Zoom B3 As Preamp

[Kuroth]

Originally Posted by CharlieC

Beware The Auto Save

The B3 lets you tweak-away at every patch in real-time, but know that all edits are potentially destructive as everything is saved automatically whether you want to or not.

I have adopted a safe practice that before I experiment and touch any knobs, I first navigate to a patch I do not care for in the event I dislike the end result. I later can choose to copy that patch over to a more permanent location if necessary.

Sorry.. Late to this thread so asking questions from Page 1..

Is there a way to reset to Factory Defaults???

I turned on my B3 and thought I was selecting a Patch and turned the middle nob on the second section and the middle screen came up and it was a EQ and I was changing the settings.. I have no clue what if anything I may have messed up..

They really should not have AutoSave and prompt you before it saves something.. (The only thing so far I REALLY dont like about the B3)

[CharlieC]

Originally Posted by Kuroth

Sorry.. Late to this thread so asking questions from Page 1..

Is there a way to reset to Factory Defaults???

I turned on my B3 and thought I was selecting a Patch and turned the middle nob on the second section and the middle screen came up and it was a EQ and I was changing the settings.. I have no clue what if anything I may have messed up..

They really should not have AutoSave and prompt you before it saves something.. (The only thing so far I REALLY dont like about the B3)

I do not believe you messed anything up, but here are the instructions should you want to pursue a system reset:

1. With the B3 powered off, press and hold STORE/SWAP button
2. With STORE/SWAP depressed, now turn on the B3
3. The "All Initialize" screen should appear
4. At this point release the STORE/SWAP button
5. Follow on-screen prompts to either execute or cancel

Cheers!

[theLimeyBrit]

Originally Posted by Kuroth

Sorry.. Late to this thread so asking questions from Page 1..

Is there a way to reset to Factory Defaults???

I turned on my B3 and thought I was selecting a Patch and turned the middle nob on the second section and the middle screen came up and it was a EQ and I was changing the settings.. I have no clue what if anything I may have messed up..

They really should not have AutoSave and prompt you before it saves something.. (The only thing so far I REALLY dont like about the B3)

There is a factory reset option because I did it to my used unit when I first got it, but I don't have it in front of me right now so I can't tell you what to press.

With regard to autosave, again, the trick is to think of the B3 as a series of stompboxes. With any effects pedal, playing with the knobs will change the sound. After you put a pedal away, the knobs don't move back to any preset setting, and they'll still be the way you left them the next time you turn it on. The B3 is the same way- it comes back to a patch the way you left it the last time you used it.

Fortunately, you can save patches you like with the edit/share software so you can restore anything you accidentally mess up.

[CharlieC]

On an interesting note regarding Auto Save, in the v2.0 firmware update for the Zoom G3, Zoom created the ability for the user to disable Auto Save

I learned of this by reading the G3's manual that is available as a PDF download from Zoom's site

Although it is still questionable whether we B3 users will ever receive a similar firmware update, I suspect future product offerings from Zoom will have that capability built-in

Cheers!

[Kuroth]

Originally Posted by CharlieC

I do not believe you messed anything up, but here are the instructions should you want to pursue a system reset:

1. With the B3 powered off, press and hold STORE/SWAP button
2. With STORE/SWAP depressed, now turn on the B3
3. The "All Initialize" screen should appear
4. At this point release the STORE/SWAP button
5. Follow on-screen prompts to either execute or cancel

Cheers!

Thanks...

[Kuroth]

A kind of embarrassing questing but do you guys know of any threads here or other sites or links for a “Completes Beginners Guide to all things Amps” In simple to understand language 

I am learning as I read but honestly don’t understand a lot of what I do read.. LOL


Like the anatomy of a Amp..

Don’t laugh please but some things that I don’t currently understand what they are or how they work and fit together..


Pre Amp(Assume that is like the B3 before going into my Amp?)

Tube Amp (I take it this is the sound of the older type Amps?)

Etc Etc.. A lot of other terms and things I read and don’t really know what they are..


As I said I am getting a TC Electric BG250 Combo… (Finally figured out that a Combo is the Amp and the Head all in one)…


Thanks (Already learned a ton just from reading this Thread)

p.s. I am just learning to play so for now my setup location is just my House for practice and playing with the B3 Drum machine or MP3’s etc..


Someday would like to Jam and gig with other players…

[mbelue]

Originally Posted by Kuroth

A kind of embarrassing questing but do you guys know of any threads here or other sites or links for a “Completes Beginners Guide to all things Amps” In simple to understand language 

I am learning as I read but honestly don’t understand a lot of what I do read.. LOL


Like the anatomy of a Amp..

Don’t laugh please but some things that I don’t currently understand what they are or how they work and fit together..


Pre Amp(Assume that is like the B3 before going into my Amp?)

Tube Amp (I take it this is the sound of the older type Amps?)

Etc Etc.. A lot of other terms and things I read and don’t really know what they are..


As I said I am getting a TC Electric BG250 Combo… (Finally figured out that a Combo is the Amp and the Head all in one)…


Thanks (Already learned a ton just from reading this Thread)

p.s. I am just learning to play so for now my setup location is just my House for practice and playing with the B3 Drum machine or MP3’s etc..


Someday would like to Jam and gig with other players…

Start with the sticky at the top of the amps section. Lots of great info.

[CharlieC]

Originally Posted by Kuroth

A kind of embarrassing questing but do you guys know of any threads here or other sites or links for a “Completes Beginners Guide to all things Amps” In simple to understand language 

I am learning as I read but honestly don’t understand a lot of what I do read.. LOL


Like the anatomy of a Amp..

Don’t laugh please but some things that I don’t currently understand what they are or how they work and fit together..


Pre Amp(Assume that is like the B3 before going into my Amp?)

Tube Amp (I take it this is the sound of the older type Amps?)

Etc Etc.. A lot of other terms and things I read and don’t really know what they are..


As I said I am getting a TC Electric BG250 Combo… (Finally figured out that a Combo is the Amp and the Head all in one)…


Thanks (Already learned a ton just from reading this Thread)

p.s. I am just learning to play so for now my setup location is just my House for practice and playing with the B3 Drum machine or MP3’s etc..


Someday would like to Jam and gig with other players…

For all things mentioned, some quick searches on TalkBass should bring you to forums or existing threads that cover those topics.

This particular thread is about using the B3 specifically as a dedicated preamp, but there are others you might find very useful as I do.

The good news is, I think you have done well in your purchase of a B3 as it has much to offer. Please do visit here again should you want to go as hard-core as our fellow subscribers.

Cheers!

[drpepper]

Just a cursory observation: I've tried tried out bypassing the pre-amp on my RH750 (thanks again, Charlie) with a few amp sim and amp sim/effects patches that I made with the intent playing without an amp on stage. As it's turned out that I'm going to need to use an amp sometimes, I set up copies of all of my primary patches with the cabinet mix on 0. I figure that would be the same as if I were using an amp and running DI to FOH.

I was surprised to find that the cab sims (Ampeg 810, 115 and SWR 410) all sound better turned on through my Uber 410 than off. I didn't find them to be muddy at all. I'm not the best with tone adjectives, but the ones I tried sound "richer." This was limited testing and only at volumes in my house, so more to check out, but interesting so far.

[CharlieC]

Originally Posted by drpepper

Just a cursory observation: I've tried tried out bypassing the pre-amp on my RH750 (thanks again, Charlie) with a few amp sim and amp sim/effects patches that I made with the intent playing without an amp on stage. As it's turned out that I'm going to need to use an amp sometimes, I set up copies of all of my primary patches with the cabinet mix on 0. I figure that would be the same as if I were using an amp and running DI to FOH.

I was surprised to find that the cab sims (Ampeg 810, 115 and SWR 410) all sound better turned on through my Uber 410 than off. I didn't find them to be muddy at all. I'm not the best with tone adjectives, but the ones I tried sound "richer." This was limited testing and only at volumes in my house, so more to check out, but interesting so far.

Depending on one's tone goals, playing style and equipment, the richness you have described using the cabinet sims could either be a positive or negative thing. It is all very subjective.

I myself enjoy the B3's cabinet sim richness so much that I question why I remain so loyal to my real bass cabinets and power amp and not use high-quality powered monitor(s) instead as IMHO they really take the richness and B3 experience to an even greater level.

Regardless, I am quite happy in using the MIX knob to match whatever I am connected to and there really are no set rules.

Cheers!

[drpepper]

Originally Posted by CharlieC

Depending on one's tone goals, playing style and equipment, the richness you have described using the cabinet sims could either be a positive or negative thing. It is all very subjective.

I myself enjoy the B3's cabinet sim richness so much that I question why I remain so loyal to my real bass cabinets and power amp and not use high-quality powered monitor(s) instead as IMHO they really take the richness and B3 experience to an even greater level.

Regardless, I am quite happy in using the MIX knob to match whatever I am connected to and there really are no set rules.

Cheers!

I'll have to strike my comments. I went ahead and treated my household to some louder playing. Turned up some, rich turned to an over-powered boomy sound. Turned up louder than that, it did become what could be called "muddy." Whatever you call it, at volume, it was not exactly pleasant. Almost like I could hear a deeply embedded piling up of the sound, like there was an very short echo.

[oerk]

Originally Posted by theLimeyBrit

With regard to autosave, again, the trick is to think of the B3 as a series of stompboxes. With any effects pedal, playing with the knobs will change the sound. After you put a pedal away, the knobs don't move back to any preset setting, and they'll still be the way you left them the next time you turn it on. The B3 is the same way- it comes back to a patch the way you left it the last time you used it..

I understand what they were going for, but it's still a stupid design decision. I assume the G3 got the switchable autosave after users complained?

Even if we don't get six effects simultaneously, I assume it would be no big effort for Zoom to release a firmware update that simply makes the autosave switchable.

Originally Posted by drpepper

I'll have to strike my comments. I went ahead and treated my household to some louder playing. Turned up some, rich turned to an over-powered boomy sound. Turned up louder than that, it did become what could be called "muddy." Whatever you call it, at volume, it was not exactly pleasant. Almost like I could hear a deeply embedded piling up of the sound, like there was an very short echo.

Most bass cabs have a bump in the low mids to sound full or bassy. And there's a rolloff at 4 or 5k (even lower off-axis). Adding a cab sim multiplies these effects. There're cabs/combos that work better with cab sims, with others they don't work at all. Therefore I'm seriously thinking about a fEarful-type cab with linear and good off-axis response, that can double as a stage monitor.

Most PA cabs don't deliver the low end needed from a bass cab unless you go top+sub. A proper 3-way cab with good excursion should be the answer.

I've never had that problem with the cab sim built into the VT bass (though a lot of people were complaining about it). It sounds good with whatever I plug into it.

[Kuroth]

CharlieC.. I know some of the changes are at the Global level but will you be making some of the patches you create available for us to try out?

Thanks!

[theLimeyBrit]

Originally Posted by Kuroth

CharlieC.. I know some of the changes are at the Global level but will you be making some of the patches you create available for us to try out?

Thanks!

Here's a thread that's full of patches you can download and try out.

[Kuroth]

Originally Posted by theLimeyBrit

Here's a thread that's full of patches you can download and try out.

Thanks.. I did not know CharlieC was posting some there.. Will check it out..

[CharlieC]

Originally Posted by Kuroth

Thanks.. I did not know CharlieC was posting some there.. Will check it out..

Although I've read that many of the patches there are good, I must be honest in saying I did not post any of them

Cheers!

[troy mcclure]

I have the opposite question as Kuroth....
I hate all the patches...can I wipe the B3 to have no patches so i can start from scratch?

[CharlieC]

Originally Posted by troy mcclure

I have the opposite question as Kuroth....
I hate all the patches...can I wipe the B3 to have no patches so i can start from scratch?

Sorry to say there is no "nuke" utility available on the B3 and one must create new patches over other existing patches.

This past post of mine could be of help to those looking to start-out on the right foot.

Moving In Day

Cheers!

[Kuroth]

So CharlieC.. Back to my Question.. Would you post some of you custom Fav settings either here or on the Patch Thread???? Pretty Please...

[CharlieC]

Originally Posted by Kuroth

So CharlieC.. Back to my Question.. Would you post some of you custom Fav settings either here or on the Patch Thread???? Pretty Please...

Thanks, Kuroth, I'm indeed flattered, but let me explain why I really haven't done that so far.

I really do not believe there is any patch I can provide that will sound the same to others as I hear it on my side. In theory, the bass guitar I use, my playing style, connected equipment, and the way I connect/configure them are just as important as the patch settings themselves. Instead, I would rather suggest use of a certain single effect model on the B3 and have you make it your own.

As to not totally disappoint you, a few pages ago, another poster asked me for settings and here is what I would consider the cornerstone for many of my patches.

Enjoy!