# Matching Quad Cortex and Plugins tones

**URL:** <https://unity.neuraldsp.com/t/matching-quad-cortex-and-plugins-tones/16592>\
**Category:** Quad Cortex\
**Created:** [December 17, 2024, 7:45am UTC](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/t/matching-quad-cortex-and-plugins-tones/16592 "2024-12-17T07:45:10Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![alfosigno12](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/unity.neuraldsp.com/alfosigno12/32/6370_2.png) [@alfosigno12](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/u/alfosigno12)\
**Post date:** [December 17, 2024, 7:45am UTC](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/t/matching-quad-cortex-and-plugins-tones/16592/1 "2024-12-17T07:45:10Z")

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Frome here [Quad Cortex® F.A.Q.](https://support.neuraldsp.com/help/quad-cortex-faq)

> Set input levels:  
> Set the plugin’s INPUT knob to 0.0dB and set the Quad Cortex Row 1’s INPUT GAIN to -2.26 dB to match the input headroom.  
> Alternatively, set the plugin’s INPUT knob to +2.3dB and Quad Cortex’s IN1 to 0.0dB (1M).

Am I wrong or do they propose two opposite solutions?

Plugin input +2.3 db and quad input at zero  
is totally different from  
Plugin input at zero and quad row 1 gain at -2.3 db

Maybe I misunderstand ?

Thanks

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Pixelman](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/unity.neuraldsp.com/pixelman/32/3723_2.png) [@Pixelman](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/u/Pixelman)\
**Post date:** [December 17, 2024, 8:41am UTC](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/t/matching-quad-cortex-and-plugins-tones/16592/2 "2024-12-17T08:41:35Z")

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looks pretty the same to me, the QC, in those 2 cases, is set to have always 2.3 db less than the plugin.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![alfosigno12](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/unity.neuraldsp.com/alfosigno12/32/6370_2.png) [@alfosigno12](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/u/alfosigno12)\
**Post date:** [December 17, 2024, 9:05am UTC](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/t/matching-quad-cortex-and-plugins-tones/16592/3 "2024-12-17T09:05:08Z")

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If we set this routing:  
-Qc row 1 empty to usb 3/4  
-Plugin in the daw with input usb 3/4

In the first case we are entering the plugin at a level of -2.26 while in the second we are entering the plugin at +2.3 db (since we are increasing the plugin input acting before the amp head)