Yup. We all got the same. And we’re on a list to get the new ones. Then radio silence.
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I know for a fact that NDSP was indeed working on a new PSU because they once send me a prototype. That was more than 2 years ago. That one made the noise issue better but it didn’t solve it and I had to send it back.
I asked again recently (February 2024) and I quote:
me: Still no word on the PSU which was said to come someday.
support: Last I heard late last year was that it’s still in the works.
me: Yeah, two years ago I heard they would come “soon”.
support: I don’t know what else to tell you. I would also like that it was ready, but it’s not.
It’s a shame that NDSP never addressed this and other problems, like WiFi, officially. My best guess is that they won’t because it would make them vulnerable from a legal point if they were to admit problems like these. Instead they try to fix it silently but the customer has to bear the uncertainty. Not knowing if the problem is with the unit or a user error. And not knowing if and when it will be fixed.
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The QC is fundamentally unable to be grounded via the 2 conductor barrel connection, so no new or alternative power supply will ever solve the noise issue when using headphones alone.
NDSP made the design decision to ground the QC through the XLR out to other grounded equipment. This does avoid ground loop issues, but there may well have been other considerations against using a mains voltage power connection and internal power supply. It is too late to do anything about this now, but I would really like to see people stop misleading others by recommending different power alternatives that supposedly solve the problem - they do not solve the problem, and never will.
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Yeah, that wifi issue is a pain.
Generally I get the sense that the QC doesn’t do error handling well. Enter a wrong password and it starts spinning around.
I have this setup:
Guitar → Boss ES-8 switcher → QC → AudioFuse Studio → Computer & Adam 7x Monitors
For a number of reasons I had to try different configurations, and I found that the QC requires me to be grounded on all connections, or it will lock up. In addition, if I happen to put the QC on stand by, and turn off the ES-8 switcher (because it doesn’t have a stand by mode), the QC will proceed to lock up again. I was surprised by this, as I thought that having just one grounded device connected to the QC would be sufficient.
What I found at the end of it all is that if any device is connected to the QC, it has to be grounded. If like me you have some of those devices powered off (as in main switch to the device is off) you have to turn it on before the QC, or else the QC will jam or lockup.
I don’t know much about stuff like this, so I have to take their word for it. But if it’s true what you are saying, then I would really like for NDSP to stop misleading people. I can only share my own experience, which is that different power supplies do indeed make this issue better or worse.
Thank you 747 for sharing your insight into the prototype that NDSP provided you with. Power supplies can certainly be better or worse, particularly from an isolation standpoint, and may reduce noise due to other issues. However, none of them will ever provide the QC with grounding via the barrel connector.
I have seen an awful lot of rubbish on this forum recommending items, some very expensive, that are claimed to to solve the grounding issue. They don’t. By all means get something that seems more robust, or more pedalboard friendly, but don’t expect it to eliminate noise when using headphones alone.
You made your own suggestion as to why NDSP do not comment publicly, and I think you are correct. I would just like to stop the spread of misinformation about this issue.
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Hi Ale. Welcome. To give you a bit of background I come from both the Line 6 and Fractal ecosystems, but am now a proud Quad Cortex user.
As you probably know, Fractal is considered by many to be the gold standard for modeling, and with good reason. Their modeling is world class. So why didn’t I stay with Fractal? There were a couple of factors, but the main reason was the UI. Even now, with Fractal’s FM series of modelers, the UI is a clunky sumbitch.
When the QC was introduced, the touchscreen UI seemed like the solution to this quandary. When you add Neural’s reputation in the plugin market and the capture feature of the QC, I thought what the hell, I’ll roll the dice. And I’m so glad that I did. It sounds every bit as good as my Fractal unit, and in some cases better, but with the added bonus of an easily navigable UI ( Despite the rumblings, no desktop editor is needed). It’s a totally self contained organism.
The footprint is small and tho sleek, it’s quite rugged. I use the unit every day in a variety of contexts: session work, gigging, and teaching. Full disclosure, I had a hiccup with the unit about 3 years in (so it was no longer under warranty). However, that didn’t stop Neural from shipping the unit to their facility for diagnostics and repair, then returning it to me in fully functioning order, all within the space of less than a week…and all on their dime.
Compared to Line 6 they are slow with adding new features to the unit. That’s true. But new features or amp updates every 5 minutes don’t really mean a whole hell of a lot to me (I bought it for what it does, NOT for what it will do…at some point…yet future) especially when the unit in question (Helix) isn’t exceptional in the tone and realism department. It’s good. But is it in the same category as the Quad Cortex? No. It isn’t. Hell, it’s not even in the same universe. So I can excuse the fact that Neural isn’t giving out candy morning, noon, and night.
There’s a reason that many of the new generation of guitar gods are using this unit both on the road and in the studio. It kicks ass. And even with the criticism that Neural is slow with updates, they still have managed to add a shit ton of captures, some new models and effects, a desktop editor, and other features and quality of life improvements. So I’m not really sure why some users say it’s not mature or not ready for primetime. They have their reasons I guess. But for my money, I have zero buyers remorse with the beast and am more than happy with it. Even if they didn’t make anymore improvements, the unit is still world class. That doesn’t stop a minority of very vocal users from incessantly bitching about it tho. (I thought I was bad; I am the bitchiest, grouchiest, grumpy bastard around, and even I got sick of listening to all the crying.) I do understand the legit criticisms. But Neural is (and has) addressed these. What more can they do? So yeah, don’t let the haters keep you from trying the unit out at a minimum.
Lastly, I will add that one of the reasons I purchased the unit besides the UI, was the promise of plugin compatibility. I totally understand the ire of my fellow QC users about that promise taking so long to get fulfilled. And we’re still waiting. Though Neural is going to be rolling that feature out this year, so at long last we will be able to integrate our plugins with the unit. That said, I’m still totally satisfied with it and have no regrets at all about dropping the money on it. That’s because even without plugin compatibility, the unit is fantastic. I hope you find my comments helpful in your search for the holy grail of modeling. Cheers!
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I bought my QC from Sweetwater in the spring right after the initial release. Early version one firmware. I couldn’t be happier. Each new release just makes it better.
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To the hum vs. PS issue:
There is a solution. Ground. The. Unit. Yourself.
It’s Studio Tech 101, FFS.
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Thank you guys.
One more question. Do you use it as interface?
I think i’ll buy it, altough I have some doubts due ti the HP potential issue, and I will ise as my main interface ti record guitars, OX Box + Soldano included, and vocals.
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How do you ground it on the go?
Chadwick, I couldn’t agree more. I too, am coming from the Fractal world. Although I don’t have personal experience with the current generation of Fractal processors (was using an AX8), I have zero regrets from switching to the Quad Cortex. For me, the pros of the QC far outweigh the cons. The limittions of the QC are well documented here on the forum (be aware that some are psychological). If any of these limitations are a deal-breaker for you, don’t buy it. If none are, buy it and start enjoying the great sound and all the other benefits of this amazing device.
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For me the only real deal vreaker is the headphone potential issue. The rest is promising, included the possibility to use it as main interface
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I have to plead ignorance on the interface question. I have never used it like that. Only ever used it either direct in parallel for live applications (so direct XLR to FOH + XLR to FRFR for stage). When doing sessions and teaching, I go either XLR or 1/4" out to a standard interface (usually Focusrite 2i2 or UAD’s Apollo Twin). Headphones are always plugged into the interface when not using studio monitors. Most people don’t have issues using it as an interface. However, since you asked, I just now finished hooking it up as an interface with headphones for monitoring and had no issues. Dead quiet and sounded great in my Beyerdynamic DT 770s. On stuff like this, it’s really no risk. Because if you have issues with it, you can always return it. Cheers!
Thank you. It’s comforting because I have the same headphones so it should work
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If you’re using it as an interface, you’ll be plugged in via USB, which will ground the device; ie. no ‘headphone problem’.
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Not always. That’s the problem with the QC. You never know.
Connecting to a laptop by USB won’t ground the QC. Laptops also use an ungrounded barrel power coonector, so they are not grounded either.
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Does that apply to magsafe, or power over USB-C?