How to create a Neural Capture on Nano Cortex

In this guide, we'll walk you through the step-by-step process of creating Neural Captures on your Nano Cortex.

Neural Capture is a powerful feature that allows you to create incredibly accurate digital replicas of any physical amplifier, cabinet, or drive pedal for use on both Nano Cortex and Quad Cortex. Neural Captures created on Nano Cortex are the same quality and resolution as those created on Quad Cortex.

Overview

Creating a Neural Capture on Nano Cortex is fast and easy. The whole process lasts about five minutes and is carried out entirely on-device. This means that there is no need to connect to a computer, the internet, or the Cortex Cloud app.

However, the specific steps for creating Neural Captures will vary slightly depending on the type of hardware you're working with. In the upcoming sections of this guide, we will cover the steps for creating Neural Captures of:

A drive pedal
An amp+cab or combo amp
An amp head with no speaker

Initial setup

Connecting your instrument and monitoring devices

Before beginning the Capture process, you will need to connect your instrument and monitoring devices to Nano Cortex.

Step 1: Plug your guitar/bass to INPUT 1 using a standard 1/4" instrument cable.

Step 2: Connect your headphones to HP OUTPUT and/or a studio monitor to OUTPUT 1L.

Turn on Capture Mode

After connecting your instrument and monitoring device(s) to Nano Cortex, turn on Capture Mode.

Step 1: Press CAPTURE to turn on Capture Mode. When in Capture Mode, the CAPTURE LED ring will stay on.

Note: Press EXIT to return to Performance Mode.

Capturing a drive pedal

You can create Neural Captures of overdrive, distortion, and fuzz pedals. By doing this, you can use the Nano Cortex as a compact device that can store up to 256 incredibly accurate digital replicas of your favorite drive pedals. The setup process is straightforward and can be done very quickly.

Instructions for creating a Neural Capture of a drive pedal

A. Initial setup

Step 1: Connect your drive pedal to Nano Cortex

Connect OUTPUT 2R (CAPTURE OUT) on the Nano Cortex to the input of your drive pedal.
Connect the output of the drive pedal back to the CAPTURE INPUT on the Nano Cortex.

Step 2: Connect your monitoring device(s)

If you haven’t already, connect your headphones to HP OUTPUT and/or a studio monitor to OUTPUT 1L to monitor your Capture.

Step 3: Connect your instrument to Nano Cortex

If you haven’t already, plug your guitar/bass to INPUT 1 using a standard 1/4" instrument cable.

Step 4: Turn on Capture Mode

If you haven’t already, press CAPTURE to turn on Capture Mode. When in Capture Mode, the CAPTURE LED ring will stay on.

B. Set CAPTURE INPUT levels

Optimizing the CAPTURE INPUT level is very important for creating an accurate Neural Capture. Follow these steps to adjust and optimize the CAPTURE INPUT level.

Step 1: Adjust the CAPTURE INPUT level with the GAIN knob

Strum your instrument while watching the GAIN knob meter.
Adjust the GAIN knob to set the input level. If the signal level remains too low after adjusting the GAIN knob, you can engage the BOOST switch to increase the input gain by +26dB:
- Green: Indicates a healthy level
- Blue: Indicates the level is too low. Increase the GAIN or turn on the BOOST switch to increase the input gain by +26dB and compensate for the low level.
- Red: Indicates clipping, meaning the signal is too strong. Turn off the BOOST switch or reduce the output level of the target device until the signal level is correct (Green LEDs).

Important: Ensure the GAIN knob is set to its minimum position (0%) before engaging the BOOST switch.

C. Start the Capture

Step 1: Start the Capture process

Once the CAPTURE INPUT level has been set to a healthy level, press and hold the CAPTURE button for 3 seconds to start the capture process.

Step 2: Wait for the Capture to complete

Nano Cortex will run through a series of test tones and measurements. This process typically takes about 5 minutes. During this time, Nano Cortex is analyzing the response of your drive pedal and training a neural network to replicate its sound.
Important: During the capture process, avoid adjusting your setup to ensure an accurate capture.

D. Test and save your Neural Capture

Step 1: A/B test your Capture

After the Capture process is complete, use Footswitch I to toggle between the captured sound and the original drive pedal. The LED will light up green for the Capture and will be off for the original.
When auditioning your recently created Neural Capture, turn Footswitch II clockwise or counterclockwise to navigate IR Slots. The LEDs will light up according to the slot selected.
- Tip: You can bypass the IR Loader by navigating to the last position, where the LEDs are not lit. This is especially recommended when auditioning a Capture that includes a speaker cabinet.
When testing your Capture, you can press Footswitch II to bypass Nano Cortex.

Step 2: Save your Neural Capture

Press the SAVE button to begin storing your Capture. The BANK and Capture Slots LEDs will start blinking, indicating that you can now select a slot for storage.

Step 3: Select a Capture Slot to save your Capture:

Cycle through the banks and choose a Capture Slot:
- Press the BANK button to cycle through the banks. Each bank contains multiple slots where you can store your Capture.
- Turn Footswitch I clockwise or counterclockwise to navigate through the available Capture slots within the selected bank.
Tip: If you want to save your Capture without assigning it to a specific slot, navigate to the position where all the LEDs are lit. This corresponds to the User Library, where you can store the Capture for later use.

Step 4: Confirm and Save:

Once you’ve selected your desired bank and slot, press and hold the SAVE button for 3 seconds to confirm and store your Neural Capture.

Step 5: Return to calibration settings or Performance Mode:

After saving your Capture, press EXIT to return to the calibration settings if you wish to start a new Capture process.
Press EXIT again to return to Performance Mode and start playing with your newly created Capture.

Capturing an amp+cab or combo amp

You can create Neural Captures of an amp and cab setup, or a combo amp, to create incredibly accurate digital replicas of your favorite amplifier and speaker combinations.

When capturing an amp+cab or combo amp with Nano Cortex, you’ll need to use a microphone to capture the sound. The type of microphone you’re using and its placement relative to the cabinet will significantly affect the captured tone. Neural Capture is a snapshot of your entire setup, including the microphone and its position, so careful mic placement is essential.

Common microphones used for capturing amp and cab setups include the Shure® SM57, Sennheiser® e609, and Royer® R-121.

Note: Nano Cortex’s CAPTURE INPUT supports dynamic microphones directly. If you’re using a condenser microphone, you’ll need an external preamp to power it.