New QC user here. After much thought, and multiple reccomendations, I decided to upgrade my old axefx II to a Quad Cortex. I feel that I must be doing something wrong, as I can not get it to not sound hissy or muddy, and my tone seems rather thin. It seem that whatever I do, I can’t get a “warm” tone, an all my efforts turn out very digital sounding (if that makes sense?), and if I roll off the bass and treble/presence on the various amps, I end up with w thin, muffled tone.
I am basically looking for a nice warm and attacky high gain 5150 or friedman tone (but have tried just about every amp and cab), and any input or advise would be much appreciated.
I don’t know if you’re using the built in models or captures, but my experience with the built in amp models are more or less the same as yours, I had more luck on captures.
Also - it depends on the way your monitoring. Headphones? FRFR? Power Amp + Cab?
I don’t use much high gain amps so sorry I cannot be of anymore help but perhaps others can chime in.
Hey. Thanks for your input. Yeah, I use the built in amp models + a cab block. I am listening on mys studio monitors, which I know very well. I am sure neither my interface, speaker nor the in-/ and outputs on the QC aren’t clipping, but could it be somesort of internal clipping within the “amp” og cab IRs maybe?
Welcome! There are a few variables to look at etc., ensure your master volume is at 100% as it is an attenuator and that will give you the best SNR (per NDSP). You indicated that you aren’t clipping etc., check your I/O (pull down menu) for input and output gain, start at unity and tweak as needed. You may need high/low cuts depending on how you monitor and for now make sure GlobalEQ is disabled. One thing QC does and does extremely well is tight and warm high gain and lots of it. Try the EVH 5150III Red model and see how that works for you.
Just checking…. I went back thru some of the factory presets today and there is a Wah block on for all of them giving a cocked Wah sound that sounds like you’re describing.
Just wanted to make sure your presets don’t have a Wah block on… easy to miss since it’s the same icon as a volume pedal
None of what you’re describing is normal for the way the QC sounds, so I would try going directly out to headphones to make sure what your hearing isn’t a setting or something you’re doing internally, and then follow the path to the outputs you’re using, then audio interface etc.
Try turning down the input impedance level from 1M (if set to that) if everything is too bright. I found it warmed everything up and amps sounded more like my guitar plugged into them. Depends on what you’re listening through also.
Maybe this will help you. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bau2P5CcXmc
I know that the input level was a big one for me. Also download a few free captures and see if there’s a difference.
Hi there!
I used to keep the speaker simulation untouched, which resulted in like “harsh sound” according to my taste.
It worked well though for the songs in the one band I play, but not very well for the other band.
So I started to play with the speaker simulation and it’s parameters and that made a huge difference!
I’m totally happy now.
Maybe that’s worth a try: find the right speaker and mic type that suits your taste in general and see what happens when you bring the mic nearer to the cab. Also try different positions off axis.
You can already do those switches for free. ball of foot on the bottom switch, rock to switch between views. It’s not hard and takes up zero real estate or dollars. Inconvenient? barre chords were hard at first too.