Neural DSP’s Quad Cortex mini delivers the full DSP engine, Neural Capture IR creation, and a 7‑inch multi‑touch display of the flagship Quad Cortex in a compact chassis. Designed for pedal‑board integration and desktop use, it offers 96 kHz/24‑bit audio quality without sacrificing the depth of amp modeling, making high‑end tone portable for gigging and studio musicians.
What Is the Quad Cortex mini?
The Quad Cortex mini is a scaled‑down version of Neural DSP’s flagship amp modeller. It retains the same high‑performance DSP chips and software architecture, providing identical tone‑shaping capabilities, impulse‑response capture, and preset management as the original unit.
Key Features and Hardware
Key components of the mini include:
- Same DSP core as the full‑size Quad Cortex, ensuring identical processing power.
- Neural Capture technology for creating custom impulse responses directly on the device.
- 7‑inch multi‑touch display for intuitive navigation, editing, and preset browsing.
- 96 kHz/24‑bit audio path delivering studio‑grade fidelity.
- Compact chassis roughly half the footprint of the flagship, optimized for pedal‑board mounting and desktop placement.
Placement Within Neural DSP’s Product Line
Neural DSP now offers three form factors for its modeling platform:
- Quad Cortex – Full‑size unit with maximum I/O options and premium price.
- Quad Cortex mini – Identical processing engine in a reduced‑size chassis with slightly fewer physical I/O ports.
- Nano Cortex – Entry‑level model with a smaller touchscreen and a subset of processing features.
The mini serves as the sweet spot for professionals who need flagship‑level tone without the bulk of the full‑size unit.
Market Impact and Competitor Landscape
By offering flagship DSP horsepower in a portable format, the Quad Cortex mini challenges larger, rack‑mountable solutions from brands such as Kemper, Line 6, and Fractal Audio. Its size appeals to touring musicians seeking rapid setup and teardown, as well as home‑studio users with limited desk space, potentially expanding Neural DSP’s reach beyond traditional stage rigs.
Technical Details and Connectivity
While the processing engine remains unchanged, the mini’s reduced chassis results in fewer analog I/O ports. Specific port configurations have not been disclosed, so users must assess whether the available connections meet their rig requirements. Nonetheless, Neural Capture remains fully functional, allowing on‑device creation of custom IRs without external hardware.
Future Outlook
Launching later in 2026, the Quad Cortex mini marks Neural DSP’s first major hardware expansion since the original Quad Cortex debut. Its blend of power and portability positions it as a compelling option for musicians demanding high‑end modeling in a compact form, and it may prompt competitors to revisit their own product sizes and feature sets.
