New: Zoom B3n Multi-Effects

[gregmon79]

From the little time I've spent:

- all sounds are improved across the board
- more effects slots per patch (7)
- better switching navigation
- front panel programming really easy and intuitive

The following may pop your balloon if you rely on these features:

- tons upon tons upon tons of amps/cabs/fx in the inventory. A good amount are in the B3n, and more are expected on a regular basis via download. You may find initial release slim.
- limited pedal control assignments
- no XLR output
- no USB Audio capabilities; no power via USB
- computer software editor is bare bones, and not yet able to do actual patch creation as you'd expect from an editor.

The "cons" are not deal breakers for me, and IMHO the "pros" make the B3n (and the G3n/G5n) a really good bang-for-buck (in Zoom tradition), and are noticeable improvements over the B3.

YMMV.

Well, to me, that sounds nice. All those other features aren't a big deal to me. The better sound quality is the "winner" for me. I would buy it based on just that. The rest is icing. All the others stuff, no XLR, USB power, not a big deal at all. I may need to invest in one of these used down the road. I mostly use these things at home anyway.

Does this one have a looper and a rhythm machine too?

 

[gregmon79]

Does this unit have an HPF and LPF on it?

 

[jimfist]

Yes, looper and rhythm module. Technically, no dedicted HPF/LPF, but as was discussed yesterday, you can coax this out of the SPLITTER...but you'd need two iterations of it to have both a HPF and a LPF.

HPF & LPF are becoming very popular requests from bassists these days, so I hope ZOOM is paying attention and will add a dedicated filter block for this purpose.

On the other hand, HPF and LPF are inherent in the cabinet sims, so the easiest way to get this filtering in one block is to find a cabinet sim that you like.

 

[BrentSimons]

Well, to me, that sounds nice. All those other features aren't a big deal to me. The better sound quality is the "winner" for me. I would buy it based on just that. The rest is icing. All the others stuff, no XLR, USB power, not a big deal at all. I may need to invest in one of these used down the road. I mostly use these things at home anyway.

Does this one have a looper and a rhythm machine too?

Yes you can add the looper and rhythm machine to a patch and trigger them with the footswitches.
Hope this helps,
Brent

 

[JeffreyW]

Cab sims and mic's:
I have never liked cab sims when fronting a Amp/ Cab or Combo. This has not changed with the B3n. I had the opertunity to set up a PA last night and get it to performance volumes. Cab Sims work well and sound like a cab is being mic'd however, keep in mind that if a front of house guy mic's your cab live he also usually takes a direct signal through a DI and Blends you out front. If you are looking for a great live sound direct, it may be a good idea to do this. Send a DI uneffected to board along with the Zoom. This also allows you or sound man too send back a signal to you that is uneffected. I find this useful when using Sub DUb patches ect..... so you can hear yourself well with out having to crank up your stage volume.

 

[gregmon79]

Yes you can add the looper and rhythm machine to a patch and trigger them with the footswitches.
Hope this helps,
Brent

Yes. Thats way cool. I'm on the website looking at all the features. It's a pretty neat unit. How are the filters and octaves? Analogue and or digital ones.

 

[Pietro Stimoli]

If we add the looper and the drum machine in a patch, the number of effects avaiable is 5 or 7?

 

[jimfist]

Yes. Thats way cool. I'm on the website looking at all the features. It's a pretty neat unit. How are the filters and octaves? Analogue and or digital ones.

In that all of the filters and octaves are digital emulations of other analog/digital devices, they do a good job IMO. This is a very subjective thing, and even amongst analog pedal purists, you'll get strong opinions of whether a specific flavor of envelope, filter, octave, distortion et al is "good" or not. IMO Zoom has done a good job improving the effects compared to the B3. Whether they will exactly float your boat specifically, or not, only you'll be able to say.

 

[jimfist]

If we add the looper and the drum machine in a patch, the number of effects avaiable is 5 or 7?

[Edit: there are two looper choices: a one unit/slot looper, and a 2 unit/slot looper.]

It is 5 since the (1 slot) Looper and Rhythm are not global entities, and can be placed anywhere in the signal chain. You can't change preset patches, though, and have the looper retain what you've recorded (the downside). You can still change effects within an effect slot after you've printed your part to the looper, which might not be practical for a live performance, but gives you plenty of flexiblity at home or in personal rehearsal.

 

[CharlieC]

^^^

@jimfist you are on fire today!

 

[JeffreyW]

If we add the looper and the drum machine in a patch, the number of effects avaiable is 5 or 7?

You are correct, 5. The real thing you need to look at is not how many slots you have but how much processing power is being used per patch.

MB Comp
BassMan Amp and cabinet
Eq
Dark Glass OD

You are at 98 DSP power processing with a 100 max. You can't add a looper here.


https://www.zoom.co.jp/sites/default/files/products/downloads/pdfs/E_B3n_FX-power-chart.pdf

 

[Jebberz]

Does the rythm can be affected by the effects, or it is always dry?

 

[Pietro Stimoli]

How work stereo or mono looper?

 

[FuzzFacetious]

There is no way to turn the mic sim off and just use the cab sim. Instead there is a balance control that mixes the pure sound of the head with the sound of the mic'd cabinet. It is variable but you cannot have the sound of an un-miced cabinet. I would much prefer being able to turn the mic sim off when playing live through a rig and on when recording or as an option through a PA

That's annoying... But does it still sound decent through a real amp and cab with the cab sim on? Do you just have to blend the dry signal in higher to get rid of harshness or something?

 

[Cider]

Amp models are Large effects and take up two effect slots. The foot switch for the left-most slot controls the effect On/Off. The foot switch for the right-most slot controls the Solo boost On/Off. When Solo is On, volume of the effect is boosted by the units shown in the Solo parameter. When Solo is Off, effect volume is returned to normal. This feature is for volume boosts usually required for solo parts.

Lovely. Thank you so much for the easy to understand explanation - it makes a lot of sense even to someone who doesn't know much of anything like me!


So I think I'll attempt to do some recording with the B3n through an audio interface soon. I ordered the Mackia Onyx Blackjack, which apparently has a built-in DI and Hi-Z option for instrument input. My question is - do I need to turn the Hi-Z option when I record with the B3n? I'm technically challenged so I'm not sure if the Output specs for L/Mono/Phone, maximum output level: Line +5 dBm (with output load impedance of 10 kΩ or more)
is good or bad ^^"

 

[CharlieC]

Lovely. Thank you so much for the easy to understand explanation - it makes a lot of sense even to someone who doesn't know much of anything like me!


So I think I'll attempt to do some recording with the B3n through an audio interface soon. I ordered the Mackia Onyx Blackjack, which apparently has a built-in DI and Hi-Z option for instrument input. My question is - do I need to turn the Hi-Z option when I record with the B3n? I'm technically challenged so I'm not sure if the Output specs for L/Mono/Phone, maximum output level: Line +5 dBm (with output load impedance of 10 kΩ or more)
is good or bad ^^"

Connect the LEFT output of the B3n to the interface using a standard 1/4" unbalanced (TS) instrument cable. You should set the Mackie input switch to Line, as the Hi-Z setting there is intended for direct connection of an instrument with a pickup.

 

[Stu_Bass]

That's annoying... But does it still sound decent through a real amp and cab with the cab sim on? Do you just have to blend the dry signal in higher to get rid of harshness or something?

It sounds very good. i just want everything to be my way ,that's all. Whats wrong with things being "perfect"?

 

[FuzzFacetious]

It sounds very good. i just want everything to be my way ,that's all. Whats wrong with things being "perfect"?

When it comes to MFX gear for Bass, especially when compared to what's available for guitar, you get used to things not being perfect

 

[CharlieC]

When it comes to MFX gear for Bass, especially when compared to what's available for guitar, you get used to things not being perfect

... and priced $50 higher!

 

[BoydG]

... and priced $50 higher!

...and RED!