Hi everyone! I’ve been building an unofficial desktop app for the Nano Cortex as a side project. I know there are already some great community tools out there, and this isn’t meant to replace them - it’s simply another option with a different approach.
The app is cross-platform (macOS, Windows, and Linux), and I’m looking for feedback, feature requests, and Linux testers in particular. If there’s something that would make your Nano Cortex workflow easier, I’d love to hear about it.
My ecosystem is all Apple, and would still love the opportunity to test-drive when you feel comfortable enough in sharing your work. Will the app communicate only when connected via usb, or will it work via bluetooth as well?
@keith it works either way, but there’s a limitation as to what each connection can do. Depends on the situation:
USB only: preset recall, FX toggles, tap tempo, tuner, and expression all work, but the UI can’t show what the device is doing - no knob positions, preset names, or signal path.
Bluetooth only: live state shows up in the UI, but most commands can’t be sent - no preset recall, FX toggles, tap tempo, or tuner.
The notices also list nanoCortexPresetSwitcher, reviewed as an early reference, along with other Nano Cortex community projects surveyed along the way (CortexControl, nano-cortex-monitor, captain-cortex, and more - see the notices for the full list). Thanks to everyone building and sharing tools for this device.
@rixrix fair enough, sounds like you’ve done some killer work. Passed this along to my linux friend, he’s got an NC and QC mini so I imagine this will be up his alley to check out. He once joked that he has trouble staying in “ubun-tune” … so I think you’ll be in good hands lol
Good question. Short version: the deep editing is roughly on par, because that part of the Bluetooth protocol is chriso’s reverse-engineering that I built on (credited in the repo). Where mine differs is everything around the editing.
What’s the same: capture, cab/IR, gate, FX model and parameter edits, amp knobs, save. Both apps cover that.
What mine adds today:
Native desktop app (macOS, Windows, Linux) instead of browser-only, so no Chrome/Edge requirement and it runs offline as a normal app.
Native Bluetooth and USB MIDI in one app.
Footswitch deck for assigning presets, a preset rail with banks and renaming, and live device-state monitoring with clear “USB needed / Bluetooth needed” labels so you’re never clicking dead controls.
Diagnostics (protocol/MIDI monitor, exportable debug bundle) and settings backup/restore.
Desktop niceties: system tray, auto update check, offline-first, local files.
To be clear, chriso’s editor has one real advantage mine doesn’t: it’s zero install, just open the page. And a lot of what I can do exists because he open-sourced the protocol under MIT. Credit where it’s due.
Where I’m hoping to take it (being a native app opens up things a web page can’t easily do):
An offline preset librarian: back up all your presets and captures to your machine, organize them, and restore to any slot.
Setlists / gig mode with quick recall.
Preset file export/import so you can share tones without any cloud or account.
Global shortcuts and a tray quick-switcher for fast preset changes.
A documented API would enable third-party integrations, automation, accessibility tools, research, and other innovative workflows that simply aren’t possible through a manual editor alone. It would allow the community to build new tools that add value to the Cortex ecosystem while keeping everything within a supported and stable framework. I am willing to test this.
Hi everyone, how are you doing? I have to say I’ve tried it out and, visually, it’s very good; however, I’ve personally run into an issue where it doesn’t sync my delay or noise gate settings correctly—the parameters configured on my Nano don’t match what I see in the app. I’ve noticed the same behavior whether connecting via Bluetooth or USB cable. Could this be a mistake on my part, or is there perhaps something else that needs adjusting in the app? Thanks for the effort—cheers!
Hey rixrix! Since the official Cortex Cloud app is having issues (several of us here are suffering from it, the Android app goes all black and doesn´t work), and our NC is fully dependant on the app (which is a very concerning characteristic of the pedal), i wonder if your editor would work on Android phones. That would be a workaround and also a relief, since We´d know that We can use your independent editor to manage everything on the Nano.
