Yes, all connectors and switches are very easy to access.
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Zoom B6
- Thread starter andruca
- Start date
I'm a long time user of the Line 6 HXFX and HX Stomp. And I'm a massive fan of those units. I got the Zoom B6 this weekend and these are my initial thoughts (I haven't spent that much time with the unit yet, so subject to change):
Drives: Obviously the HX series has way more. But the ones in the Zoom B6 that I would actually use are pretty amazing. I was impressed at how the drives respond to the character of your bass and you need you need to tweak them to complement your bass sound (as opposed to the B3N where it feels more like a blanket digital drive that colours your tone). All in all a tie, HX series has more options but it's somewhat easier to get a good tone out of the B6.
Amp Sims: Impressed at how good the B6 does here. Again, you can get much more detail out of the HX series but the best thing about the B6 is not having to work too hard to get a good tone.
Reverbs, Delays, Modulations, Pitch Shifting: HX Series take it here, no doubt. The quality of the effects in the B6 all sound nice, but I wish there were a few more experimental options.
Compressors: Easier to use in the B6, and I'm a bit of a dummy with compressors. I found the compressors instantly satisfying in the B6 though, so points to Zoom.
Octaver: Honestly, the new AnaOctaver is fantastic. I don't know why they've kept the older model too, which is pretty terrible by comparison. Points to Zoom.
Filters: Probably Zoom, just because it's easier to get an easy sound. I don't find the filters in the HX series to be particularly well optimized for bass
Synths: The synths in the Zoom sound really good, but I wouldn't use most of those sounds myself as they're a bit too funk-oriented. The synths in the HX series are way more up my alley and cover a wider range of genres. Points to Line 6.
Processing Power and UI: Line 6, by a mile. I think everyone already knows that.
I'm happily keeping all units. I use the HX models for one of my bands and my solo set-up where I need a wide range of effects and processing. But the Zoom is perfect for me for situations where I only need quick access to a handful of clean sounds and drives.
Drives: Obviously the HX series has way more. But the ones in the Zoom B6 that I would actually use are pretty amazing. I was impressed at how the drives respond to the character of your bass and you need you need to tweak them to complement your bass sound (as opposed to the B3N where it feels more like a blanket digital drive that colours your tone). All in all a tie, HX series has more options but it's somewhat easier to get a good tone out of the B6.
Amp Sims: Impressed at how good the B6 does here. Again, you can get much more detail out of the HX series but the best thing about the B6 is not having to work too hard to get a good tone.
Reverbs, Delays, Modulations, Pitch Shifting: HX Series take it here, no doubt. The quality of the effects in the B6 all sound nice, but I wish there were a few more experimental options.
Compressors: Easier to use in the B6, and I'm a bit of a dummy with compressors. I found the compressors instantly satisfying in the B6 though, so points to Zoom.
Octaver: Honestly, the new AnaOctaver is fantastic. I don't know why they've kept the older model too, which is pretty terrible by comparison. Points to Zoom.
Filters: Probably Zoom, just because it's easier to get an easy sound. I don't find the filters in the HX series to be particularly well optimized for bass
Synths: The synths in the Zoom sound really good, but I wouldn't use most of those sounds myself as they're a bit too funk-oriented. The synths in the HX series are way more up my alley and cover a wider range of genres. Points to Line 6.
Processing Power and UI: Line 6, by a mile. I think everyone already knows that.
I'm happily keeping all units. I use the HX models for one of my bands and my solo set-up where I need a wide range of effects and processing. But the Zoom is perfect for me for situations where I only need quick access to a handful of clean sounds and drives.
Agree with a lot of this ^^^^
The Ba AnaOct (bass analog octaver) is something that I thought I'd never use, but finding it very useful as the basis for synthy bass sounds (adding fuzz and envelope filter). Really spot on for this stuff.
Yes, the B6 is fairly straightforward as a modeler/multi-fx. And yes, IMO you can get up and running with very satisfying sounds without a lot of downtime learning curve. This definitely helps if you are a "play more, program less" type of bassist ( I do think we sometimes underestimate how much complexity you really can get out of a multi-fx/modeler as "basic" as the B6). Good sounding unit IMO. 'Nuff said.
The Ba AnaOct (bass analog octaver) is something that I thought I'd never use, but finding it very useful as the basis for synthy bass sounds (adding fuzz and envelope filter). Really spot on for this stuff.
Yes, the B6 is fairly straightforward as a modeler/multi-fx. And yes, IMO you can get up and running with very satisfying sounds without a lot of downtime learning curve. This definitely helps if you are a "play more, program less" type of bassist ( I do think we sometimes underestimate how much complexity you really can get out of a multi-fx/modeler as "basic" as the B6). Good sounding unit IMO. 'Nuff said.
I have one inbound now myself. After reading everything here again and some other threads and talking with members here, I pulled the trigger. It seems to tick most all of my boxes for a simple plug and play at gigs and a great practice tool with headphones. I currently use a B3N as a practice tool for silent practice on the early morning jaunts.
I'll know more come Wednesday and after.
Thanks for all the info, found more here than with Zoom themselves, lol.
I'll know more come Wednesday and after.
Thanks for all the info, found more here than with Zoom themselves, lol.
The B6 will load .wav files of cabinet IRs. Most of these .wav files are formatted to work with most anything that has an IR loader. Check the B6 manual and GuitarLab for IR loading procedure and specs and see if the IR provider's specs match up.
From the ugritone.com website:
Can I use these with Kemper/AxeFX/Headrush etc?
Most modelling amps will allow external IR's to be imported but they also often require different sample rate. Our IR's are in 24/44.1Khz. Check the compatibility from your modeller's website.
From Zoom B6 owner's manual:
Loading impulse response (IR) data
You can load your own impulse response data and impulse response data from third parties.
NOTE
Impulse response data in the following format can be loaded.
- Format: WAV
- Sampling frequency: 44.1–192 kHz
Last edited:
Got them loaded no problem.
A quick heads-up for those of you with the Bluetooth add-on.
I discovered I could load the IR .wav file via Bluetooth direct from my iCloud Drive on my iPhone.
So the B6 landed yesterday. I did a quick run through of all the presets and messed around a bit with a few things. A lot to unpack but seems easy enough to get around and figure out so far.
FYI, it does not like the Truetone OneSpot. Oh no,no,no. I Elias getting all kinds of noise and something like grounding issues. I could touch the unit or my strings to get the buzz to go away. After about 10 min of this I unwrapped the included plug and found an extension cord….. really Zoom? This short?
the noise and grounding issues stopped and was dead quite. Hope this doesn’t happen with the Cioks power supplies I have.
FYI, it does not like the Truetone OneSpot. Oh no,no,no. I Elias getting all kinds of noise and something like grounding issues. I could touch the unit or my strings to get the buzz to go away. After about 10 min of this I unwrapped the included plug and found an extension cord….. really Zoom? This short?
the noise and grounding issues stopped and was dead quite. Hope this doesn’t happen with the Cioks power supplies I have.
It does require a high quality power supply. I'm using a Friedman power supply to power everything on my board with no issues.
I just grabbed the One Spot because it was there and didn't want to open the included one right off, just in case I hated the B6 and wanted to return it. But I use a Cioks DC7 on my big board and an Eventide/Cioks Power mini for my small board. And other older power supplies that are somewhat retired if you will. I am a firm believer in good power supplies!
I mentioned the One Spot as a caution to others.
Used the B6 for the first time with my cover band last Saturday. Sounded great, very happy! The different Play Modes were useful, and it was fun playing with the different DI options. Oh and I love the Z-synth!
During the soundcheck I wanted to switch to a different compressor for one patch. It was a bit annoying that default settings are not unity gain. Why Zoom, why?
During the soundcheck I wanted to switch to a different compressor for one patch. It was a bit annoying that default settings are not unity gain. Why Zoom, why?
Used the B6 for the first time with my cover band last Saturday. Sounded great, very happy! The different Play Modes were useful, and it was fun playing with the different DI options. Oh and I love the Z-synth!
During the soundcheck I wanted to switch to a different compressor for one patch. It was a bit annoying that default settings are not unity gain. Why Zoom, why?
Is there a more scientific & precise way of setting patches to unity gain with the bypassed signal other than just “listening”?
There are so many variables that make using a DAW or other meter difficult as a sole means of patch leveling. One challenge is "metered volume" vs. "perceived volume". Though two different tones may look like they register the same on a meter, upon real-world use you may find that they are obviously completely different in how they actually sound and fit into a mix. Things like frequency range (sub low end content), dynamic range (compression or lack thereof)), and distortion/saturation are prime conspirators.
Side note: First-off, within any preset patch, you should do your best to stay close to unity gain across all added effects. You don't want digital clipping or overload going on, and you may not want insane amounts of volume added via the preset overall volume, either. For typical use, take time so that your effected tones are not radically different than when the unit is in Bypass.
Beyond that, IMHO the most reliable measure is that of a trustworthy pair of ears balancing the tones in the context of a mix, whether it be a live band mix or recorded mix.
Is there a SD card brand and size one should use for the B6? I read the manual and they don't specify a size or limit, just types.
"Cards that conform to SD, SDHC or SDXC specifications are supported.
Use the B6 to format the SD card"
"Cards that conform to SD, SDHC or SDXC specifications are supported.
Use the B6 to format the SD card"
Anybody who has the B6...Can it pitch shift down a half step? There are a couple of songs that we tune down a half step on and I would rather get rid of the drop pedal.
