Quad Cortex Changed Our Minds On Digital Amps

Episode 75: Quad Cortex Changed Our Minds On Digital Amps
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Welcome to the Chairmen of the Boards Podcast! The ultimate pedalboard podcast with the foremost rig builders in the world: Grant Klassen (Goodwood Audio), Brian Omilion (Omilion Audio), and Mason Marangella (Vertex Effects/The Rig Doctor). We've teamed up to democratize great tone and provide you with our best tricks, tips, resources and hacks so you can build the pedalboard of your dreams!
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#quadcortex #neuraldsp #modelingamplifier

[@81jcas]

Damn. I almost sold my QC before watching this video because I didn’t know how to use it. I downloaded the Bandmaster and Klon captures from this and quickly made a preset I love with it! Now I don’t wanna turn it off. Thanks for the info. Looking forward to the new updates to come. Appreciate what y’all do for the guitar community! 🤘🏽🎸

[@TheJonOsborne]

Thank you for the amazing video. The best part about the QC is that there is no preset shop. I believe this is where all other modelers have gone wrong by enabling scammers with no experience or understanding of tone to take advantage of new users. Some have even gone public to voice their "concerns" about not being able to sell their garbage and have attempted to talk badly about the image of Neural for this reason alone. Please keep everything on the cloud without a shop. We don't want those preset peddlers in the QC realm. Thanks again for all you do!

[@randymccoy2527]

SO true. Bought a ToneXOne pedal this month and I am very dissatisfied. I just bought the QC 2 days ago and am in absolute shock at the response, tone, and absolute noiseless signal of these gain tones. It's hard to believe.

[@jbimmler]

Great video!! I’m a two year quad cortex user. Been giging it weekly and it’s amazing. Looking forward to checking out those captures!

[@tungsoltube]

Goodness. Your Klon capture is simply amazing. Running it on my QC and I can't stop playing lead lines!!! Crazy. New staple.

[@davidnoy3964]

Great positive video! Have had my QC now for about 3 months. I use it with a matrix poweramp and guitar cab and it sounds fantastic. Made the jump from fractal land (ax8 , fm3 , fm9 turbo) I always had a mid range honk that I could never eq out of the fractals and always thought it was my poweramp , but it wasn't ! No more tweaking for days on end , now I just play. Amalgam has some great captures on his site , the friedman be50 and jtm captures are superb. The other guitarist in our band uses a helix , one day at practice I rolled off the volume pot and he asked what fx I was using in the QC to get it to clean up so well..😂 The QC is a fantastic unit.

[@michael_caz_nyc]

Grant always has 1 of my favorite pedals in the camera-shot. (typically) the Boss DD-500 and now the FTT Tri Avatar Multi Dimensional Chorus (my all time favorite). I love mine. Phenomenal unit. Really enjoying this Chairmen series. I Never miss it.

[@GoodwoodAudio]

is it too bold to say we both have good taste in pedals?

[@jan_07]

I do hybrid rig with the Quad too even from the beginning! I actually emailed back and forth with Neural to ask them if my routing would work out correctly and they were very helpful. And then I put in my reservation for the first batch at Sweetwater after that. It is now the core of my rig. I can detach it on a board of its own and travel/gig with it or use it for small venues. I just replicate my hybrid setup inside the Quad for these small gigs. And the if I want vulgar display of pedals and power, I just re-attach its board to my main pedalboard. The tones feel realistic and the routing alone is so valuable for me. I don’t understand why some people would hate on this unit.😅

[@BillMais]

How are you running your pedals with the Quad?

[@jan_07]

@@BillMais guitar -> filter pedals -> eq pedals -> comp pedals -> gain pedals -> QC input 1 -> Then breaks out to: 1) QC amp 1 -> QC send 1 -> parametric eq pedals -> all other pedals that output in stereo -> QC return 1 & 2 -> QC cab (stereo) -> QC output 1 & 2 2) QC amp 2 -> QC send 2 -> dry amp parametric eq pedal -> QC input 2 -> QC cab 2 -> QC Output 3 It’s a complex routing, but it enables me to do Wet-Dry-Wet setup and utilize all the crazy pedals I already have. Hope it helps

[@BillMais]

@@jan_07 thanks! This will help, a lot.

[@impala666]

Love my QC 2 years in...LOVE it!

[@smellytele9629]

It's funny you jumped in with a 2203. I've got a 78 2203 and it's my favorite amp of all time. I bought the QC about a year ago and preset number one is a 2203. It won me over the instant I turned it on. I also have a capture of my 2203 now. It's great.

[@grampstries]

Subbed and I have the QC and love the newly released Editor!

[@bills4915]

I'm seriously looking into getting the QC but wondering how many (if any) of the plugins on the Neural site are available to download into the QC? I know they've mentioned that it's "in the works" to make them available, but haven't heard much beyond that.

[@frankthebaldguy9819]

Dandy doodle. Sounds amazing and I really want one. Now please switch the Strat to the next selection from bridge pickup & turn up the gain for realaies. Hendrix, SRV, & Joe B (and you guys) are amazing, but I’m info much more “dirty” sounds

[@Plextortion]

Update the cheap and cheesy power supply.

[@andrewdiederich3833]

Yeah I ended up powering it with mission engineering adapter to a battery pack or usbc adapter. Much sturdier and more reassuring

[@gotzdevokation1072]

Got one from Sennheiser

[@MasonAtMidnight]

@@andrewdiederich3833wat kind of power pack?

[@andrewdiederich3833]

@@MasonAtMidnight They don't sell the Ravpower 90 watt 30000mah usb c pack that I use any more, but I've found that if you get a 90-100w supply designed for a laptop usb c out they work very reliably even if it's one of the rolling Chinese brands. While 65w should do it without problem in theory, I've found that they sometimes make it reboot (recognize, however that I bought my setup when I got my preorder within a month of launch, so this was a decent time ago). There may be better luck with newer GAN-based chargers that are backed by a "real" brand, but even in the last year I tried a 65w wall USB charger that is GANPrime by ANKER and it still reboots every 10 minutes or so, so it could be peaking pretty high or the supply may dip too low I'm not sure. I'd stick with the 90-100 watt output rating and design intention for laptops. There are many on amazon which are branded differently that look EXACTLY like the one I use except the brand like this one a.co/d/1HBd0bn . Hope that helps!

[@spawn302]

If you look at testing online, there isn't much improvement in other supplies in regards to noise and whatnot. The power supply it came with is comletely sufficient. Unless you're trying to streamline a pedalboard, an upgrade isnt really needed.

[@audioglenngineer]

Regarding the Marshall tone toward the beginning. It is very good, especially the reactivity and the glassy, complex shifts to the upper midrange as you dance around dynamically. As an audio nerd, the one thing that still gives it away for me is the white noise-ish quality to some of the distortion. That may be due to some online playback algorithm on KZbin though. The clipping of the amp has a little staticky, walkie talkie kind of flavor that, if I pay attention to it, can take me out of the sound. That said, this is very impressive and very close.

[@bradmodd7856]

If we can model complex tube preamp and power stages this well, modelling transistor pedal circuits should be a real cinch 😄

[@jjadams1000]

What is everyone using as an FRFR for live performance?

[@user-fl6br8kf2r]

For clarity, EOB and interactive dynamics (attack and volume roll off) is pretty phenomenal across all of the ‘top tier’ current gen modellers. QC isn’t doing anything particularly stand out here. It is a great contender though

[@taylormesa]

I went from QC to ToneX and i regret it… going back to QC. ToneX UI is horrible, no modeling, no fx loop. QC is awesome and looking forward to Control and plugin portability! Great video!

[@TheDilligan]

What's funny is your comments on how good the cortex are totally apply to the Line6 stuff too. Especially any of their more recent amp models like the Grammatico GSG (dumble clone) that was added this year. Idk when the last time is that you guys tried the line6 stuff, but they had a major update to the Cabinets, I think, less than a year ago that made everything way better. And when you do not own or have access to a real piece of gear that you can tweak and tune to your liking and capture in a profile, a model is the better way to go. I can go to the amp I want and put it on the settings I want and change the mic and mic placement to exactly what I want without having the real amp. And it's not just Line6. It seems that digital modeling is getting so good across the board that the differences, while present, are becoming more and more negligible. It's hardly a difference in quality anymore; rather a difference in taste and the workflow/user experience of the unit.

[@dmesser06]

The more I watch these informational videos, the more my wife gets nervous that I need to replace or get a different piece of equipment.

[@GoodwoodAudio]

we're in this boat together!

[@bryannicholson7111]

This is why I watch at night while everyone’s sleeping. I also have a wall of amps and area filled with enough pedal boards, guitars, and equipment, most people won’t notice when something new shows up 😅

[@joshuaraysummey7679]

Per 32minutes: I always pull up when im about to go to modelers for that reason. In 28 years of playing, ive made money with a sovtek (which i didnt own long enough to learn it unfortunately) 2 hot rod deluxes, a bad cat cougar 15, and a supro 1600. And all one at a time (except badcat/hrdeluxe)because i needed something i could get my head around quickly. I know how to sound like me. Im intimidated by having a box full of particular sounds and all their quirks because i dont know how use all of them. I grabbed an ir200 to be a bunch of reverbs/boost/eq settings, that would house acoustic irs and be a bass amp when i need it. it has served when my amp was in the shop but I've never used an amp as much more than a pedal platform. I have a friedman mic no mo i run to front of house when micing my amp isnt practical. It works fine. If i ever have the time to sit and learn these sounds though, i think itll be nueral's door i knock on :) Thanks for the vid as usual!

[@richardsanchezjr.2273]

@vertexeffects I'm currently a Line 6 Helix user and have been thinking of making a change. I was wondering if there is something that QC is doing that is different than Headrush or Kemper? I've been interested in the QC since it first came out, but with the end-users issues I kept reading about, basically made me hold off on make the big purchase. Any thoughts would be great.

[@Utubewrk123]

The quad feels more like an amp. It feels and sounds way better than the helix and Kemper. Those 2 I had were sold. I love a great amp and pedals first but I was won over by the quad. It’s UI is so good I will never use the pc that is now out. You can set up a preset sound in minutes. No tweaking for hours but playing. Cleans, crunch, high gain and much more. It’s not just for the very high gain players. Takes external pedals but tbh I don’t need them. There own pedals are great.

[@bryannicholson7111]

Future-facing also, keep in mind the keeper is ancient in tech years, which is reflected in the hardware specs of the keeper, compared to the QC. While the Kemper has done a good job for years and still mostly keeps up and stays in use today, there will most likely be a point in the near future where kempers updates and functionality won’t be able to keep up with the QC. It’s just a way more powerful platform. At some point soon, Kemper will have to release a new unit if they want to stay competitive. I believe the TMP has competitive hardware specs as the QC, but TMPs firmware/software/out of box amps & effects are still in their infancy. It might get real competitive with QC down the road though, depending what Fender does with future updates.

[@bryannicholson7111]

Future-facing also, keep in mind the keeper is ancient in tech years, which is reflected in the hardware specs of the keeper, compared to the QC. While the Kemper has done a good job for years and still mostly keeps up and stays in use today, there will most likely be a point in the near future where kempers updates and functionality won’t be able to keep up with the QC. It’s just a way more powerful platform. At some point soon, Kemper will have to release a new unit if they want to stay competitive. I believe the TMP has competitive hardware specs as the QC, but TMPs firmware/software/out of box amps & effects are still in their infancy. It might get real competitive with QC down the road though, depending what Fender does with future updates.

[@communitykyle]

Just started listening to this. Have played a quad cortex multiple times and they are amazing and will be even more so with time. Will say I randomly tried a Tonex and for what specifically it does, I believe it is on par with the QC for amps.

[@snoopywalker1881]

Totally agree the Tonex just works out of the box.

[@omilionaudio]

Heyo! New price 🤙🏻🤙🏻🤙🏻🤙🏻

[@caryboudas4771]

Just in time to a fight to the finish with the new Fender tone master!

[@MrG3BassMan]

Does Fender’s Tone Master model amps and pedals like the QC or Kemper?

[@josiahgtr]

The glitches you get after updating the QC is frustrating.

[@johnpannella]

I enjoyed this video. I have owned the QC for about 6 months and I rarely use it. I am an old school tube amp guy. I still firmly believe nothing sounds better than a real good tube amp and a guitar. One of the issues I have had with the QC is that some of the amps that it comes with I own. An example is the Fender High Power Tweed Twin, which is an amazing amplifier. The High Power Twin doesn't start to break up until either the Normal or Bright volume controls are near 11:00. The High Power Twin in the QC (there are 4 versions, Normal Channel, Bright Channel, Normal Channel Jumped, and Bright Channel Jumped) is not even close. No matter what example you use it starts to break up before the volume is even barely turned up. That is not even close to accurate. I had a similar experience with other amps that I own that came with the QC. Immediately turned me off and I have barely used it since.

[@Utubewrk123]

Make a capture of your amp. I don’t do captures but I think the twin is very clean. The jazz chorus as well. FYI it’s not an amp so great amps will always come first and they take pedals differently. I’ll always love my amps first with a great pedal.

[@bryannicholson7111]

I find that this is more down to you’re used to the original reacting in a very specific way (though keep in mind there can be variances between of the same authentic tube amp). I’m more interested in is it a usable, high quality tube-authentic sound, and is the core sound represented faithful to the actual amp, which I’ve found it to be after stalking it for months online and in person. I just bought one that’s arriving this week. I love the idea of being able to throw it in my guitar bag with some headphones and hop on a plane, bringing a trailer full of top-end amps and effects with me everywhere, and not having to sacrifice on tone or range of creativity while I hop around the world. Essentially I don’t have to choose between my two hobbies - traveling and guitar.

[@IamMusicNerd]

Love the QC. Just need an updated unit with usb-c, mini displays for each knob, 4 effects loops, a noise suppressor built in, and an updated looper with drum tracks and ability to save loops. (It would also be nice to include more modern pedals, such as Analogman, Protein, Strymon, Chase Bliss, etc)

[@aviator_bryan]

It's funny to see these dedicated tone purist amp & pedal guys coming around to modelling. Like, now it's real because I finally to the time to properly try it and listen and not be biased. I was Tier 1 prebuy on the QC, but backed out, and I don't regret it. I'm glad the product is finally getting some much needed updates, but I still think it has a way to go. I think the editor is a step in the right direction, because to me, touch screens are passe. It makes it feel like a toy. Different strokes I guess. There's this trend to dumb things down because they can't wrap your head around something is a step backwards. Fractal is extremely powerful, and that comes with a bit of a learning curve. So, take the time to learn it and it's no longer a problem. So far, nothing can beat the power and flexibility of the Fractal grid layout. The have a very mature firmware, and their editor software is unbeatable. At every turn, there is a depth and breadth not seen in anything else. Also, IMO component modelling is still king. A capture/profile is just a snapshot in time of an amp, but lacks the depth and interaction of controls that something that has been modelled at the component level has. And don't leave out Fractals absolutely world class effects. Don't wanna 'menu dive' ? Then don't. Just because there are 5 pages of parameters on the amp block doesn't mean you have to mess with any of it. It's there for the power users, but stock settings and the basic controls on the top menu will do just fine. I can build a preset in minutes too. It's really not that difficult guys LOL.

[@Utubewrk123]

Brian makes great rigs. Brilliant.

[@BobbyCulpepper.srv3fender]

As mason mentioned and i have found, you just cant get the sag right, and unlike helix there is no adjustment for it

[@ReddyEddy]

@26:07 demo @34:20

[@guitartoneSA]

12 years ago when Christophe Kemper invented the Profiler, digital guitar tone hit its ceiling, it couldn't get any better and it hasn't got any better.

[@64cousins]

Is this an April fools joke or something?? Praise this high from you guys has got me seriously considering one

[@omilionaudio]

I use it every week!

[@64cousins]

Well I guess I'm going to have to get one then... Or a tonex what do guys think of those?

[@joesatchton212]

Hell indeed is starting to freeze over. XD Hell will be totally frozen over, with pigs flying through the air if the TPS boys, especially Mick, is even this remotely impressed with the QC or similar. Truly, we are in the golden age of gear...

[@Colosphonium]

I use to have a QC and for me too much choices is limiting creativity. I sold it and bought a tonemaster super reverb. It does 1 thing only. Very well..take pedal. Now im playing instead of gearing and toying with tone. Its a great tool, dont get me wrong. In the hand of pro it can be very valuable. But nobody needs 3000 amp and a milljon effect. All the great have stick to very basic and limited equipement.

[@Utubewrk123]

You can’t win then because on the one hand you have people complaining not enough in the QC and the other side me, saying there’s more than enough. Amps first and pedals. Quad next. It takes a minute to set up a sound. It is not hard it’s easy to use. UI is simple as can be.

[@MrG3BassMan]

How does it compare to a great amp in a room; say a 100 seat venue? A friend in my area has the QC and boy, he’s got it dialed-in. He’s one of our area’s best. The 2nd time I gave his set a listen was a more careful effort - breaking it down to how the tone felt. It seems there’s still something missing. And I suspect it’s related to a speaker moving air. Might a blend of single 1x12 ‘Tone Bomb’ combo along w/ the QC (in a W/D/W fashion) be a worthwhile solution? I know that seems like a lot, but the trouble seems to be how much a guitar player has to carry/lift to load in… 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@Thilo278]

What you're describing is completely up to the cab. Use a regular guitar cab with a transparent power amp and it is indistinguishable from a real amp through the same cab. Of course a PA box sounds different than a guitar cab.

[@Utubewrk123]

I use a real guitar cab. Sounds and feels great.

[@wingee]

It’s a shame it didn’t capture the sag of the band master, because that contributes to the feel of an amp sound, how your hands react to sag.

[@MasonAtMidnight]

Yeah thats where fractal shines . If they can get more effects and amps and fix issues like sag they wud be the best . Also they need to fix that terrible power cable

[@Martinez_productions]

Agreed 💯 if they can nail the sag (and the low quality effects) they have the best unit out there

[@STRATMAN1969]

Everything has its place. I do believe the digital movement will take over. Just look at what you're watching, and listening to music on. However when it all comes back around, and everyone wants the real thing. I'll be playin' along to my vinyl,(Wildwood Weed style) smiling, and waving sittin' on my wall o' combos. "Y'all come back now, y'hear!" P.S. STRATMAN only endorses the use of Tubes, not Doobs.

[@tomfoolery2082]

Mason has the good stuff . There shld be a club , the bbc , bandmaster , bassman n concert . Just a thot . Lol

[@r.llynch4124]

Still does not hold a candle to Fractal products. I feel QC let down the customers with hardly any worthy updates. I sold mine long ago and never miss it. I'm now using FM9 Turbo very happy.

[@VertexEffectsInc]

God bless

[@jaza69]

Fractal does't do captures yet, FM9 Turbo MkII is coming, so that may change soon.

[@r.llynch4124]

@jaza69 fractal doesn't need to capture since the amps are pretty much dead on.

[@sixstringoverdrive6837]

A couple things; Kemper has always had the ability to live compare a capture to the real thing so this is nothing new. Also, QC is still too new and immature for me. When touring you need reliable and consistent equipment and it’s not there yet.

[@javiermp81]

The knobs/footswitches are genius??? I wouldn’t touch those things with my bare fingers after the first two gigs. Like, pub restroom…? Ewgh… If it only sits on your desk in your home studio, then cool. Everything else about the QC is pretty dope, though.

[@jimini2419]

The 2203 sounds harsh … digitally harsh …. very unpleasant sound It lacks the analogue warmth of the real thing. I will stick to the real thing.

[@siggycertified]

Ok

[@sherbuel]

hmm QC is is a great product , but IK toneX has 2 advantages over it imho : leo gibson did a phase inversion test against real amp profiled and toneX was closer to the real deal (and listen to their dumble profile kzbin.info/www/bejne/qmfMiIqLpM-drdEfeature=shared&t=81!) , and important thing you can associate any effect you like with tone X where with QC (and kemper) you must deal with integrated effect..and if you don't like them, that's not good....i associate my toneX with hx stomp , because i really like line 6 effect (delays !) and the stomp is a spare in case of pb. they should do a "amp only" QC imho in a smaller form...

[@JR_Taylor]

Nah

[@alexdoyleguitar]

QC unit is good. I sold mine but no real issues with quality of tones. It did break on me once though and I have many friends who have had at least one issue. Fixed over a week later for free but messed me up in the moment. Still many issues with the company, many promises still unkept and only just maybe beginning to see them. They marketed the hell out of it and lied to everyone. Zero trust in Neural as a company. Certainly the last time I buy based on promises. The new fender tone master pro is very interesting…..out the box with more than the QC already. I can see many people turning to it instead of the QC. And if you really want captures…..there’s cheaper and better options

[@EJH-jn6mo]

I will never trust neural in hardware realm ever again. They lost my trust after not living up to their promises over 3 years ago… items that have still not delivered.

[@Utubewrk123]

You do that. We’ll miss you. 🙄

[@EJH-jn6mo]

@@Utubewrk123 you love being taken 🤣

[@PondoSinatra680]

I hope this is not the new trend. Hour long (or more) infomercials for companies that sponsor your podcast.