Neural DSP Delivers Big Sound Without the Bulk
Few guitar processors have been as game-changing as the Neural DSP Quad Cortex. In fact, it’s remained a consistent top-seller here at Sweetwater since its 2020 debut. An ultra-compact iteration of this revolutionary floorboard amp modeler, the Quad Cortex Mini delivers the full Quad Cortex experience in a scaled-down format without compromising processing power or sound quality. The Mini employs the same CorOS software as its full-sized predecessor, along with Neural Capture technology and the familiar 7-inch multitouch display. You also get over 90 amps, more than 100 effects, more than 1,000 cabinet IRs, and more than 2,000 Neural Captures. Able to tackle live performance, studio recording, and practice sessions with equal assurance, the Mini flaunts flexible routing with up to four parallel signal paths, USB-C audio interface functionality, Wi-Fi connectivity, and extensive I/O options for instruments, microphones, MIDI, and balanced outputs. You also get a built-in looper, tuner, and metronome. Moreover, the rugged anodized aluminum unibody housing and locking power connectors certify roadworthy durability. Simply put, the Neural DSP Quad Cortex Mini is an incredibly robust, world-class platform that removes the traditional trade-off between size and capability; you’ll be hard-pressed to find anything this powerful in a more portable, rack- and desktop-friendly design.
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The full Quad Cortex experience in a mini pedal
When Neural DSP designed the Quad Cortex Mini, the company endeavored to deliver a user experience on par with the full-sized Quad Cortex but in a compact, desktop-friendly format — without compromise. We’re happy to report that this venture is a huge success. The Quad Cortex houses the same level of processing power and delivers the same world-class sound quality as the larger unit, while also providing you with Neural DSP’s vaunted Neural Capture technology. Moreover, you get the same 7-inch multi-touch display, ensuring fast, intuitive editing and streamlining signal path and effects management. Beyond that, the Quad Cortex Mini runs the same CorOS software, and it integrates flawlessly with the Quad Cortex ecosystem. This means that you can transfer your presets, full backups, and complete workflows seamlessly between the Mini and your full-sized Quad Cortex with zero compatibility hassles — everything works exactly as expected with nothing to rebuild. Finally, the Quad Cortex Mini will benefit from all CorOS updates, ensuring that you always have the latest iteration of Neural Capture at your disposal, as well as any new features and virtual devices that are released.
Neural Capture digitizes your favorite amps, stomps, and cabs
Already have the world’s best amps waiting for you at home? Digitize them and take them on the road using Neural DSP’s powerful Neural Capture feature. This revolutionary technology lets you use the Quad Cortex Mini to digitize your favorite amps, cabs, and pedals with stunning realism by using machine learning to replicate the nuanced interaction between gear and player, preserving characteristics like sag, saturation, and compression for instant recall. You can capture entire rigs or individual components as modular blocks to build custom signal chains. Moreover, the Quad Cortex Mini supports Neural Capture V2, a Cortex Cloud-trained upgrade to Neural Capture that enhances resolution and dynamic accuracy for complex, touch-sensitive devices such as fuzzes and tube-style amps, exhibiting superior realism and modeling of controls. While V2 requires an internet connection and longer processing time, it offers unmatched precision for the most expressive gear, whereas V1 remains a fast, offline option.
Connectivity without limits
The Quad Cortex Mini is one piece of gear that won’t leave you high and dry at the gig, whether you’re running a simple guitar rig, building a stereo effects setup, or integrating pedals, amps, microphones, and MIDI. Not only do you get a head-scratching amount of inputs and outputs, but you can even customize routing on a patch-by-patch basis. It includes a variety of inputs, such as a 1/4-inch TS instrument input and an XLR combo jack with 48-volt phantom power. The Mini’s outputs are equally as versatile, providing you with two XLR balanced outputs for front-of-house or studio monitors, two 1/4-inch TS outputs, a dedicated Neural Capture out, and a 1/8-inch headphone jack for private monitoring. You also get stereo effects loops, expression control, comprehensive MIDI connectivity, and MIDI over USB-C for flawless hardware integration. Finally, USB-C connectivity transforms the Quad Cortex Mini into a feature-laden 8-in/8-out audio interface, making it ideal for live shows, home recording, and hybrid rigs.
What’s new in CorOS 4.1.0?
With CorOS 4.1.0, Quad Cortex and Quad Cortex Mini, you’ll benefit from what Neural DSP describes as “the biggest CorOS update ever released.” This feature-rich update includes Plugin Compatibility for five additional X-updated plugins — Archetype: John Mayer X, Archetype: Petrucci X, Archetype: Misha Mansoor X, Archetype: Rabea X, and Archetype: Tim Henson X — bringing you more than 70 new amps, cabs, and effects. Eight new Virtual Devices — Multivoicer, Glitch, Ring Modulator, Arpeggio Delay, Crystal Delay, Vintage Digital, Douglas Shining Comp, and Plugin Parametric-4 — with Factory Device Presets give you a new universe of sounds to explore. Device Presets introduce a faster, more flexible way to build rigs, enabling you to store settings of an individual Virtual Device, with up to 32 User Device Presets for each supported Virtual Device. Moreover, the Device Preset workflow is also available for I/O Settings and Global EQ.
Dual Footswitch Assignment unlocks new performance possibilities in Stomp Mode, enabling you to assign a supported device’s secondary function to a separate footswitch, so you can control it independently from the device’s bypassed state. The Favorites and Recent menus have been redesigned with dedicated categories for Presets, Neural Captures, and Impulse Responses, with each category able to store up to 64 items.
Multiple Device Management allows you to manage multiple Quad Cortex and Quad Cortex Mini units connected to the same computer. Finally, CorOS 4.1.0 includes a massive range of fixes and improvements to enhance your user experience.
Neural DSP Quad Cortex Mini Features:
- Available only at Sweetwater, the Quad Cortex Mini delivers the full Quad Cortex experience in a scaled-down format — without compromise
- Houses the same level of processing power and delivers the same world-class sound quality as the full-sized Quad Cortex
- Employs the same CorOS software as the full-sized Quad Cortex
- Integrates flawlessly with the Quad Cortex ecosystem for preset, full backup, and complete workflow transfers
- Neural Capture technology replicates real amps, cabs, and pedals with exceptional accuracy
- Plug-in Compatibility (PCOM) lets you run selected Neural DSP plug-ins directly on the Quad Cortex Mini
- Cortex Control desktop app for full device management and preset editing
- Familiar 7-in. multi-touch display ensures fast, intuitive editing and streamlined signal path and FX management
- 4 stainless steel rotary encoders for Preset, Scene, and Stomp control, plus intuitive hands-on parameter adjustment
- Preloaded with 90+ amps, 100+ FX, 1,000+ cabinet IRs, and 2,000+ Neural Captures
- Ultra-flexible I/O with patch-by-patch configurable routing
- Up to 4 parallel signal paths with flexible routing and up to 8 blocks per row
- Wi-Fi connectivity for wireless preset sharing, firmware updates, and backups via Cortex Cloud
- Stereo FX loops, expression control, comprehensive MIDI connectivity, and MIDI over USB-C for flawless hardware integration
- Built-in 8-in/8-out USB-C audio interface
- Onboard looper, tuner, and metronome
- Rugged anodized aluminum unibody housing and locking power connectors certify roadworthy durability
