Neural Dsp Quad Cortex Mini

From Quad Cortex to mini format: Neural DSP DNA, pedalboard version

The Quad Cortex mini adopts the approach that made Neural DSP famous: a platform designed as a unique control center for your sound, capable of replacing a full amp chain, a loaded pedalboard, and an audio interface. All the spirit of the Quad Cortex is here, but in a reduced chassis (significant space saving on a pedalboard) without sacrificing tactile editing, computing power, or the CorOS ecosystem. The result: a premium multi-effects unit that fits just as well in a minimalist setup as in a modern touring system.

For which musicians and uses?

Designed for guitarists and bassists from intermediate to professional level, the Quad Cortex mini excels in live settings (quick sound changes, readability, flexible routing), in the studio (DI, reamping, multitrack recording via USB), and for content creation. Blues, rock, metal, funk, pop, worship, or ambient: it moves from a wide, defined clean tone to very tight modern saturations while maintaining a natural playing feel. If you like preparing sounds per song, managing variations by section, and traveling light without compromise, its performance-oriented workflow quickly becomes indispensable.

Controls, modes, and integration: a workflow designed for the stage

At the heart of the experience, the 7-inch multi-touch screen speeds up preset creation and virtual grid patching, while the 4 rotary footswitches turn editing into an immediate gesture. The Focus system lets you grab key parameters without diving into menus, and the Pages concept multiplies foot-accessible commands to control more functions in a minimal footprint. On stage, Gig View enhances contrast and readability to smoothly chain songs. Regarding integration, you benefit from MIDI TRS Type A, MIDI over USB, Wi-Fi for content management and updates, and the Cortex Control app to edit, save, and organize your sound banks.

Sound

The Quad Cortex mini stands out with a very direct playing feel: crisp attack, respected dynamics, and a response that precisely follows the right hand (or pick playing). In clean tones, it delivers a hi-fi, spacious, and three-dimensional sound, perfect for modern choruses, delays, and reverbs. In saturation, definition remains solid even on complex chords, with a gain reserve suited to contemporary styles. The cabinet IRs and especially the Neural Captures allow you to retrieve the grain of an amp or pedal with impressive coherence, and the parallel routing helps build stereo sounds (wet/dry, dual amp, ambient layers) without muddying the mix. Renowned artists have already integrated the Quad Cortex into their rigs, proof of the platform's credibility on major stages and in studios alike.

Technical specifications

Effects	Multi-effects, Looper / Sampler, Modeling Processor, Cabinet Simulator	Type	sector
Format	Pedalboard	Use	electric guitar
Cabinet Simulator	1000	Color	Black
Number of tracks	16

Platform	Neural Capture technology and CorOS environment	Looper	Looper X with advanced functions
Preloaded library	90+ amps, 100+ effects, 1000+ cabinet IRs, 2000+ Neural Captures	Screen	7-inch, high brightness, multi-touch
Neural Capture	compatibility with Neural Capture V1 and V2 (amps, cabinets, overdrives, fuzz, compressors)	Controls	4 stainless steel rotary encoders/footswitches (Preset, Scene, Stomp + editing)
Cortex Cloud	access to community-shared content via Wi-Fi	Editing	fast navigation and immediate adjustments via touch + physical controls
Signal chain	full grid with tactile and foot control	Audio interface	USB-C, 16 channels (8 inputs / 8 outputs), USB Audio Class 2.0
Advanced routing	up to 4 parallel paths, flexible routing, up to 8 blocks per row	Sampling rate	48 kHz (fixed)
Modes	Preset, Scene, Stomp, and Hybrid (flexible assignment per row)	Applications	Cortex Control (editing, backups, content management)
Pages	extended control (Page 1 / Page 2) without increasing footprint	Wi-Fi	downloads, firmware updates, backups
Gig View	high-readability performance-oriented display	Plugins	compatibility with supported Neural DSP plugins
Opposite Page Preview	instant visualization of assignments on the other Page	Inputs	1 x 6.35mm TS jack (Input 1), 1 x combo XLR + 6.35mm jack (Input 2 / Capture Input, ground lift), 1 x 6.35mm TRS jack (Return 1/2 via insert cable)
Focus system	quick parameter adjustment via rotary footswitches	Outputs	2 x XLR (Outputs 1/2, ground lift), 2 x 6.35mm TS jack (Outputs 3/4), 1 x 6.35mm TRS jack (Send 1/2 via insert cable), 1 x 6.35mm TRS jack (Capture Out), 1 x 3.5mm headphone output
Useful functions	Fast Mute (double tap volume), tuner, metronome	Control	1 x 6.35mm TRS jack (Expression Input 1), MIDI In and Thru/Out via 3.5mm TRS (Type A), MIDI over USB-C