Source Audio Zio Bass Preamp

[thisisswanbon]

It's very useful information. Thank you!
Headphones, AUX and cab Sim are all reasonable requests. Each impacts cost and complexity, obviously.

No problem! I hope I didn't come across as negative - as it's a fantastic unit!

I think there's scope for an alternative (digital) unit featuring cab sim - analogue cab sims are very hit and miss and would colour an intended clean sound; and a digital IR would detract from the all analogue approach.

It's easy to forget about having to hit price points as a consumer- obviously features have cost and consumers never want to pay more (although personally I'd rather that then buying a separate headphone amp).

By god, I'm wordy today!

 

[PhatBottomBass1]

I've had the Two Notes ReVolt Bass Preamp and it's not really the same thing as the ZIO. But, cool, yet ya need to be into the 8x10" cab sim that is not changeable. Ya need CAB M+ or Opus.

I kinda think of the ZIO as a really high-speed DI box. It just doesn't get in the way and makes what is good just a bit better with discreet tools.

 

[Johno Dunn]

It's very useful information. Thank you!
Headphones, AUX and cab Sim are all reasonable requests. Each impacts cost and complexity, obviously.

I like it just the way it is. I got rid of my DG Element, because the Zio really need a cab sim. The Focus does a great job of taming the the tone through FOH.

 

[gillento]

I for one don’t like IRs or other digital cab sims as they make blending with a clean analog signal difficult.
There are some great sounding analog cab sims around: Two Notes Revolt, Origin Effects Bassrigs, Tech21, DSM, ….

 

[rsmith601]

No problem! I hope I didn't come across as negative - as it's a fantastic unit!

I think there's scope for an alternative (digital) unit featuring cab sim - analogue cab sims are very hit and miss and would colour an intended clean sound; and a digital IR would detract from the all analogue approach.

It's easy to forget about having to hit price points as a consumer- obviously features have cost and consumers never want to pay more (although personally I'd rather that then buying a separate headphone amp).

By god, I'm wordy today!

I thought your comment was very reasonable and respectful.

 

[Les Fret]

No AUX IN the same way there is no cab sim...those are not features required nor intended on the ZIO..!

A cab sim would make the ZIO much more versatile though. Then you could bring the ZIO to the gig and use it as a stand-alone device without bringing your amp.

 

[PhatBottomBass1]

A cab sim would make the ZIO much more versatile though. Then you could bring the ZIO to the gig and use it as a stand-alone device without bringing your amp.

Right, there's no way you can do that now...

I wonder what Source Audio was even thinking when they made this? Perhaps "focus" groups were needed to bring in all those experienced players coping with limitations in their performance needs, I guess?

 

[lomo]

It works superbly all by its lonesome as far as I can hear.

 

[gillento]

It works superbly all by its lonesome as far as I can hear.

Yes, it does!

 

[Les Fret]

Right, there's no way you can do that now...
View attachment 5381834

I wonder what Source Audio was even thinking when they made this? Perhaps "focus" groups were needed to bring in all those experienced players coping with limitations in their performance needs, I guess?

Not sure what you are trying to say with that picture. I didn't say you can't, just that it would be more versatile if you could.

 

[Zbysek]

I own several preamps. None of them features cab simulation.

I can bring any of them to an ampless gig. Any of them works just fine.

I haven't bought Zio yet....but I am sure that one can use it on an ampless gig and it will work just fine.

 

[Johno Dunn]

It works superbly all by its lonesome as far as I can hear.

Yes it does! Did not miss my cab sim at all yesterday at church though IE’s or out front.

 

[thisisswanbon]

A cab sim would make the ZIO much more versatile though. Then you could bring the ZIO to the gig and use it as a stand-alone device without bringing your amp.

Obviously horses for courses, but I use mine straight to FOH and it sounds great! I think as this isn't an AMP sim (like the origin effects, Sansamp, DSM Humboldt options) a cab sim would be a bit out of place. You have access to rolling off extreme lows, and taming highs which for some negates the need for a cabsim

Baring in mind most engineers opt to take a DI feed rather than cab mic anyways.

Of course what works for me may not work for you - as I mentioned in another post, I think SA would make a brilliant digital alternative with cab and amp sims for people looking for that approach.

 

[Les Fret]

Which one would you prefer, the Capo or the Zio? They seem somewhat the same.

 

[PhatBottomBass1]

Oddly, same type function in basic terms. However, the CAPO has two loops and two channels IIRC? Other features and perhaps twice to three times the price point?

I have mentioned that I consider the "ZIO to be a REALLY high-speed direct box that makes everything a bit better with discreet tools." It is a device of high quality sound that can be used on its own or about any place that makes sense for your application. The Focus (HPF) was an important feature and the high quality DI at $249 was a no brainier for me.

 

[mikeynets]

@PhatBottomBass1 I often hear DIs described as "high quality" and I always wonder if it's referring to the tone or something more engineery about the signal transmittance.

Noob question: is it possible for a DI to sound good, but not be good in some other way? I watched a couple of those DI shootout videos and there's definitely a broad tonal spectrum (and I usually liked the sound of DIs that cost too much for my hobby status!) and besides overall build quality being mentioned as an aside, it was always just about the tone.

 

[PhatBottomBass1]

@PhatBottomBass1 I often hear DIs described as "high quality" and I always wonder if it's referring to the tone or something more engineery about the signal transmittance.

Noob question: is it possible for a DI to sound good, but not be good in some other way? I watched a couple of those DI shootout videos and there's definitely a broad tonal spectrum (and I usually liked the sound of DIs that cost too much for my hobby status!) and besides overall build quality being mentioned as an aside, it was always just about the tone.

I, personally, have liked the Telefunken DI's and what they deliver in the $200-$250 range. It's something that you can record with. In a world of options, I would prefer not to use a stage DI as a recording DI. But, I also am not going to carry a shoebox or spend $1000 or more for a DI. Everything is a trade-off!

My case for the ZIO is it's not all over your Bass signal in the way that this One Control Crimson Red Bass Preamp is. It's a "preamp", colors your tone in a major way and has no other features set. So, this tone shaper and the ZIO work really well together when called on to do so.

Everything in this chain works well with the ZIO due to low noise and complimentary tone interaction or zero coloration. Today I'm going to incorporate the H90 from Eventide for effects in the amp loop, but also in the AmpTweaker Bass TightFuzzz post-EFX loop. The Fuzz is really a preamp too, but again, no DI features. But it works really well with the ZIO feature set.

So to sum it up. I would rather have this feature set and no other features, on a box that is quite and sounds very good without changing the character overall, yet adds a bit of girth and presence that is not far off the tone coming in the front end. This is the reason I like the Telefunken DI's too.

 

[mikeynets]

I would prefer not to use a stage DI as a recording DI. But, I also am not going to carry a shoebox or spend $1000 or more for a DI. Everything is a trade-off!

I haven't recorded in a loooong time and when I did, I was in a hardcore band and didn't really pay much attention to what was happening in the studio. Pristine clarity or subtle warmth wasn't really the thing we were after, but still, young and dumb and just happy to be making noise : )

But you hit on something that I hadn't thought about much when reading DI commentary: stage vs recording. I've used various Radials and they sound just fine in a live setting. And those REDDIs and RNDIs look and sound the biz for recording. I don't have the luxury, $$ or need for separate studio and live DIs so your final summary of the ZIO is exactly what I'm looking for. Got one on order, just waiting for that email!

 

[rsmith601]

A cab sim would make the ZIO much more versatile though. Then you could bring the ZIO to the gig and use it as a stand-alone device without bringing your amp.

As some have noted above, state of the art cab sim these days are digital. Adding that sort of feature to an all-analog bass preamp seems like a big addition that some would like and some would not like. Given the DI and the headphone jack, I can see the utility, but it would double the cost and size of the circuit board. My sense is that most folks would want their own favorite style of cab sim?

 

[Johno Dunn]

I haven't recorded in a loooong time and when I did, I was in a hardcore band and didn't really pay much attention to what was happening in the studio. Pristine clarity or subtle warmth wasn't really the thing we were after, but still, young and dumb and just happy to be making noise : )

But you hit on something that I hadn't thought about much when reading DI commentary: stage vs recording. I've used various Radials and they sound just fine in a live setting. And those REDDIs and RNDIs look and sound the biz for recording. I don't have the luxury, $$ or need for separate studio and live DIs so your final summary of the ZIO is exactly what I'm looking for. Got one on order, just waiting for that email!

When it arrives, don’t be afraid to turn those knobs and flip those switches! There aren’t many, but they are very interactive.