Anyone transitioned from Fractal to QC, and why?

Quad Cortex
50

I had an AX8. It’s a very good unit.

I prefer the QC. Size, easy to use, UI, sound, power…

I’m still waiting for what I consider “basic” improvements, but it does the job. And I have fun with it.

51

Glad to hear that your new QC is bringing a smile to your face. I agree with you about the effects. The selection is limited, as compared to most of the competition, but I’ve found most of the fx to be excellent (the Leslie model is a BIG disappointment, though). I’ll take quality over quantity, any day.

I see the Quad Cortex as a bit of a work in progress but it does what it does so well, I don’t mind waiting (and waiting) for the other features. I just hope that Neural doesn’t take so long developing it that the next generation of modelers swoops in and makes the the QC antiquated. Time will tell.

In the mean time, enjoy!

52

TBF, I’m lucky enough to have an Eventide H9 Max ‘on the side’. I can stick that in the effects loop and use it to back fill any missing effects.

There was a certain appeal in having everything in one box on the Fractal but, really, everything is built from the amp tone up (at least to my mind) and, on average, I do prefer those on the QC.

Has to be the definition of a first world problem :slight_smile: . ‘I can’t find an astronomically expensive guitar amp modeller that sits exactly in the Goldilocks zone of my wants’.

As you say, key is to enjoy it and I am. Having a bit of gear that allows really good, immersive playing via headphones is a total gift.

1 Like
53

To update, I just sold my FM9 last week and I haven’t missed it one bit! QC for me all day every day.

I think I want a backup QC now…

7 Likes
54

Exactly how I feel about the QC.

55

About 1 month in now and I’m getting happier and happier with my QC choice. The mopdels are great and, frankly, I’m not missing the wider range of effects.

Highlights:

  1. Most amp models sound good without much tweaking. Caveat being that I prefer to use IRs to the cab block in the QC.

  2. Captures. I really didn’t factor these in when I bought the QC. I wanted it to stand up as a modeller first and foremost (after dissapearing down the rabbit hole of ‘profile hunting’ with my Kemper). However, I find the factory captures to be really useable and am blown away but the free captures from amalgamaudio on the cortex cloud. With a handful of go-to captures for favourite amps (Tone King, Morgan, Orange) I’m happy to just play.

Chuffed.

4 Likes
56

Awesome! I’ve had both QC and FM9 for about 2.5 years now. My fm9 sold about a month ago and usually I have a bit of regret selling a piece of gear but I have to say I haven’t missed it. The QC paired with a midi controller is as flexible as I need it to be. And the tones more inspiring and easy to dial. Love it.

1 Like
57

I use a full AxeFx3 (with FC-12) live still and I can’t see moving from that due to the versality, but when I don’t need the effects or I’m doing someting smaller, I’m starting to like the quad more and more. I practice with it almost exclusively now.

I’m considering doing the pedalboard sort of set up (quad, expression pedal and power) and see if I can get the sounds I need from it for smaller shows, or when I hit an open mic to try new stuff. I have a great couple af amp sounds that are very useable for me, but the some of the effects aren’t there yet for me (YRMV). I rely on the rotary and some other sounds that I just can’t tune in well on the Quad yet.

I also worry on the smaller gigs about drinks and stuff getting thrown at the stage (water bottles, beer, small women, you know, whatever). I feel like I would need to protect the Quad more than if I just had my bulletproof FC-12 and some Mission pedals in the line of fire.

In terms of just plain amp tones, the Quad is simpilier to dial in, for sure. I dislike the routing on the Quad for more advanced effects (like having multiple reverbs in parellel with a delay and I still want the raw output to come through, etc.). The Quad is a MUCH more “all around” device though. It makes an amazing interface, for instance, and it’s just plain simpler to work with. Great for travel!

TLDR:

  1. Still sticking to the AxeFX3 rig, but it’s more complex and capable
  2. Loving the QC more and more though, and it’s simple and almost as capable (with a few tricks the Fractal doesn’t do well, like being a nice interface)

To add, if I were to choose NOW and start over without a catalog of souds to reproduce, I would just go Quad Cortex. It’s less in the way, simple to use, etc. The less I tweak parameters the more I get done, and that tweaking never ends on the Fractal gear for me.

3 Likes