|
|
|
|
Zoom B2.1u - Multi Effect with Expression Pedal and USB Connection
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Recommended By
|
Average Price
|
Average Rating
|
|
100% of reviewers
|
$151.50
|
8.4
|
|
|
|
|
|
Description:
|
The Zoom B2.1U Bass Effects with USB provides all the same features of the hot Zoom B2 plus a programmable Expression Pedal, a balanced XLR direct output, and USB interface with Steinberg Cubase LE software.
Features include the new ZFX3 processor loaded with 9 preamp/cabinet and 5 stomp box models faithfully accurate to the originals in every way.All this incredible analog emulating performance is achieved with no background hiss (120dB signal to noise ratio) and extreme dynamic range (120dB), and there’s more; 45 different effects (7 modules available per patch), 3 types of synth sounds, a Harmonized Pitch Shifter, acoustic bass and fretless, 6-band graphic EQ or 2-band parametric EQ, the world’s fastest patch change, Auto Tuner, and an onboard PCM drum machine (40 patterns). Includes AC Adapter (also operates up to 7 hours on 4 AA alkaline batteries).
•40 preset bass effects patches, 40 programmable memory patches
•7 effect modules with 45 effect types
•32-bit processing, 96kHz sampling rate
•24-Bit A/D, D/A converters
•Built-in drum machine with 40 rhythm variations
•Integrated chromatic tuner
•Sturdy metal chassis
•USB interface
•Bulit-in Expression Pedal
•Operates on 4 AA batteries, or the included AC power •adapter
•Steinberg Cubase LE software bundled
|
|
|
|
Author
|
|
CraigG
Registered User
Registered: March 2006
Location: Mechanicsburg, PA
Posts: 1069
|
|
Review Date: Tue April 4, 2006
|
Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: $189.00
| Rating: 6
|
|
Pros:
|
Seems to be well built, some interesting possibilities, DI
|
|
Cons:
|
Some effects and models are noisy and not suitable for recording
|
|
I bought the unit primarily for the following:- DI - the thought of being able to plug my bass into a sound system withough having to lug around my amp all the time was appealing
- Amp Modeling
- Defret effect - I read someplace else that a user thought it was the best they ever heard (I'm not overly impressed)
- Convincing advertising
Most of the othe effects are fairly useless to me (at least at this point). I was disappointed to find that a couple of the amp models (particularly the SWR) are noisy and could never be used in a studio setting. This is really unfortunate since one of the key selling points of the unit is that it can be used via USB as a recording interface. The drum machine, while nothing fancy, is fun for playing along with so I can work on my chops. The fact that the unit is battery powered and has a headphone out makes it possible for me to take it and my bass out on my porch and practice in the fresh air.
Documentation leaves something to be desired, though it's not too difficult to figure out. Zoom would do buyers a HUGE favor to include a list of the factory presets since the only way to find out what they are is to acutally "dissect" each one by going in and playing with their settings.
------------------------------
"The aim and final end of all music should be none other than the glory of God and the refreshment of the soul." --Johann Sebastian Bach. www.craigdouglasgephart.com
|
|
|
|
chaya77032
Registered User
Registered: July 2006
Location: BK, Thaiand
|
|
Review Date: Tue October 3, 2006
|
Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: $150.00
| Rating: 8
|
|
Pros:
|
Tons of effects!, very light, and lots of variations available.
|
|
Cons:
|
Some of the effects will decrease you bass output volume, such as the overdrive.
|
|
Dude!, this thing rocks  I bought it from the Bx3 concert in Thailand and it's on a huge discount. This thing can give you tons of variations on effects!, and I mean it. I spent half an hour going through all the effects.
But the overdrive effect decreases your volume a bit though .
Anyhow this thing is something ou should have.
------------------------------
 Middle School Bassist/Drummer.
|
|
|
|
|
darth-bass
Registered User
Registered: June 2006
Posts: 156
|
|
Review Date: Mon December 18, 2006
|
Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: $130.00
| Rating: 10
|
|
Pros:
|
Amp Modeling, wide range of tonal possibilties, great effects, sturdy, awesome drum machine function
|
|
Cons:
|
non-intuitive interface
|
|
I diasagree with craig, the b2u's amp modeling is one of its highlights-especially if your amp is crappy. Hook this thing though a quality tube distortion pedal and you've got a beast with limitless possibilities. The drum function is awesome for practice and its nice that they include the power plug in with the product. The instructions, cubebase bundled recording software, and interface could use an overhaul since its not the most user freindly product I have ever owned, but if you put some time into mastering all its possibilities it has a lot to offer. I like to set it up as the first pedal on my effects chain and follow it up with tube distortion and equalizer. Recording, direct to PA. The thing kicks ass.
Edit: info added on 8/10/07.
I have had more time to mess with the zoom b21u and I am bumping my rating up to a ten. Over the past few months I have experimented with some more of the Zooms effects: pedal pitch, ring modulator, auto-wah, tape echo, pitch shifter-they all sound great. The harmonized pitch shifter is particularly good, it generates harmonies according to the scale you are playing, anywhere from down a 6th to 6th up and you can use the expression pedal to effect the level between your original sound and the pitch shift-It's nuts! I am just getting a handle on this effect. The zoom's 3 types of reverb hall,room and spring are amazing. It is quite dramatic how each different reverb colors your sound to the extent that they do. The more I learn about this pedal the more I learn what I don't know about it-and how much I love it. The surprises just keep on coming and coming.
Up next for me is the external foot switch that allows you to play loop solos, I saw this video and knew I had to get the footswitch:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dYkX...ed&search=
I keep finding more and more sounds/tones that are great. I sold my sansamp bass driver DI because the zoom emulation is so good and has so much more tweakabilty. In places with good pa I sometimes only bring the Zoom now because of its DI capabilites.
The b21u is one of those pedals that keeps you coming back for more and rewards you by making you a more creative player. Highly endorsed by this player!
------------------------------
The Rickenbacker Club member #92
Rickenbacker 4003, Fender pro 400, Ampeg Hln 4X10
|
|
|
|
|
K-T
Registered User
Registered: May 2007
Location: tasmania, australia
Posts: 194
|
|
Review Date: Sun June 17, 2007
|
Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: $225.00
| Rating: 10
|
|
Pros:
|
price, loads of great effects, built in pedal, recording
|
|
Cons:
|
none.
|
|
i love this pedal, it has so many great effects and you can you can change perimiter and get any sound you want!. i love the ZNR turn it up and it gets rid of the of the noise. the recoriding option is great too but little bit hard at first, but youl get use to it 
if you want a great pedal at a great price, and too record you own music, this is the pedal fro you.
|
|
|
|
|
wannabroksta
Registered User
Registered: March 2007
Location: Canberra, ACT, Australia
Posts: 19
|
|
Review Date: Thu August 23, 2007
|
Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: None indicated
| Rating: 10
|
|
Pros:
|
Extent of effects, design, sound output quality, USB recording
|
|
Cons:
|
|
|
I only purchased this unit about a month ago...and I am finding more and more abilities that the B2.1u can do. I have had experience with Cubase before, so recording was easy...Cubase is a fantastic program, and the fact that it was bundled with the unit was great. The digital delay is fantastic, and the wah has a great sound and excellent sustainability. My only concern, which I haven't labelled in cons cause I believe it's a user flaw rather a design flaw, is the overdrive abilities. I have found that it limits the sound, and decreases the bass output. But as I said, I believe it's more that I haven't played around with its variables enough...the B2.1u has just about endless variables.
I highly recommend the B2.1u to anyone, experienced or beginner!
------------------------------
Quote:
|
"A good bassist determines the direction of any band..." Ron Carter
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ivanov_br
Registered User
Registered: January 2007
Location: Porto Alegre, Brazil
Posts: 64
|
|
Review Date: Sun June 1, 2008
|
Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: None indicated
| Rating: 9
|
|
Pros:
|
Nice sound, pratical use, USB interface
|
|
Cons:
|
Common Zoom problems
|
|
I have a Zoom B2.1u. For me it's perfect! For home and almost-professional recordings is really good.
The expression pedal is a little bit problematic because it's little range.
Distortion is not so good, but amplifiers simulations are cool
For a better analysis you can hear some recordings, avaiable on the link below.
For recording, I used the Zoom multieffect via USB direct to my notebook. The software is the CUBASE (come with the product).
Basses used:
Squier Jazz Bass V Deluxe Edition
Condor BC-600 Fretless.
Songs recorded:
Space Truckin' - Deep Puple (pick- Squier passiv)
Ink Illusion - Alain Caron (Fingerstyle - Condor Fretless)
Power - Marcus Miller (Slap - Squier active)
LINK for the zip file: http://rapidshare.com/files/11868568..._B21u.zip.html
|
|
|
|
|
DERECOLA
Registered User
Registered: August 2006
Location: PA
Posts: 620
|
|
Review Date: Thu October 23, 2008
|
Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: $130.00
| Rating: 5
|
|
Pros:
|
IT IS BUILT WELL
|
|
Cons:
|
|
|
THE ONLY THING I USE THIS FOR IS A STAGE TUNER AND A VOLUME PEDAL.I ALSO USE IT AS A HEAD PHONE AMP.THE DRUM MACHINE IS FUN.I WISH THEY WOULD OF LABELED THE EFFECTS.ALL AND ALL IT IS A NICE TOY TO OWN...THE CUB BASE IS VERY HARD TO USE.
------------------------------
www.rhythmandgrooveband.com
B][/b]FENDER M.I.A. MEMBER #45
|
|
|
|
|
AdagioInJeans
Registered User
Registered: May 2011
Location: Philippines
Posts: 8
|
|
Review Date: Wed June 8, 2011
|
Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: $85.00
| Rating: 9
|
|
Pros:
|
DI, USB interface, Amp Modeling, Rhytm Machine, Tuner
|
|
Cons:
|
No AUX/MIX in
|
|
I bought the Zoom B2.1u primarily because I needed a device that could do the following:
I. Help me tune my bass guitar
II. Provide a bit of amp modelling
III. Provide a rhythm machine to help me practice
IV. A headphone amplifier so I won't disturb anyone
The B2.1u provided all of this for me and more. It has a few nice effects, but since I only play classical music, I didn't find any need for those effects. The amp modeling capabilities provided me with a wide range of tones and help me identify what kind of sound that I would like for the type of music that I play. It also effectively masks the mediocre sound of my cheapo bass. The built in tuner works great, no need to plug my bass to my pc just to tune it. The rhythm machine is good, it provides a wide range of drum patterns and it also has a tap tempo button. The only problem I find with the rhythm machine is that it does not save the previously used rhythm pattern, I had to reselect the pattern every time I want to use it.
This would have been a great bass trainer for me except for the fact that it does not have an AUX in jack, I can't find a way to jam with the songs on my mp3 player. I was really going to buy the BOSS TU-88 but when I saw a zoom b2.1u in great condition being sold for $85 I just couldn't resist the offer.
I haven't tried recording using the USB interface but other reviewers on other sites say that there is a noticeable latency when recording. They say that this can be solved by using an ASIO driver but I haven't tried it yet.
Would I recommend this? For training, no. Find something else, preferably one with a MIX/AUX in. For gigs, yes, it has some nice effects, it's sturdy enough to withstand gigs. The amp modeler can also help in some situations.
Tested with the following:
Oscar Schmidt by Washburn OB46B electric bass guitar
Philips SHP-1900 headphones
------------------------------
Revi
Mediocre Bassist No. 712
|
|
|
|
|
Powered by: Reviewpost vB3 Enhanced
Copyright 2010 All Enthusiast, Inc.
|
TalkBass Forums
