Zoom B3 multi-effects

[CHILDISHGAMBINO]

Originally Posted by JPrinos

Can someone summarize what the 'Total' function does?

It's a menu. There are options for changing the order your effects are in(from the three active effects), total patch volume and balance, you can name the patch, and assign an expression pedal or external switch. I think that's everything.

[JPrinos]

Thanks. That's what I gathered but the description was pretty sparse.

Originally Posted by CHILDISHGAMBINO

It's a menu. There are options for changing the order your effects are in(from the three active effects), total patch volume and balance, you can name the patch, and assign an expression pedal or external switch. I think that's everything.

[BrentSimons]

Fellas just ordered one! I can't wait.
Brent

[OzzyGreg]

.

Fellas just ordered one! I can't wait.
Brent

Cool!
You certainly won't regret it Brent.
They are amazing.

[OzzyGreg]

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Re: recording with the B3....

I read about this somewhere else (so I'm not taking credit for the idea!) but I have started recording stereo effects direct out of the L/R outputs, plus a clean bass signal out of the Balanced XLR output at the same time.

eg. This way you can use a patch with stereo chorus on the end, record that across two tracks, then blend the clean bass from a third track as required in the final mix.

I'm just waiting for my guitarist mate to get back to me with his overdubs now!

[JPrinos]

Has anyone seen this link which describes how to use a standard volume pedal as an expression pedal for a Zoom 505?

[thehangingmist]

funny thing i found out today
when you set the DI to Pre instead of post, the tuner mute does not work on the DI'd signal

[OzzyGreg]

.

funny thing i found out today
when you set the DI to Pre instead of post, the tuner mute does not work on the DI'd signal

I didn't realise that.
We'll all need to be careful tuning up on stage between songs if we're DI'ing clean then!

[OzzyGreg]

.
For the newer B3 owners:

At present you can only program 3 effects in a single patch with the B3, despite the G3 (guitar version) accepting 6 effects in each patch.

There has been an email campaign underway where everyone has been emailing Zoom to ask for the firmware to be updated to accept 6 effects in a patch.

Here's the email address of Zoom if you're interested in joining in.

[ksandvik]

Originally Posted by Big Mike Ipp

One complaint however on my B3...it didnt ship with the usb cable...sigh

Frys has USB cables cheap, I got two for the price of $2.99...

[OzzyGreg]

.
There are now 90 different B3 patches available here for download using "Edit & Share".

Get on-board!
Upload yours!

[Mike M.]

I'm wondering if I should check one of these units out.

I play at church and have been using my GK MB115 direct to the PA. A plan is underway for us to use in ear monitors with our own mixing stations and they plan on running the bass guitar straight into a direct box, eliminating the amp. I'd like to have more control over the sound (with an option or two!) and was wondering how one of these unit's would work for me.

I've yet to try one. Worth a shot?

[CHILDISHGAMBINO]

I haven't used it as a DI but there is a thread about using the zoom as preamp.

Zoom B3 As Preamp

[morgansterne]

I did a search in this thread and someone mentioned the tuner mute . . . I can't figure out how to engage the tuner mute! I don't EVER want to hear any output from DI or amp while tuning.

I have read the manual and searched on talkbass, I'm just not finding it. can anyone help me out please?

[Grateful]

Originally Posted by morgansterne

I did a search in this thread and someone mentioned the tuner mute . . . I can't figure out how to engage the tuner mute! I don't EVER want to hear any output from DI or amp while tuning.

I have read the manual and searched on talkbass, I'm just not finding it. can anyone help me out please?

Press and HOLD the center footswitch. It will move through Bypass, then to Mute.

[JPrinos]

Played with this using jacks and alligator clips. Seemed to work. Ultimately I determined that my old Morley volume pedal uses stereo jacks on the output. I was able to rewire the pedal so that the potentiometer is wired directly to the output jack and voila - diy FP02 pedal. Saved myself ~$65.

Originally Posted by JPrinos

Has anyone seen this link which describes how to use a standard volume pedal as an expression pedal for a Zoom 505?

[cvsurg]

Originally Posted by Mike M.

I'm wondering if I should check one of these units out.

I play at church and have been using my GK MB115 direct to the PA. A plan is underway for us to use in ear monitors with our own mixing stations and they plan on running the bass guitar straight into a direct box, eliminating the amp. I'd like to have more control over the sound (with an option or two!) and was wondering how one of these unit's would work for me.

I've yet to try one. Worth a shot?

In a word, yep. The praise band I play in has the bass directly into the PA. In one hall we have an Eden preamp; when playing in the regular sanctuary, I've used my B3 as the DI; sound guys love not having to mess with a bass amp, miked or DI'd out; I can control the sound, so everybody's happy. Just make sure you don't have your gain too high on the effects and have the output at reasonable levels; o/w you can get a hiss through the PA.

[Mike M.]

Originally Posted by cvsurg

In a word, yep. The praise band I play in has the bass directly into the PA. In one hall we have an Eden preamp; when playing in the regular sanctuary, I've used my B3 as the DI; sound guys love not having to mess with a bass amp, miked or DI'd out; I can control the sound, so everybody's happy. Just make sure you don't have your gain too high on the effects and have the output at reasonable levels; o/w you can get a hiss through the PA.

Thank's, bud! I have yet to use any kind of an effect with my bass, so that shouldn't be a problem. I would pretty much be using a unit like that going between two preset sounds...one for fingerstyle and one with using a pick.

Thanks again. Good to hear from those with experience in the same setting.

[OmeDunk]

Originally Posted by gastric

I have a bunch of synth sound samples and patches shared here: http://www.cgraham.com/chris/music/bass/zoom_b3/

You tell me how they sound.

The synths sound pretty good. Thank you for these sound samples.

Now I will be searching for drive, distortion and fuzz clips.
Any suggestions where to look?

[cvsurg]

Just set up your B3 so that the patches you will use are next to each other, so you can toggle down with the 2nd switch and up with the 3rd. Enjoy!
Edit- This is in response to MikeM's post; I'm a little slow on the draw here.