Just curious ... is there any experience on TB just using the B3 and good monitor wedge on stage or for rehearsal ? With my B3 I've got lots of killer sounds via my headphone (AKG K-701). But I am failing to reproduce them on stage with my MarkBass mini cmd 121p. My plan is to use a good wedge with minimal sound coloration instead of a bass amp and do all sounds incl. amp simulation with the B3.
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Zoom B3 As Preamp
- Thread starter CharlieC
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IMHO, on many levels, the near-perfect match for the B3 as an amp/monitor is any one of the major players' powered speakers (e.g. QSC, Mackie, etc.)
The same coloration issue you mentioned is also addressed in detail in the first few pages of this thread and perhaps that information could be useful to you
Cheers!
Atm I narrowed my search to [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]. Maybe someone already tried this and wants to share his wisdom ?Why didn't I think of that?!
Connect the B3 to this powered speaker as described in a previous post of mine and IMHO you should be very satisfied with the resulting tones
Let your own ears be the judge and let your dollars vote for the speaker that fits your needs and budget
Cheers!
Some of these monitors do not have the low end response we are used to. Some roll off at 50-60hz so do check out those specs.
However another idea is to go the iem way. That can give u a whole different level of monitoring urself and others!
Message In A Bottle #1
In the slightest chance Zoom is monitoring these posts to further improve on the B3, I would like to voice the following minor annoyance:
When one attempts to hold Button 2 down to eventually engage the built-in tuner, the effect in that location is either briefly turned on/off while the button is being held down
My suggestion is that the pressing of the 3 foot buttons should not register and toggle the underlying effect until one lifts-off from the button press. So in a sense, the effect is then toggled by the "button up" event and not the initial "button down" event.
In the slightest chance Zoom is monitoring these posts to further improve on the B3, I would like to voice the following minor annoyance:
When one attempts to hold Button 2 down to eventually engage the built-in tuner, the effect in that location is either briefly turned on/off while the button is being held down
My suggestion is that the pressing of the 3 foot buttons should not register and toggle the underlying effect until one lifts-off from the button press. So in a sense, the effect is then toggled by the "button up" event and not the initial "button down" event.
You´re right....but...If changes would be toggled by the button up you´ll have a certain delay and that will affect loop recorder, effects bypass time...etc.
Agreed, but if I were the engineer, I would implement this "button up" functionality with regards to "effect-toggle mode" only and not impact other aspects like the looper, rhythm section, etc.
I am reasonably confident that they can differentiate the different button states/events and leverage them as need be. But then again, what do I know?
Cheers!
Hrm. I wouldn't want my pedals to turn on/off when I lift my foot.
The thing about the B3 is, it's as close to three separate effect pedals as it can be with today's technology. That appeals to a lot of users who otherwise wouldn't even consider a multi-effect (me included). And individual pedals turn on when the button is pressed. And it's easier to time a sound change whilst playing.
The thing about the B3 is, it's as close to three separate effect pedals as it can be with today's technology. That appeals to a lot of users who otherwise wouldn't even consider a multi-effect (me included). And individual pedals turn on when the button is pressed. And it's easier to time a sound change whilst playing.
Gratuitous board pic post
Well, I had my first night out with the B3, it was also my first gig with a real IEM setup, my first night with out with the new band, and my first time playing out without an amp on stage.
Whew!
I thought I had adjusted to the IEMs in all these weeks of rehearsing. That was wrong. I still have to process everything. It wasn't until the third set that I had my personal mix dialed in. Prior to that, I couldn't take it and pulled one of the buds.
The B3 worked well enough. I'm told it sounded great out front. Definitely nicer than lugging an amp.
Cons: The sound man said he prefers amps on stage. He said he wasn't digging it, but didn't really give any rationale. I think it might have just been old-school bias...every time he said "emulation," he did finger quotes.
I also found out how used to having an always-on tuner I've gotten from using my TCE heads.
An interesting experience and all-in-all, good. It's neither here nor there as far as the B3 goes, but the TC voice pedal is intended for when you don't have a sound man, and I thought that turning the effects off would have allowed me to just use the pitch help. Apparently the adaptive tone control was causing a bit of havoc with the processors. Guess I needed to turn that off too.
Well, I had my first night out with the B3, it was also my first gig with a real IEM setup, my first night with out with the new band, and my first time playing out without an amp on stage.
Whew!
I thought I had adjusted to the IEMs in all these weeks of rehearsing. That was wrong. I still have to process everything. It wasn't until the third set that I had my personal mix dialed in. Prior to that, I couldn't take it and pulled one of the buds.
The B3 worked well enough. I'm told it sounded great out front. Definitely nicer than lugging an amp.
Cons: The sound man said he prefers amps on stage. He said he wasn't digging it, but didn't really give any rationale. I think it might have just been old-school bias...every time he said "emulation," he did finger quotes.
I also found out how used to having an always-on tuner I've gotten from using my TCE heads.
An interesting experience and all-in-all, good. It's neither here nor there as far as the B3 goes, but the TC voice pedal is intended for when you don't have a sound man, and I thought that turning the effects off would have allowed me to just use the pitch help. Apparently the adaptive tone control was causing a bit of havoc with the processors. Guess I needed to turn that off too.
Cons: The sound man said he prefers amps on stage. He said he wasn't digging it, but didn't really give any rationale. I think it might have just been old-school bias...every time he said "emulation," he did finger quotes.
It´s so strange that the sound mand didn´t like it. I do sound too and this is a perfect situation for the soundman.
May I humbly suggest that was too many 'firsts' at once..?
Ha! I'd humbly agree!
Yeah. Like I said, there was a definite note of bias.
I was chatting with him a bit, and when he was saying I should use an amp, I mentioned that I had an TCE head. He says "You should get a MarkBass head and a small cabinet; nice quiet DI..."
I've only ever heard fantastic things about the DI on the TCE heads. I actually set it up one time, and the sound guy goes to plug it in and says "Cool! Love these!"
So, I don't know. He may just have an irrational problem with amp sims.
Yeah, that's a lot of firsts. It sounds like it went okay though.
I've found it really tough to get the IEMs sounding the same on stage as they do in the studio. I think I've only had it right a couple of times. It's still better than earplugs or going deaf.
These days, it feels like I only have an amp for the other people. It is kinda nice to have some stage ambiance along with the IEMs though. Feeling the bass makes a huge difference in my playing.
I can kinda get the soundguy's "emulator" air quotes. The B3 is a bunch of mumbo-jumbo tech. The sound is close, but not quite the equivalent of an analog bass rig. I've managed to get a bunch of artifacts when playing with certain effect combinations.
Playing through the B3 has totally made me want to get a few analog effects just to compare.
I've found it really tough to get the IEMs sounding the same on stage as they do in the studio. I think I've only had it right a couple of times. It's still better than earplugs or going deaf.
These days, it feels like I only have an amp for the other people. It is kinda nice to have some stage ambiance along with the IEMs though. Feeling the bass makes a huge difference in my playing.
I can kinda get the soundguy's "emulator" air quotes. The B3 is a bunch of mumbo-jumbo tech. The sound is close, but not quite the equivalent of an analog bass rig. I've managed to get a bunch of artifacts when playing with certain effect combinations.
Playing through the B3 has totally made me want to get a few analog effects just to compare.
I have a friend who's an engineer and like all engineers, god bless 'em, he has his idea of 'your ideal bass rig'. It probably started at a particular gig when the bassist turned up with one and it was the best bass tone (to him) that he'd ever heard. I'm totally happy with my equipment and my live sound. Doesn't stop him saying I should get an *** bass and an *** amp on a regular basis
I am not thrilled with toggling to the tuner either..I am running my normal stomp tuner in front of the B3
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