Zoom B3 multi-effects - Page 6

richntiff · #**101** 11-07-2012, 01:41 PM

It's that easy? Cool.

OzzyGreg · #**102** 11-07-2012, 06:53 PM

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Quote:

Yes, plug the USB cable to your PC, then the B3 becomes a headphone amp through it's left 1/4" output jack.

Quote:

It's that easy? Cool.

I didn't realise that either.
I'll be trying it out tonight!

meatwad · #**103** 11-07-2012, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by richntiff

It's that easy? Cool.

Yeah, just plug in your bass, pc, and headphones.

Bradass · #**104** 11-07-2012, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by richntiff

Hey all - sorry if this has been covered before - but I looked and couldn't really find exactly what I was trying to find. Anyways:

Can the B3 function well as a headphone practice device? What I would like to do is run my Kindle Fire's music into the B3 to play along with as a silent (don't wake the wife) practice device. The B3 does not appear to have an aux input - but it does have a USB. So I can connect it somehow to my PC, and my Kindle music is also sitting out on the Amazon cloud - is there included software to connect the B3 to a PC, or ??? Thanks!!!

I use mine like this all the time and it's great for playing along with songs or lessons or just for silent jamming. I run a 1/8" audio cord from laptop to a 2-way splitter, put headphones with an extension into the splitter also, and plug the single end of the splitter into a 1/4" adapter and into the B3's output. Golden!

Edit - didn't realize the USB could do the same thing. Although my way you can plug straight into the Kindle instead of streaming over the cloud, if that's worth anything.

OzzyGreg · #**105** 11-08-2012, 12:26 AM

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Didn't work for me.

Rune Bivrin · #**106** 11-08-2012, 01:09 AM

Running two outputs into a splitter and then into a single input is not really a recommended practice. It can work if the outputs are somewhat high impedance (such as the typical headphone output derived from a speaker output), but there are no guarantees. Use the USB or use a small real mixer if you want to be sure.

Bradass · #**107** 11-08-2012, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rune Bivrin

Running two outputs into a splitter and then into a single input is not really a recommended practice. It can work if the outputs are somewhat high impedance (such as the typical headphone output derived from a speaker output), but there are no guarantees. Use the USB or use a small real mixer if you want to be sure.

Can you clarify? "To be sure" of what, exactly? It works fine for me and has for months...

autodidact · #**108** 11-08-2012, 10:42 AM

So I just did something that might sound ridiculous but it amuses me

The B3 functions as a headphone amp, I use it for quiet practicing. It also runs on batteries it doesnt need to to be plugged in to a power source. I have a tape adapter in my car so that I can put the adapter in the tape deck, plug the 1/8" jack end into my MP3 or CD player and that way I can listen to that music when I drive.

I have a 1/8" to 1/4" adapter. I plugged the tape adapter into the 1/4" adapter, plugged that into the headphone jack on the B3 and just sat out in my car in my apartment complex's parking lot and played bass through my car speakers. BAhahaahahahahaha MADNESS!

pan1k · #**109** 11-09-2012, 11:56 AM

I'm doing a recording sesh today. I have a Marcus Miller Jazz and Gallien Kruger MB fusion, but im considering going Direct through my B3. Any suggests on what amp sim i should use. I'm playing finger style Pop Punk. I want something warm sounding. Im thinking the Aguilar ( Ala Taking back Sunday, Motion city soundtrack). After moving over to the GK side of things, I tend to stay away from the SVTesque stuff. It doesnt cut through a mix as well. Also need suggestions on an OD/Boost for one part. Ive been using the Big Muff with much sucess. just seeing if anyone has anything they like. Looking towards more creamy sounding than fuzzish.

Lastly, heres a picture of my Peace Board:
Peace Board

Bradass · #**110** 11-09-2012, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pan1k

I'm doing a recording sesh today. I have a Marcus Miller Jazz and Gallien Kruger MB fusion, but im considering going Direct through my B3. Any suggests on what amp sim i should use. I'm playing finger style Pop Punk. I want something warm sounding. Im thinking the Aguilar ( Ala Taking back Sunday, Motion city soundtrack). After moving over to the GK side of things, I tend to stay away from the SVTesque stuff. It doesnt cut through a mix as well. Also need suggestions on an OD/Boost for one part. Ive been using the Big Muff with much sucess. just seeing if anyone has anything they like. Looking towards more creamy sounding than fuzzish.

Lastly, heres a picture of my Peace Board:
Peace Board

Maybe check out the Hartke3500 sim. I like that one a lot, but everyone's idea of "warm" can vary greatly. It's pretty versatile though. I think the Big Muff is the best fuzz/dist in the B3, I run it with the clean Booster to bring up the lower register and its monstrous. I find the standard Overdrive to work pretty well too.

pan1k · #**111** 11-09-2012, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bradass

Maybe check out the Hartke3500 sim. I like that one a lot, but everyone's idea of "warm" can vary greatly. It's pretty versatile though. I think the Big Muff is the best fuzz/dist in the B3, I run it with the clean Booster to bring up the lower register and its monstrous. I find the standard Overdrive to work pretty well too.

Thanks. ya i find the the big muff to be the best as well. even better than the bass big muff.

jmceachern36 · #**112** 11-09-2012, 03:56 PM

Question for you who use the B3. Is the looper easy to use? Any issues with it?

OzzyGreg · #**113** 11-09-2012, 11:29 PM

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Quote:

Question for you who use the B3. Is the looper easy to use? Any issues with it?

It's easy for me to understand how to use it, but I find it a bit hard to coordinate my footswitch hits!

NB: This is no fault of Zoom's just my own total inexperience with loopers and lack of practice using the B3 in this way.

The looper/overdubber works brilliantly when I do manage to time it all correctly.

The only issue I see is when I use a rhythm track to record a loop in time, I can start the rhythm with my foot, but there's no way to turn the rhythm track off with my foot once I've recorded the loop. I have to lean down to turn it off by hand.
A very minor problem I know, but one thing that I found a little annoying.
Maybe there's a way around it, I don't know. I haven't played around with the looper enough to really look hard at it.

Greg

**Ryan L.** · #**114** 11-10-2012, 09:19 AM

Quick question:

For someone like me, who only uses a few effects in a night (used to use an EBS BassIQ, Unichorus, Multidrive, and Octave), would the B3 be the answer for me to get those few effects back into my live setup? I don't need amp sims, nor will I need an overdrive, as I'm buying a Mesa Titan that will have overdrive on it. Mainly looking for a good filter sound, like the BassIQ, and a good chorus. Maybe an octave pedal now and then.

And I know this has been asked, but when bypassed, does this thing mess with your tone? I'm VERY picky about that, so that could be a dealbreaker for me.

gjbassist · #**115** 11-10-2012, 10:36 AM

Just received a B3 I purchased from another TB member. This thing is way cool but also a bit intimidating. I think I have the basics figured out. Any tips to shorten the learning curve on this unit?

CHILDISHGAMBINO · #**116** 11-10-2012, 11:41 AM

Just get in there and mess with things until you understand what they do. Sorry I know that's probably not what you were hoping for but that's the best way to figure this thing out. One thing to mention is that there are patch(total) and globals volume settings also other options you can mess with in the total menu. I really like being able to change my order of effects at the twist of a knob.

gjbassist · #**117** 11-10-2012, 11:45 AM

Well I think I just answered my own question. I hooked the B3 up to my computer with the Edit&Share software. That is nice! IMO makes it much easier to set up and edit patches.

willsellout · #**118** 11-10-2012, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryan L.

Quick question:

For someone like me, who only uses a few effects in a night (used to use an EBS BassIQ, Unichorus, Multidrive, and Octave), would the B3 be the answer for me to get those few effects back into my live setup? I don't need amp sims, nor will I need an overdrive, as I'm buying a Mesa Titan that will have overdrive on it. Mainly looking for a good filter sound, like the BassIQ, and a good chorus. Maybe an octave pedal now and then.

And I know this has been asked, but when bypassed, does this thing mess with your tone? I'm VERY picky about that, so that could be a dealbreaker for me.

I don't really hear any tone suck from this pedal, but I'm probably not as picky. In my opinion the weak points of this unit are the overdrives and especially the octaves; they are just terrible. The synths are just as bad, IMO.

The filters are pretty basic but they do the job pretty well. The other modular effects are pretty good, IMO.

OzzyGreg · #**119** 11-10-2012, 12:32 PM

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Quote:

Just get in there and mess with things until you understand what they do.

Took the words right out of my mou...... umm .....fingers.

meatwad · #**120** 11-10-2012, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by willsellout

I don't really hear any tone suck from this pedal, but I'm probably not as picky. In my opinion the weak points of this unit are the overdrives and especially the octaves; they are just terrible. The synths are just as bad, IMO.

The filters are pretty basic but they do the job pretty well. The other modular effects are pretty good, IMO.

I've never owned a synth pedal before, but IMO, the dirt, synth, and octave fx in the B3 are great, along with everything else it does. Perhaps not perfect, but good enough that I no longer GAS for pedals anymore. Just last night, I came up with a great dirt tone with the plain "Overdrive" pedal. Mild, yet very much what I've been after; Grit without mush.