Looks small. Plays big.
Quad Cortex mini delivers the full Quad Cortex experience in our most compact, usable format yet, without cutting corners.
It brings the same processing power, audio quality, Neural Capture technology, and 7” touchscreen in a footprint that fits effortlessly into pedalboards, modern rigs, or on your desktop.
Built for exceptional performance at its size and price, Quad Cortex mini makes it easy to dial in world-class sounds, explore a vast range of amps, effects, and Captures, and build rigs without creative limits wherever you play.
Whether you’re stepping into the Quad Cortex platform for the first time or already feel at home, Quad Cortex mini shares the same platform and workflow, making great sounds fast, intuitive, and deeply rewarding from the first note.
Full Quad Cortex processing power
Flagship performance in a compact format
Intuitive visual workflow
7-inch touchscreen with grid-based signal flow
Neural Capture technology
Create and play ultra-accurate digital replicas of real amps, cabs, drive pedals, and compressors
More than 50% smaller footprint
All the power of Quad Cortex, ready anywhere
Arena-level performance. Shelf-ready size.
A complete guitar and bass rig in a remarkably small footprint, designed to fit naturally into pedalboards, modern rigs, and desktop setups, from studio to stage and everywhere in between.
With a footprint of just 22.8 × 11.8 cm and a weight of 1.5 kg, Quad Cortex mini delivers flagship performance in a form that’s easy to place, easy to carry, and simple to integrate into existing rigs.
Dimensions
22.8 x 11.8 x 6.5 cm / 8.9” x 4.6” x 2.5”
Weight
1.5 kg / 3.3 lbs
A complete creative toolkit, ready to play
Quad Cortex mini comes loaded with a carefully curated collection of amps, effects, and cabinets, giving you everything you need to build inspiring guitar and bass rigs from the moment you plug in.
From vintage-inspired and modern amplifiers to studio-grade effects and flexible cabinet simulation, every virtual device is designed to respond naturally to your playing and work together seamlessly.
amp models spanning classic, modern, and contemporary designs
effects and utilities for building complete signal chains
cabinet IRs with flexible mic placement
Neural Capture
Capture real gear. Play it anywhere.
Neural Capture creates ultra-accurate digital models of real amps, cabinets, drive pedals, and compressors. Choose from thousands of Captures created by players and artists around the world, or effortlessly create your own.
Dynamics, touch, and feel are captured alongside tone, so what you play reacts the way you expect. Roll back your guitar volume. Dig in harder. The response stays musical and familiar.
The sounds you rely on stay with you, wherever you choose to play.
Quad Cortex mini comes preloaded with over 2000 high-quality factory Neural Captures, so you can start playing inspiring, studio-ready sounds immediately.
Fast, efficient, and fully offline. Neural Capture V1 runs directly on the device and delivers accurate results for most amps, cabinets, and overdrive pedals. It’s ideal for everyday use, transparent gain stages, and building complex Presets without worrying about processing overhead.
Neural Capture V2 uses Cortex Cloud to process Captures with a higher-resolution algorithm, delivering increased accuracy for touch-sensitive gear such as fuzzes, compressors, and highly dynamic tube amps. It captures subtle behaviors like volume-knob cleanup, amp sag and bloom, fast transients, and blend controls with exceptional precision.
Cortex Cloud
An ever-growing world of tones
Cortex Cloud connects Quad Cortex mini to a constantly expanding library of Neural Captures and Presets created by artists and players around the world.
Discover new amps, cabinets, and pedals captured by others, and bring them straight into your own rigs. Sounds load quickly and integrate seamlessly, so inspiration never feels interrupted.
Share your own Neural Captures, explore new ideas, and keep your sound evolving over time.
The Grid
See your entire rig at a glance.
The Grid is the visual workspace at the heart of Quad Cortex mini. It makes building, understanding, and modifying signal chains intuitive, with no menu diving or hidden layers
Create rigs by placing virtual device blocks across a clear, grid-based signal flow. Rearrange blocks freely, split signals into parallel paths, and route any part of your chain to different outputs with precision and confidence.
Complex setups stay readable. Simple ideas stay simple. Everything is exactly where you expect it to be.
Designed for fast, intuitive control
Touchscreen and rotary footswitches
A 7” touchscreen display paired with four stainless steel rotary footswitches gives you responsive, tactile control at your fingertips and under your feet, whether you’re editing sounds or performing.
Parameter Focus System
When a block is selected, the rotary footswitches automatically map to the most relevant parameters. This makes it easy to dial in sounds by ear, adjust settings quickly, and stay focused on playing instead of navigating menus.
Flexible switching modes
Choose the control style that fits how you play:
Preset mode for switching between complete rigs
Scene mode for seamless changes within a single Preset
Stomp mode for pedalboard-style control
Hybrid mode for combining modes across footswitch rows
Gig View
A high-contrast, performance-ready layout with large text and clear visual feedback. Opposite Page Preview shows assignments from the other Page at a glance, so you’re never guessing mid-song.
Inputs & Outputs
Simple connections. Flexible setups.
- INPUT 2/CAPTURE INPUT
Combo XLR and 1/4" TRS input with dedicated level control and phantom power. Plug your instrument or microphone here. This input is also used for creating Neural Captures. - INPUT 1
1/4" TS input for plugging in your instrument. - DUAL EFFECTS LOOPS
SEND 1/2 and RETURN 1/2 each use a shared 1/4" TRS. Use a standard TRS cable for Loop 1, or a TRS insert cable (TRS to dual TS) to access both FX Loops.
- EXPRESSION INPUT
1/4" TRS input for connecting an expression pedal to control parameters like volume, wah, pitch, or effects in real time. A second expression input is available via MIDI. - XLR OUTPUTS
Two mono, balanced XLR outputs. - MIDI IN & OUT/THRU
1/8" TRS MIDI Type-A for receiving and sending MIDI messages to automate switching and supported parameter control, or to control other MIDI devices.
- USB-C
Connect to your computer and use Quad Cortex mini as a multichannel (8 in / 8 out) USB audio interface for recording and re-amping. - HEADPHONES OUTPUT
1/8" TRS headphones output for silent practice and monitoring. - POWER SWITCH
Mechanical power switch.
- TS OUTPUTS
Two 1/4" TS outputs for flexible routing. - CAPTURE OUTPUT
Dedicated output for creating Neural Captures. - POWER INPUT
12 V DC, 1.2 A, center-negative power input with locking 2.1 / 5.5 mm DC connector. Power supply included, with a non-locking adapter for compatibility with standard pedalboard power supplies. Power-on behavior can be set to automatic power-up when connected, or manual power-up using the power switch.
Use cases
Live performance
A complete guitar and bass rig built for the stage. Quad Cortex mini delivers consistent sound, fast switching, and confident control in live performance environments.
Studio and recording
A powerful all-in-one tool for recording and re-amping guitar and bass. Quad Cortex mini doubles as a multichannel USB-C audio interface, fitting naturally into modern DAW workflows.
Practice and songwriting
Practice silently with headphones, keep time with the built-in metronome, and build, adjust, and save sounds quickly without breaking your creative flow.
Compact touring setups
Ideal for space-conscious touring and professional stage rigs, Quad Cortex mini delivers full-stage capability in a remarkably small footprint.
Compare with Quad Cortex
CorOS features
| Feature | Quad Cortex mini | Quad Cortex |
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Devices Library | 200+ | 200+ |
| Neural Captures Library | 2000+ | 2000+ |
| Impulse Responses Library | 1000+ | 1000+ |
| User Presets Storage | 3072 | 3072 |
| User Captures Storage | 2048 | 2048 |
| User IRs Storage | 2048 | 2048 |
| Plugin Compatibility | Yes | Yes |
| Parameter Encoder Assignments | Yes* | Yes (up to 10 simultaneously) |
| SCENE & STOMP Modes | Yes** | Yes (8 per Preset) |
| HYBRID Mode | Yes*** | Yes |
| Neural Capture™ Version 1 | Yes | Yes |
| Neural Capture™ Version 2 | Yes | Yes |
| Cortex Cloud™ Access | Yes | Yes |
| Cloud Backups | Yes | Yes |
| Cortex Control™ App | Yes | Yes |
| Global EQ | Yes | Yes |
| Looper | Yes | Yes |
| Momentary Footswitch Assignments | No | Yes |
*Quad Cortex mini® footswitch encoders C and D are used to focus and control parameters on screen.
**Quad Cortex mini® can access all 8 SCENES or STOMP Assignments via "Footswitch Pages".
***Quad Cortex mini® supports Hybrid Mode. However, the Hybrid configuration will be different from Quad Cortex® due to its different Footswitch layout.
Hardware I/Os
| Feature | Quad Cortex mini | Quad Cortex |
|---|---|---|
| Audio Inputs | 1x 1/4" TS (Input 1) 1x Combo XLR + 1/4" TRS (Input 2) 1x 1/4" TRS (Returns 1/2)* | 2x Combo XLR + 1/4" TRS (Inputs 1/2) 2x 1/4" TRS (Returns 1/2) |
| Audio Outputs | 2x XLR (Outs 1/2) 2x 1/4” TS (Outs 3/4) 1x 1/4” TRS (Sends 1/2)* 1x 1/4” TRS (Capture Out) 1x 1/8” TRS (Headphones) | 2x XLR (Outs 1/2) 2x 1/4" TRS (Outs 3/4) 2x 1/4" TRS (Sends 1/2) 1x 1/4" TRS (Capture Out) 1x 1/4" TRS (Headphones) |
| Headphones | Yes (1/8" TRS) | Yes (1/4" TRS) |
| USB Audio | Yes (USB-C) USB Audio Class Compliant (24bit - 48kHz) 8 in / 8 out | Yes (USB-A) USB Audio Class Compliant (24bit - 48kHz) 8 in / 8 out |
| MIDI | In (1/8" TRS Type-A) Out (1/8" TRS Type-A) MIDI Over USB | In (Din) Out (Din) MIDI Over USB |
| Expression Pedal | Expression 1: 1/4" TRS Expression 2: MIDI | Expression 1: 1/4" TRS Expression 2: 1/4" TRS |
| Power | 12V DC 1.2A Center Negative 2.1/5.5mm DC Locking Connector Power Supply Included | 12V DC 3A Center Negative 2.1/5.5mm DC Standard Connector Power Supply Included |
*Quad Cortex mini has two effects loops using shared TRS Send and Return jacks. A standard TS cable connected to SEND 1/2 or RETURN 1/2 will carry signal for Loop 1 only. To access both Loop 1 and Loop 2, use TRS insert cables (TRS to dual TS).
Other
| Feature | Quad Cortex mini | Quad Cortex |
|---|---|---|
| Wireless Connectivity | Yes IEEE 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi module (2.4GHz ISM band) | Yes IEEE 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi module (2.4GHz ISM band) |
| Power Switch | Yes | Yes |
| Master Volume | Yes (+/- Buttons) | Yes (Knob) |
| Footswitches | x4 stainless steel + rotary footswitches | x11 stainless steel + rotary footswitches |
| Display | 7" Color touch Screen | 7" Color touch Screen |
| Chassis | Anodized aluminum | Anodized aluminum |
| Dimensions | 22.8 x 11.8 x 6.5 cm / 8.9 x 4.6 x 2.5" | 29 x 19.5 x 6.9cm / 11.4" x 7.7" x 2.7" |
| Weight | 1.5 kg / 3.3 lbs | 1.95 kg / 4.2 lbs |
| Price | €1,299.00 | €1,749.00 |
Quad Cortex ecosystem
Built to evolve
Quad Cortex mini is part of the Quad Cortex platform, designed to grow with you through ongoing CorOS updates. New features, devices, and workflow improvements are added over time, so your setup continues to expand long after you start playing.
Cortex Control
Cortex Control is the desktop companion app for managing your device. Edit Presets, organize and back up content, and manage your library efficiently from your computer.
Plugin compatibility
Compatible Neural DSP plugins can be used with Quad Cortex mini, connecting software and hardware workflows and making it easy to bring familiar sounds into a live or standalone setup.
Wi-Fi and cloud integration
Built-in Wi-Fi keeps Quad Cortex mini connected. Download content from Cortex Cloud, update CorOS firmware, and manage your device wirelessly, so staying up to date feels effortless.
FAQs
Hardware specifications
Manual
