Incredibly Easy Recording with the Quad Cortex

The Neural DSP Quad Cortex has remained one of Sweetwater’s top-selling digital amp profilers and modelers since its release. But did you know that the Quad Cortex can function as a full-fledged 8-in/8-out USB 2.0 audio interface? In this article, we’ll navigate how to record guitars, basses, vocals, keys, and all your other sound sources with the Quad Cortex and your Mac or your Windows PC.

An All-in-one Recording Solution

The Quad Cortex comes loaded with four hardware inputs, six hardware outputs, and eight channels of digital I/O — everything you need to start recording. Two of the inputs are equipped with XLR microphone preamps with +48-volt phantom power; you get widely available USB 2.0 connectivity with 24-bit/fixed 48kHz sound quality; and thanks to the Quad Cortex’s native hardware monitoring capabilities, you can record with near-zero latency. Finally, by using Neural DSP’s Cortex Control software, you can take full command of the Quad Cortex right from your computer.

Easy Setup on Mac or Windows

Setting up a Quad Cortex-centered studio is extremely straightforward. Mac users will simply connect a USB Type-B cable between the Quad Cortex and their computer — no driver installation necessary. Windows users, on the other hand, will need to download the Quad Cortex ASIO driver from Neural DSP and run the installer before connecting the device to their computer.

Once up and running, Apple users will need to go to the Sound options in System Settings and set the Quad Cortex as both the Output and Input device. Windows users will need to go to the Hardware and Sound settings in Control Panel, ensure the Quad Cortex is set as the Default Device in both the Playback and Recording tabs, and confirm the Default Format is set to 2-channel, 24-bit, 48,000Hz (Studio Quality).

Sidebar: To ensure optimal performance, we recommend that you connect the Quad Cortex directly to a USB port on your computer rather than to a USB hub or a case-mounted USB port.

Making the Right Connections

After you get your Quad Cortex connected to your computer and set up, your next order of business will be to plug in headphones or studio monitors so that you’ll be able to hear yourself. Connecting your headphones is as straightforward as plugging them into the Quad Cortex’s rear-panel headphone output. Since the Quad Cortex defaults to using the balanced Out 1/L and Out 2/R XLR jacks just right of the headphone output as main outputs, this is where you’ll want to connect your studio monitors.

Your microphones plug into the Quad Cortex’s Input 1 and Input 2 XLR/TRS combo jacks, which include +48-volt phantom power and tackle mic, instrument, and line-level signals with equal assurance. You can also plug line-level sound sources — such as keyboards, synthesizers, outboard preamps, and other hardware — into the Return 1 and Return 2 jacks, which feature balanced 1/4-inch TRS connections.

After you’ve set up the Quad Cortex as the audio device on your computer, plugged your headphones into the rear-panel headphone output, and plugged your speakers into the Out 1/L and Out 2/R jacks, you should be able to hear your computer’s audio through both your headphones and your speakers. Likewise, you should be able to hear any sound source plugged into the Quad Cortex’s hardware inputs.

Laying Down Your Tracks

Sidebar: Before you reach for the record button, you’ll want to ensure that the Quad Cortex is designated as the main audio device in your DAW’s settings.

Recording a full-band arrangement with the Quad Cortex is extremely intuitive, enabling you to capture your dry input signal, your processed input signal, or both effortlessly. Since you’ll hear your signal from the Quad Cortex before it’s routed through your DAW, you’ll always experience monitoring with near-zero latency.

To record your dry input signal, plug your instrument or microphone into Input 1 on the Quad Cortex, record-enable Input 1 on a mono track in your DAW, arm the track, and push the record button. With this option, you’ll capture your raw performance without added effects. This allows you to sweeten your vocals with compression and reverb during tracking while leaving the recorded track dry for processing during mixdown. You can also process your guitar or bass during recording but leave the track dry for virtual re-amping after the fact.

To record a processed input signal, plug your instrument or microphone into Input 1 on the Quad Cortex, record-enable Input 3/4 on a stereo track in your DAW, arm the track, and push the record button. With this option, you’ll capture your performance along with any of the Quad Cortex’s DSP-driven amp models and effects that you have engaged. This option allows you to perfect your amp tone prior to tracking your guitar or bass, record the optimized sound, and avoid paralysis due to option anxiety.

To record both dry and processed input signals simultaneously, plug your instrument or microphone into Input 1 on the Quad Cortex, record-enable Input 1 on a mono track, record-enable Input 3/4 on a stereo track, and push the record button. This option gives you the best of both worlds: you’ll capture what you hear but leave yourself a safety net in case you need to tweak something later.

Sidebar: To benefit from near-zero-latency monitoring and avoid potential phase issues, be sure to turn off input monitoring on the audio tracks in your DAW.

As far as drums go, a modern drum software, such as Toontrack’s EZdrummer, will deliver professional-sounding rhythms on par with the Quad Cortex’s superior, studio-quality sound.

The Ins and Outs of Signal Routing

The Quad Cortex offers 16 total USB channels in an 8-in/8-out configuration. You can continue using the Quad Cortex’s default routing setup, as described above, or you can reroute your signals with the Input and Output blocks on both sides of the unit’s touchscreen. These allow you to selectively route signals to and from the Quad Cortex’s physical inputs and outputs as well as to and from your DAW via USB — no physical cable patching or repatching required.

Simply put, the Quad Cortex’s routing capabilities are flexible enough for it to function — quite effectively — as the central hub of your recording setup. With it, you’ll be able to connect your mics, instruments, headphones, studio monitors, and outboard gear and freely route signals between them as well as to and from your computer and DAW.

Place the Quad Cortex at the Center of Your Studio

Whether you use it as a cutting-edge amp profiler and modeler or as the DSP-fueled heart of your entire recording rig, the Neural DSP Quad Cortex is truly one of the most exciting advancements in guitar technology we’ve seen in recent years. If you want to add this cutting-edge tech to your guitar-centric recording workflow, then give your Sweetwater Sales Engineer a call at (800) 222-4700!
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