bjelkeman

Nobody else got it yet? Or just can’t tear yourself away from it?

4 hours ago, Kev said:

I think at this stage really,  sound quality wise all these high end devices are equal, it’s the form factor and the strength of the capturing that interests me the most.  From the demos, it does seem to be more authentic than the Kemper, but in a mix/live, probably indistinguishable.  Seems to come down to the unit itself, and I think Neural have got it completely spot on, it seems fantastic to use.

I did have an HX Stomp for a while and I really didn't think the bass presets and sounds were as easy to dial in for me as with the QC. Maybe it just comes down to the fact that it is easier in the QC UI and I enjoy doing the work. Not navigating a myriad of multifunction buttons and dials to try to get the result I am after. 

In the end, lots of people are happy with the Fractals/Helixes/Kempers and more power to them, that is great! I don't think I can hear the difference when they play anyway. But I wouldn't swap the QC for either of them or even all of them.

Today I spent some more time with it. So, some more impressions.

The Quad Cortex has a very good user interface for a floor model. There are some restrictions, based on the size of the screen, for example it is fiddly with the 32 banks of presets, was you don't know in which bank the stuff you are looking for is residing. Eventually you learn where it is. And once you have found it you can favourite it and also look at the "last accessed". But overall I would say that I am very happy how they have put it together. Once you learn a few user interface tricks, then it is quite easy to work with it. Like what I said before, rename/delete/copy/move a preset or a capture, swipe left and the icons for the tools show up.

I captured one bass pedal, the Harmonic Booster and several capture of a guitar amp, a Hughes & Kettner Tubmeister 18. There are some minute differences on the gain and high frequencies, especially for guitar, but there is no way I could actually hear that if I didn't A/B tested them directly. And just by tweaking the gain and the treble on the resulting capture, you seem to end up with a software version of my tube amp. Very nice. (The Captures are shared, search for Bjelkeman)

There are plenty of models for guitar and lots of effects, for me. The effects sound pretty good to me. Not everyone agree about that, but I am of the opinion that is very pleasing. There aren't enough bass amps and effects models. It is clear that the market is much bigger for guitar players. They focused first on that. There are quite some nice captures of amps I like, and I ended up preferring the Mesa Carbine M6 capture 8. It is quite some time since I played on an M6, so can't vouch for how it compares, and I haven't taken it to practice yet.

I plan to start running it through the power amp on a Darkglass M900, but later getting a stereo power amp and run one cab high/mid frequencies and one low frequencies. I created a preset with one lane with as above, Noise gate - DG Harmonic Booster - B3K - Carbine M6 - DG 212 cab, and added a paralell lane with a Mesa 400 Channel 1, with a compressor and Ampeg 810 cab, low passfilter, for that extra girth. Sounds good, but I need to test it with the band.

Build quality is outstanding and so was the box it comes in. The box is one of these things you don't really want to throw away and worry it gets dented. 

The twistable foot switches are great and the precision is very nice, at slow speeds it will step 0.1 dB and if you turn it quicker you can go fast through the full range.

I ended up putting it on a sturdy music stand, like I have seen a numbers of reviewers doing. Easier to work with when you are setting up stuff and adjusting it all the time. I added rubber feat and I think it will be great on the floor.

The touch screen isn't as good as an iPhone or iPad for touching, but similar to many Android phones. I was a bit too heavy handed on it initially. A lighter touch with the fingers works better. It has a software keyboard for entering names etc. none of that twisting nobs to find a letter. Phew.

It is great with the Cloud app for publishing, downloading, doing backups, sharing presets and captures. The app is a first release, so there are some things that doesn't work great with the UI yet. There is a bug in that Captures will not upload the tags you enter on the QC. There are other niggles with the UI as well, but overall it is good enough for a first release.

I think they have done a really good job with the Quad Cortex and I am looking forward to both getting software upgrades and using it a lot in the future. No regrets!

On 18/03/2021 at 09:58, krispn said:

I was just repeating myself

Look forward to hearing your experience with it and making captures of your bass head @bjelkeman

2 hours ago, krispn said:

I was just repeating myself

Look forward to hearing your experience with it and making captures of your bass head @bjelkeman

As I have a Darkglass M900 it is going to be interesting comparing that with the B3K effect. I have very good experience with the Neural implementation of the Darkglass Ultra B3K/VMT. I will definitely also capture the Harmonic Booster, as I find it essential for my clean tone. 

Mine has shipped. May arrive tomorrow. 

They have said the manual will be coming out shortly before shipping product. 

https://neuraldsp.com/news/quad-cortex-user-manual-1-0-0
 

The Quad Cortex manual is out. 

19 minutes ago, Cuzzie said:

Anyone know what they have captured on the Tech21 PSA they have listed under bass preamps

There are 10 bass amps and 40 guitar ones

I don't think we now that yet. 

They are nine more Quad Cortex to win in the next nine days, one each day, in this giveaway by Neural DSP. Can be found here (referral). Quad Cortex Daily Giveaway - Black Friday 2020

On 29/10/2020 at 12:16, EBS_freak said:

No difference I would say. Helix, AxeFx and Kemper haven't stopped people from buying pedals.

At the end of the day, you can get really specific in your choice of pedals... with the muliprocessor units, you are limited to the algorithms in them. If you don't like the algorithms, you are out of luck.

I am probably the exception, but time will tell. I have been stripping my pedal supply down to a few, a Darkglass B7KU and a Harmonic Booster. The Booster will probably go as well when the Quad Cortex arrives. Keeping the B7KU for the "oh stinky poo" moments when you must have something that works when stinky poo hits the fan. No more compressor, other distortions, octave, EQ etc. The quality of the B7KU/VMTU plugin and the Parallax, which I have both for recording, tells me that the QC will be enough for me. I think.

I am definitely partial to Ibanez basses. 

From left - Ibanez: SR700 (-11) [upper], RB850 (-87) [stolen], RB960 [sold], RB760, MC924, RB850, RB650 [sold] (-84), MC900 (-79), MC800 (-78). AX50 (-85) [bottom]. 

I also have one RS800, sold an MC824, sold another RB850. 

I mainly play on a Warwick Corvette $$ and have a Corvette STD, but always have been gassing for a Mayones Patriot. But since I don’t want to buy before trying it is hard to buy a Mayones. Oh well, the wallet approves I suppose. 

4 hours ago, CameronJ said:

@bjelkeman @Kev

Are you guys both in the first preorder shipment?

I am, but that is essentially been combined with the second now as I understand it, because of supply chain issues (Covid induced). But that is ok. I think it will be worth the wait.

I have preordered, sold enough gear to cover the whole thing. Now it is just the waiting left to do. 

I have a Warwick Corvette STD and a $$ (German made). I have also had a Spector Euro 4 LX with a Tone Pump. I prefer the body and neck of the Spector, but couldn’t get on with the sound. Replaced the TonePump, with another preamp, an EMG something or another. Ended up selling it. If I could get the Spector to sound more like the growl of the Warwick, that would be my choice. 

A parts shortage due to Corona. Well, I think it will be good when it arrives. 

It is interesting how much complexity is available under a relatively simple UI. 

6 hours ago, Kev said:

The X Ultra is the best bass preamp I have used. Once you learn how to dial those frequencies in (its not a quick one), it sounds absolutely huge.  My entire tone relies on it now!  I haven't come across anything that can replicate the clean low frequencies and boost them in such a way, its wonderful

I did try the Dug out and its a cool pedal, but for me lacked something.  Body, 'X' Factor?  Don't know, but I can see why some like it.

Share a good setting you have dialled in?

1. Bass Super Valve Ampeg® SVT®
2. California Bass 400 Mesa Boogie® Bass 400+®
3. Bass Flip-top Ch 64’ Ampeg® B15 – 1964 Channel
4. Bass Flip-top Ch 66′ Ampeg® B15 – 1966 Channel
5. Bass Flip-top Patch  Ampeg® B15 – Jumped
6. G400K Gallien Krueger® 400RB®
7. British Bass 50 Bright: Marshall® Super Bass® 50 Bright
8. British Bass 50 Normal: Marshall® Super Bass® 50 Normal
9. British Bass 50 Patch: Marshall® Super Bass® 50 Jumpered

1. 410 Bass CL = Ampeg® SVT-410HE 4×10 bass cabinet (not sure what speakers they use)
2. D410C Darkglass® = Darkglass® D410C loaded with custom Eminence® ceramic drivers

1. Darkglass® Microtubes B3K®
2. Darkglass® Vintage Microtubes®
3. BDDI: Tech 21® Bass Driver DI® 
4. Soviet Fuzz: EHX® Russian Big Muff®
5. Animate Fuzz: Human Gear®  Animato® 
6. Brass Matters: Maestro® Brass Master®

Coming later

1. AG Thor’s Hammer 500 Aguilar® Tone Hammer 500® 
2. AG D750B Aguilar® DB 751® 
3. Bass 360: Acoustic® 360

Yeah, not bass. But a lot of people have been wondering if the prototypes actually make a sound. The UI could be really ace though. 

3 hours ago, Kev said:

It’s a screenshot of a video, it’s not BS 😂

oh, and pre-ordered. Gulp.

Yup. So did I. And apparently 980 others joined us. Dipoug said in another forum that they have preorders for 98% of the first batch already. 

Felt this was coming, so sold my HX Stomp, which I really liked, but it was like a gateway drug. Until this comes out I’ll make do with a B7KU and an X7. 

On 09/01/2020 at 19:28, Dood said:

An update to my previous post: I have now recorded reviews of the Darkglass Ultra plug-in and Parallax. I don't think the Parallax review is live yet though.  Both are excellent plug-ins!!!

Link?