Cortex Studio vs NAM Sandwich
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Cortex Studio
Control your Quad Cortex guitar amp modeler from your mobile device. Browse presets, build new tones with AI, and manage your library. Offers wireless and gig-ready views for live performance.
- Remote control of Quad Cortex
- AI tone builder
- Device directory (amps, cabs, effects)
- Wireless control (Pro)
- Gig view and scenes (Pro)
- iCloud sync (Pro)
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Imagine controlling your Quad Cortex from your iPad or iPhone, on stage or at the bedroom amp. Cortex Studio is a companion app for Neural DSP Quad Cortex and Quad Cortex Mini players. Recall presets and scenes with a tap, look up every built-in amp, cab and effect, and build new tones with an AI tone builder. REMOTE CONTROL • Browse factory presets by bank and slot, or your own library • Star favorites, and search by name, amp or slot (like "2A") • Plug in by USB and send Program Change right from the app • A green "Quad Cortex" or red "No Device" light shows if your unit is connected WIRELESS CONTROL (PRO) • Plug one device into your Quad Cortex, then control it from any other device on your iCloud. Pick a preset or scene on your phone and the unit follows within moments • No extra cables or hardware. Keep Cortex Studio open on the plugged-in device GIG VIEW AND SCENES (PRO) • Big preset tiles you can hit without looking, in portrait or landscape • Each slot letter has its own color, and the active preset lights up • Tap Scene to switch between scenes A to H, with scene names for the factory presets MY PRESETS (PRO) • Name your own slots and add a description • Copy, cut and paste names between slots DEVICE DIRECTORY • Search every amp, cab, overdrive, delay, reverb and more • See the real-world gear each one is based on, including announced devices AI TONE BUILDER • Describe a sound, whether it's an artist, a song, a decade or a vibe, and get a full Quad Cortex preset: amp, settings, signal chain, cab, mic and mic position • Only uses models and effects that exist on your Quad Cortex • Save favorites to your library and recall them on the unit • Works with your own free Google Gemini key (aistudio.google.com). A short guided setup walks you through it, and the key stays in your Keychain ICLOUD SYNC (PRO) • Your tones, favorites, slot names and current selection follow you across iPhone and iPad FREE, WITH PRO WHEN YOU WANT IT • Try everything free for 30 days • Remote control, the device directory, MIDI and Tone Builder stay free • Pro is a one-time purchase, no subscription. It unlocks Wireless Control, Gig View, iCloud sync, slot naming and unlimited saved tones and favorites NOTE • Cortex Studio is independent and not affiliated with or endorsed by Neural DSP Technologies • Connect by USB and turn on MIDI Program Change on your Quad Cortex (Settings > Device > MIDI)
NAM Sandwich
This app transforms your iPhone into a complete, customizable amp rig. It allows you to stack effects, load impulse responses, and play through thousands of built-in tones. Practice, write songs, or perform with your personalized sound anywhere inspiration strikes.
- Full A2 NAM capture playback
- Customizable amp and pedal stacking
- IR loader for cabinet simulations
- Built-in EQ, noise gate, delay, and reverb
- Access to Tone3000 capture library
- Perform-ready rig saving and quick-launch pads
- Integrated chromatic tuner
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Hi - I'm Evan, a mobile developer for over 10 years and a gigging guitarist for over 20. I created this app to be as simple to use as possible with all the features you could want to play live, or just jam by yourself at night before you go to bed (like I do). NAM Sandwich turns your iPhone or iPad into a complete, fully customizable Neural Amp Modeler rig! BUILD YOUR SANDWICH: Your tone is a stack of layers you arrange however you like: • Amp & pedal captures (NAM) - stack as many as your tone calls for • IR loader - drop in cab impulse responses and creative IRs • EQ - switchable 2-band or 3-band tone stack • Noise gate - reduce the hiss on those heavy tones • Delay - from slap-back to long modulating echoes • Reverb - plate and spring • Tremolo - customizable stereo/mono trem with lots of options • Flanger - classic jet engine swoosh and trippy swirling effects • Chorus - 3 modes modeled after classic effects • Phaser - 3 voicings modeled after the most iconic pedals • Wah/Auto-wah - In three voicings: Vintage, Modern, Wide • Pitch - drop tuning, transposing and detuning without touching your strings • Gain - low-cut, high-cut and level to tighten up or level out any capture • AUv3 - host third-party effects as layers Add, remove, and rearrange layers freely to build a rig that's truly yours. THOUSANDS OF TONES, A TAP AWAY Powered by TONE3000 — browse thousands of NAM captures and IRs from your own TONE3000 account, right inside the app, and hear one through your rig before you keep it. https://www.tone3000.com PERFORM-READY Create as many preset banks as you like (I call 'em menus), organize your sounds into favorites, set lists, tones, whatever your heart desires. LIVE LOOPER Lay down a loop and play over it. Record 4, 8, 12 or 16 bars at your tempo, or use free-style mode and stomp in and out like a looper pedal. Switch sounds on the fly when recording! Save the loops you want for good. MIDI CONTROL Connect a Bluetooth, USB, or network MIDI device (e.g. XSonic AIRSTEP) to control preset changes, tuner, tap tempo and more - hands-free. ON IPAD Your saved sandwiches sit beside the builder, so you can pick a rig on the left and tweak it on the right. Works in either orientation - handy on a music stand. JAM OVER YOUR MUSIC Pull up a song and play right along. Perfect for practice, songwriting, and the couch, tour bus, hotel room, or backstage. BUILT-IN TUNER A fast, accurate chromatic tuner is one tap away - no extra app, no pedal. Stay in tune wherever you play. AUV3 SUPPORT NAM Sandwich can be used as an AUv3 effect inside host applications (e.g. GarageBand) and can also host AUv3 effects as layers in a sandwich! FREE TO PLAY, PRO TO PERFORM Building your sandwich, playing through it, the tuner, and browsing and downloading captures are free, for as long as you like. Pro unlocks Perform mode, saving and switching sandwiches, the looper, MIDI control: $2.99/year or $8.99 once, forever. WHAT YOU NEED Requires an audio interface to plug in (USB-C recommended — e.g. iRig USB). Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: NAM Sandwich at 100% against Cortex Studio's 0%. NAM Sandwich also leads on ratings volume (17 vs 1). Cortex Studio's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and rating (5.0 vs 4.8). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. NAM Sandwich sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per year. Cortex Studio asks for nothing beyond the download.
Cortex Studio holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: NAM Sandwich has 17 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 0% of Cortex Studio's written reviews are positive against 100% of NAM Sandwich's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Cortex Studio ships an update daily, NAM Sandwich every 3 days. Both last shipped on November 5, 2026.
| Parameter | Cortex Studio | NAM Sandwich |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better | 4.8 (17 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 17 — better |
| Update frequency | Daily — better | Every 3 days |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Freemium — better | Subscription |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 | 17.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 8 MB | 10 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Morgan Rai | Evan Brass |
Customer experience
Cortex Studio
NAM Sandwich
In-app purchases
Cortex Studio
No in-app purchases
NAM Sandwich
- NAM Sandwich Annual$2.991 Year
- NAM Sandwich Lifetime Unlock$8.99






