The Best Way To Use Quad Cortex Live

[@Imfreehowaboutu]

The QC has blown away my expectations. I’ve owned Mesa, Engl and H&K tube amps and a handful of digital models including an Axe fx 2 and I’ve never had better tone than I’ve achieved with the QC.

[@JonOlavAlstad.]

I just got my Quad Cortex yesterday so this will be very useful! Coming from the Helix there is much to learn, but so far I'm enjoying the ride!

[@MintyBitesBack]

How are you finding the switch? Thinking about jumping off Helix too but so far can't find a really good reason too... :-)

[@JonOlavAlstad.]

@@MintyBitesBack I'm only about 5 hours into the switch, and I'm going from the Rack + Control but so far I like the sounds and especially captures - I even captured some of my Helix tones! Will be much easier to use live too due to increased portability.
The few cons/annoyances I have so far is the boot-time and managing the IO-settings, but that might be because I'm so used to how the Helix works. Also initially prefer how the workflow with splits work on the Helix, but it might just be down to routine.
Edit: Also prefer the control software and easy import of presets via the Cloud to downloading and manually importing presets on the Helix by a large margin!

[@dtrmnts]

@@MintyBitesBack Then don't

[@dtrmnts]

How much do you use wacky fx on helix? That's the major thing that keeps me form switching

[@connorbaker1716]

@@MintyBitesBack I did the same mainly for the size reduction and power increase. My Previous rig was the helix floor paired with a HX stomp on a pedaltrain metro 20, the new board is much easier to carry around and somehow has power left over.

[@ljubolukic172]

You are the sound god my man! All the feel and knowledge about HOW to play these sounds makes you one of the most versatile guitarists out there, keep doing what you're doing!

[@raymondforbes4295]

This video blew my mind. I learned so much about making presets from this. I have struggled with how to properly use stereo and this answered so many questions. Thank you!!

[@Jdhayes3011]

That clean ambient sound in the intro is soooo good!

[@ianmansfield1112]

Like an angry Hornets nest all buzzing in wartime unison to the sounds of first life bursting into flower in the waters of a giant underground cave, I love the contrasts of Bea's tones... always interesting, always badass.

[@Walvid]

Funny thing about this vid: I've been using the QC since the day it came out. Everything he did, I knew. But it was still so inspirational to see you do it. Just a nice overvieuw of how to set up a great sound. And the playing is soooo tasty. I guess that's the thing that is lacking when I'm playing.... the licks. The Runs. Thanks man, very inspiring.

[@StratTones]

I don’t even have a quad cortex and this was so enjoyable to watch! You’re playing, tones and building expertise is awesome! Looking forward to snagging one soon and as always, thanks for all the value you had to all of us out here in Guitar Land

[@danielgallardo7249]

Thank you for the quick tutorial! I had no idea that I needed to pan the L and R settings on the splitter to achieve that extra wide sound. Time to go into my presets and have some fun.

[@benburnett8109]

Dumb = Dumber. And you are not original.

[@curtissyoung2698]

Wow! Blown away by how good the QC sounds and how easy it looks to set up, thanks for putting this out, B

[@TheVillagerDoesThings]

I could listen to you playing all day long

[@titustorkelsonmusic]

This is incredible! Thank-you Rabea for taking us through this! I just got a QC this week and absolutely love it. Super helpful stuff when setting up a stereo rig and managing the CPU load. Keep up the great work and playing!

[@vilistahlberg]

What a tone... After using Bias FX 2 for many years, I think I'm going to switch over to QC.

[@mynameisfatmike6742]

Thanks for making this Rabea, this video was immensely helpful. Following along with this taught me more about my QC than probably any other video I've watched to date

[@thepitlanecollective]

This is ace! I'd love to see a breakdown how you hook it up to amp returns/cabs/PA's to play live

[@wolvesandguitars]

I enjoy when you build from scratch. It is really really helpful to those who think there must be a secret. When you added the delay the spread really opened up and it was all smiles !!

[@TaylorBellemare]

I started using the Kraken model because of one of your videos and I LOVE it

[@boyd1998]

DUDE! Great informational video again. So simple, yet so effective. Appreciate.

[@DanielDuyCao]

Thanks for the walkthrough Rabea! The tones sound incredible.

[@stephenwhite5658]

What's up!! Man I just wanted to say I just picked up a pack of your picks!! They're awsome! Thanks for designing these!! I've finally found the pick I've been searching for all this time😎

[@benburnett8109]

Rabea also has toilet paper you should pick up. Then you can wipe your a$$ with Rabeavidea's "monumental" tone. Simp.

[@markchristianson31]

thanks for being an active part of the community, Bea. Great content and playing, as always! Nice to see the Shoegaze concept is still alive too

[@Bjornsguitarspecials]

Yess! More of this please! I’m going to set up a stereo preset now. Thanks rabea🤘🏼

[@alessandrogambazzi7228]

Bellissimo multieffetto grazie Reby per la presentazione dei tuoi suoni 🙏🙏🙏

[@charlescsongar]

thanks for this super helpful video ❤️ took it to rehearsal room with my 50 watt tube poweramp and it sounds massive 🙏🏼

[@bretthouslop5461]

I was waiting for when you could add plugins and now you can! Archetype Gojira lets gooooo!!!!

[@BobbyDidcott]

Awesome set up, my band are running two guitars through the quad with automatic scene changes running throughout the set.Instant changes and the tones most importantly are spot on with next to no latency.
I love the Quad, I don't think there is any other unit that comes close to having the same amount of functional and practical routing options for guitarists and young bands with small cars!

Hey Rabea, you are looking like Tingle Tangle Bob from the Simpsons. I love your playing Man🤘😃

[@jasonbenjaminmusic9939]

100% agree. The last amp I bought was the Archon 100 back in 2017, once the quad cortex came out I haven’t used it since. No one in the audience can tell the difference but my back can for sure tell the difference from lugging all that shit around. If you play at home the stl and ndsp plugins are amazing. The feel of a real amp and cab is definitely amazing but totally impractical with today’s technology

[@KajHeGeHaggman]

That was great! Lots of things that I’ll incorporate in to my own presets!

[@sleepingatsea3420]

Thanks for the killer preset Bea! Having an absolute blast with it! My new go to rig for sure.

[@josuastangl7140]

To conserve processing power with stereo rigs in the QC, I like to also route row 2 into 4 and put my amps and cabs on either rows 1&4 or 2&3 to split them amongst the CPU cores.
To get a more even stereo image in terms of level and dynamics when using two different amps, I also put a slower mono compressor behind each cab to have dual mono instead of a stereo instance after the mixer that sums the left and right paths.

[@johnhajewski1343]

Thank you! It is a good time to a guitar player. This video is pretty much more inspiring and sonically pleasing to listen to than the Spotify top 10…
I have a Fm9, and it is awesome… but this vid gives me guitar gas…

[@stephenmenor6557]

Thank you so much for doing QC content man! I learned a lot from your workflow. Can you also share how you approach dialing in the input gain of the QC for various guitars/basses?

[@peteglase]

it is a great tonal adventure! downloading for sure. Thanks Rabea!

[@stevetech5150]

your videos, like your music is f'n awesome dude. cheers!

[@brandonreed7282]

Loved the video. I would of also liked to see how you use this in a live environment. Are you running it into a Power Amp that feeds a cabinet onstage or are you just taking direct into an IEM Rack? Genuinely curious.

[@guitarcookbook]

Thanks for sharing !

[@tresixteen]

I love my QC so much. I owned a Kemper before and it sounded pretty good, but I hated the UI. IMO QC sounds and feels better and is so user friendly.

[@rockyrucker2789]

Could you do a similar video on making base tones? Of course your guitar tones are sick but all of your bass presets are wicked and would love to see you break it down. Cheers 🤘🏼

[@flamen89]

amazing video thank you so much. i never really understood the splitting signal carry on. this cleared it up for me!

[@Nig6tWalker]

i love the clean and the clean with compressor

[@thejankest4541]

This was incredible, thank you so much for this!

[@francescodomenichetti3787]

Thanks Rabea, learned a lot from this.

[@sytsebakker]

nice video, i really enjoyed the setting and playing.

[@JEDSaje15]

This was an awesome tutorial. I need to download this!

[@landon.cunningham]

Thanks Rabea! Nice overview.

[@freeflymag]

I like that vower sound ! 🤘😉

[@paulfitzpa]

So helpful bro, really cool.

[@brandonpaulofficial]

Super great video Rabea! Can I ask you a quick question? Would you still use this setup on a gig that has 2 guitarists? Wondering if having that stereo image would get buried/lost in the mix with another guitarist on stage. Thanks! :)

[@PocketDelicious]

@27:56 "That's still quite a lot..." *Laughs in praise and worship lol.*

[@alkaliforever9051]

Hey man, loved the video. I just got your archetype, and do you think it will ever be added to the QC compatible list?

[@Ninuzzo]

Best QC Showcases on the web

[@123wesley]

I always enjoy playing with your sounds. Thank you for sharing them. I have a little question: how do you manage to use them live when most venues run on mono ? Cause when I test them on this situation the sound is , as expected, very far from the stereo one. Cheers

[@RyanAmplification]

You can run stereo in the kemper but not two different signal chains.

[@mihomework1567]

Sounds Great! What brand model is your guitar? I Love that Flametop.

[@gashed8377]

Amazing tone! Was that opening from one of your recorded songs??? I must have it!

[@rockinrollshow1]

it must be the amp blocks right from the gate you get a great tone
way better then any helix amp tone i think

[@Utubewrk123]

It’s so much better than the Kemper and helix. It has the feel the sound the UI is imo the best around. Easy to set up a preset etc. No tweaking for hrs just playing. I still love a great amp and a great pedal but this is the best modeler imo.

[@rockinrollshow1]

@@Utubewrk123 i'm leaning towards Quad cortex myself now thanks

[@ReductioAdAbsurdum]

20:05 "So.... that sounds colossal." 😂 Sure AF does. Sounds like an alien mothership tearing apart the atmosphere.

[@user-df4gg1yx6f]

Beyond the excellent Quad Cortex info in this, I love the tune under the "what we're doing" section of the vid... which I believe is the same tune I first heard you play as part of your IKEBE Shibuya demo. Is this something you plan to release as a full song (or have you already done so somewhere)? I think it's absolutely killer!

[@RabeaMassaad]

Thanks! Yes I’ve already released this song. It’s called ‘Arrival’ it’s on streaming platforms :)

[@user-df4gg1yx6f]

Awesome. Looking for it now. Thanks ​ @RabeaMassaad!

[@jorgea.riverav]

loving these videos! Could you make a hybrid rig for the next one? :D

[@sirensoundlabel]

Lustfully i like to listen to the pure amp sounds ! Just the thing it is ......

[@Davidlovesmusic311]

I just ordered an EngL ironball special edition. Has cab IRS. Have u tried one. I even bought a new computer. I'm learning how to use digital. I play an Ernie ball music man. Love your music and personality.

[@assassin1872]

This is amazing, any chance you're thinking of doing a similar idea but for using the QC in the studio? Building out a preset to record an entire song with

[@dbreview5243]

Are you just hearing the sound through studio monitors? Does guitar sound good played this way?

[@Takis_Playloud]

Hey, maybe you could use like a hybrid mode, so you're not "locked" solely in scenes. Bottom line for scenes and assign top row turning pedals on/off. Kinda old school here

[@terpholm]

Hey Rabea - thanks for this! Have you totally stopped using the TC Mimiq doubler in your stereo setups? And why? Is there something similar built into QC?
I use it live with two amps - so I’m curious if you have stopped doing that :)

[@billyjay1]

What a tone !

[@ExpatZ266]

Here is how to simulate the amp in a room sound from a modeller.
Start with a big PA speaker, what counts here is decibles.
Tune the modeller to get as close as you can to the sound of your amp, A/B them if you aren't that good at working that out (in which case stop your bitchin because you are complaining about something you can't even hear) then here's the secret:
Put a high dB mid horn on the PA speaker aimed at your head.
Of course add a seperate volume control to it, you don't need it as loud as the PA speaker, just loud enough to give you that nasty mid spike that you seem to miss and that your audience wishes weren't there.
Job done, crank it up until you get loud enough to get past your tinittus and get your trouser legs vibrating and you've nailed it.
Just keep in mind that setting will sound like ass in a mix or when recorded but hey, you want the amp in the room sound right so those concerns are living somewhere around the concerns for your tinittus meaning they didn't even make the list.
Bea: you just keep doing what you're doing, it is glorious, this was only for a your entertainment.
To the not Bea's: Give it a go and see if I'm right, you'll thank me even if your audience does not.

[@jimbaker777]

Awesome tutor and playing. Can I set this up to add a cab to monitor on stage sound?

[@ashtweth]

I Run 2 kempers at once, with 2 mission stereo cabs on each side, to say that sound is huge at bedroom volume is an understatement, What I am thinking here out loud is if I master salved my mission cabs (to make a 4X12) and ran ONE QC as Bea's stereo rig would it cut it and be better. Ah F it, probably not. could be a huge sound with a stereo 4X12, but the blend of amps running 2 kempers is how you get a better amp sound (blending 2 amps). Maybe it would be as good, if it is I'll report it here. I want the same big sound , the question is can I get it from ONE QC with 2 cabs as opposed to 2 cabs and 2 kempers..hmm

[@ashtweth]

And sorry if this is an obvious question, but why isn't Bea's plug-in in the QC yet? If you don't know don't worry about it.

[@shanewallace6940]

This was awesome Rabea! I would like to know if you think this would sound good as you have it set up through my two katana mk2 100’s as a stereo live rig? I would love to get it sounding as you have here. Do you think the speakers in the katana’s would work to achieve this colossal soundscape you have created here? Thank you😊

[@jimmypennell8831]

I just saw its a live rig😅.i must have been half asleep

[@brendan00013]

Question about stereo setups on the QC, I've been having a tricky time finding an answer on forums and whatnot. So I followed along with this video and got a really cool heavy sound for my band! But one thing I'm curious about is if it is possible to have stereo setup for FOH, and then stereo setup through cabs on stage? I have a Powerstage 700 and that has two inputs, and two outputs. I'm the only guitarist in my band and I thought it would be cool in the future to maybe run a stereo setup at practice with 2 cabs connected to the Powerstage and then have it all set for the FOH guy at future shows we play. Would it work out if I got rid of one of the heads and cabs on the QC and just used a stereo cab sim to save CPU? Sorry if this is a stupid question, still getting familiar with modelers and digital stuff!

[@TheManWhoNose1]

Legend!
May i ask what audio interface your using?

[@HaroldLem]

Thank you so much Rabea for those fantastic tones!! I could spend thousand of hours noodling with that 🥲

[@CorNigrum]

Thanks Bea! What I wonder is how to get channel 1, 2 and 3 in there if you need clean, mid and high gain from one single patch. I guess there is no option than to run a mono amp setup to consume less CPU and just rely on the post effects for stereo. If you have a (real) 3 channel amp and would like to replicate that in one patch, you have to get creative.

[@shanewallace6940]

I forgot to mention I don’t have a quad cortex yet but would love to buy one if I can get it to sound good through my 2 Katana’s

[@benburnett8109]

Rabbied: This is the best way to use the QC live!!
Also Rabeaded: Never plays the QC live.
Why YTebers continue to "tolerate" this type of content is beyond me. I am not dumb. I can tell live from studio. Simps will simp until the simps come home from simping.

[@donniejean]

Is that the fancy limited edition one? Also, my first guitar was a Gretsch that I got rid of through the years. Just picked up a silver electromatic jet a couple days ago :)

[@PhilRocks]

Hey Bea, would you please share all the signal chain details on your home studio for this video?
What's between your QC and DAW?

[@Sircebbal]

I was hoping to see how do you send the QC to the amps for live shows!

[@RabeaMassaad]

I already made a video on this - it’s on my channel - Using Amps With Quad Cortex | Live Tones ua-cam.com/video/hBQqgRm8B-Q/v-deo.htmlsi=mrJr03OmdcHy-XFr

[@Sircebbal]

@RabeaMassaad I absolutely loved that video! But it would be really cool to see a more depth, in detail of how it is setted up both in QC and the amps. Really love both videos and hope to get a QC soon!!

[@RabeaMassaad]

@@Sircebbal ok cool, I’ll make something on this! Duly noted 👍

[@vasjabajde2031]

Hi Rabea, I would like to incorporate a real guitar box (4x12) in these preset and bypassed those two cab blocks. Just for the monitor and the feel on the stage. All other settings would stay the same for the front of house. How should I create the path to send the signal arround the cab blocks? Congrats for all your work. I'm a huge fan!!! Kind regards from Slovenia! 🙂

[@TomSounds]

Anyone else who gets paralyzed by the amount of options we have these days? Should I buy an amp, a modeler, a multi FX? Should I have a modeler for practice and an amp for gigging or all at once. Endless thinking of what would get me the best value for my money and researching it. I think I will just go with all of them 😂

[@vedgoswami9770]

I am the only guitarist in a metalcore band. If i want to make it sound like 2 guitars live, would having the 2 amp hard panned set up achieve this without some sort of delay to create a doubled effect? or would a doubler be better?

[@gerardolenski3842]

Hi. Many thanks for that video. Got a question. Do you use Cortex's global EQ for live performance or for recordings? Or this is done by sound engineers?

[@RabeaMassaad]

@@gerardolenski3842 I tend to leave it alone I try not to add extra EQ to my presets unless necessary for our tech. I leave the EQ to him. I find if I carve too much out the live sound thins out.
For me it’s better to use IR’s I know well and the models I know well.

[@gerardolenski3842]

Thank you ​@@RabeaMassaad. So from your experience, what is the adventage of using the IR over the CAB model? Do you use your custom IRs or you can recommend some worth to try?

[@homerogallardo]

Thank you

[@jgutierrez-welle6357]

*chord* "not very inspiring" got me cracking the absolute fuck up

[@ileutur6863]

I must be doing something seriously wrong, because I can never get any modeller software to sound this good. Neural, Helix, Amplitube, it all sounds plastic and spiky when I dial it in, like a DI tone that's been painted over.
This problem is especially audible on bass, I can kinda hide it with guitar but bass just sucks for me.

[@j_dog7884]

Sounds like you have something wrong with your setup. Possibly have direct monitoring on on your interface, or in your daw?

[@ginjay]

Time effects at the very end? I thought these would intuitively go in-between the Amp and IR (which I suppose is closer to a real effects loop??)

[@yaniv-nos-tubes]

i work on live gigs with real tube amps and modelers, real amps can be too loud and bright ,modelers on the other hand are barely heard so i wouldn't worry too much about setting the computer for live use ,it doesn't really matter.

[@mcinen67]

Wow..!

[@patrix_guitar]

Talking monitoring loudness:
Do you use the same volume when playing thru monitor speakers as when playing thru cabs?
I find playing thru monitors very uninspiring. Maybe it's down to volume.
What are you're thoughts about that?

[@Len_M.]

Is that CPU load of the QC? If so I could run all that and then bring it into the UAD universe and do even more? I just a PRS Silver Sky SE. I’m a keyboard/Drummer and Shreddage 3 just wasn’t cutting it, so time to learn another instrument. Just Call me Michael Reznor 🤪🤣

[@d_shaunsmusic]

I think kemper is better than quad cortex, I am a kemper user and it takes time to understand it but its worth every penny 🤘🏻

[@RabeaMassaad]

@@d_shaunsmusic I had a Kemper, they’re good and clearly they serve many people very well so I’m not disputing that. But for me Quad Cortex excels in every possible way. User interface, feel, sound quality, ease of use, connectivity, size, expansiveness. But to each their own.

[@craigvittorio1865]

How would you use this if you are also sending to a power amp to run live cabs for stage sound?

[@carloridolfi27]

Would be interesting a video where you try to replicate your "analog stuff" with the QC and see how close it could get.

[@StupidGuitar]

He’s sort of done this with some of his other videos.

[@carloridolfi27]

@@StupidGuitar so I missed it 😓😓 I'll looking for it🫡

[@JAGValiant]

Will this method work with a single 1x12 FRFR?

[@geoffforduk]

Jubbly

[@50ShadesofCat]

BEA

[@shreddykruger3612]

How do you get volume out of the qc for live I have all my levels not clipping and it's to quiet coming out of a cab