Neural DSP has built its reputation on refusing to compromise, and the Quad Cortex mini is a perfect distillation of that philosophy. Smaller, lighter, and more affordable than its larger sibling, the Quad Cortex mini delivers the complete Quad Cortex experience in a footprint designed to slot effortlessly into modern pedalboards, compact touring rigs, and desktop studio setups.
At its core, Quad Cortex mini offers the same processing power, audio quality, and Neural Capture technology that made the original Quad Cortex a modern benchmark. Crucially, it also retains the intuitive workflow players have come to rely on, anchored by a full 7-Inch touchscreen and grid-based signal flow.
With a footprint of just 22.8 × 11.8 Cm and a weight of 1.5 Kg, Quad Cortex mini packs arena-level performance into a remarkably portable chassis. It is easy to carry, simple to integrate, and flexible enough to serve as a complete guitar or bass rig for live performance, studio recording, practice, and songwriting.
Despite its size, the unit comes loaded with a comprehensive creative toolkit. A curated library of amps, effects, and cabinets spans vintage-inspired, modern, and contemporary designs, all crafted to respond naturally to playing dynamics. Flexible cabinet simulation and high-quality Impulse Responses ensure studio-ready tones straight out of the box.
Neural DSP’s Neural Capture technology remains one of Quad Cortex mini’s defining features. It allows players to create ultra-accurate digital replicas of real amps, cabinets, drive pedals, and compressors, capturing not just tone but also dynamics, feel, and touch response. Roll back your guitar volume, dig in harder, or alter picking intensity, and the response stays musical and familiar.
Quad Cortex mini ships with over 2000 high-quality factory Neural Captures, meaning inspiring sounds are available from the moment you plug in. Neural Capture V1 runs directly on the device for fast, efficient captures, while Neural Capture V2 leverages Cortex Cloud processing for higher-resolution results. V2 excels with touch-sensitive gear, accurately reproducing behaviors such as amp sag, bloom, fast transients, and volume-knob cleanup.
Cortex Cloud connects Quad Cortex mini to an ever-growing library of Neural Captures and Presets created by artists and players worldwide. New sounds can be discovered, downloaded, and integrated seamlessly, keeping inspiration flowing without interrupting creativity. Players can also share their own Captures, contributing to a constantly evolving ecosystem of tones.
At the heart of Quad Cortex mini is The Grid, a visual workspace that displays your entire rig at a glance. Building signal chains is as simple as placing virtual blocks on a clear grid, rearranging them freely, and routing signals with confidence. Parallel paths, complex routing, and multi-output setups remain intuitive and readable, with no menu diving required.
Control is further enhanced by four stainless steel rotary footswitches paired with the touchscreen. Neural DSP’s Parameter Focus System automatically maps the most relevant parameters to the footswitches when a block is selected, making quick, ear-driven adjustments effortless. Flexible switching modes — including Preset, Scene, Stomp, and Hybrid — adapt the unit to virtually any playing style or performance scenario, while Gig View offers a high-contrast layout optimized for live use.
Quad Cortex mini is designed to integrate seamlessly into professional rigs. It features dual Effects Loops, Expression pedal support, full MIDI I/O, balanced XLR outputs, and multiple 1/4-Inch outputs for flexible routing. USB-C connectivity allows the unit to function as a multichannel 8-In / 8-Out audio interface for recording and re-amping, fitting naturally into modern DAW workflows. A dedicated Headphones output supports silent practice and monitoring.
Get the Neural DSP Quad Cortex Mini here for $1,399 and keep up with all our Neural DSP coverage right here!
