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New: Zoom B3n Multi-Effects

Like yourself, the only way I have found for this is to create an empty patch and switch to/from it as need be.
Seems that this would require planning out the layout of banks within the 3 that are on the pedal. Being that scrolling moves 3 banks at a time I guess it would be helpful to repeat the storage of the dry bank so that switch between effects to dry can be done on a song without scrolling.
 
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I had some time to crank up a little bit last night and here's my bullet list of thoughts:

  • favorite amp/cab sim combination is (naturally, for me) the SVT. It is most familiar to me and gets me where I want to be with the least tweaking. IMO all of the amps and cabs are improved, and have more detail and depth (vs. one-dimensional and compressed, not breathing, etc., yadda yadda).

  • second favorite is the Aguilar, followed by the Trace-Elliot, Fender, and SWR (I didn't download the Acoustic 370 yet). This is purely a subjective "taste" thing, and all of the amp/cab models are very good IMO. The SWR specifically was one I struggled to like a lot. The SWR 400 is an amp I'd played through a couple times, and I found it to be a good amp and all, but it lacked the character of the SWR RedHead 2x10, which I gigged for years. The ZOOM SMR 400 amp sim tone stack displays the exact parameters found on the RedHead, but for some reason I had trouble getting the distinct flavor that I associate with the RedHead. Could be the cab sim. I dunno. Still, it's not at all a bad sound. Was just hoping it could be a dead ringer for my RedHead. (I just read the manual re: the SM47 mic on the SWR Goliath cab sim, and it is mic'ing the TWEETER, which accounts for the enhanced brightness of that cab sim. Will try again with this in mind. FYI.)

  • Totally impressed by the DRIVES. My favorites at the moment are the BlueB BOD, VooDoo-B, and Dark OD, but really there are a lot of good selections here depending on what flavor of dirt you're going for. This is a huge improvement IMO from previous modeling versions in the B3 and MS60B. Never been a Metal Zone fan, though.

  • The Z-syn and the Ba(ss) Octave track really well IMO, and I spent quite a while stuck on playing with them (always a sign that something GOOD is happening). The Z-syn is the most fun I've had with a bass synthesizer since I gigged with the Korg G5 bass synth (an awesome pedal). Ditto for the Bass Octave. These effects do what they are supposed to do without any of the tracking issues and sonic weirdness found in the Zoom predecessors IMO. I may do a direct A/B with the B3 just to make sure I'm not fooling myself. ;-)

  • At the moment, I'm liking the LMT 76 limiter at the end (post amp/cab) of my signal chain, set to 20:1, but providing only enough overall leveling and sustain to not be too obtrusive. Setting the comps on the B3n is still a bit of a chore without dedicated parameters labeled INPUT GAIN (db) and Threshold (db), and no metering, but IMO they're still good to go if used judiciously. No gripes considering it's a budget pedal.
 
I cleared the pedal board this morning in anticipation for the B3n!

I took the opportunity to make a secondary pedalboard with my smaller amp that I move around for practice, so that I can create tones and patches that sound like the ones I'll make with my main rig, at least, close enough for the jamming sessions, with the main rig being used for recording and, hopefully one day, gigging !
 
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Quick question...

If you make a patch that includes and amp and a cab sim, but you set the patch up to work through your physical amp...

You go to a gig and they want you to plug direct, no amp...

What changes do you have to make to make it sound like it should?

Should you add a second amp sim EQed like your amp? An EQ? Something else?
 
Wouldn't the best solution be to go to the tuner in bypass mode? Then again I read that this isn't as easy to do on the 3n units as the g5n... am I Right?

Yes, I agree with the Tuner Bypass mode. It's a Press & Hold to get to the Tuner Menu and then stepping on another top tier switch to select the Bypass mode. On the G5n, you set the Tuner mode as a global setting (mute, effects bypass/dry, effects included/wet) and then you hit one switch to engage. Man, there's so much about the G5n that makes me want those features in a B5n. =(
 
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Quick question...

If you make a patch that includes and amp and a cab sim, but you set the patch up to work through your physical amp...

You go to a gig and they want you to plug direct, no amp...

What changes do you have to make to make it sound like it should?

Should you add a second amp sim EQed like your amp? An EQ? Something else?

Where is the (DI) feed to FOH coming from using your physical bass amp? Are you mic'ing the amp?
 
Yes, I agree with the Tuner Bypass mode. It's a Press & Hold to get to the Tuner Menu and then stepping on another top tier switch to select the Bypass mode. On the G5n, you set the Tuner mode as a global setting (mute, effects bypass/dry, effects included/wet) and then you hit one switch to engage. Man, there's so much about the G5n that makes me want those features in a B5n. =(

So...if you just want effects and not the amps/cab sims do the effects on the G5n work for bass?
 
So...if you just want effects and not the amps/cab sims do the effects on the G5n work for bass?
They do but they're not optimised for bass. It's like using standard guitar pedals with bass, most should work with the right settings, but they're not made for it. Lots of people around and about have reported good results with the G5n as part of their bass rig. :)
 
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So...if you just want effects and not the amps/cab sims do the effects on the G5n work for bass?

The short answer: Yes. I've been gigging on bass with the G5n since last March. Ultimately, only you can decide whether you like how your bass sounds going through the G5n.

With the G5n, you get some definite advantages, but the disadvantage is that you're dealing with effects and modeling algorithms designed with guitar as the main focus, not the bass. This is not to say that the G5n items are not good for bass. I think they sound fine. However, you don't have many G5n effects with a wet/dry BLEND parameter, which can be critical for bass, including the drives, if that's your thing. That said, I was really surprised at how well the bass translated through the G5n.

The only thing that will make me consider selling it would be a B5n with all of the same physical features of the G5n. Zoom has already indicated they won't be doing this. Such a shame. If you double at all on guitar for home recording or gigging, the G5n is a winner. Won't consider parting with it any time soon (if ever).
 
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I had some time to crank up a little bit last night and here's my bullet list of thoughts:

  • favorite amp/cab sim combination is (naturally, for me) the SVT. It is most familiar to me and gets me where I want to be with the least tweaking. IMO all of the amps and cabs are improved, and have more detail and depth (vs. one-dimensional and compressed, not breathing, etc., yadda yadda).

  • second favorite is the Aguilar, followed by the Trace-Elliot, Fender, and SWR (I didn't download the Acoustic 370 yet). This is purely a subjective "taste" thing, and all of the amp/cab models are very good IMO. The SWR specifically was one I struggled to like a lot. The SWR 400 is an amp I'd played through a couple times, and I found it to be a good amp and all, but it lacked the character of the SWR RedHead 2x10, which I gigged for years. The ZOOM SMR 400 amp sim tone stack displays the exact parameters found on the RedHead, but for some reason I had trouble getting the distinct flavor that I associate with the RedHead. Could be the cab sim. I dunno. Still, it's not at all a bad sound. Was just hoping it could be a dead ringer for my RedHead. (I just read the manual re: the SM47 mic on the SWR Goliath cab sim, and it is mic'ing the TWEETER, which accounts for the enhanced brightness of that cab sim. Will try again with this in mind. FYI.)

  • Totally impressed by the DRIVES. My favorites at the moment are the BlueB BOD, VooDoo-B, and Dark OD, but really there are a lot of good selections here depending on what flavor of dirt you're going for. This is a huge improvement IMO from previous modeling versions in the B3 and MS60B. Never been a Metal Zone fan, though.

  • The Z-syn and the Ba(ss) Octave track really well IMO, and I spent quite a while stuck on playing with them (always a sign that something GOOD is happening). The Z-syn is the most fun I've had with a bass synthesizer since I gigged with the Korg G5 bass synth (an awesome pedal). Ditto for the Bass Octave. These effects do what they are supposed to do without any of the tracking issues and sonic weirdness found in the Zoom predecessors IMO. I may do a direct A/B with the B3 just to make sure I'm not fooling myself. ;-)

  • At the moment, I'm liking the LMT 76 limiter at the end (post amp/cab) of my signal chain, set to 20:1, but providing only enough overall leveling and sustain to not be too obtrusive. Setting the comps on the B3n is still a bit of a chore without dedicated parameters labeled INPUT GAIN (db) and Threshold (db), and no metering, but IMO they're still good to go if used judiciously. No gripes considering it's a budget pedal.

Oh man, this is really cool to hear all this. Does anyone know if they plan on making another MS60Bn maybe?? I would love to replace my 60b with one if they do. The 60b is good for what I use it for. But it could be improved upon slightly. I use the 60b mainly for an octave ala the OC2 and a bass synth. If the B3n's effects are better all around, I'd love to get one. But I wouldnt use it in my main rig because of the size. But if they made an MS60Bn, I would be all over that.
 
Oh man, this is really cool to hear all this. Does anyone know if they plan on making another MS60Bn maybe?? I would love to replace my 60b with one if they do. The 60b is good for what I use it for. But it could be improved upon slightly. I use the 60b mainly for an octave ala the OC2 and a bass synth. If the B3n's effects are better all around, I'd love to get one. But I wouldnt use it in my main rig because of the size. But if they made an MS60Bn, I would be all over that.

Given Zoom's focus on smaller pedals, this seems to be right up their alley...I'm guessing next year if they do.
 
Given Zoom's focus on smaller pedals, this seems to be right up their alley...I'm guessing next year if they do.

Oh I really hope so. I remember really wanting a B3 when it was released. But held out. Then I saw the 60b and jumped on it. I figured if it sucked, wouldnt be a big loss. But I got it and I thought it was pretty good. So I've had it since and didnt feel the need to get a B3 just becasue. But now that this B3n is out and better sound quality, I'm very motivated to get one. Then a MS60Bn?! Hell yes.
 
Ah, right, I forgot to show these guys off to the world :D So impressed with Zoom's amp models

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