ZOIA or multiple effect pedals?

The ZOIA is amazing and is so very tempting but takes a lot of commitment to master and use, much more than the common deep pedals. I looked hard but it is the greener geek field just too far beyond for me. But then so many of those pedals are beyond me needs I am happy with the C4 and MS60B and all my other goodies for now.

 

I've been long GASing for a Zoia. The thing that is holding me back is that Zoia seems all encompassing if you want to get the value out of it, and if you do that, then it's actually a steal of a price. I have so many other deep pedals and things I'd like to invest more time in so I've shied away from Zoia. If you are bored during the pandemic, Zoia is probably the cure. If you are up for the challenge, go for the Zoia.

 

Cost effective, yes it is.

The patch storage library is growing well and you could find starting points for the sounds in your head. For the most part you will get to the sounds you want, but some may fall a bit short, but still really close.

About the learning - and this is not to scare you away, just what it is. If you are an effects beginner and you itch to know how effects sound the way they do, but don't know the roots of how they can to be, it may feel daunting. If you know how a flanger or phaser works at the lower levels, it may be easy for you the pick up. I bought mine from and have seen many sold because the previous owner was not ready for learning the curve related to this knowledge.

As far as how to use the actual unit, it's really easy. Most of the patches online have decent documentation, and transfering files is simple.

Really, if you have sounds in your head and haven't found them, this will save you ooodles in flipping pedals. Learning the roots of pedals is pretty easy as well, there's lots of resources on line. Even the Zoia community is very helpful when it comes to building patches.

 

DO IT! You will love it!

 

Calling @monsterthompson !!!

AKA Da Shizzle on da Zoia

 

Provided the quality of the effect doesn't suffer when a multi is used I'd do that.

 

Ha!
Not quite, but I’m always happy to talk about my experiments and experiences.

 

Now you take that compliment or I’m gonna have to kick your &%^*.

 

Not sure why I didn’t see this thread update sooner.

The real question is about your personality type. The Zoia becomes its own instrument and can chew up as much of your day as practicing should.

If you like building your own sounds, and you’re disciplined about noting what you’re doing and how and where you save your patches, the Zoia can be a dream. It helps if you have a good understanding of how effects work at an elemental level, and if you understand modular synth functions, and how things like an LFO or ADSR Envelope will relate to effects parameters.

If you aren’t disciplined about notes, and/or don’t want to spend time doing a deep dive and dealing with the learning curve, then a pre-structured pedal can be worth the price tag of paying the designer for their understanding and formatting efforts. I’m a day-job guy and playing is my hobby. Some days I don’t want to build or troubleshoot effects. I just want to plug in and get a sound.

The effects themselves aren’t particularly inspiring if you want vintage mojo or analog fatness or some other similar characteristic. The effects are fine, digital effects. The chorus is a chorus, but it isn’t some boutique specialty chorus. If you want the boutique effect you need to know how to program your way there, or you’ll be happier with just buying the boutique effect.

Also, if you’re a pedal collector, then one universal pedal is never enough.

For as much stuff as my Zoia can do, it’s not my most used pedal. I’ve also used it as much for the midi control functions as the effects. It’s a good utility pedal, which isn’t sexy, but it is useful.

The distortions on it aren’t great on bass, but can be tweaked to be useable. The cab sims are guitar based, with no bass sim. The delays don’t have tails when stomping the bypass, but there are work arounds to get tails.

There are plenty of guys on the FB group making the Zoia sing. It’s got lots of potential. I bought it when it first came out and I’m still holding it, even if it’s not my favorite box. If you’re looking for a toolbox to build stuff, it is wonderful. If you’re thinking it’s near the top of your budget but it could be a silver bullet, it is a gamble.

 

I kinda hate the library. Nobody patches the way I do, so if I want to modify their default patch settings then it can be a headache to understand how to modify it. But I can see how it is useful, and people learn by sharing ideas.

 

Depending on how you intend to use it, there’s a desktop version in the works. Built in power supply. CV and MIDI connections. Headphone connection. You'd need a remote way of triggering it on/off if you wanted to use it as a pedal. For more studio based work and midi connected rigs it could be a nicer option.

Still no official plans for a browser interface. It’d be nice to patch on a computer, but it isn’t necessary once you get the workflow figured.

 

Nice.

Well, consider an expression pedal as part of your budget. It’s a nice companion. It helps make up for the lack of “knob per function” design.

Don’t overlook the fact that you can midi control other gear, though my may need a midi hub/splitter.

You can also get creative with splitting signals between the outputs, or using one set of in/out jacks as an effects loop for external gear.

 

It really is.
There’s a 212 cab sim that works pretty nicely on bass, particularly if you create a LPF blend for the lows.
The Scoopy distortion/fuzz isn’t bad.
The compressor is very transparent.
The Granular module really benefits from the expression pedal.

For modulation, you can do tap tempo but there’s no internal clock for setting BPM (it has been asked for). You can use a square wave LFO to function as a clock. There are also clock dividers for timing your modulation to a source tempo. You can run a midi clock in from an external source.

Like I mentioned earlier, take notes and diagram what you want before you patch it. It’ll make for a more efficient patching session. Having the idea only in your head can make it easy to get lost building effects.