Issue with Return 1 & 2 – Loud Noise and Possible Damage

Quad Cortex
1

Hi everyone,

I’m experiencing an issue with my Quad Cortex, and I’m hoping someone here might have some insights.

A few months ago, Return 2 started producing a loud noise and became unusable. At the time, I was using it with a wireless microphone system, but I wasn’t sure if that was the cause. So I simply stopped using Return 2.

Today, the same thing happened with Return 1—again while using the same wireless system. This makes me suspect that the input might have been overloaded, potentially causing some damage. Now both Return 1 & 2 generate a constant noise and are unusable.

Has anyone experienced something similar? Is there a way to diagnose or fix this, or does it need to be sent in for repair?

Thanks in advance for any help!

2

Welcome! I haven’t seen or heard of this issue etc. I would recommend sending an email to support@neuraldsp.com so that they can log and hopefully provide resolution to the issue you are having.

3

Have you tried testing the returns by just plugging your guitar into them? That or a stomp pedal plugged into a send and return, and set up properly in your preset’s route.

What do you mean by the returns are generating a constant noise? Is this with nothing plugged into them?

I would temporarily eliminate the wireless mic system from my testing as it might be the source of the problem.

4

Thanks for your response!

I’ve tried plugging a jack cable directly into the return input, and the noise is still there. However, I haven’t tested a full send-return loop with a stomp pedal yet.

The background noise only appears when I connect a cable to the return input—if nothing is plugged in, there’s no noise at all.

I’ll try to test further, but for now, the issue seems to be specific to the return inputs themselves.

Thanks again for your help!

5

How are you assigning the Returns to the grid where you’re hearing the noise?
With the Input Block at the start of the Lane or an FX Loop block placed in the grid?

Either way, what is the Level setting in the block?

6

I’m assigning the returns using an Input Block at the start of the lane, not an FX Loop block. The gain level in the block is set to 0 dB.

7

Hi all, same issue with me here. Suddenly after years of flawless use. Guitar with new cable plugged in Input 1 or 2 works well. But same signal plugged into Ret1 or Ret2 creates loud strange humming noise that sound like a grounding issue. No noise when no cable connected. Any solution found?