Neural DSP

Last updated
Neural DSP Technologies
Industry Amplification
Founded2017;7 years ago (2017)
FoundersDouglas Castro, Francisco Cresp [1]
Headquarters
Helsinki
,
Finland [2]
Products Digital amplifier modelers
Website neuraldsp.com

Neural DSP Technologies is a Finnish audio equipment manufacturer founded in 2017 by Douglas Castro and Francisco Cresp. Headquartered in Punavuori, Helsinki, the company is best known for its flagship guitar amp modeler, the Quad Cortex, and for its amp modeling audio plug-ins that create computer-based virtual amplifier and effects modelling suites. [3] The company is considered a leading developer of guitar signal processing technology. [4]

Contents

History

In 2016, Douglas Castro, the founder of bass guitar equipment company Darkglass, was approached by employee Francisco Cresp about creating an audio plug-in for the company. Castro was interested, and the pair—both Chilean immigrants in Helsinki [5] —ultimately decided to develop a range of plug-ins for both bass and guitar, in addition to a potential modeler. However, they chose to develop products as a new company to preserve Darkglass' bass-oriented brand identity. [6]

Neural DSP began recruiting designers in late 2017 and early 2018, and in that April released the "Darkglass Ultra" plug-in, followed in September by the "Fortin Nameless," [6] which was the company's first major success. [2] The "Archetype" audio plug-in series was co-developed with high-profile players such as Tim Henson, Cory Wong, and Plini. [7] The public profile these plug-ins created for Neural DSP allowed the company to pursue the creation of its companion hardware device, the Quad Cortex. With companies like Fractal and Universal Audio having achieved great levels of accuracy in recreating amp tones, Neural emphasized significantly improving the user experience as the route to the Cortex's success. [6] Neural soon ran into the slow and expensive process of programming numerous DSPs at the same time. To expedite the process, they utilized AI machine learning, with the assistance of Aalto University's DSP program. [8]

Castro later described the Quad Cortex's development process as initially "a black hole of money"; [7] production was then complicated by supply chain shortages resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, with the company at risk of closing, despite millions of dollars in investment. The Quad Cortex was a success upon its release, and in 2021 Neural's revenue was split equally between software and hardware. [7] Castro was subsequently named Finland's 2022 EY Entrepreneur Of The Year, [7] while the following year Castro and Cresp were recognized by Finnish President Sauli Niinistö for Neural DSP's success on the international market. [1]

Products

Quad Cortex

Upon its release in 2020, Neural DSP claimed the Quad Cortex was the most powerful floor modeler on the market, with 2 GHz in digital signal processing power via four SHARC+ processors. The Cortex shipped with 50 available guitar and bass amp models, 70 effects, and a thousand impulse responses. It also had features competitors like the Fractal Axe-FX and the Line 6 Helix floor modelers did not, like a touch screen interface, Wifi connectivity, and footswitches that combine stomp functionality with rotary actuators. [3] The Cortex also has companion software that allows users to "capture," or digitally recreate, their own analog guitar gear and share it with other users via the Cortex Cloud. [9]

Plug-ins

Neural DSP designs both amplifier series plug-ins and signature plug-ins for individual artists. Artists with signature plug-ins include Henson, Wong, Plini, Gojira, Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine, [10] and John Petrucci of Dream Theater. [11]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Effects unit</span> Electronic device that alters audio

An effects unit, effects processor, or effects pedal is an electronic device that alters the sound of a musical instrument or other audio source through audio signal processing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guitar amplifier</span> Electronic amplifier for musical instruments

A guitar amplifier is an electronic device or system that strengthens the electrical signal from a pickup on an electric guitar, bass guitar, or acoustic guitar so that it can produce sound through one or more loudspeakers, which are typically housed in a wooden cabinet. A guitar amplifier may be a standalone wood or metal cabinet that contains only the power amplifier circuits, requiring the use of a separate speaker cabinet–or it may be a combo amplifier, which contains both the amplifier and one or more speakers in a wooden cabinet. There is a wide range of sizes and power ratings for guitar amplifiers, from small, lightweight practice amplifiers with a single 6-inch speaker and a 10-watt amp to heavy combo amps with four 10-inch or four 12-inch speakers and a 100-watt amplifier, which are loud enough to use in a nightclub or bar performance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pro Tools</span> Digital audio workstation

Pro Tools is a digital audio workstation (DAW) developed and released by Avid Technology for Microsoft Windows and macOS. It is used for music creation and production, sound for picture and, more generally, sound recording, editing, and mastering processes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peavey Electronics</span> American audio equipment manufacturer

Peavey Electronics Corporation is a privately-owned American company which designs, develops, manufactures, and markets professional audio equipment. Headquartered in Meridian, Mississippi, Peavey is one of the largest audio equipment manufacturers in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mesa/Boogie</span> American manufacturer of amplifiers

Mesa/Boogie is an American company in Petaluma, California, that manufactures amplifiers and other accessories for guitars and basses. It has been in operation since 1969.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Logic Pro</span> Digital audio workstation

Logic Pro is a proprietary digital audio workstation (DAW) and MIDI sequencer software application for the macOS platform developed by Apple Inc. It was originally created in the early 1990s as Notator Logic, or Logic, by German software developer C-Lab which later went by Emagic. Apple acquired Emagic in 2002 and renamed Logic to Logic Pro. It was the second most popular DAW – after Ableton Live – according to a survey conducted in 2015.

Line 6 is a musical instrument and audio equipment manufacturer, best known as a pioneer in guitar amplifier and effect modeling. The company's products include guitar effects, modeling guitar amplifiers, software, electric guitars, and wireless systems. Line 6 has an active user community, and provides software that allows users to easily download and share patches or device settings for many of the company's products. Founded in 1996 and headquartered in Calabasas, California, the company has been a subsidiary of Yamaha Corporation since 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Root</span> American guitarist

James Donald Root is an American guitarist. He is one of two guitarists for heavy metal band Slipknot, in which he is designated #4, as well as the former lead guitarist for rock band Stone Sour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bass amplifier</span> Electronic amplifier for musical instruments

A bass amplifier is a musical instrument electronic device that uses electrical power to make lower-pitched instruments such as the bass guitar or double bass loud enough to be heard by the performers and audience. Bass amps typically consist of a preamplifier, tone controls, a power amplifier and one or more loudspeakers ("drivers") in a cabinet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fender Champ</span> Guitar amplifier

The Fender Champ was a guitar amplifier made by Fender. It was introduced in 1948 and discontinued in 1982. An updated version was introduced in 2006 as part of the "Vintage Modified" line.

Valco was a US manufacturer of guitar amplifiers from the 1940s through 1968.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TC Electronic</span> Danish audio equipment manufacturer

TC Electronic is a Danish audio equipment company that designs and imports guitar effects, bass amplification, computer audio interfaces, audio plug-in software, live sound equalisers, studio and post-production equipment, studio effect processors, and broadcast loudness processors and meters. In August 2015, the company was purchased by Music Group, a holding company chaired by Uli Behringer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Record (software)</span>

Record is a music software program developed by Swedish software developers Propellerhead Software. Designed for recording, arrangement and mixing, it emulates a recording studio, with a mixing desk, a rack of virtual instruments and effects and an audio and MIDI sequencer. Record can be used either as a complete virtual recording studio in itself, or together with Propellerhead Software's Reason.

Amplifier modeling is the process of emulating a physical amplifier such as a guitar amplifier. Amplifier modeling often seeks to recreate the sound of one or more specific models of vacuum tube amplifiers and sometimes also solid state amplifiers.

Darkglass Electronics is a bass guitar equipment company based in Helsinki, Finland. Darkglass was founded in 2009 by Chilean engineer Douglas Castro. In 2014, Darkglass was bought by Korg.

Fishman is an American company based in Andover, Massachusetts, known for making guitar pickups and other products involved in the amplification of acoustic guitars and other stringed instruments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cory Wong</span> American guitarist

Cory J. Wong is an American guitarist, songwriter, and producer based in Minneapolis. He has released many works as a solo artist and in partnership with others. His background spans several genres including jazz, rock, and funk. He has performed with Vulfpeck, Dave Koz, Stay Human, The Fearless Flyers, Ben Rector, Dr. Mambo's Combo, Chris Thile, Dave Matthews Band, and Dirty Loops. He released several albums in 2020, including Live in Amsterdam, a collaboration with the Metropole Orkest, and Meditations, a new-age album with Jon Batiste. His recent works include two albums released in conjunction with his variety show.

Western Electric Export Corporation is a manufacturer of vacuum tubes and high end audio gear. Based in Rossville, Georgia, the company builds an ultra-premium version of the 300B electron tube. It traces its roots to 1872 with the Bell Telephone Company and the original Western Electric. The original AT&T-based company was shut down in 1984. The successor was started in 1995, when AT&T granted Charles G. Whitener a license to the trademark and intellectual property of the original Western Electric company. In January of 2007 Western Electric announced the acquisition of the assets of former vacuum tube factory Ei Niš from Serbia. The company has announced it will manufacture vacuum tubes for musical instruments, such as electric guitars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fulltone</span> American musical effects manufacturer

Fulltone USA Inc. is an American manufacturer of effects pedals for the electric guitar. Founded by Michael Fuller in California in 1991, Fulltone was one of the first "boutique" pedal companies and became best-known for its overdrive pedals, the Full-Drive and OCD, with the latter dubbed by Music Radar "one of the most legendary overdrives ever made."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fractal Audio Systems</span> American audio equipment manufacturer

Fractal Audio Systems, often shortened to Fractal, is an American audio equipment manufacturer founded in 2006. Fractal became pioneers of the high-end digital amplifier modeling market with the release of the rack-mount Axe-FX, which has been credited as the first amp modelling and effects system convincing enough for professional use.

References

  1. 1 2 "President Niinistö grants internationalization awards to successful Finnish companies". helsinkitimes.fi. Helsinki Times. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  2. 1 2 Edwards, Lewis Noke. "Expanding neural pathways: Neural DSP and their Quad Cortex". mixdownmag.com. Mixdown Magazine. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  3. 1 2 Vinnicombe, Chris. "Neural DSP Quad Cortex review: is this the game-changing guitar product of the decade so far?". guitar.com. Guitar Magazine. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  4. ↑ Sattler, Steve. "INDUSTRY PROFILE: NEURAL DSP'S DOUGLAS CASTRO & FRANCISCO CRESP". musicconnection.com. Music Connection Magazine. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  5. ↑ "Riding on soundwaves: two entrepreneurs turned their passion into business and now Neural DSP is democratising access to world-class sound". paaomasijoittajat.fi. Paaomasijoittajat. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  6. 1 2 3 Horsley, Jonathan. "Neural DSP CEO Doug Castro interview: "What I felt, until Quad Cortex came around, is that there was a false dichotomy in terms of power and usability"". musicradar.com. Music Radar. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Horsley, Jonathan. "Neural DSP supremo Doug Castro named Finland's 2022 EY Entrepreneur Of The Year". musicradar.com. Music Radar. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  8. ↑ Breathnach, Cillian. ""We could spend years trying to understand them on a physics level, or we could automate it": Neural DSP's Doug Castro on how machine learning can surpass human understanding of amplifiers". guitar.com. Guitar Magazine. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  9. ↑ "How Neural DSP's Quad Cortex can change the way music is released". guitar.com. Guitar Magazine. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  10. ↑ Cillian, Breathnach. "Neural DSP Archetype: Tom Morello – despite all the Rage, it's a bit of a cage". guitar.com. Guitar Magazine. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  11. ↑ Breathnach, Cillian. "Neural DSP announces Archetype: Petrucci". guitar.com. Guitar Magazine. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.