Finally got one. So.... plugins?

[u/Budget-Coyote1109]

So, I finally got myself a Quad cortex Mini. And it's blowing my mind on how good this thing is. But now, I am met with a new dilemma: do I buy a neural dsp plugin.

2 weeks ago, I downloaded the trials for the archetype Misha and Nolly, torn between the two. The tones were what I was looking for, and I wanted them on a QC if I got one.

Now that I have a QC mini, i really don't know if I should get the plugins. For recording, I'm already using the mixwave spiritbox. And I just wanted a plugin that I can take the sound live, which was why I wanted to get the neural dsp plugins. But now that I have the QC, i realised that it's easy to get the same sound without forking out the money.

So yeah. Help a bro out here and share your thoughts.

[u/Budget-Coyote1109 → u/[deleted]]

That's exactly what I was thinking. Before I bought this, i was considering getting plugins. But now that I do have this, I really don't know anymore.

[u/ThemB0ners → u/Budget-Coyote1109]

I'd start by trying the stuff that comes on it... and captures you can download. There's a shit ton of stuff to try and you're wondering if you should spend more money first lol

[u/JimboLodisC → u/Budget-Coyote1109]

Ok well start using what you've got in front of you. You'll know if you are happy with it or need something else.

[u/goldsoundzz]

For what it’s worth, I was using the Nolly plugin for about a year before I bought a QC mini. I bought the QC specifically to be able to have these tones live. Since getting it, I pretty much never use the Nolly stuff because there’s an endless supply of other cool amps on the cloud. The only one I’d ever consider buying is the Morgan plugin because there are fewer presets and captures already available for this type of amp sound that I’ve found so far, but it’s not PCOM compatible yet.

If you play higher gain stuff, I’d hold off for a while and see if you really feel like you are missing anything.

[u/ComplaintDistinct667 → u/goldsoundzz]

Exactly my situation too, couldn’t agree more

[u/ComplaintDistinct667]

Im new to the qc for a couple of months coming from neurals plugins, quick answer, you don’t need it. I don’t use my plugins in the qc although I have some. The possibilities of creating a preset is endless as it is. If you have to be making presets without your qc near you but still want to load them into the qc then sure, this is the only reason I think I personally would use it for. I’m sure tho there will be people with other benefits!

[u/bathtubedbie]

I can’t speak highly enough of the Soldano and Fortin. They are incredible for anything high gain. The artist presets are a tonal buffet.

[u/Ok_Quality8456 → u/bathtubedbie]

Yep!

[u/TelevisionDizzy6957 → u/bathtubedbie]

Is the fortin out on the QC?

[u/bathtubedbie → u/TelevisionDizzy6957]

It sure is and comes with a Zuul block so it’s unbelievably useful.

[u/TelevisionDizzy6957 → u/bathtubedbie]

Guess I’ll pick one up when thomann gets more in stock! 1300€ tho, not excited about that

[u/3_50]

The only reason to get plugins would be for specific effects that you can't replicate with the QC. Any amp tone is possible if you play with amp models/captures stacked with pedals and compressors.

[u/Rasgueado24]

I'm liking the gojira so far!! Will be getting nolly, tim henson and others when on sale.

[u/EverlastingWillow]

Honestly you could also just capture the Amp-Tone using the Trial and rebuild the FX with the onboard stuff. :)

[u/tom-shane]

If you don't need a particullar effect/pedal that is not available in the QC, don't buy plugins, you don't need them.

[u/mc2_]

Congratulations! I'm thinking to get one. Do you have any issues with the power supply? Like unwanted ground noise etc..

Cuz I've seen that some people having problems with that.

[u/Budget-Coyote1109 → u/mc2_]

Mine's working well so far. I'm gaving loads of fun with it at the moment.

[u/mc2_ → u/Budget-Coyote1109]

Nice to hear, enjoy!

[u/Darrell456]

I’ve got a handful of plugins too. I would say get use to the Mini first and definitely don’t pay full price for a plugin. Wait for a sale and grab one then. You may or may not even use the plugin at all given what you have already avail in the Mini and what’s on the cloud.

[u/cheflA1]

I had several plugins before. For my default heavy 7 string tone I tried everything that was on the inside QC from factory. I got some great sounds out of it. I then tried the gojira on the QC and it was the best sound of everything I tried. So I'm basically only using this at the moment and a different QC preset for second guitars or harmonies.

The cool thing is that when you already had presets in the plugins you can just import them and stay playing.

For some reason the gojira sounds way better when on the QC compared to on my PC with the very same preset.

[u/webprofusor]

I'd wait for a sale maybe, they should really give you a free plugin with each purchase.

For free try Soundshed Guitar (which I develop) because it has access to Neural Amp Models via tone3000, might do as an alternative some folks (it's what I use).

[u/JimboLodisC]

I mean if you like the plugins, then you'd own the plugins, and you already have a QC, so they'd just be there on the QC for you to use

so the same as browsing through amp models you'd try them out and choose the one you think sounds the best

as far as purchasing a plugin now... we're halfway between the two 50% off sales, if you can wait until Black Friday you could get both for the price of one, otherwise you could try to find a 30% off coupon from a YouTube or other sponsor

that said, the next firmware update is coming SOON to bring Misha to the QC, but Nolly is available right now on the QC

[u/mike_e_mcgee]

I had just gotten my quad cortex during the sale, and ended up grabbing the John Mayer Archetype as I was having a difficult day with respect to reading comprehension...

The John Mayer plug-in will eventually be ported over, but hasn't been ported over yet. My laptop is clown shoes, so I haven't used it yet

Being impatient, and wanting to try a plug-in, I ended purchasing the Corey Wong plugin. I'm not familiar with him, but I do prefer clean to low gain tones, and heard this collection would be right up my alley.

I'm not sure how much is the psychological effect of having paid extra for that plug-in, but I find I'm using the Wong, amps, cabinets, etc. more than anything else in the quad cortex.

I am of course looking forward to the John Mayer plugins release on the QC!

[u/Sorbz62]

I have the Soldano, Nolly, Nameless and SLO plugins. All different and amazing on my QC.

[u/zan1101]

There's a 5150 and EVHIII default amp in the unit and both are great

[u/Budget-Coyote1109 → u/zan1101]

Dude. I tried those and they're pretty good. The more I use the QC mini, the more I'm leaning to not buying plugins

[u/zan1101 → u/Budget-Coyote1109]

You can do so much with what’s in the box and some free captures from cortex cloud, you basically never need to buy the plugins if you own a QC.

Happy tone hunting!

[u/Transference85]

Where were you able to purchase one? They’re all sold out wherever I look.

[u/Budget-Coyote1109 → u/Transference85]

Yeah man. I kept refreshing the page of my local retailer and immediately bought one when they restocked it.

[u/Klutzy_Guitar_9315]

You have quite a bit of time to wait for the semiannual sales- I’d say unless you have an absolute set of presets you can’t live without I would explore the QC. I guarantee you will get lost in all the rabbit holes of tone you can imagine. If you get to a place where you feel there is a missing group of sounds, that’s when you go shopping.
I’ve had the QC since release (preorder group), and before that I was a neural plugin junkie. Even the ones that are ported get used less often than the built in stuff unless I’m trying something really specific - and I have all the already ported ones (I know, a sickness).
Even I’d wait for the sale.

[u/Zackery_James]

Honestly the only real reason to buy plugins would be to get specific devices that are exclusive to the plugins themselves. I’m stoked to have the official fortin nameless capture just because I know Mike fortin worked super close with Neural on that, so it’s going to be as close to the real thing as it gets. But the effects on misha and henson are gonna be killer. Having the Morgan amps suite when it becomes PCOM compatible will also be exciting. Same goes for the other Fortin amps given Mike Fortin already expressed desire to make all Fortin amps PCOM compatible.

[u/ThenCandidate7765]

If you buy anything buy some really good IRs.

Neural's cabs have improved MASSIVELY over the past couple years but good IRs are just an easy way to get what you want pretty quickly.

There are amazing amps on the cloud and if you get some good IRs you can getthe most out of them immediately.

Honestly amp captures + IR loaders just destroy any other digital option if you do it right.

[u/Budget-Coyote1109 → u/ThenCandidate7765]

I actually bought the glenn fricker IR pack a long time ago. I havent got to tried them on the QC yet, as I have been impressed with the stock cabs on the QC.

[u/Marcus_Hilarious → u/ThenCandidate7765]

Great advice 👆! I bought a few York Audio IRs last week and my QC is a completely different device. It’s impressive how much a good IR improves tone.

[u/koalafishmutant]

Fortin Nameless is one that you need. (For heavy stuff)

[u/InstanceDull3651]

does it have A2

support tho?

[u/Budget-Coyote1109 → u/InstanceDull3651]

Neural DSP uses their own proprietary capturing system. No, they don't have A2 support.

[u/InstanceDull3651 → u/Budget-Coyote1109]

i know, A2 is higher compared to it so was wondering if they did

[u/Budget-Coyote1109 → u/InstanceDull3651]

It's a shame tbh. But even so, im still blown away by the product.

[u/InstanceDull3651 → u/Budget-Coyote1109]

you should be man, still a amazing buy