Although it’s hard to say exactly what’s going on, from how you’ve described the issue I think your culprit may be your USB cable. I’d point you to the user manual at this point, which says “to ensure optimal performance and safety, please use a USB-C power source that complies with the following specifications: 5V - 1.5A”
In your description of the issue, the cable that you provided a link for is a USB 2.0 cable. USB 2.0 generally carries 5V and 500mA. This is suboptimal for NC functionality. Meeting the power demands of the unit isn’t just for optimal performance as the manual states, it’s a safety piece for both yourself and the device. Underpowering any device can lead to damage of said device, and while I can’t comment on what is happening when you unplug/plug in the cable that would cause the Nano Cortex to then power up, I can at least strongly suggest the following: I recommend you use an appropriate USB-C cable to handle the power transmission. I personally use a Thunderbolt 4 cable, which can provide up to 20V and 5A, so I am well covered by the requirements outlined in the manual.
I hope this helps, and for any other readers out there: remember that not all USB-C cables are created equal. Best of luck to you Janiodin
It seems that USB-C is not just a simple cable. There are all kinds of technical stuff here. But the solution was maybe very simple. I just turned the cable 180 degrees and now it seems to work. Fingers crossed.
My guess is that the usb-c switch cable manufacturer has been little lazy and made the cable not totally symmetrical. So you can plug it wrong way in.
If this is what works for you, then so be it. But I can’t recommend enough the importance of getting the appropriate cable to power your unit. In my case, my thunderbolt cable was $50, which was ~5% the cost of the Cortex… and I’m sure you can find something more inexpensive. It’s a small price to pay to make sure your unit doesn’t just work now but for years to come.
I’m not telling you what to do by any means. Simply put, I’m certainly always going to drive the point home to follow the manual’s instructions for properly powering the unit. Best of luck to you
There’s a reason that an entire team of engineers and specialists, running the gamut from embedded DSP and UI to mechanical engineering have all made the decision that this unit requires “at least 600mA” of current.
If someone stumbles upon this forum and needs correct info, it’s good to go to the source: the user manual. There is a reason all devices have power requirements instead of power suggestions. I’m glad 500mA works for you JordiSan, and it’s your gear, so you can do what you want with it — and, the bottom line remains: you are not powering the unit with an adequate supply. This could cause damage to the unit and affect its performance.
Don’t run marathons in shoes with too small of a size. And RTFM solves 99% of the world’s problems. Happy Monday
I currently have a Truetone 1 SPOT PRO CS12 12-output Isolated Guitar Pedal Power Supply that has a 9vAC 800mA out.
Would this be adequate to safely power a NC?
I just want to be sure.
First post!
DISTORT6, welcome! Your power supply will work. Since the Nano Cortex requires 9-12VDC @ 600mA, then the 800mA gives you plenty of headroom. You’re good to go.
The maximum output current of this power supply is 3000mA all together, so just don’t go plugging the wrong pedals into the wrong inputs and you’ll be fine — in fact, for the Nano Cortex, the 800mA input is the only one you can use, haha! Either way, read the manual to make sure you’re familiar with what your power supply can or can’t accept if you’re adding more devices. That’s my daily “plug the right things into the right places” rant.
I can vouch for CIOKS. I’m using the SOL on my board with the NC and a few other pedals in the 300 - 400 power range. Zero issues with power. Its a worth while investment and the SOL is switchable.
