NEW: ZOOM B2 FOUR...

[obvious1]

Unfortunately, if your headphone level is low, the only way around that is using different headphones or getting a little headphone amp box thingy.

The fact that the drum machine can be set up per preset means:

1. You can save all the settings per patch, with 300 slots, there's plenty of room.
2. You won't waste a precious slot, or precious CPU on the drum machine when you aren't using it.
3. Put the Drum Machine module anywhere in the chain for applying FX if wanted.
4. For people who don't like the drum machine, they never have to think about it.

I'd suggest you just save a drum-machine-version of any of your go-to patches.

It's definitely not the headphones because I get plenty of volume when playing the drum machine. Also, when I attach it to my Rumble 100 using the Rumble's receive jack the volume is also really low. I have to use the input jack and the preamp of the Rumble to get a decent volume. I'm hoping this can be addressed with a firmware update.

When the drum machine isn't playing, I would think it's not using any processor power. For someone like me who wants to scroll through patches while the drum machine is playing, this is an inconvenience. The b1x four is the better way and again I'm hoping this can also be addressed with a firmware update.

 

[mattattack187]

My old band decided to start jamming again after six years. Rather than re buy all the pedals I sold in the time since I decided to buy one of these on a whim. I’ve used the B3 and B3n in the past which I liked. I’d imagine this should be able to cover my minimal needs. Preamp, Chorus, Envelope and DI. I’ll check back in when I get some play time with it.

After playing with this last night I am really impressed. I can only compare to my old B3 and B3n but I feel like this pedal has the best sounding Sansamp BDDI simulation out of all of them. The Q Tron sounds amazing and the choruses are excellent. Octavers are usable. Tuner works well. Might not be as responsive as a Boss or Polytune but it works well for any situation. I tried a few amp sims but they're just too boomy for my taste. Slapped this thing on a small pedaltrain I had laying around and it should be all I need to go forward.

 

[stubbsonic]

...I tried a few amp sims but they're just too boomy for my taste.

I agree. Both the presets and the default amp settings are pretty humpy. I found I could tame it with the amp modules' EQ and/or an EQ module.

 

[munnkyboy]

Musings about volumes, overcomplication and most efficient way of using the B2 Four.

I have created patches for songs that my band is playing. Most are amps and compressors, only a couple have effects beyond that. I'm trying to make sure the output of each patch is around the same as the others. I sort of eyeball it (earhole it?) by playing notes on one patch, then bouncing to the next to see if there's a huge variation or not.

I have left the master volume controls at 100, with low/mid/high all at 0.

It's very possible I'm complicating matters by creating patches for songs that may not need them. For example, the bass tone in a song like "Swingtown" by Steve Miller Band, to me, is fairly generic; do I really need to create a patch for it (Black Optical Compressor > SVT)? I could simply create a "Generic SVT" patch, use that instead. Same with Toto's "Hold The Line." I could likely get away with using the same patch or generic patch for both songs, but what's the fun in that?

By doing that, any song that uses that generic patch would have the same volume output throughout. The way it is now, with a 20 song set and 20 patches, it could be simplified with some generic patches. I'm trying to get maximum usage out of the B24.

I mean, the way I'm using it, it works and I like how it sounds, but I do wish there was a way to get consistent volume across all the patches. Last thing I need is to switch patches and have too much/too little bass for any given song and no really easy (re: B24 interface, ugh) way to adjust on the fly.

Is anyone else gigging/rehearsing with this thing on a regular basis? If so, how are you using it, what kind of tips do you have?

I play in a band that does Rush - Zepp - ELO - Floyd - ETC....I have 3 Patches - ZEPP - MAIN - RUSH - Each patch has additional setting inside the preset. So the MAIN Patch has an OCTAVE and CHORUS...Use the OCTAVE for endings to help the audience clear any constipation issues and the CHORUS in case we do JOURNEY...

ZEPP has an extra dirt Pedal Lurking to turn on as well as a Tremolo patch for Heartbreaker - The Rush patch has added filth and mids...but also a Flanger...

So with those 3 I have alot of ground covered...and I don't even want that many

 

[stubbsonic]

It's definitely not the headphones because I get plenty of volume when playing the drum machine.

I have to turn the drum machine WAY down. With your headphones Is the drum machine the same level as on the B1 Four?

 

[GASsyFunker]

I use mine with headphones all the time, and the volume is fine. You just have to be careful with the volume of each effect, and also the master volume on the main menu (where you switch between presets 1-300).

I use some basic -and cheap! -AKG K-92 headphones, and some patches are loud enough through headphones at only 6 on the master.

 

[stubbsonic]

Be aware, you can clip signal at output (digital clipping=bad)- so make sure you don’t exceed that level. There seems to be lots of headroom within the module path, but maybe not at the output. (?) Works to turn down level at some module anywhere in chain.

 

[Stagelab]

Looking into the B24. A few questions:

- Can you use it as an interface for electric guitar as well as bass?
- Is it a single channel interface?
- Are there 2 jacks to connect 2 studio monitors via TRS cables?
- Does the B24 include preamp sims and is there a list of them? I would be plugging it into my Tone Hammer 350 head's input (no fx loop) so wouldn't want amp/cab sims activated.
- Can the amp and cab sims be separated so you can choose to bypass a cab sim but use an amp sim?

 

[stubbsonic]

- You can connect a guitar or bass.
- It has 1 input, but the interface will show two sources, because the USB (and all outs) are post FX. If the last module in the chain is mono, or the DI is active, it will be a mono signal (L & R will be the same signal).
- There are two TS outs (stereo, unbalanced L & R), and only one XLR out (mono)
- B2 Four does have preamp sims, you can go to zoom site and download fx list.
You can disable amp/cab in factory presets, or not include amp/cabs in your presets.
- In the B2 Four, because of the Multi-Layer IR feature, the amp & cab are hardwired,
and you cannot separate them.

 

[GotGroove]

- Does the B24 include preamp sims and is there a list of them? I would be plugging it into my Tone Hammer 350 head's input (no fx loop) so wouldn't want amp/cab sims activated.

Yes, on the zoom website. Here.

 

[Stagelab]

- You can connect a guitar or bass.
- It has 1 input, but the interface will show two sources, because the USB (and all outs) are post FX. If the last module in the chain is mono, or the DI is active, it will be a mono signal (L & R will be the same signal).
- There are two TS outs (stereo, unbalanced L & R), and only one XLR out (mono)
- B2 Four does have preamp sims, you can go to zoom site and download fx list.
You can disable amp/cab in factory presets, or not include amp/cabs in your presets.
- In the B2 Four, because of the Multi-Layer IR feature, the amp & cab are hardwired,
and you cannot separate them.

Thanks. My Scarlett 2i2 interface has two line outputs for balanced cables. I have TSR cables going into the outputs. If I plug them into the B24 jacks, any potential issues? Noise, maybe? If I get the B24, I’d sell my Scarlett and maybe my basic looper pedal too, and I’d hold off on buying the spectracomp pedal I’m eyeing.

 

[stubbsonic]

Your post is confusingly worded with regard to ins/outs.

If you want direct digital audio from the B2 Four into your computer, use the USB connection:
OUTPUT of your guitar/bass to INPUT of B2 Four. USB connection to computer. Choose B2 Four as your source for recording.

If you want to use your Scarlett 2i2, and go analog (why?) you can probably connect the 1/4" TS L & R outs with unbalanced TS cables into your Scarlett's 1/4" inputs. If you use TRS cables with an unbalanced signal, I'm not sure how that will work with the Scarlett.

If I were you, I'd keep the Scarlett. Even though the B2 Four can interface via USB, you'd lose the ability to connect mic's, and you would lose lots of flexibility. It would also make other things kind of a hassle.

 

[Stagelab]

Your post is confusingly worded with regard to ins/outs.

If you want direct digital audio from the B2 Four into your computer, use the USB connection:
OUTPUT of your guitar/bass to INPUT of B2 Four. USB connection to computer. Choose B2 Four as your source for recording.

If you want to use your Scarlett 2i2, and go analog (why?) you can probably connect the 1/4" TS L & R outs with unbalanced TS cables into your Scarlett's 1/4" inputs. If you use TRS cables with an unbalanced signal, I'm not sure how that will work with the Scarlett.

If I were you, I'd keep the Scarlett. Even though the B2 Four can interface via USB, you'd lose the ability to connect mic's, and you would lose lots of flexibility. It would also make other things kind of a hassle.

sorry, my cable knowledge sucks.

with my Scarlett I plug my bass into the 1/4” jack, connect the interface to my Mac via USB, and have TRS cables plugged into the line outs of my interface, to connect my speakers to the interface.

I was wondering if I could keep the same setup if I used the B24 as an interface instead. Can I plug TRS into the B24 line outs? If so, any issues?

I have only recorded direct, never with mics. I guess it depends if I foresee using mics in the future. what sort of hassles are you thinking of?

 

[stubbsonic]

The B2 Four only has unbalanced outs (TS), so you would need to use TS (instrument) cables-- even though the output signal of the B2 Four is at line level (-10 dB, I think). You'd need to see if your monitor speakers can accept unbalanced 1/4" inputs. If the speakers have RCA connectors, you can use adapters and use those.

The issues with choosing to use the B2 Four as your only interface is that you have a fixed bit depth and sample rate-- which may or may not cause some headaches for you. It's hard for me to say whether this what kinds of walls you might run into. I'm just thinking if you can keep a dedicated Audio i/o (your Scarlett), you'd avoid some potential self-kicking later.

 

[Stagelab]

The B2 Four only has unbalanced outs (TS), so you would need to use TS (instrument) cables-- even though the output signal of the B2 Four is at line level (-10 dB, I think). You'd need to see if your monitor speakers can accept unbalanced 1/4" inputs. If the speakers have RCA connectors, you can use adapters and use those.

The issues with choosing to use the B2 Four as your only interface is that you have a fixed bit depth and sample rate-- which may or may not cause some headaches for you. It's hard for me to say whether this what kinds of walls you might run into. I'm just thinking if you can keep a dedicated Audio i/o (your Scarlett), you'd avoid some potential self-kicking later.

thanks for the details. I have XLR to TRS cables now. XLR goes into the monitors. TRS into interface. The monitors accept unbalanced but the manual says there may be noise. If I wanted to try using the B24 as an interface, sounds like I’d need RCA to TS.

the 2i2 is 24 bit just like the B24. But B24’s sample rate is 44.1k while 2i2 is 44.1-192. Pro studios often use 44.1k—why opt for a higher rate?

To be honest I have no idea which sample rate I’ve used when recording. Probably the default which I believe is 44.1. I use GarageBand for what it’s worth. Tried to get into Logic but found GB was sufficient for me.

 

[stubbsonic]

If your monitors have RCA inputs, you can use adapters or cables with Male 1/4" TS on one end and male RCA on the other end. It is possible you could use the TRS to XLR, but I just don't know for sure if it will work properly. The noise of not having balanced signal might not be a big issue. Usually worse with longer cables.

The B2 Four is fixed at 44.1K, but on my rig I can choose 16 bit, 24 bit, and 32-bit (!?). I did a test on my Mac to see if it would playback audio recorded at 96K and it did without any problems. Audio quality seemed very good. So for playback, I don't know what is converting it down to 44.1K, perhaps Mac OS is taking care of that.

Recording at 44.1K is fine. If that's all you ever do you'll be ok. Still, I'm hesitating to recommend, but maybe that's just me being superstitious.

 

[Lemmolo]

Any news about a Windows interface, like Guitar Lab or ToneLib, for B2four?

 

[stubbsonic]

Only iOS so far. I've heard convincing reasons why developing for Android is extra challenging. They really should develop an editor for Mac & Windows.

That said, editing patches on the unit isn't super painful, just slightly painful. With 300 slots, managing libraries isn't as crucial, (room for lots of options). But still, a person shouldn't have to buy an iPad/iPhone just to edit this.

 

[Lemmolo]

Only iOS so far. I've heard convincing reasons why developing for Android is extra challenging. They really should develop an editor for Mac & Windows.

That said, editing patches on the unit isn't super painful, just slightly painful. With 300 slots, managing libraries isn't as crucial, (room for lots of options). But still, a person shouldn't have to buy an iPad/iPhone just to edit this.

Actually I don't care for an Android editor, I won't use it with a tablet. I just would like to be able to edit parameters easily on a PC instead of fighting against the 3 seconds adjusting time.
Just the basic PC editor we were used to with B1four, B3 and B3n.This does not seem such a difficult task to perform....

 

[Appogee]

Actually I don't care for an Android editor, I won't use it with a tablet. I just would like to be able to edit parameters easily on a PC instead of fighting against the 3 seconds adjusting time.
Just the basic PC editor we were used to with B1four, B3 and B3n.This does not seem such a difficult task to perform....

B6 has this, too.