Saturday, December 14, 2024
ElectricGuitar

Can the Nano Cortex Replace Your Tube Amp? | PlayJason


I’ll be upfront—I’m a tube amp purist. I’m not the typical audience for most profilers, though I do think some modelers, like the Strymon Iridium and UA Dream, are exceptional for recording. Still, none of these have convinced me to replace my amps for live or practice situations.

That said, last August at Sweetwater’s Guitarfest, I had my first hands-on experience with the Nano Cortex. I left feeling genuinely intrigued by @NeuralDSP Could this finally be the product that changes my perspective on modelers and profilers? Well, let’s find out.

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Originally posted by UCFf_ITn06NVTeYEF4a-qeog at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRG04gVbSlQ

13 thoughts on “Can the Nano Cortex Replace Your Tube Amp? | PlayJason

  • Yo mr Jason, how does it feel when compared with tube amp or playing an unplugged guitar?
    Does it feel weird? I don't know the best phrase to describe it, maybe the dynamic response?
    I tried cheap modeller or plugins, but it feels weird, i don't mind with the tones, but i felt that my guitar doesn't seem to completely obey me… It doesn't respond the way i want it to.

    Do you know the most affordable amp modeler that doesn't give this odd dynamic response thing?
    I want it to feel like playing unplugged guitar or using tube amp

    Reply
  • The modeled clean tone lacked dynamics and high-frequency content, and the dirty sound seemed to lose midrange most (The different volume levels complicate the comparison.).

    My primary problem with modeling is the input; modelers set a maximum input and reduce the simulated gain from that maximum to simulate rolling off for cleaner tones, typically the typical pickup selections with knobs maxed, and I design my guitars' circuits to include output levels beyond the typical pickup selections: these are useful for pushing tube amps' inputs, whereas modelers' inputs should not be pushed (like mic preamps). I am also wary that modelers could be coded to provide "good" tones easily without regard for how the simulated hardware should interact (This exists to some degree already as an input boost to adjust a patch for a different guitar.), sort of a guitar Game Genie. I play guitar for the interactivity of the signal chain, particularly tube amps, and I feel like I may as well play synths if I give that up.

    Reply
  • I use quad cortex a lot but I still prefer my tube amps
    But the cortex is just more reliable to carry around

    Reply
  • yeah….. I think the day will come, but I'll be long gone. I have had my main amp for decades now, and there's a relationship there now. I think if I was gigging in a situation where I needed to sound like someone else or you know like everyone else, these so clearly nail that.

    Reply
  • All that digital stuff is getting really convincing, not gonna lie. But there is something really old school cool about analog tube amps and analog pedals. I have an all analog board with 12 pedals and a Princeton Reverb. Once it's in the computer I can mess with digital FX. But I like keeping it all analog on the way in. Just something about the feel as I'm playing.

    Reply
  • I think I've burned out on egg rolls finally. Next up: egg foo young! It actually has eggs involved if you can believe it!

    Reply
  • It would have been nice to hear a comparison using the direct out on the Nano Cortex. I'm curious how much closer it would have sounded, not having to go through that bose speaker.

    I love using modellers. I never bought into the valve purist bs for myself; sorry, I just… I'm so tired of hearing how nothing beats a tube amp. You'd think because of my age I'd be screaming at the clouds how much better they are, but it's all just sound… entirely subjective. I've played tube amps that bordered on a religious experience, while others shat the bed. Tube does not equal better automatically.

    Sorry, I'll not only step off my soapbox, but light it on fire to avoid such takes again.

    Reply

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