I bought the Quad Cortex last week. But it’s useless in the studio with a Windows environment. Why? Because the digital interface is missing. I’ve watched a lot of videos on YouTube. It’s noticeable that everything is explained in a Mac environment, which gives you the option of working with 2 audio interfaces at the same time.
It’s simply not possible in a Windows environment. Forget the Asio4all option. It just doesn’t run stably.
Even if a Neural DSP developer writes that developing a device always involves compromises, you’ve simply made the wrong decision.
Most people have a high-quality audio interface at home before buying a Quad Cortex. This situation probably just makes many Quad Cortex owners angry.
Of course you could just connect the Quad Cortex to your own interface with an analog cable. Unfortunately you get poor sound quality with noise and more interference.
I don’t want to keep changing cables or changing the audio driver in Cubase. We just want to make music and not always configure the PC.
I would like you to consider whether the USB interface can be expanded to a Toslink or SPDIF interface with an additional device developed by you.
The same problem is now present again with the Nano Cortex.
To the developers of Neural DSP: do your homework properly and with common sense. In Windows Studio, the Quad Cortex is expensive junk with no reasonable use.
Obviously, a good hardware upgrade would be to add digital outputs such as Toslink, SPDIF or Adat. (even Fractal FM3 has it.) This is almost essential for integrating the unit into a professional studio. Also, the possibility of working at different sampling frequencies is required.
I can use it perfectly in conjunction with my audio interface and daw on a Windows pc I can use one interface as my inputs and the other as my output if want too… I also can run a loop back hardware and use software that’s not inside my daw and use the QC and other interface at same time… Using there own dedicated drivers… And has being rock solid… And no extra noise involved
There’s a reason that recording gear is made for Mac. I paid a high price for my Mini, but ALL of my hardware and I/O problems went away. Totally worth it to switch over.
I would disagree with you there… I use windows cause there is so much more I can choose in hardware for a Windows pc…
Cost less, runs faster and I can add what I want to the machine…and have never had an issue with mine over the last 30yrs…most of any issues on mac or pc is user knowledge… I do this for a living and connect to many macs and may pcs that people just don’t have a clue what there doing… And i use windows myself for the flexibility it gives me… Faster pc, easy to swap parts upgrade when I want add more ins and outs…
As often, I might be totally wrong, but I always viewed the QC as an Amp Modeler which can also be used as an audio interface, if you don’t have a better one.
In a studio environment featuring a high quality audio interface, I never thought of using the QC in parallel. I always connect it through an analog output like an ordinary amp/mic.
Sure, I have nothing against a QC Version 2 with a digital interface, more sample rate options etc.
But then again I would think there are other parts that would have a higher priority.
I record from the QC to my interface via the analog outputs with no noise and excellent audio quality. I connect to our live board the same way with grear results. If you’re having noise issues, perhaps you have (a) bad cable(s) or electrical issues in your recording space. Is there a guitar processor that has a SPDIF out? Definitely check the specs before you buy your next one.
This may be true for you personally, but it is very much not true in a wider sense. Mac is in no way an industry standard, and there is only a very small percentage of hardware that is Apple only.
I’m using my Quad on Windows 11 in Pro Tools and everything seems to work fine. I downloaded the driver for the Quad from Neural and generally just use the Quad as my interface. Maybe I’m in the minority here but it seems to work just fine.
The point is that at this selling price, you don’t have to talk about an SPDIF input and output. That should go without saying! I find your answer bold and without any background knowledge!
Check out Steven’s YouTube video (Neural DSP). It is expressly explained that there is less noise with the USB connection than with the cable connection.
I work with Cubase myself and use the Steinber AXR 4 as an audio interface.
Two SPL gain stations are connected to the audio interface via Toslink.
I plan to record a direct signal (digital) with the help of a splitter, once to the Quad Cortex and once to the SPL Gainstation. Which I could then send either to the plugin or Quas Cortex via its USB audio interface. Which I didn’t like that much.
But I’ll take a look at the JACK to see if it’s the solution.
dude, my studio goes far beyond just a usb interface with a digital input. you don’t realize how you come across, apparently, calling the qc useless and the devs stupid. like others told you - if you can’t get a clean signal with this setup, you’re doing something wrong. talking about background knowledge…
This is your interpretation!!! I say it was a huge mistake to give up the digital interface for alleged reasons of compromise! Do you ignore the other users who also have a big problem with it? Dan, your see would be pretty one-sided!
