When the Quad Cortex was released at NAMM 2020, it pushed the boundaries of the amp modeller market. Neural DSP had managed to create an amp and effects modeller and profiler with premium tones and a touch screen. Since then, the competition has been rife, with modelling pedals like IK Multimedia’s TONEX and the Fender Tone Master Pro becoming key players in the market.
Now, Neural DSP have given Quad Cortex a younger sibling… meet the Nano Cortex. It is not just a smaller version of the QC, but it does include many of the world class features we were introduced to with its predecessor.
In our Neural DSP Nano Cortex review, we take a look at this tiny powerhouse that fits neatly onto any pedalboard – or that can be used as a complete pedalboard replacement. It’s an amp and effects modeller, a cab simulator, an IR loader, and a capture device – all in one small box. And because it’s Neural DSP, you can be sure that, despite, the wealth of features packed in, sound quality is the ultimate priority.
In a hurry? Here’s our verdict
The Neural DSP Nano Cortex might not be as revolutionary as the brand’s hardware debut, the Quad Cortex (you can’t stun the world with every new release), but it does reiterate to us that they really are industry leaders when it comes to Capture technology and modelling sound quality. It’s a small and mighty box, meaning it’s effortlessly portable, yet it offers the functionality of a comprehensive guitar or bass rig.
We would have liked to have seen a screen to make navigating the device as easy as navigating the QC, and it would also be handy to be able to change the onboard effects – you’re limited to a transposer, noise gate, a Mind Hall reverb, a Boss -DC-2W-inspired chorus, and a BBD-inspired analog delay.
But for the sheer quality of the effects and Captures, and how easy it is to capture your own gear, the Nano Cortex wins on all fronts. It certainly makes a compelling case for scrapping the pedalboard on stage and replacing it with this compact machine.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Neural DSP Capture technology is second to none – you can capture your gear and your plugins effortlessly and in great quality | The user interface could be enhanced with a screen |
| Small and lightweight, which makes the unit easy to carry around | The onboard effects can’t be swapped out |
| The streamlined Cortex Cloud app and Bluetooth connectivity mean you can control the Nano Cortex remotely, loading 256 Captures and 256 IRs with ease | |
| No one can dispute the sound quality of Neural DSP’s gear, and the onboard effects of the Nano Cortex are no different | |
| The two footswitches are configured in A/B modes, meaning you have up to four patches at any one time |
Neural DSP Nano Cortex review
Features
The Neural DSP Nano Cortex is a highly portable yet feature-heavy device, packing a seriously impressive number of capabilities into such a small box. Its compact size, 14.4 x 10.3 x 6.2 cm, and weight of just 620g make it a convenient piece of gear if you need a portable unit to take to gigs and rehearsals. Despite its small form factor, the Nano Cortex offers the versatility of a full guitar or bass rig.
Its core feature, of course, is Neural Capture technology, something that set itself as a serious contender in the world of amp and effect modelling back in 2020. There are 25 Captures on the device itself, arranged in five banks, as well as eight guitar cab IRs and two bass cab IRs, but this can be expanded up to 256 Captures and 256 impulse responses using the Cortex Cloud app.
The app provides access to a wide range of additional tones created by other users, expanding your options significantly.
In terms of control, the Nano Cortex offers standard amp-style adjustments: Gain, Bass, Mid, Treble, Amount, and Level. It also has five onboard effects: transposer, noise gate, a Mind Hall reverb, a Boss -DC-2W-inspired chorus, and a BBD-inspired analog delay. However, these effects are pre-set, meaning they cannot be changed or re-arranged.
The signal chain might be fixed, but for many guitarists and bassists, the quality of the built-in effects and Captures is enough to outweigh this slight downfall – more on the quality of these later!
The footswitches are designed for seamless switching between A/B modes, providing access to up to four patches at once. So, not only is the unit easy to lug around, but it also makes it simple to make quick changes on the fly. And while there is no screen on the Nano Cortex, the Cortex Cloud app helps mitigate this by letting you easily load Captures and manage settings via Bluetooth.
Not only that, but the Nano Cortex also functions as a USB audio interface, supporting high-quality, low-latency recording. It’s a powerful all-in-one solution for guitarists – both on stage and in the studio.
Size and usability
For such a feature-packed, yet practically miniscule device, the navigation of the unit is the best it can be. Ideally, there would be a screen, but Neural DSP would have to be strategic in making the on-screen visuals legible on such a small pedal. However, there is the companion app that lets you edit patches and parameters with ease.
The benefit of the compact form factor is, of course, that the Nano Cortex is one of the most portable modelling units out there. And yet it’s still one of the most feature-heavy!
As we mentioned earlier, the A/B footswitches are easy to control, and they give you four patches at once. If you had to use just the modeller alone to access all of its functionality, you’d find the process clunky and fiddly. Luckily, Neural DSP mitigate this with the Cortex Cloud app, which plays a significant role in improving usability.
The app allows you to easily manage presets, upload Captures, and fine-tune effects, providing more control over the device without needing to rely entirely on the pedal itself. And you can do it all wirelessly thanks to the Nano Cortex’s Bluetooth compatibility.
Cortex Cloud app
So the app makes it 10x easier to control the modeller, but how streamlined is the app itself? Very, is the answer. It’s a community-driven platform that gives you access to a huge library of amp models and drive pedal Captures. In fact, there are over 34,000 Captures available, and the app’s user-friendly interface means you can quickly find and upload new tones to your device.
The app also simplifies the process of managing presets and fine-tuning the onboard effects, making up for the lack of a screen on the Nano Cortex itself. Adjusting parameters, organising Captures, and customising effects is straightforward, giving you full control over your sound.
Neural DSP’s modelling technology is known for its accuracy, and the Cortex Cloud app helps you harness that power with minimal effort.
Sound quality
We all know that sound quality is a hallmark of the brand, so we’d be pretty disappointed if the Nano Cortex didn’t live up to worldwide expectations. Of course, this isn’t the case. The Neural Captures offer exceptional accuracy, faithfully recreating the tones of various amps and pedals.
The onboard effects are equally as premium. Despite being fixed in their signal chain, effects like reverb, delay, and chorus are high-quality and easy to work with – and you probably wouldn’t want to swap these core effects out anyway! The reverb is rich and natural, the delay offers good flexibility, and the chorus is lush, making the Nano Cortex a versatile pedal for different setups.
While you might find the fixed signal chain limiting, the overall sound is undeniably excellent. It’s polished, professional, and competes with the tonal abundance of a full pedalboard – even when compared to larger, more complex units.
Capture
The Neural Capture technology is the USP of both Cortex units. Like its larger sibling, the Nano Cortex allows you to capture the exact tonal qualities of your favourite amps and pedals – so you don’t have to lug all your gear around to get the tone you want at your gig.
The connection process is simple, which, for groundbreaking technology, is pretty admirable. You just need to use direct inputs and outputs to hook up the Nano Cortex to your gear.
The quality of the Captures produced by the Nano Cortex is excellent, matching the level set by the Quad Cortex. You get accurate snapshots of your gear’s sound, preserving the nuances of the original equipment. However, unlike the Quad Cortex, the Nano Cortex lacks the processing power to run multiple Captures simultaneously. This means you can’t stack Captures of different pedals and amps together at once.
Instead of a screen, the Nano Cortex uses LED rings to indicate settings, and its controls are intuitive despite the lack of visual feedback. This is where the Cortex Cloud app comes in handy!
Is the Neural DSP Nano Cortex worth the price?
For such a small unit, the Nano Cortex’s price tag might seem quite high. However, for the wealth of functionality and how smooth it is to capture your gear and load Captures from the app, the price seems worth it.
The quality of these Captures is exceptional, rivalling more expensive units, and can easily replace physical gear during performances or recording sessions. Despite its compact size, the Nano Cortex provides pro-level tones and is backed by Neural DSP’s trusted reputation for sound modelling.
It’s also important to remember that the Cortex Cloud app is free – and it gives you over 34,000 Captures… essentially over 34,000 new rigs. And it lets you remotely control the Nano Cortex from your phone or other smart device, which is incredibly handy.
However, there are a couple of drawbacks. The lack of a screen can make navigating presets and settings slightly awkward, and you cannot swap out the onboard effects like chorus or delay. But we don’t think these detract from the overall quality and usability of the pedal at all.
FAQs
What does an amp profiler do?
An amp profiler uses a profiling technique to recreate the tone of another amp. It captures the feel and nuances of the amp, giving you an accurate simulation in a more portable form. This means you can take the sound of multiple amps to gigs and rehearsals without having to bring the gear with you.
What does Neural DSP stand for?
The DSP in Neural DSP stands for Digital Signal Processing.
Do Neural DSP use AI?
Neural DSP use their own biomimetic AI technology in their Neural Capture. This is what enables the Cortex to learn and simulate the tone of an amplifier, drive pedal, and cabinet.
Final thoughts
Over the past four years, since the release of the Quad Cortex, Neural DSP have been working on the next best portable modeller – and they’ve delivered. We’re thoroughly impressed by the sheer number of features that such a tiny unit can pack in.
The classic Neural DSP tonal accuracy and quality we know and love is consistent across all Captures and onboard effects. Plus, the Cortex Cloud app makes it incredibly easy to manage the pedal wirelessly. It sets the standard for portable modelling units.
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