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Zoom B3 compressors

sm49341

sm49341

May 12, 2013
568
524
Michigan
#1
I currently own a Zoom B2. I use the compressor for live siutuations. Its the only effect I have on. I notice a slight fizz or hiss as a note fades, and this is on a very low setting. More compression adds more fizz . I have been testing pedals like the mxr m87 and the MarkBass compressore, so I know what a decent compressor should sound like.
So I ask, is there any noise with this compression in B3?

I own a G3, I'm quite familiar with how these units operate.
Thanks group.
 
#5
bongomania said:
...a couple of B3 owners have claimed it is much better.
Click to expand...

I'm just about to ditch my DBX 266xs compressor in favor of the B3. I've been using the B3's 160 Comp which is supposedly comparable to the DBX 160 and so far I've been happy with its sound.

FWIW, the DBX 266xs sucks for bass. Lower frequencies make the compressor flutter on soft-knee mode, and there are audible clicks in anything over 1:2 compression. I've been using it for a nose gate, and it hardly seems worth its weight in rack space.
 
#6
The B3 has a couple good comps IMO. The 160 is very good, transparent compression. The M comp feels a little squishier to me, very nice but it does seem to have some subtle distortion which would totally get lost in a mix. Even the Dynacomp model is pretty good.
 
#7
Thanks guys. I noted in the earlier post that I own G3. I havent rocked the comps on it because my bass practice rig is at our rehersal location all the time. I finally got over there and toyed with the B2 and G3 compressors at full volume. The B2 is fizzy. However the G3 compressors were great. Really like the mcomp. Does a very nice job, and totally quiet, The G3 will serve me for now, perhaps I will swing for the B3 in the future,
 
#8
I find that the B2 “cmp” model is pretty much unusable. I do use a small amount of the “lim” model, as it does a semi-decent job.
The B3 compressor models are in an entirely different league (thankfully so). I use the M-comp and the 160 comp models ... finding that the 160 is a really flexible model to use as an “always on” comp. The M-comp is easier to set up, however, and really good for slap.


I have 2x B2.1u units and a B3 unit... I've been rocking a B2.1u for over 6 years, and still love it.... but I can say without hesitation that the B3 is superior.
 
#9
I don't seem to have any luck with the compressors. Shouldn't compressions make soft playing louder and loud playing softer? I turn the thresh all the way down and the ratio all the way up and still can't tell a difference. What am I missing?
 
#10
magecat said:
I don't seem to have any luck with the compressors. Shouldn't compressions make soft playing louder and loud playing softer? I turn the thresh all the way down and the ratio all the way up and still can't tell a difference. What am I missing?
Click to expand...

Here's one test: with the comp switched OFF, turn your amp's input gain up until it distorts when you play strong peaky notes. Then turn the comp on, with those heavy settings, and see if the distortion goes away.
 
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#12
Last night, I switched the 60B from last before PDBBI to right after the BEF, with hoping to get better performance from the tone-shaping patches in that spot.

I also tried all the comps/limiters, not real testing but more trying them to see which one(s) would work out (I 've been using an LMB-3 (slap setting) for a couple of years). So after trying them, it ended up being a shootout between the 160 and the Opto and for now, the Opto seems to my better liking and will test it further in band practice later this month. No worse noise than with the LMB-3, IMO.
 
#14
bongomania said:
Here's one test: with the comp switched OFF, turn your amp's input gain up until it distorts when you play strong peaky notes. Then turn the comp on, with those heavy settings, and see if the distortion goes away.
Click to expand...

Bongo, put ads on your site. Seriously, you could do it in a way that is non-obtrusive and if done tastefully, I don't think anyone would be offended.

Even throwing them in non-ideal places like at the bottom of the page or way off to the side would allow you to bring in some money without compromising the integrity of your site.

You are too important and helpful not to be sitting in a compressor palace testing compressors all day with your compressor minions doing your compressor bidding.
 
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#15
Yeah... I've struggled with that for years. The integrity thing, plus too often the ads slowed down page loading, and they never seemed to pay off more than pennies. I did recently put Ebay and Amazon links on there that do a decent job.
 
#16
Apart from my limiter pedal the B3's comps are my first real experience with compression outside of editing and I'm really enjoying them.
The 160 and Opt Comp (Punch Factory) are my go-to comps. The 160 for more exact clinical compression and the Opt Comp for general comp, the tone knob can add a little clarity as well.
Great pedal and quiet, thought i get a touch of hum from my Jazz, which can be exacerbated by some pedal combinations but killed by the ZNR noise suppressor.
I noticed that when I put my Ibanez PhatHed before the B3 with the Opt set, sometimes you can hear the envelop opening up like a volume swell.
If you want to save valuable patch space the Hartke amp sim has a built in comp, basic but works.
 

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