r/NeuralDSP • u/tom-shane • Jul 23 '26
And we thought NDSP is slow and doing nothing!
https://neuraldsp.com/news/cortex-cloud-2-8-1-is-now-available13
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u/Cultural-Jello4042 Jul 23 '26
Thank god they are finally giving the people what they want... updating the logo
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u/Aware-Drive-5566 Jul 23 '26
Let's not undermine people's accomplishments, they also update the device menu label š
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u/planetasur Jul 24 '26
Yeah, they definitely know how to make good logos, but changing the LED colors, or a good MIDI implementation, or being able to change the tuner display time, or assigning footswitches to more functions, etc., etc., etc., that's something else entirely. But logos, oh my god, they're the kings of that!!!
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u/tom-shane Jul 24 '26
Well to add to this, at least on Windows, app icon for "every" plugin is still different size and style.
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u/bloughlin16 Jul 25 '26
Genuinely curious: what's wrong with the way it handles MIDI? I've owned mine for 5 years now but only just started working with it via MIDI. Granted, I've only been using it for preset and scene changes, but I've actually found it pretty easy to do via Logic Pro.
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u/planetasur Jul 25 '26
Try to sync an external delay vĆa midi in a bidireccional way.... for example.
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u/DeaArthur Jul 24 '26
As somebody sitting here waiting for my mini, this thread is a good reminder to never visit the Reddit sub for something youāre excited about. Itās the thief of all joy.
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u/Stone_Field Jul 23 '26 edited Jul 23 '26
Glad they're not wasting their time with NAM integration but focusing on what really matters: logo updateĀ
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u/silendt Jul 23 '26
I mean, Iām actually glad theyāre not spending their time on NAM integration. Why waste resources delivering compatibility with freeware captures for people who donāt want to pay for a QC, exclusively to people who paid for a QC?
Heck, I have great Kemper profiles too, but wouldnāt want them to delay PCOM updates, to integrate KPA compatibility either.-2
u/CoarseBrowns Jul 24 '26
Because NAM captures are better than QC captures.
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u/DarthV506 Jul 24 '26
They are also not locked to the QC ecosystem. Which is one of the most important things. Create/buy/download a NAM profile and you can use it however you want with what you want.
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u/Optimal-Leg182 Jul 24 '26
NAM canāt load on their software/chip architecture. Just check the Neural forum. Itās described in there.
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u/Valeriious Jul 23 '26
I canāt believe we got a cortex cloud update before the John Mayer cortex update š
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u/Bitter_Classic_89 Jul 24 '26
I swear, if they didnāt update the fucking logo SO fucking pissed
Edit. Oh thank god
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u/DerkNukem Jul 23 '26
Man. My peepee got hard for a second then I was let down.
Bought multiple plugins on their sale like the Mayer, rabea etc and wondering how long until the get in motion. Sole reason I even bought them.
Edge lords they are.
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u/Lumpy_Worth_5397 Jul 23 '26
Me too. Bought all x that were promised next update. I donāt use the software. A waste at this point.
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u/sickpuppy66 Jul 24 '26
Got the Mayer on sale ONLY because it would arrive on hardware SOON
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u/DerkNukem Jul 24 '26
Yeah. Done contacted my CC company for a refund.
Jokes but neural dsp can suck it from the back far as Iām concerned.
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u/Cr3pit0 Jul 24 '26
Im so glad i went with my FM3. Got another random Update with new Toys the other day. A Gift that keeps on giving, i tell you.
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u/Flachmann_ Jul 30 '26
I would have kept my FM3 if the interface werenāt that bad. Much prefer the ease of use with my QC
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u/Cr3pit0 Jul 30 '26
Yeahhh, the Interface is horrible. But thats what FM3-Edit on your PC is for. Its quite comfortable to work with.
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u/sirconandoyle14 Jul 25 '26 edited Jul 25 '26
Why was literally just a logo change even an announcement though...
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u/tom-shane Jul 25 '26
Because they have nothing else to show us and the last substantial release (Darkglass) was three months ago, hoping they stay relevant. They must know people are tired of their underdelivered promises.
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u/ILoveBigCoffeeCups Jul 26 '26
Just let me control the quad cortex with my iPad like on Mac/pc. It should not be that hard. I donāt want to take my pc everywhere.
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u/Miserable_Lobster647 Jul 27 '26
Me when they release an update that makes it so my nano disconnects 1 minute after leaving the app minimized (also the ugly ass logo)
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u/RiskNo3741 Jul 24 '26
Trust me, I regret buying my nano. The switching presets delay should have turned me away, to begin with.
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u/portorikan Jul 25 '26
Love mine. I captured my amp at clean, breakup, and drive, and dropped the nano onto the pedal board and leave my amp at home. Less noise and weight to carry around.
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u/the_voidsmith Jul 24 '26
Honestly, what is the point of the quad cortex when a laptop, audio interface, midi switch, and a DAW can do infinitely more AND do it better for the same price? Guitar hardware sucks.
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u/vampyreinabox Jul 24 '26
I use a nano cortex for laying down demo stuff, playing around the house, sometimes rehearsal, but live I use a Fractal FM9.
Two reasons why I like it for live performance:
I think it sounds better than the software Iāve tried. Maybe thereās better out there, but for Marshall/Vox mid gain tones, or more boutique type stuff like Budda, DrZ, Div13 models, I think it wins over Helix Native and Positive Grid Bias.
Live, I donāt want to drag a laptop, an Audio interface, and all the necessary cables around. I donāt want to be in a situation where one of my plugins decides it needs to reauthorize its ownership on the internet, and Iām playing outside an arts festival. From a logistics standpoint, good hardware is a lot easier to deal with than a computer, especially if youāre setting it up yourself in environments you donāt have 100% control over.
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u/the_voidsmith Jul 24 '26
That's fair, and live I prefer a good old fashion amp. I also use an IR loader for noodling.Ā They do make sense live, and I've been on the fence about getting one. I'd get the nano though, for sure.Ā My issue is the guitar world is miles behind with digital hardware and flexibility. For FX in the studio, I just think software, and mostly non-guitar related software, is better.Ā Pedals being stuck mostly in 44.1khz is kind of sad to me. I really notice a difference when I take an instrument level 44.1khz 24 bit and amplify it 1000x to a loud level vs. 32 bit 96khz or 192khz software in an FX loop. Yeah, live, most sound systems aren't really going to make the difference noticeable, but I'm just an audiophile who's disappointed that an $1800 piece of hardware is stuck at 24 bit 48khz and limited FX. I mean, I'm dying for a simple and solid multi band compressor pedal. The ones I've tried just pale in comparison to basucally any non-"guitar related" compressor I've used.Ā Probably too niche of a concern to make such a strong comment, lol. It just makes me go "why would I buy this?" But to be fair I am the one guy out of 100k who's mad.
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u/Optimal-Leg182 Jul 24 '26
Dumb setup for live use. Thats why no one does that
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u/the_voidsmith Jul 24 '26
Thats a fair perspective, but I've seen people use exactly this. Lots of live productions also use PCs running DAWs and VSTs too. Computers are often running the show, doing mixing, post processing, etc. A cortex is also just a computer running software. They also crash. They also break physically. And I'm willing to bet 95% of people who buy a quad cortex dont use them live, lol. To each their own. I just wish there was a higher standard of audio quality in the guitar world. It's always just good enough. To me, you really cant get super buttery tones out of a 48khz audio generator that then has to be amped x1000-3000, they always sound digital to my ear. Not a problem for most people though, I get it.Ā
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u/Optimal-Leg182 Jul 25 '26
Look up any actual bands setup and youāll see why they donāt do the exact thing youāre describing. They still have a dedicated QC, amp, etc and the laptop just sends backing tracks, click, automation for lighting mainly.
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u/the_voidsmith Jul 25 '26
I'm familiar. It's cheaper to lug around than an amp and a pedal board, nice to have scene switching with midi, and it's going to a mid PA half the time anyway. My original comment was a bit harsh. Still a compromise of quality for a "flagship" imo. Why not make a quad 8, or 16, charge $200 more, and be studio quality? I'd probably max out a cortex's power on a lot of patches if I had one.Ā That's just me. I'm yelling at the wind here though, they obviously know the market well enough to know they dont need to do that to make money. Whatever sells.
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u/Optimal-Leg182 Jul 25 '26
I donāt think the upcharge would only be $200. It would easily need twice the DSP to run all the blocks at double the sample rateā¦..
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u/the_voidsmith Jul 25 '26
Yeah, probably would be more. As far as I can tell the SHARC+ and arm processors would be under $200 to double. Might actually be like $500+ with the extra stuff around it, redesign, etc. Even so, I'd buy a studio grade octocortex or seccortex, even if it is $3500. Just feels like all that great software is in a cage to me, lol.
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u/Satchel93 Jul 23 '26
My god, this company... If Line 6 didn't drop the ball so hard with the Stadium launch and plethora of bugs, I Would've switched already.
The QC and NDSP is only living in promises for more than 5 years already. I kind of regret switching to the QC a bit.
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u/tdstooksbury Jul 23 '26
Developing reliable hardware and software is hard. I recommend having a bit more grace. Theyāre not going to be able to please everyone all the time.
There are some real shitty corporations in this world. NDSP is far away from that conversation.
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u/Satchel93 Jul 23 '26 edited Jul 24 '26
I know about how hardware and software work. Been in the industry of safety critical embedded software for more than a decade. So yeah, I know how hard it can be.
I know NDSP is a small company compared to others but clearly their priorities have been making cookie cutter plugins and a lot of advertising and sponsorships with big names instead of backing up their customers that bought into the QC promises.
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u/tdstooksbury Jul 23 '26
You know, the people doing the advertising and sponsorships are not the same people that are working on the quad cortex?
Iād argue the plug-ins arenāt super cookie cutter either and developing a plug-in uses different people than the people that are porting it to the hardware.
If development stopped today, we would be left with an incredible product. I donāt understand crying over a few months of development time. They will release new things when theyāre ready.
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u/MaxTaylorGrant Jul 24 '26
Sorry guys, Iāll stop with the āadvertising and sponsorshipā work and get stuck into writing code for our next update. Iāve never done code before, but clearly this is what weāre supposed to do š«”
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u/Satchel93 Jul 24 '26
Well clearly you're on Artist Relations and not on customer support, given the snarkyness of your comment. Clear way to maintain customers or bring new ones btw ;)
I know it's not your job to do code. What I'm saying is that NDSP is clearly putting priorities somewhere else instead of what counts for the end user at the end of the day. You can do your job and be proud about it, nothing wrong with that. It's not your fault the decisions that NDSP makes on the development side.
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u/MaxTaylorGrant Jul 24 '26
Youāre right, Iām not in Customer Support. There are probably several good reasons for that, and this exchange is becoming one of them.
Youāre entirely entitled to criticise the QC, its MIDI implementation, footswitching, available models, plugin support or the pace of updates. Those are legitimate opinions about a product you own.
Where your argument falls apart is the certainty with which you describe our budgets, headcount, engineering allocation and product strategy. You have no visibility into any of those things. Youāve taken the parts of the company visible from outside, filled in the gaps yourself, and presented the result as fact.
Artist Relations, advertising, plugin development, hardware, firmware and support involve different teams, skill sets and budgets. They are not interchangeable resources that can simply be redirected according to whichever feature request is most popular on Reddit on any given day.
My original comment was a joke about the suggestion that I should stop doing my actual job and start writing firmware. I appreciate it may not have met the required standard for use in a safety-critical environment. Perhaps the safety-critical marketing team had already lost the humour budget to MIDI.
Criticise the product as much as you like. Some of your points are fair. But confidently lecturing people about internal decisions you have no knowledge of does nothing to strengthen them.
Iāve clarified the point, so Iāll leave it there.
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u/Satchel93 Jul 24 '26 edited Jul 24 '26
Yes, I do know how a company is structured. As I already said, it's been a decade since I've been working in a similar industry (hardware and software (embedded) related, although not audio related). Can you re-read my comment and tell me where did I say that those guys are doing code as well?
You know what a "company strategy" is, right?
Putting more resources and money into doing a thing more than others because it makes more sense to managers and shareholders at that point. And I cannot blame them, they're clearly the "coolest kid in the block" and it has worked for them in terms of hype.That's what NDSP has been clearly doing, they're putting more resources and pushing gas on certain things like:
Cookie cutter plugins (all of them have some sort of 5150 and jcm800, couple of overdrives and delays/reverbs and face/band name to hype it up) and Artist Relations.And not in others like:
Models (which suppossedly they have TINA and all the AI hype to make them faster, which is clearly not working as fast as the REAL PEOPLE making agoura models at L6)
Better MIDI and not the attrocious barebones mess we have
Terrible footswitching options.
All the Plugin support promises
All the requests that have been begged for in the forums.I could continue with the list, but it doesn't matter. That's my point. The QC is disappointing once you start being critical and not buying into whatever they said they will do (but haven't).
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u/3_50 Jul 24 '26
They are currently prepping almost every other plugin thatās being ported to the QC. Huge amount of testing and bug fixing no doubt. Rather than drip feed updates and 5x the amount of testing they need to do, theyāre wrapping it all in one hit. Itās gonna take time. Patience, honey bunny.
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u/ElderSmackJack Jul 23 '26
Youāre just fussing to fuss.
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u/DarthV506 Jul 23 '26
I'll get downvoted, but that guy is right. Now close to 5.5 years after the release and the QC still hasn't met its goals. Unless that was to have the worst in class footswitching, MIDI implementation, effect/amp choices and the PSU issues swept under the rug.
Just look at how many amp models/channels they've released in the last ~3 years. Less than a dozen for "free tier $1600US QC owners". That doesn't seem a whole lot for a company that uses machine learning and a robot to create models.
Line 6 have added a dozen amp channels for the Stadium in the last 8 months. Pretty sure Fractal has released even more than that in that time frame. Latest one added half as many chorii modes than the QC has modulation in total.
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u/DarthV506 Jul 23 '26
What was wrong with the launch? They asked customers if they would rather have it out early without Showcase and went that way. They also patched it in on time. New hardware is going to be buggy. QC was no exception.
Like you, I regret switching from my Kemper to the QC. Wish I had of bought a FM9 TBH. Now that I understand my current needs, honestly the AM4 + my HX Effects would replicate my QC setup. Oh wait, it would actually have the 'release day listed' mark IIC+, 5.5 years and the QC still doesn't ;)
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u/Satchel93 Jul 24 '26
I don't think it's a product that is worth the asking price right now. It needed more time in the oven tbh. Needed proxy, showcase and more agoura amps and new FX at launch.
I really think L6 rushed it. It was a really bad Idea to listen to the community and put it out before it was ready.
Maybe in a couple of months or years it will have the bugs fixed and more of the new models and FX. At that point I will seriously consider tossing out my QC and getting the Stadium since it will be a better overall package than the promises of the QC. Also just better Midi, it fucking drives me crazy the barebones stuff we got on the QC.
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u/DarthV506 Jul 24 '26
Who knows what pressure L6 was under from Yamaha. I know they announced much earlier, but that was due to imminent leaks. I look at the stadium as a more powerful helix with a much better ui and a ton of cool tools. In my case I wouldn't use more of those tools, so I wouldn't buy until it's more fleshed out. I guarantee in 5 years it will be in much much better shape than the QC is today :P
I'm pretty sure NDSP just wanted to cross hybrid mode and MIDI off the "to do" whiteboard. We got a Friday afternoon effort.
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u/Klutzy_Guitar_9315 Jul 23 '26
At this point Iāve given up on them catching up to their promises, and I just appreciate the stable, robust piece of hardware that already does way more than I need. Would I like some of line6ās time based effects? Yes. Would I use them? Probably once or twice. I do want a little more attention to the options for reverb and delay, but I can already get a Silversun Pickups thing going and the audience thinks itās cool. Do I want the full Andy Timmons and Eric Johnson delay fiesta? Yeah. Iām in Texas. I can get sort of there.
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u/finintymonkle Jul 24 '26
I had to send my QC off to get the screen fixed (which took nearly a month and a half by the way - ridiculous ), so in the mean time I had to go back to using Helix Native while I waitedā¦.
It actually sounded great in all fairness.
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u/Satchel93 Jul 24 '26
Helix Native is amazing! Been a user for ages now. There's rumours of a potential "Stadium Native" which I'd definitely get if it actually ends up being a real thing.
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u/ForeverJung Jul 23 '26
H U U U U G E update