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PETITION - Firmware Update to the Zoom B3
- Thread starter Mo'Phat
- Start date
Hi there,
I recently bought the B3 in the UK, and it came with the firmware 1.0. What do you mean by saying the outdated firmware limits the unit for live use?
How would the update firmware would do better?
I look forward to hearing your comments!
Cheers,
Muri
I recently bought the B3 in the UK, and it came with the firmware 1.0. What do you mean by saying the outdated firmware limits the unit for live use?
How would the update firmware would do better?
I look forward to hearing your comments!
Cheers,
Muri
I had some time on Friday and created an online petition to the Zoom Corporation requesting the long-overdue firmware update to Version 2.0+.
https://www.change.org/petitions/zoom-corporation-firmware-update-zoom-b3-version-2-0
I own two of these, and they have been amazing recording tools, but the outdated firmware is limiting them for live use.
I'm not sure if this petition will go anywhere - it looks like we need 100 signatures before it gets sent to Zoom.
Also, this will only be sent to their general customer service email address. If anybody knows a better email to send it to, please let me know. If anybody has any suggestions or edits, please let me know.
Sign, share, share on FB, Twitter, anywhere B3 users might congregate and let's get the word out.
https://www.change.org/petitions/zoom-corporation-firmware-update-zoom-b3-version-2-0
EDIT - According to this link (Invalid Link Removed) it looks like Samson is the US Distributor for Zoom. Once we reach 100, I will email ([email protected]) this petition to them as well. Hopefully they have some pull with Zoom Japan.
EDIT 2 - Twitter push. https://twitter.com/NeighborsTTN/status/445667724258066432 Retweet to your followers!
EDIT 3 - Thanks to RSM for letting me know that Zoom is its own North American distributor. Will email to [email protected] when the time comes.
EDIT 4 - When the time comes - since this petition has been signed by people worldwide...please forward to the distributor in your country. Found here: Invalid Link Removed
Please see my post on the last page which lists the updates that this unit is capable of, and what we hope to achieve with this petition.
There is a long history to this...
The similar, guitar-based G3, the MS-60B, and the brand new B1 series all use the same processor as the B3, but all are capable of certain functionality that the B3 isn't. The G3 received firmware upgrades two years ago.
As for live use, one example is:
I use this unit for compression and amp modeling with two always-on units. That leaves me with just one more unit for effects without changing patches.
If each unit could run two effects (like the G3 version 2.0 update), I could have my comp and amp sim in the background and have the ability to switch on 4 effects...I use overdrive and delay quite a bit...to do that now, I have to switch off either the comp or amp sim.
There is a long history to this...
The similar, guitar-based G3, the MS-60B, and the brand new B1 series all use the same processor as the B3, but all are capable of certain functionality that the B3 isn't. The G3 received firmware upgrades two years ago.
As for live use, one example is:
I use this unit for compression and amp modeling with two always-on units. That leaves me with just one more unit for effects without changing patches.
If each unit could run two effects (like the G3 version 2.0 update), I could have my comp and amp sim in the background and have the ability to switch on 4 effects...I use overdrive and delay quite a bit...to do that now, I have to switch off either the comp or amp sim.
I have signed the petition but I have zero expectations. Honestly I'm quite happy with a separate OD but I certainly wouldn't mind more from the B3.
I love this little box and couldn't ask it to do much more for the money, but.....
Being able to choose which outputs the Amp & Cabs sims appear on would be fantastic.
The pitch shifters are nowhere near the line6 M series so could do with some tweaking.
Being able to mix how much signal is sent to next effect and how much sent directly to output would be useful.
Being able to choose which outputs the Amp & Cabs sims appear on would be fantastic.
The pitch shifters are nowhere near the line6 M series so could do with some tweaking.
Being able to mix how much signal is sent to next effect and how much sent directly to output would be useful.
UPDATE - It's not much, but it's something:
Jesse Nissenbaum has been very responsive, and I believe is taking an active interest in this.
Please keep pushing the petition and getting people to sign it.
ps: I had forwarded the petition to [email protected] on Monday 3/17, but have yet to get a response. I sent them a follow up asking for an update.
Jesse Nissenbaum said:
Jesse Nissenbaum has been very responsive, and I believe is taking an active interest in this.
Please keep pushing the petition and getting people to sign it.
ps: I had forwarded the petition to [email protected] on Monday 3/17, but have yet to get a response. I sent them a follow up asking for an update.
Whilst we're at it, the MS-60B could do with an update to bring it into line with the 50b.
Apparently zoom have ready said that no firmware updates have been planned. In which case, they could have made the unit cheaper by removing the USB update facility.
Apparently zoom have ready said that no firmware updates have been planned. In which case, they could have made the unit cheaper by removing the USB update facility.
No update as of 3/26, sorry to say.
But, we're up to 168 signatures.
I will follow up again Friday. Please keep sharing and thinking of other things we can do to get noticed.
But, we're up to 168 signatures.
I will follow up again Friday. Please keep sharing and thinking of other things we can do to get noticed.
I received an official response from Zoom:
I have a couple of things to say about this:
1. Why, then, does the MS-60b have capabilities of linking 5 effects together in what is essentially 1/3rd of a B3? What is so different between the two units? Did they add more ROM or something that wasn't explained.
2. Their premise that their market research indicates that bassists prefer simpler and shorter effects chains indicates their market research was flawed and short-sighted.
I am going to try and continue the discussion with Jesse from Zoom North America, as I am confident my reply to Zoom Japan will get lost in translation. If anything further comes from this, I will let you know.
Zoom Corporation said:
I have a couple of things to say about this:
1. Why, then, does the MS-60b have capabilities of linking 5 effects together in what is essentially 1/3rd of a B3? What is so different between the two units? Did they add more ROM or something that wasn't explained.
2. Their premise that their market research indicates that bassists prefer simpler and shorter effects chains indicates their market research was flawed and short-sighted.
I am going to try and continue the discussion with Jesse from Zoom North America, as I am confident my reply to Zoom Japan will get lost in translation. If anything further comes from this, I will let you know.
The MS-60b can only chain 4 effects. The forthcoming B1on can chain 5, though. Would have to assume it's an age-of-the-tech/memory thing.
I guess this response also answers the question of when the 60b will get an update similar to the 50g...
and lol at "bass player prefer to use fewer effects". Someone send him a link to the PYPB or Pedal Breeder's club.
Hmm the B1on is cheaper than B3 and MS-60b and can use up to 5 effect at once. Does it really have a more powerful processor? I highly doubt it.
Perhaps in their market research they ought to approach the biggest bass effect forum in the world. Talkbass!
Perhaps you could send a reply back asking these questions.
Perhaps in their market research they ought to approach the biggest bass effect forum in the world. Talkbass!
Perhaps you could send a reply back asking these questions.
The effects forum on TalkBass is in no way representative of the general market.
Clearly almost everyone here is a pedal junkie. And yet in my 25 years of gigging, I have seen bass players using effects pedals maybe 5% of the time, and it's usually just 1 fuzz/OD. Any company that tries to extrapolate actual worldwide demand for their product based on what they see here would quickly go out of business.
If you are surprised that a petition of 168 signatures did not cause a large electronics corporation to change their R&D direction then you know nothing about business.
Clearly almost everyone here is a pedal junkie. And yet in my 25 years of gigging, I have seen bass players using effects pedals maybe 5% of the time, and it's usually just 1 fuzz/OD. Any company that tries to extrapolate actual worldwide demand for their product based on what they see here would quickly go out of business.
If you are surprised that a petition of 168 signatures did not cause a large electronics corporation to change their R&D direction then you know nothing about business.
