NEW: ZOOM B2 FOUR...

[lildrgn]

well, color me IDIOT!

i've had friggin' my Babyface Pro phantom power switched on the whole time i've had the B2 Four plugged into the Mic 1 input.

good gawd - growing up in public.

sigh - we have an 11 day burn in unit with 48v power here - no issues.

View attachment 5042986

Thank you for your service.

 

[Zoot H Rollo]

Thank you for your service.

 

[stubbsonic]

Well, at least with RME, you can be sure there weren't any spikes or surges-- which probably where part of the vulnerability is.

Thanks for being the unwitting guinea pig.

 

[BEADist]

well, color me IDIOT!

i've had friggin' my Babyface Pro phantom power switched on the whole time i've had the B2 Four plugged into the Mic 1 input.

good gawd - growing up in public.

sigh - we have an 11 day burn in unit with 48v power here - no issues.

View attachment 5042986

Thanks for scientifical testing !

 

[Zoot H Rollo]

great thread!

a sub-$300 pedal with the best modeled bass amp tones in the biz.

!!!

and a forum here at TB where we can do some real world testing.

Helix just released a 3.6 update with a Tone Hammer model

Agua Sledge - based on* the Aguilar® Tone Hammer

I have Helix Native (VST) - i'll update. I'm sure it sounds OK.

but i haven't touched the 30+ VST bass amp sims i own since i bought the B2 Four.

and the Zoom helped me finally dial in my live rig!

again, for under $300!

I may get the B6 for studio and use the B2 Four for road.

 

[CDL]

Has anyone experimented with the Share Patches function? Really curious if there’s a library or something out there. As someone who’s brand new to multi fx (and a pretty new bass player), I’m really curious to see how some of you more seasoned bassist build your effects chain.

 

[stubbsonic]

The share function just gives you the ability to store or send patches via iOS's usual sharing tools. At this point, there is no user-made patch library in the app. The "Patch Pool" is where you can store your own patches, or import shared patches. The "News" section has a post that allows you to download all the factory patches, which places them in the Patch Pool. This way you can always get back to them. It's not really needed, as they never really "leave" the unit. But if you have a nice patch located on #100, and you want to load factory #100 without losing User #100, you can load any patch(es) from the pool into any starting ID on the unit.

The Effect Pool is not just a list of effects. Yes it does show you the list with some useful info. It also allows you to both FAVORITE (the verb) your most liked FX, and it allows you to remove them from your device, as well. I immediately removed Bomber, and felt better afterward.

I'll do a more detailed review some day soon.

 

[stubbsonic]

Also, the Lab app's Patch Pool doesn't have a way of deleting patches from the iOS device. I imported the factory sets twice, and the only way to remove them was to delete the app and reinstall it (then redownload the factory patches only once).

 

[lildrgn]

I just used the B24 to record bass for a track a guy wants me to play on. I'm no recording engineer, but I liked how it sounded. But, should I be recording dry bass into the DAW instead? And then play it back out into the B24 after the fact? I know some engineers do a wet and dry and then mix them. I don't have the skills or tools to do that.

To my uneducated ear, the B24 sounded pretty good on its own. I used the 043 GoodTime2012 preset, adding the 1073 Preamp between the default Optical Compressor and EBH360. I didn't touch any settings otherwise.

 

[stubbsonic]

Some engineers like the option of a dry bass-- so they might do a thing like recording one track direct from the DI, and the other through the bassists rig (not two passes, just two inputs). That way you've capture the sound you like, but they can go back to square one (or even mix in some direct) if they need to.

 

[lildrgn]

Some engineers like the option of a dry bass-- so they might do a thing like recording one track direct from the DI, and the other through the bassists rig (not two passes, just two inputs). That way you've capture the sound you like, but they can go back to square one (or even mix in some direct) if they need to.

Can I use the 1/4" out and the XLR out at the same time? I don't recall seeing a way to split a signal via the two outputs, but that could conceivably be a way to get that into my computer...

 

[Zoot H Rollo]

Can I use the 1/4" out and the XLR out at the same time? I don't recall seeing a way to split a signal via the two outputs, but that could conceivably be a way to get that into

Yes, but you can't route them independently.

Both would be effected or bypassed.

This is where the B6 shines!!!

You can use the SEND/RETURN as a first FX block I think, to get a dry signal.

And use the normal outs for effected signals.

This may seal the deal on the B6 for studio.

Great topic!

Looks promising

 

[Zoot H Rollo]

Or

17 Best ABY Pedals (2023 Rankings) - Guitar Lobby

$30

 

[BEADist]

Yes, but you can't route them independently.

Both would be effected or bypassed.

Aah, thanks for mentioning this! Somehow until now I overlooked this (insert facepalm..). Live I want an amp/cab sim going to the DI (FOH) but not to the 1/4" out (stage amp). Probably not a problem if you play in-ear or with a FRFR cabinet I guess.

All this time I was looking at the B2Four as a potential (cheap) backup for my pedal board but I want/need the separate outlets. Damn, no excuse to buy this nice thing! Actually it is not to be expected from this rather cheap device to have independently routed outputs available of course.

 

[Zoot H Rollo]

Aah, thanks for mentioning this! Somehow until now I overlooked this (insert facepalm..). Live I want an amp/cab sim going to the DI (FOH) but not to the 1/4" out (stage amp). Probably not a problem if you play in-ear or with a FRFR cabinet I guess.

exactly why I went with the QSC CP12, 1,000 watt powered monitor.


there's something charming about the cheapish B2-Four delivering such stellar amp sims.

plus it looks stealth on my QSC.

 

[munnkyboy]

After a Few WEEKS with this - I still dig it. Butttt.
I'm doing two shows next week - I pulled out the B3n...and did a side by side set up with the B2 FOUR...and well
the AMP WITH CAB baked in - Sux. I use the AMPS only...Mostly the Ampeg and Aguilar...doing a side by side with exact setting...the AMP/Cabs sound...WOOLY. Yeah I know why..but eeech...Which is a HUUUGE bummer for me using this live - I'm going to NOT use the AMP/CABS and see if I can get close with the Preamps..buy Geez..
I still dig this...Hell..I have the ZOOM B4 and you can just use the HEADS and not the CABS..that's a big oversight. We shall see.

 

[Zoot H Rollo]

"sux" ?

such hyperbole.

Are you talking about the B1-Four and B1X-Four?

I checked the fx list, and yes, it looks like this unit has separate amps and cabs, but no preamps like the 1073 with the B2 Four.

I've done comparisons with the B2-Four and my VST sims/Cab IRs and prefer the zoom. Though the BX Ampegs and the Audified GK 3 are stunning.

Haven't played live with the B2 and the QSC yet.

Wooliness sounds like you need to add a HPF or a little EQ as you would with real amps.

The HPF in the B2 Four was one of the reasons i ditched the GT1B.


stuff like this makes me consider the B6 even more - but, so far i'm sticking with the B2 Four.

 

[stubbsonic]

With the B2 Four, the only way to record both dry & "FX" would be to use a DI before the B2 Four.

Bass into DI input, XLR to recording track 1 (dry), thru of DI to B2 Four, out XLR out of B2 Four to recording track 2 (wet).

 

[Zoot H Rollo]

With the B2 Four, the only way to record both dry & "FX" would be to use a DI before the B2 Four.

Bass into DI input, XLR to recording track 1 (dry), thru of DI to B2 Four, out XLR out of B2 Four to recording track 2 (wet).

excellent call!

my DI

 

[stubbsonic]

You gotta power that DI with phantom, but NOT the B2 Four. (cue suspenseful bass note).