NEURAL DSP NANO CORTEX

Neural DSP's second pedal might be the ultimate compact all-in-one rig

- Matthew Owen

When Neural DSP unveiled the Quad Cortex – an ultrapowerful amp modeling, cabsimulating, multi-effects processor – the firm altered the face of the guitar world as we know it today. Thanks to its tones and functionality, the QC is seen as the gold standard of its kind, and given mounting competition from the likes of Kemper, Line 6, IK Multimedia and even Fender, that’s no mean feat. Four years later, its smaller sibling is here. Enter the Nano Cortex – a tiny amp modeler/effects processor/IR loader/Capture device that looks to deliver QC tones in the smallest package yet.

The Nano Cortex has been positioned as the ultimate compact all-in-one-rig with “infinite” tones on tap, but arrives in a time when such a title is being contested by the likes of the IK Multimedia TONEX and Kemper Profiler Player.

In a bid to push its way to the top, the Nano Cortex offers an array of tones and functions in a tiny form factor: it’s sized at 5.6” x 4.0” x 2.4” and weighs just 1.36lbs.