Muted Tuning with a Quad Cortex in a Rack: A Full Guide

Almost every time we are asked about building a fly rig with the Neural Quad Cortex one of the first questions or items discussed is tuning and muting your signal while you tune. This goes for single Quad Cortex units in a rack or full redundant systems. Lets face it, the Quad Cortex is not an inexpensive item. If you are using this gigging/on tour it is likely the backbone of your rig and needs to be kept safe. Much safer in a rack than at your feet! If accomplishing tuning is holding you back from racking your Quad Cortex - hopefully this will help you!

We have a more specific video/blog covering tuning with a MIDI controller and a redundant Quad Cortex system. That video shows how to route everything and MIDI program it all - Redundant QC Tuning w/ MIDI Controller 

This video is a more broad/general video on different scenarios of tuning when racking your QC. This covers singular QC, redundant QC, and multiple wireless channels/inputs.

1. Tuner Before Quad Cortex (The Most Obvious)

Running your tuner before the Quad Cortex is likely the most obvious solution. Depending on your setup, this may or may not be the best solution for you. If you are playing smaller stages, running a more simple setup - this is likely the move for you.

If you are running a wireless system in a rack, but still want to run the tuner before the Quad Cortex - no problem. You would just run two cables from your rack to the tuner - likely in a cable loom made by us :)

The main issue that is posed here has to do with the size of stage you are playing and cable length. If you are playing larger stages, i.e. festival dates, the length of cable required to run to/from your pedalboard is not ideal and can cause signal loss. To combat this, you can purchase the Radial Engineering SGI system, which converts the signal to balanced audio and combats the potential for signal loss. 

If you are looking to do this in a fly rig, the above solution requires more cabling (heavier) and adding the SGI system - it may not be the solution for you. Here is where we take things a step further.

2. Splitting The Signal Before the Quad Cortex

This scenario is ideal for those of you racking your Quad Cortex and running a wireless (which seems to be the norm these days). The basic signal path looks as follows:

Looks pretty simple. The issue this brings along is: How do I mute the signal when I tune?

Artist Controlling Tuning? MIDI Controlled A/B Box!

One option is utilizing a MIDI controlled A/B box. One that works out great, which we have used time and time again is the Lehle 1 at 3. The signal routing is pretty simple:

To do this, you will need a special MIDI cable, which can be purchased here - Type B MIDI Cable

You can then program your MIDI controller to select the tuner (via instant access button) and mute the signal to FOH.

Always On Tuner

Now, you might not want to get as fancy as the 1at3. So, you can go ahead and split the signal without the MIDI switching capability, thus leaving an "Always On" Tuner.

To do this, you can get by with a more basic device to split your signal such as the Radial Bigshot A/B/Y or Lehle P-Split. The connection would look like this:

Now, you need to mute your signal when you tune. Or don't have annoy your audience - whatever floats your boat. So, to mute your signal whilst tuning, you will want to use an expression pedal. How this is connected - depends on your setup (we know how you guitarist/bassists love options!)

No MIDI Switching At Feet: Run a TRS cable back to your rack. So, a cable loom for this setup would look like a TRS cable for the expression pedal, DC power cable for the tuner, and Instrument Signal for the tuner. Super simple and effective.

MIDI Switching AT Feet: If you are running a MIDI controller at your feet - most have an expression pedal port directly on them. This makes life easy as you just connect a TRS cable to the expression port on the MIDI controller!

3. Redundant Quad Cortex Racks - Tuning - Single Input

So now we explore how to accomplish tuning in your redundant Quad Cortex rig. This adds another layer to the complexity of accomplishing this, but still nothing too crazy. In short, you have to split your input signal to Main Quad Cortex, Spare Quad Cortex, and Tuner.

Based on the theme before, a MIDI controlled A/B switcher is a great tool. We will start by exploring the Lehle 1 at 3.

As you can see, routing output "C" of the A/B Switcher goes to your tuner. Then it is simple MIDI programming to make an instant access button on the controller that routes the input signal to output C for tuning. This takes the signal away from outputs A or B, which are the Quads, which means there is no signal going to FOH. This solution works tremendously if you are running the MIDI Controller at your feet. A full overview of setup and programming on this can be found here -  Redundant QC, MIDI/AB, Muted Tuning A look at how that rig setup is:

Automated MIDI Patch Changes - Tuning at Feet

Many artists are moving to automated MIDI patch changing via their playback systems. This eliminates the need for running a MIDI controller on stage. Muted Tuning is still often wanted and here is a way to do that:

Go back to the same concept as before with a single Quad Cortex Rig. You would use an A/B box such as the Radial Bigshot A/B/Y. Outs A/B to the Quad Main & Spare - Tuner Output to the tuner. 

Same concept as before with expression - only you need to be sure it hits both Quad Cortex units. If you only want the tuner and expression pedal at the artist's feet (i.e. MIDI controlled via playback) then a dual expression pedal is the move for you. The Mission Engineering EP-25-PRO Aero is a great solution. Simply connect one output to Quad Main and one output to Quad Spare. All commands are sent to both and you are covered!

Now, if you are running MIDI Switching at your feet, the solution is easier. Just connect a single expression pedal to the MIDI controller's expression port as before. It can reach both Quad Cortex units.

4. Multiple Inputs - Redundant Quad Cortex Rig

So, adding multiple wireless channels to the mix complicates things further. Lets assume that you have 3 wireless channels that you need to feed both Quad Cortex units with. Lets also assume that you DO NOT have a tech doing this for you.

Using a MIDI Controlled device such as the LEHLE 3at1 is perfect for this. All 3 wireless inputs feed the Lehle 3 at 1. Out A of the 3 at 1 goes to Quad Main. Out B goes to Quad Spare. Now, you need to handle switching. Most people like to use Output 3 or output 4 to go to a tuner. This is a redundant system, so you need to get that signal from each QC (main and spare) to a single tuner input. using something to merge the signal can muddy things up. Using another Lehle 3 at 1 will allow you to MIDI control which QC is feeding the tuner.

Radial JX42 and JX44 Switching

The Radial JX42 and JX44 are probably the best and easiest solution for using multiple wireless inputs, Redundant Quad Cortex, and Tuning. These are great for MIDI controlled tuning/input changes, a guitar/bass tech doing this for you - you name it. These units have you covered. The only drawback is that they are heavy. If you are running multiple wireless channels - odds are you have a separate rack for wireless units than the Quad Cortex Redundant Rig - especially in a fly world.

The connectivity on these is pretty self explanatory. Your inputs feed the JX inputs. Out A to Quad Main. Out B to Quad Spare. Tuner Output to your Tuner. Bam, you are done!

Thanks for TUNING in on this one.... get it! Some pretty boring, not super exciting tech talk; however important nonetheless.