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Zoom B3 As Preamp Part 2
- Thread starter David Wilson
- Start date
Charlie, I'm using my 60B for always on (ZNR, 160Comp, BassBB) into my B3 for effects and amp sim. At church, live, I'm loving it. Do these redundant conversions create issues in the studio that live use tends to mask?
I have heard nothing but positive feedback from those who pair together B3's and MS-60B's in various combinations and I am glad you are also another happy camper.
As is well-known, issues that often go masked and un-noticed in a "Live" environment hardly ever pass intense "Studio" scrutiny.
Although not a fair example of redundant A/D/A conversions, the pictures below should help illustrate the results, which are often loss of detail and introduction of artifacts.
Again, use what sounds good and enjoy!
This picture represents a single A/D/A conversion:
This picture represents redundant A/D/A conversions:
Great.
Remember, the B3 draws quite some power, which may push a USB close to or over its limits. To be safe use a power supply, I use now always my 1 SPOT or Dunlop brick. And if I connect my B3 to my computer via USB, the first thing to do if something goes wrong is pulling out my power supply. You can power your B3 with a power supply even when connected to a computer.
I would not worry too much. These days D/A or A/D conversions are so good, you hardly notice them. I also doubt that many of those who claim they notice a difference would be able to do it in a blind test. So don't fool yourself. Your ears are the final judge. And when something sounds still good on close inspection, say with headphones (in addition to live), then stop worrying. The studio wont be much different. At least my B3 MS-60B combination sounds very good to me through my headphones. I for one do not worry and when I think back what kind of sound equipment we used when I was younger, this is splitting hairs of splitting hairs. And good music resulted nevertheless (I mean the end of the 60es of course).
Very true... All you have to do is plug in the PS and turn the power switch to "on" on the B3 ("off" would use USB power).
I've not had probs with USB power. but if one does, this is an option...
The B3 rocks! I recently picked up a G3 for my guitar, because I wanted something guitar-specific... Guess what? It rocks, too!
It is so easy to get great sounds from these things...
Have I mentioned yet how much I love the U5 and Fishman Platinum Pro preamp sims?
The depth control on the Fishman sim (AcBsPre) is SO good! Can get JUST the right amount of tight, low thump!
Regarding the A/D/A conversions that go on when using multiple B3s or a 60B and a B3, I really think it is a non issue.
Recently I did a gig with a Sound tech using the Beh'r Powerplay 16 set up for IEM. I had discussed the A/D/A with the drummer, as we were concerned about this with this system. The powerplay takes an audio signal, changes it to digital, sends it to the IEM controller which then converts back to Analog to send to your IEM.
The concerns were unfounded. The powerplay set up was astoundingly good regardless of the price.
Recently I did a gig with a Sound tech using the Beh'r Powerplay 16 set up for IEM. I had discussed the A/D/A with the drummer, as we were concerned about this with this system. The powerplay takes an audio signal, changes it to digital, sends it to the IEM controller which then converts back to Analog to send to your IEM.
The concerns were unfounded. The powerplay set up was astoundingly good regardless of the price.
The question has been asked, "How do you set he BG250 Flat to act as a monitor?" Some of us BG250 115 owners use the Zoom B3 and want to get the most from the B3 with the Bg250.
Well, this weekend I ran pink noise through the BG250 and used Signal scoop on my iphone to test the results. Not the most accurate, but close enough.
1. I ran the Pink noise through the Aux and the sound was pretty close to flat.
There were small dips at 250-350Hz.
2. I set the amp to all 0's and turned off the Tube and Tone print to off.
I then ran the pink noise through the input and got the same result that have been posted in this thread.
3. I then went to twising knobs and ended up with:
Bass: -5
Mids: -5
Treb: +5
and ended up with the same result as if I had sent the signal through the Aux.
4. I then used the ParaEQ on the Zoom B2 set to:
Feq1 = 350hz
Q1 = 8
Gain = 19
Feq2 = 250Hz
Q2 = 1
Gain = -5
5. I then began setting up TC BG250 patches and then headed to a Cover band rehearsal.
The results were great. Very close to what I heard through my good head phones.
YMMV
Please let me know if this works for you.
Dimitrius
Well, this weekend I ran pink noise through the BG250 and used Signal scoop on my iphone to test the results. Not the most accurate, but close enough.
1. I ran the Pink noise through the Aux and the sound was pretty close to flat.
There were small dips at 250-350Hz.
2. I set the amp to all 0's and turned off the Tube and Tone print to off.
I then ran the pink noise through the input and got the same result that have been posted in this thread.
3. I then went to twising knobs and ended up with:
Bass: -5
Mids: -5
Treb: +5
and ended up with the same result as if I had sent the signal through the Aux.
4. I then used the ParaEQ on the Zoom B2 set to:
Feq1 = 350hz
Q1 = 8
Gain = 19
Feq2 = 250Hz
Q2 = 1
Gain = -5
5. I then began setting up TC BG250 patches and then headed to a Cover band rehearsal.
The results were great. Very close to what I heard through my good head phones.
YMMV
Please let me know if this works for you.
Dimitrius
so i lost my original zoom adapter!
i found a new smps power supply adapter - rated at 9v 1A output
should be fine!? the original zoom adapter is 500mA so it should be fine if i have extra current available? the zoom will simply draw what it needs, i think?
i found a new smps power supply adapter - rated at 9v 1A output
should be fine!? the original zoom adapter is 500mA so it should be fine if i have extra current available? the zoom will simply draw what it needs, i think?
so the b3 powers up fine on this new adapter but in the global settings- it shows the battery meter as if it is being powered by the battery even though there are no batteries inside!
i can also see that the actual polarity of the adapter has been "reversed" by the seller so it powers my zoom unit and it was actually initially made center positive! (the sticker says that!) but now it works center negative! funny buisness!
so it is not really running fine because zoom thinks it is being battery powered when it is not!
so it is not really running fine because zoom thinks it is being battery powered when it is not!
If it's running fine, it's running fine!
Actually Zoom's power supply delivers more than actually needed. Zoom also specifies 500 mA for the MS-60B. I have not done actual measurements but experimented with various power supplies. From that I'd say the B3 needs more than 120 mA (what many power supplies deliver, e.g. Fueltank Junior on ordinary, non-combined outlets), but not more than 200 mA neither (500 is an overkill). The MS-60B needs less than 100mA (500 is even more of an overkill here). Zoom wants to be on the safe side and uses the very same power supply for several devices. Unfortunately in their specs they omit to give the real power needs and only state 500 mA for both devices. Of course this works, but is not really needed.
