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Amp Capture with the Neural Nano Cortex – Is it as easy as they make it out to be?
Introduction
You may have seen our recent review of the Neural Nano Cortex (Full Review Here). In that review, we didn’t cover one of its most exciting features – the Amp Capture! Neural DSP are famous, and widely considered market leaders, when it comes to amp capturing and processing. So, we wanted to put the Nano Cortex Amp Capture to the test and see not only how good it sounded, but also how easy it was to use. After all, there’s no point in it sounding amazing if it’s a hassle to capture! For this test, we decided to profile my Custom RD Amp to see how it compares and what the process was like.
This article will go over the full Amp Capture process step by step – how to set it up, how to capture, and of course, our thoughts on both the workflow and the final results. So let’s dive straight into the setup!
Amp Capture: The Setup
The setup was very straightforward. The Neural website provides an excellent manual to guide you through the process. Yes, it does involve quite a few cables, but once you’ve done it once and understand how the Amp Capture process works, it becomes very easy to repeat. You’ll need several 1/4-inch cables and an XLR, but most guitarists will already have these lying around.
Getting the levels right was simple too. The helpful meters on both the app and the Nano Cortex itself were clear and easy to adjust. In fact, I’d argue that the meter on the Nano Cortex is better! If the LEDs around the Gain knob are red, the signal is too hot; if they are blue, the signal is too low. Ideally, you want them lighting up consistently as you play. This was very easy to set up. The only slight confusion that may arise is whether to turn the amp up or down, or adjust the Gain knob instead. It really depends on whether you’re happy with your current tone and just want to adjust the volume. Keep in mind that turning your amp down will affect the tone.
Small Changes!
One thing I did differently: since I was bypassing the RD Custom Amp’s internal speaker, I didn’t use any cab sims on the Captor X load box. I wanted the Nano Cortex to capture the raw signal. The same approach worked perfectly with the Hughes & Kettner head. However, if you’re using a combo amp with no external cab option, you’ll need to mic it up and make sure to disable the IRs in the Nano Cortex.
Once everything is connected and ready, it’s time to start the capturing process. And believe it or not, this part is even easier than the setup – just press one button!
"If you’re using a combo amp, the process will produce a horrible, loud, and annoying noise"
Amp Capture: The Capture!
The Amp Capture process on the Nano Cortex is super simple. It’s almost effortless! All you need to do is hit “Capture” and sit back for around 5–10 minutes. You don’t need to touch anything while it runs the Amp Capture. During this review, I completed three or four captures, and only one failed – and that was because I had set the input gain too high. In that case, the Nano Cortex automatically cancelled the capture and prompted me to adjust the levels. So even if you set something up incorrectly, it will let you know. Honestly, it couldn’t be easier!
A quick word of warning: if you’re using a combo amp, the process will produce a horrible, loud, and annoying noise during the capture. However, if you’re using a load box like I did, you can simply take your headphones out and wait for the Nano Cortex Amp Capture to finish.
Amp Capture: The Results
What do I think about the Amp Capture? Incredible! The sound and feel are spot on. The most impressive part of the whole capture is the gain structure and response. Playing my actual amp and increasing the gain, then switching to the Nano Cortex, I couldn’t tell the difference – the gain structure is matched perfectly. You can hear the results for yourself in the video below, but I think you’ll agree that the Amp Capture is simply amazing.
What really surprised me is just how simple and easy it is to get a great Amp Capture. Having it sound this good is one thing, but having it sound this good while being so effortless to set up is on another level. With a Neural Nano Cortex, you could capture your entire amp collection in less than a day. The process is quick, easy, and delivers incredible results.
Small thing to remember!
It is worth noting that while the sound and feel are virtually identical, there is a difference between playing the capture through headphones and playing the physical amp through a speaker in the room. That “amp in the room” feel is something no capture can replicate, and we have another article covering that in more detail. However, as far as the tone and response of the Amp Capture, I believe the Nano Cortex absolutely nailed it – and I couldn’t be happier with the results.
I’m so impressed, in fact, that it has now become my main rig sound. I’ve gone back to a single amp tone (with a boosted variation) and use my physical pedals to shape and modify the tone. It sounds fantastic, feels natural, and most importantly, it’s easy to customise and adapt whenever I need to.
Amp Capture: The Video
Below is the video walkthrough of the Amp Capture process! This video serves as both a step-by-step walkthrough and a sound sample demo. You’ll be able to see exactly how the capture works in real time, as well as hear audio samples from the completed captures.
Of course, everyone has their own opinion on topics like this, so we’d love to hear yours in the comments of the video. Do you think the Amp Capture sounds good? If not, why? Would you (or do you already) use the Nano Cortex for your own captures? We want to hear all your thoughts and experiences!
"I plan to borrow from friends. That means more high-gain, low-gain, and super-clean Amp Captures coming soon"
Amp Capture: Our Thoughts
What are my thoughts on the whole Amp Capture process – the sound, the workflow, and the device itself? Honestly, it’s amazing! I was genuinely shocked at how easy it is to set up, how straightforward the capturing process is, and most importantly, how incredible the results sound. As you can hear in the video, the captures are impressively close to the real amps. I even closed my eyes during playback and couldn’t tell the difference when it switched between the amp and the capture! Some people may say they can hear subtle differences, but as someone who has played these amps for years and knows their sound and feel inside out, I can confidently say I don’t hear or feel a difference.
I’ll definitely be capturing more amps in the future, including some exciting models I plan to borrow from friends. That means more high-gain, low-gain, and super-clean Amp Captures coming soon, and I can’t wait to share that journey with you.
So, the big question: should you buy the Nano Cortex for capturing? My answer is yes! If you want to capture your amps and take them anywhere, the Nano Cortex is a perfect option. Especially if, like me, you use a variety of pedals in your rig, I would even recommend it over the Quad Cortex for Amp Capture. In our full review of the Neural Nano Cortex, I mentioned that I wished the app was a bit more polished and the foot switches had a few extra options. But as far as tone and capturing go, this unit is unbeatable.
Conclusion
So, that concludes our walkthrough on the Neural Nano Cortex Amp Capture. I haven’t had the chance to try the Quad Cortex yet, but I would imagine the experience is quite similar. Overall, I’m extremely happy with the results and have already started integrating the Nano Cortex into my main rig!
If you’d like to purchase a Nano Cortex for yourself, we’ve included some links below. These are affiliate links, which means we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It’s the easiest way to support the site and helps us continue creating more walkthroughs and reviews like this.
What do you all think? Do you like it, love it, or maybe not convinced yet? Let us know! Drop your thoughts in the YouTube comments – we really want to hear what you think about the Amp Capture process. This is a huge step forward in amp modelling and at-home capturing, so it’s important to share and discuss your experiences!
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