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New: Zoom B3n Multi-Effects
- Thread starter CharlieC
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- b3n multi-effects zoom
Yep I use that on my MS100BT and have a knock off from Mosky on my board between my fuzz and saturated overdrive.Even with Zoom's default settings, it adds a nice warmth and tone!
Who knew?
I had the hotone ravo for about 1 hour in January, truly an awful sounding effects unit, I returned it to Amazon right away and used the money for an eminence speaker instead. Very happy with that, and very happy with my b1on and ms60b right now. But my experience with the ravo (and accompanying terrible customer service response that they were aware of the unusably low output level but not the excessive white noise in the background) made me not want to own another hotone product.
I have owned the B3 and sold it in order to buy the B3n. Great unit, but a bit tricky to control.
There is one thing that bothers me and I hope you guys are able to help me out. I really liked the SWR 10x4 Cab sim of the B3. I can´t describe the sound sorry... but i used it a lot for an slightly aggressive picking sound. My main picking patch from the B3 was like "Dual-Comp";"Bass-Drive";"Amp-Model (Heaven? with 100%-SWR 10x4)". It was pretty punchy and you could hear the pick on the strings and the SWR-Cab gave it special character that i liked.
The B3n´s SWR-Cab is a different thing for me... May be you guys have an Idea what parameters or Patch could bring me closer the the old SWR cab sound!
There is one thing that bothers me and I hope you guys are able to help me out. I really liked the SWR 10x4 Cab sim of the B3. I can´t describe the sound sorry... but i used it a lot for an slightly aggressive picking sound. My main picking patch from the B3 was like "Dual-Comp";"Bass-Drive";"Amp-Model (Heaven? with 100%-SWR 10x4)". It was pretty punchy and you could hear the pick on the strings and the SWR-Cab gave it special character that i liked.
The B3n´s SWR-Cab is a different thing for me... May be you guys have an Idea what parameters or Patch could bring me closer the the old SWR cab sound!
I have a Ravo. Anyone want to buy it? It's really just for generic heavily distorted guitar tones. Still interested in the Xtomp.
Yo B3n crowd, I posted this on the patch idea thread but thought I’d post it here as well. My excitement for this pedal has not dropped since I received it a month or so ago. I’ve played it 6 or 7 of times in a variety of live settings and have been getting great results. Right now, I’ve been digging deep into the dirt pedals. The magic of the B3n for me is not necessarily in exact tone simulation per effect (though it’s really good), but in the ability to stack 7 different effects to shape a really rich tone. I play through an aguilar tonehammer, so I’m not doing too much with the Amp/Cabinet sims. I generally stack every chain with a compressor up front and a direct box (DI Plus or Sans Amp) at the end. In the middle, it’s all about dialing in the dirt and supplementing the tone to keep it full. Check out the B3n Patch idea thread for full stats on the patches. If there’s some interest, I’ll post some of the filter/modulation stuff I’ve been using as well.
Recording: B3n Dirt Comparison (Recorded from B3n through clean B3 as an interface).
Recording: B3n Dirt Comparison (Recorded from B3n through clean B3 as an interface).
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So I had my first rehearsal with the new band last night, and learned two things about the N.
First, that when playing through headphones, the cab sims are awesome. Second, that the mysterious whine from running two Zoom units together, does in fact exist.
J!
First, that when playing through headphones, the cab sims are awesome. Second, that the mysterious whine from running two Zoom units together, does in fact exist.
J!
Indeed!
Just to clarify, the whine is in fact caused by the B3n on the same 9V power line as any other pedal (i.e. not just another Zoom unit.)
The good news is that this is easily remedied by use of the B3n on its own wall wart or isolated power tap, or in some cases, use of a $25 power isolator dongle.
I just went through and added cabs to duplicates of all my patches. I decided just to forgo the 60b for the headphone set up. Still sound great.Indeed!
Just to clarify, the whine is in fact caused by the B3n on the same 9V power line as any other pedal (i.e. not just another Zoom unit.)
The good news is that this is easily remedied by use of the B3n on its own wall wart or isolated power tap, or in some cases, use of a $25 power isolator dongle.
Indeed!
Just to clarify, the whine is in fact caused by the B3n on the same 9V power line as any other pedal (i.e. not just another Zoom unit.)
The good news is that this is easily remedied by use of the B3n on its own wall wart or isolated power tap, or in some cases, use of a $25 power isolator dongle.
Forgive me if this has been answered before but can the B3n and other pedals be powered from a power brick such as this:
MXR DC Brick Power Supply
without the dreaded whine?
As long as the B3n gets its own isolated tap then there should be no issues powering the B3n with a brick along with other pedals.
Just be sure to investigate if the taps are truly isolated. Not all brick looking devices are.
Had the same question and problem. Sending mine back now. After seeing the easy remedies for the b3n whine issues which is extra $ to eliminate (plus the fussy trial and error, such as the unit whining live if everything isn't just right) and then an extra $ for optional XLR on top of the tempting $200 price tag, it adds up to be close enough for something like a Tech21 BFR or whatever one fancies for their money and sound. I know that may not be an issue if you love the pedal but for me a heads up with the actual unit's (not user) issues would've been nice
Plenty of pedals whine if chained or run off the same non-isolated power output. I have a Lehle RMI Dual Compressor which has the same whine under the same conditions and is analogue. The lack of features over the B3 have to be weighed up with the much improved DSP resolution. Zoom have made a decision to keep the cost down while upgrading the audio quality.
On a side note, I got to try the B3n with my band at rehearsal and I tried a few patches I made at home through my Quilter head and FRFR cab. The cab sims sounded too dark for me but the patch I really liked was the combo of LMT-76 (on 4:1)->MXR DI (Clean)->DI5 (On preset 4) in comparison to the amp/cab combinations. Nice and thick but articulate.
I only used my B3 live occasionally (mainly when I needed synth effects on a gig) but the improved quality of the drive and eq effects on the B3n will mean that I will use this unit all the time.
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Great advice and I completely overlooked this aspect. While I like the price the MXR DC Power Supply does not state that it is an isolated power supply.
The MXR ISO Brick Power Supply, however, does state that it is - for an additional $50 which I think is well worth it.
MXR M238 Iso-Brick - Isolated Pedal Board Power Supply
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After 6-weeks with the B3n I can say with certainty that it is everything I hoped it would be: a complete bass rig in a box.
With first-class, IR-based cabinet sims, drive pedals, a wealth of useful mod, filter, and other effects, including a most-impressive 1176LN sim, I have little to wish for and complain about with this latest-generation DSP. Best of all, I can now chain more than three models simultaneously and can finally create some really powerful patches.
For live use, the user interface is great and navigation has become second nature for me. I literally can show up at the gig, connect and perform, as I have patches prepared for both FRFR situations and traditional backlines. The unit itself is tight and sturdy, hinting at a long, mechanical life expectancy.
To me the B3n simply sounds, feels and plays great, both under private scrutiny and especially in full-band, live context.
For its modest purchase price, I have the B3n pulling far more than its weight, with results on par with other pedals and equipment I have purchased costing significantly more.
Despite all the above, the B3n will not appeal to everyone, but thankfully I am not one of them. There is enough onboard to keep me pleased and entertained until the next generation of product, and with a little luck, Zoom will deliver on their promise of additional effect models via download.
Cheers!
With first-class, IR-based cabinet sims, drive pedals, a wealth of useful mod, filter, and other effects, including a most-impressive 1176LN sim, I have little to wish for and complain about with this latest-generation DSP. Best of all, I can now chain more than three models simultaneously and can finally create some really powerful patches.
For live use, the user interface is great and navigation has become second nature for me. I literally can show up at the gig, connect and perform, as I have patches prepared for both FRFR situations and traditional backlines. The unit itself is tight and sturdy, hinting at a long, mechanical life expectancy.
To me the B3n simply sounds, feels and plays great, both under private scrutiny and especially in full-band, live context.
For its modest purchase price, I have the B3n pulling far more than its weight, with results on par with other pedals and equipment I have purchased costing significantly more.
Despite all the above, the B3n will not appeal to everyone, but thankfully I am not one of them. There is enough onboard to keep me pleased and entertained until the next generation of product, and with a little luck, Zoom will deliver on their promise of additional effect models via download.
Cheers!
Charlie,
I too have this pedal, I got it a few weeks ago and while I haven't dug into too much more then the stock patches, I do really love it and I'm psyched to start tweaking it. I also bought an Eventide H9 MAX yesterday and so I think the 2 together will keep me busy for a very long time ..... or until the next awesome piece of gear comes out.
I was also thinking about adding a BOSS SY300 to the group but I think that may be overkill ... or not.
By the way, I'm in North Brooklyn, what part of the city do you live in?
I too have this pedal, I got it a few weeks ago and while I haven't dug into too much more then the stock patches, I do really love it and I'm psyched to start tweaking it. I also bought an Eventide H9 MAX yesterday and so I think the 2 together will keep me busy for a very long time ..... or until the next awesome piece of gear comes out.
I was also thinking about adding a BOSS SY300 to the group but I think that may be overkill ... or not.
By the way, I'm in North Brooklyn, what part of the city do you live in?
What he said.After 6-weeks with the B3n I can say with certainty that it is everything I hoped it would be: a complete bass rig in a box.
With first-class, IR-based cabinet sims, drive pedals, a wealth of useful mod, filter, and other effects, including a most-impressive 1176LN sim, I have little to wish for and complain about with this latest-generation DSP. Best of all, I can now chain more than three models simultaneously and can finally create some really powerful patches.
For live use, the user interface is great and navigation has become second nature for me. I literally can show up at the gig, connect and perform, as I have patches prepared for both FRFR situations and traditional backlines. The unit itself is tight and sturdy, hinting at a long, mechanical life expectancy.
To me the B3n simply sounds, feels and plays great, both under private scrutiny and especially in full-band, live context.
For its modest purchase price, I have the B3n pulling far more than its weight, with results on par with other pedals and equipment I have purchased costing significantly more.
Despite all the above, the B3n will not appeal to everyone, but thankfully I am not one of them. There is enough onboard to keep me pleased and entertained until the next generation of product, and with a little luck, Zoom will deliver on their promise of additional effect models via download.
Cheers!
