Which Neural DSP Plugins Are Compatible With Quad Cortex?

Updated

Compatibility is not universal across the Neural DSP catalog. On neuraldsp.com, individual plugin pages carry a COMPATIBLE label when the plugin can be unlocked on Quad Cortex and Quad Cortex mini. Plugins marked DESKTOP ONLY — including Darkglass Ultimate and Mantra — run only on Windows and Mac computers and will not be available on Quad Cortex devices. The only reliable way to check before buying is to read the label on the specific plugin page.

How compatibility is labeled on the site

Neural DSP marks each plugin product page with one of two signals:

Label Meaning Where it runs
COMPATIBLE Can be unlocked on Quad Cortex hardware Quad Cortex, Quad Cortex mini, plus desktop
DESKTOP ONLY No hardware version Windows and Mac computers only

The label appears alongside the plugin name in the product listing, so you can screen candidates before opening a page.

How unlocking works on hardware

For a COMPATIBLE plugin, the process described on the site is:

  1. Purchase a license for the plugin.
  2. Log in to your Neural DSP account on the Quad Cortex or Quad Cortex mini device.
  3. The plugin unlocks on that device.

This means the hardware does not require a separate purchase of the plugin — the same license covers it, provided the plugin carries the COMPATIBLE label.

Examples from the current catalog

  • Archetype: John Mayer X (€169.00) — labeled COMPATIBLE with Quad Cortex and Quad Cortex mini. Purchase a license and log in to your Neural DSP account on your device to unlock it.
  • Archetype: Misha Mansoor X (€125.00) — also labeled COMPATIBLE with Quad Cortex and Quad Cortex mini, with the same license-and-login unlock path.
  • Darkglass Ultimate (€99.00) — labeled DESKTOP ONLY. Available only for Windows and Mac computers; it will not be available on Quad Cortex devices.
  • Mantra — labeled DESKTOP ONLY, available only for Windows and Mac computers.

Prices shown are from the site; for EU and UK customers VAT is included, while for US and international customers taxes are calculated at checkout.

What to check before you buy

  • Read the label on the plugin's own page, not just the category listing. Compatibility is decided per plugin, not per product family.
  • Check the hardware you own. A COMPATIBLE plugin covers Quad Cortex and Quad Cortex mini; a DESKTOP ONLY plugin covers neither.
  • Confirm the plugin is not desktop-restricted if hardware use is your goal. Darkglass Ultimate and Mantra are the clearest current examples of plugins that cannot move to hardware.
  • Use the free trial first. Neural DSP offers a 14-day free trial of any plugin, which lets you evaluate the sound before committing — though the trial does not change which platform the full license supports.

If your plan is to run tones on Quad Cortex hardware, filter for the COMPATIBLE label first, then verify the unlock steps on the device with your Neural DSP account.