Neural DSP Nano Cortex Compact Digital Effects Processor with Neural Capture Technology Certified Open Box

Capture your entire collection

Just like the full-size Quad Cortex, the Nano Cortex boasts Neural DSP’s lauded Neural Capture technology, providing you with the power to create an exacting sonic clone of any amplifier, cabinet, or drive pedal and take it on the road with you. Switch your Nano Cortex to Capture Mode, plug your drive pedal or microphone into the device’s XLR combo jack, set your levels using the handy LED meters, and the Nano Cortex captures every harmonic detail and tonal nuance with immaculate authenticity. You also get a boost switch with +26dB on tap to handle gain-hungry microphones. From start to finish, the process takes a matter of minutes, allowing you to digitize your entire amplifier and effect arsenal and carry it around in one convenient box.

A powerhouse of sonic versatility

From classic arena-rock crunch to effect-laden soundscapes to pure, lush cleans, the Nano Cortex is ready to excel in any musical application thanks to its studio-grade sound and flexible preset slots. This device stores up to 256 Neural Captures, 256 custom IRs, and 64 preset slots, with the ability to assign four presets to the Nano Cortex’s dual footswitches (two presets per footswitch). And much to the pleasure of Sweetwater’s gigging guitarists, the Nano Cortex boasts fast preset switching (about 60ms minimal gap) and preserved delay/reverb trails.

Shape your sound with seven device blocks

The Nano Cortex offers a fixed audio path of seven device blocks to sculpt your perfect signal chain. Plus, any of the blocks can be bypassed to allow for a variety of setup options. The path is comprised of two Pre-FX slots, a Neural Capture slot, an IR Loader with cabinet simulation, and three Post-FX slots. Across these slots, you can choose from over 50 effects and utilities (compressors, overdrives, modulation, delays, reverbs, and more). An input gate is also available at the start of the signal chain without occupying an FX slot.

Straightforward stompbox-style workflow

Once your preferred sounds are loaded in using the Cortex Cloud app, the Nano Cortex is expertly engineered to provide a straightforward and intuitive workflow. The left encoder footswitch and bank button give you access to 25 total Neural Capture slots to swap between, while the right encoder knob switches between five onboard IR selections.

Furthermore, the FX button and Amount knob grants five distinct effects that can be used both separately and in tandem for enveloping sonic landscapes. Finally, the Nano Cortex is finished off with a set of global knob-per-function controls to shape out your signal with a decidedly stompbox-like simplicity, including Gain, Level, and a 3-band EQ.

NanOS 2.2.0: The Most Substantial Update Yet

With NanOS 2.2.0, you get one of Neural DSP’s most substantial offerings, providing you with the latest iteration of Neural Capture Player, a massive cache of virtual devices, and a plethora of customer-requested features.

Neural Capture Version 2 Player enables the Nano Cortex to load and play Version 2 Neural Captures created on the Quad Cortex. Neural Capture Version 2 offers a Cortex Cloud-trained upgrade to Neural Capture, delivering higher resolution and more detailed results using Cortex Control and Cortex Cloud instead of processing on the Quad Cortex. It offers superior dynamic accuracy and realism, especially with complex, touch-sensitive devices like fuzzes, compressors, and tube-style amplifiers, making it ideal for capturing vintage fuzz cleanup, power amp sag, and other subtle nuances. Capture creation is currently only available on the Quad Cortex, with support for creating V2 Captures on the Nano Cortex under development. To showcase the capabilities of Neural Capture V2, Neural DSP has loaded the Nano Cortex with 669 new Captures across 41 devices.

NanOS 2.2.0 also allows you to access your device settings in the Cortex Cloud app without an internet connection. You can audition Captures and IRs using the Cortex Cloud app, and you can create up to five Cloud backups and store them on Cortex Cloud. Furthermore, you can drag and drop presets in the Cortex Cloud app for easy rearrangement. Beyond that, you can automatically sum all of the Nano Cortex’s output signals to mono when only one cable is connected.

Finally, NanOS 2.2.0 includes a useful array of fixes and productivity-enhancing updates.

Take your sound anywhere with NanOS 2.0.0

Neural DSP's NanOS 2.0.0 update significantly enhances the Nano Cortex's already impressive capabilities, offering extensive customization options for your signal chain. You can now choose which devices to place in the two pre-FX blocks and three post-FX blocks. The update also expands the range of available effects and utilities, adding three new EQs, three utilities, eight compressors, four wahs, two filter effects, nine guitar overdrives, two bass overdrives, six modulation effects, five delays, and five reverbs to your tonal toolbox. Additionally, the update places an input gate at the start of the signal chain, allowing you to deploy a noise gate without occupying one of the pre-FX blocks. NanOS 2.0.0 also introduces Cloud Backups, making it easy to save and manage your Nano Cortex settings. Meanwhile, the IR Loader Global Bypass function lets you bypass the unit's IR loader across all presets — a must-have feature when playing through real-world cabs. Even at its original unveiling, the Nano Cortex was a powerful unit, condensing the capabilities of the full-sized Quad Cortex into a palm-sized package. Now, with the NanOS 2.0.0 update, the Nano Cortex is truly a full-featured, all-in-one guitar and bass rig that rivals the best compact modelers on the market. And, thanks to its portable USB-powered design, you can take its flagship-quality sounds anywhere!