Neural DSP NanOS 2.1 adds MIDI CC control to Nano Cortex

August 5, 2025 · 1 sources

Neural DSP released NanOS 2.1 for the Nano Cortex on August 5, 2025, adding support for incoming MIDI CC (Control Change) messages. The update was reported by Morningstar, a maker of MIDI pedals and controllers, which said it had asked Neural DSP for the added control.

At launch, according to Morningstar, the Nano Cortex's MIDI control was limited to recalling presets with Program Change messages, with no real-time effect manipulation. NanOS 2.1 adds four functions over MIDI CC: engaging or bypassing individual effect blocks, tapping in or setting a preset tempo (by CC and MIDI clock), activating the tuner, and controlling expression pedal position.

Morningstar writes that individual effect slot control lets players toggle a single effect without switching whole presets, avoiding duplicate presets and allowing gapless transitions. It also notes user reports of a gap in sound when changing presets on the Nano Cortex.

For expression control over MIDI, Morningstar describes a setup constraint: if the Nano Cortex's EXP port is set to receive MIDI, controls cannot be mapped to an expression pedal. Its stated procedure is to set the EXP port to "Expression" mode, select the parameters and ranges to control, then switch the port back to "MIDI" mode. Morningstar says it asked Neural DSP to allow expression pedal mapping while the EXP port is in MIDI mode, and that Neural DSP responded that its Nano Cortex team is working on it.

Morningstar says the new MIDI functions are mapped in its MIDI Dictionary inside the Morningstar Editor. The update is installed through Neural DSP's Cortex Cloud app, per Morningstar.