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New: Zoom B3n Multi-Effects

Is it possible to use this as a preamp through the effects loop in?
Yes, it is. But then you need to realize on some amps, the amp's volume knob won't work when you are only feeding the sound from the effects loop-in.

I did it once in a soundcheck couple hours before a gig, but then since I didn't have my B3n with a volume pedal or other pedal to quickly control the volume, I found it quite bothering to get the stage volume that I needed, since I had to depend on the B3n Control knob (which also acts as general volume) which response wasn't as quick as turning vol knob on an amp. A least I had to make sure that the knob wasn't in some menus controlling other functions than general volume. So, I opted to plug it from the front of the amp as usual.
 
Yes, it is. But then you need to realize on some amps, the amp's volume knob won't work when you are only feeding the sound from the effects loop-in.
Why are some amps like that - I mean, what advantage do they think it brings making the amp operate that way? I have some guitar amps that have the master vol AFTER the loop and that is perfect, and some guitar and both of my bass amps work in the way you describe... which sucks :/
 
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Why are some amps like that - I mean, what advantage do they think it brings making the amp operate that way? I have some guitar amps that have the master vol AFTER the loop and that is perfect, and some guitar and both of my bass amps work in the way you describe... which sucks :/
Yeah. I guess they just want us to plug in our bass in front and use the amp's preamp (thus we'll have a master volume). They provide the loop so that their preamp is always first in chain.

While on guitar amps, I guess they usually stress the important of some sorts of overdrive/distortion function, so the gain knob is what they think matters the most to be put first in chain, before the loop. They are aware guitar players own tons of overdrive pedals, so they might skip the amp's overdrive and choose to go straight into the effects loop in with their own, so they still need that master volume to be the last. But again... this is only me guessing.
 
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If not for the reasonable price I would likely return the B3n. Everything it does works as advertised but I tend to prefer to run clean so... shrug. Doesn't help that I might be attached house bound so TH3 would become my main "amp" making the B3n redundant.
 
If not for the reasonable price I would likely return the B3n. Everything it does works as advertised but I tend to prefer to run clean so... shrug. Doesn't help that I might be attached house bound so TH3 would become my main "amp" making the B3n redundant.

Same here. I was an early proponent of the B3n and really enjoyed having it on my nano board but I have transitioned to a set of dedicated micro TC pedals for the effects I always need access to, plus an MS-60b for "miscellaneous." I'm no pedal expert but the Spectracomp sounds better to me than any of the compressors I played with in the B3n, and the note tracking of the subnup is miles ahead of what Zoom can do. I'm still powered by either USB or a 1-Spot depending on what's needed. Plus the velcro is gone in favor of a roll of 3M Dual Lock. (And there's a new bass in the mix.) Happy place!

IMG_8818.JPG
 
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What I do with my guitar is I plug my G5n into my favorite boost pedal and that into a DI. I use the boost pedal because it fattens up the tone in a very tubelike manner, even with the one knob at 0 (unity gain). It's kinda the same feature as the output booster, but better sounding.

Anyhow, I find that if I need more volume, I can easily turn up the knob on the boost pedal (it gives up to a whopping +35 DBs).

So I suggest that for anyone here, plug their B3n into their favorite "always on" pedal and that into the "return" jack of their amp. Use the latter pedal to adjust volume.
 
Thank you.

I have to do some research about the theme and about the nomenclature.

DI - direct input.
you can plug directly into a mixer (either PA or studio)

not digital interface... We usually just use audio interface or IO for that.

Plugging into a computer - you need a digital interface - something to change your analogue audio into digital audio your computer understands. These seem to serve the same purpose as we do studio recording and mixing on computers quite a lot these days.
 
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A DI changes your basses (typically) high impedance, unbalanced signal into a low impedance balanced signal. This allows it to be run through long lengths of cable (like PA snakes) without the frequency response becoming degraded and without picking up noise from outside sources of interference. The DI's output signal also interfaces well with the mixers low impedance, balanced XLR input.
 
DI - direct input.
you can plug directly into a mixer (either PA or studio)

not digital interface... We usually just use audio interface or IO for that.

Plugging into a computer - you need a digital interface - something to change your analogue audio into digital audio your computer understands. These seem to serve the same purpose as we do studio recording and mixing on computers quite a lot these days.


A DI changes your basses (typically) high impedance, unbalanced signal into a low impedance balanced signal. This allows it to be run through long lengths of cable (like PA snakes) without the frequency response becoming degraded and without picking up noise from outside sources of interference. The DI's output signal also interfaces well with the mixers low impedance, balanced XLR input.

Thanks guys.

I have a m audio fast track, and I connect it to the garage band, but there is a significant delay between the note played and the sound registered.

I want something better, but there are so much options that I get confused.

I maybe go with the presonus bundle.
 
Thanks guys.

I have a m audio fast track, and I connect it to the garage band, but there is a significant delay between the note played and the sound registered.

I want something better, but there are so much options that I get confused.

I maybe go with the presonus bundle.
There are a lot of other factors that may be causing your delay. Buying a new interface may not solve your problem, so I'd make sure you try other things first. (Maybe you already have, but it sounds like you're new to this so I'm assuming not.)

Settings like sample rate and buffer size. Driver used (asio probably). Um...other things maybe? It's been a while since I've messed around with this, so I don't have a ton of ideas. And I've never done it on a Mac. But you should read up a bit and try some other things before buying a new interface, IMO.
 

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