[@bradpaul]

100%. It used to take me a long time to load everything in, get to the venue, set everything up, test mic placements etc, and then do that in reverse. My past few gigs has been a small pedal board in a bag with spare cables, two guitars and that’s it. It takes 5 mins to get everything together and the longest part is waiting for the QC to load at the venue! But that’s like the same amount of time waiting for a tube amp to warm up. Played a friends two rock the other day, and you’re right, it doesn’t replace it (the two rock Bloomfield is an absolutely fantastic amp) but it’s sooooo close that in a band you won’t notice the difference, if setup correctly!

[@Utubesup7890]

Ok not everyone is or wants to be a performer. I don’t enjoy it. Most of us are home guitarists. There’s no way after yrs of getting to the point I’m at and then saving up and trading up am I getting rid of my amps. However, I’ve gone through the Kemper sold. The helix sold. The quad staying. Amps and pedals first quad next. Yamaha 100hd double modeler with power $800 new staying. If you had some great amps I doubt you’d get rid of them. I haven’t even had them that long and I’m going to enjoy them but I’m also going to enjoy my quad. Idk why there’s some people not you, who think only Pros need good gear. If I’ve gotten to a point where I think I deserve good gear, I’m going to dam well buy it. Cheers

[@bradpaul]

@@Utubesup7890 this 100%! You do not need to be a pro to have “pro gear.” you get what ever you want and play it however you want! I’m an advocate of getting the equipment that you will play the most!

[@Utubesup7890]

@@bradpaul thank you. 🙏 I’ve left forums because people say to others they don’t need anything good because they’re not pros. Why can’t we enjoy good gear ya know? When I fell in love with guitar at 7 I wasn’t thinking of being a performer. I would’ve loved to work in a studio but I had to work and finish college and I wasn’t that good yet so it wasn’t meant for me. So I enjoy it at home and it’s the best thing I ever did for myself.

[@joerobinson2538]

Thanks so much-your patches sound great. The QC has made my gigging life a lot better also and saved my back! Lol

[@bradpaul]

No problem! And thank you! Yes sooo much! Had a gig last night through the QC and it’s way easier on the back than the “old school” rig!

[@02hunter64]

The notion of a relatively small box taking over a boutique valve amp and pedals is a real paradigm shift for many guitar players, just the very idea!. The fact is not only are the stock sounds comparable but you can capture those boutique amps and pedals in the QC which sound brilliant. I've got a Tone King Sky King which I've captured and you get all the dynamics you get with the actual amp, it's amazing. I'm intruiged by an frfr cab, that headrush looks tiny, is that used as a monitor or is it loud enough to gig? Surely not?? Great video BTW

[@bradpaul]

It was mine too! When I first made the jump I was like “is that it? Is this all I need for gigs now?” My first gig with it wasn’t sure at all, it was a weird shift! Band mates too, I think they were nervous! That changed after the first rehearsal with it, they were saying how good it sounds, I had faith as soon as I plugged it in! and yeah the way it captures stuff, amp and overdrive pedal manufacturers must be scared for their future! The FRFR is small for sure, but surprisingly loud! I haven’t used the Headrush FRFR as the main output at the venues we have played at recently and that’s only because I’ll play through the front of house/PA system. The FRFR is a great little monitor though for those gigs, and certainly keeps up at rehearsals too. If I play a smaller gig, maybe in a venue with under 100, smaller room etc, I could use it as the guitar output, and I could just sing through the pa. To be honest it was also my initial concern when buying the Headrush, but yeah it does get loud enough! Kept up with my friends 100W two rock Bloomfield at a rehearsal just a couple of weeks ago! I would like to try the Laney FRFR or the Friedman equivalent (the Laney has pretty lights too! Haha) but playing with in ears and plugging into the front of house means I could actually have a “silent stage” which is cool option. With that being said I do like having cabs and speakers on stage for the “look and feel.” I think there’s a certain expectation from a crowd, people expect to see walls of speakers at a rock gig! Thanks bands of the 60s and 70s!

[@02hunter64]

@@bradpaul yeah I am looking at the laney as an option, I'm currently just using a couple of Adam monitors at home which sound great but not loud

[@Utubesup7890]

FYI I’m playing mine through a regular guitar cabinet and the return fx of an amp head. The only thing I wish it came with power like the Kemper or the overlooked Yamaha 100hd double or single modeler. Take care.

[@bradpaul]

Yes, if it had a built in power amp it would be good for this scenario for sure! I sometimes play through a cab using the power amp of the Hughes and Kettner amp man!

[@pekkalaaksonen8384]

Wow! Could you make a video, how you setup and use QC for two guitars and a bass? I am thinking to use it for electro-acoustic and electric.

[@bradpaul]

Hey! I will try and get a video of my whole band playing through at the next rehearsal, but if you cannot wait that long check out page 74 of the quad cortex manual and that'll explain how it can be done! Here is a link to the manual if you haven't seen it; downloads.neuraldsp.com/file/quad-cortex/Quad+Cortex+User+Manual+2_0_0.pdf Although I've not tried a different way I believe another way to do it would be to change the outputs to go to amps by not using the XLR outs. After all both "Send1/2" and "Out 3/4" i guess could be used if you were sending them to the FX loops of amps? I guess you could also put these outputs into separate power amps and through to cabs if you wanted to do that as well? Again not tried these two ways but I don't see why they couldn't work? UPDATE: check out my video released on Feb 11 here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZoW0nml8pMpohs0 I do a very quick walk through of multi instrument playing and recording!

[@HarryTruman1952]

Video suggestion: Using the Quad Cortex with RC-600!! 3:55 Where would you place the RC600 in the loop?

[@bradpaul]

Hey! I actually don’t own a standard looper pedal anymore! Well, I guess I technically do since as the Quad Cortex has one?!? As for placement… remember there are no rules! Generally most people get the best out of a looper by putting it at the end of a pedal chain. And although I don’t have one now, I sold one a while back, i would always place it at the end of the pedal chain, so if I had things in the fx loop, like I do in my live rig, the looper would be the last pedal before the return of the fx loop. Most of the time when I used the looper i was at home or rehearsal studios, so I did just use pedals in the front of my amp and didn’t connect the fx I wanted through the fx loop and so it went after the last pedal in the front. Hope that helps! Happy playing!

[@HarryTruman1952]

Thanks so much for the help! I’ve tried a few configurations your suggestion is greatly appreciated

[@gravelrocks5588]

Great video I'm still on the fence thinking about getting a quad cortex where did you get the enlarged button covers

[@bradpaul]

Hey! Thanks for watching! I was on the fence for a while but then joined the club! It’s a good club! I got the button covers off Amazon. They’re just stomp pedal covers, I think they cost about $10. I just got them as I didn’t want the tops of the knobs to become dirty and grubby from my shoes.

[@Utube-g3g]

Amazon Solutek makes really good silver ones with rubber inserts 3 screws. You can get any amount. I got a box of 12 around $20. Way cheaper than barefoot buttons.

[@truthfactreality6814]

I captured my real amps into the quad cortex. Sounds awesome then. Still love the real stuff.

[@bradpaul]

Yes! I too like the real stuff, and I have done some captures, mainly of pedals. I like how close the QC gets the “real thing” and for gigging and setup, I really like portability and ease. I find it easier to plug in and play with the QC, compared to the real amps so gravitate to it more!

[@truthfactreality6814]

@@bradpaul I integrated mine into a board with real pedals and amps etc at first.now I’ve captured stuff I have it as a separate board with just a Dunlop expression pedal on with it. It’s hooked up to power so the IEC cable plugs in the back of the board. Went with a pedal train classic junior. Gave me space to route xlr short cables out the back. Has a cinco midi by Gigrig too if I want to run it 4 cable method and the gigbag you get with Pedaltrain is good for cable storage. All lightweight and can take it anywhere easily

[@Utubesup7890]

I still love real pedals and amps though. There’s something to seeing and feeling the real thing to me. There’s definitely no shortage of pedal makers. Still amps around too. So no problem having both. If affordable for people. Like I said it’s my only hobby so did a lot of saving up and reading up. I love guitar. It’s been through thick n thin with me. It’s also the best counselor around as well when you’re going through hard times 😉

[@bradpaul]

@@Utubesup7890 definitely! I still have pedals, amps, etc. and still play through them! Me too! When Covid hit it was great to be at home and still have something to do! It’s continued since things have “gone back to normal” it’s great to just be at home, pick up the guitar and try something new, or even just play through something you know like the back of your hand!

[@Utubesup7890]

Can I ask you a question? Everyone has the big volume knob on all the way. I never have used it that way. What am I missing? Is there an internal volume I’m supposed to use for volume? I’m pretty sure there is I’m just not sure what to do because I’m not really having issues with it. And I’m not using a computer interface or frfr or power block.

[@bradpaul]

To be honest I’m not too certain! The manual suggests keeping it at 100, I have turned it down if I get clipping out of some PA systems, other wise I’ve kept it at 100.

[@Utubesup7890]

@@bradpaul ok Thx so much for replying. I knew I liked you. I’m married to a Canadian girl or should I say woman. I don’t want to get in trouble. Somehow I will though. 😉

[@Utubesup7890]

@@bradpaul I appreciate you replying. Thx Brad.

[@jeremylewis2171]

Where did you buy the stomp pedal covers for your QC?

[@bradpaul]

Hey, thanks for watching and commenting! I got mine on Amazon, but they can be bought at most large guitar stores!