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Zoom B6

#1,521
DJ Bebop said:
I don't know if they sound as good as the new stuff but it had the feature set that have been spread across all the newer pedals. Yet not all features are available on all pedals. The number of effects have changed, the amp and cabinets can't be mixed with different amps like on the old B1on and B1xon and on some, the amp and cab take up 2 slots. The old have a balance mix between amp and can to use.
Just little things that makes me hang on to them.

There are cool things on the new ones too. Like on the B1 Four(?) were you can move the Looper around in the patch chain, the MS 60B+ has the stereo outs with the split to output two signals, one to FOH, one to the amp.

B1Xon Bass Effects Pedal with Expression Pedal

The other thing is, they are out of production :(
Click to expand...

Not sure if it's documented but, apparently, the b6 provides a 'professional' signal, separate to the line output - a nod towards understanding the needs of some users.

I suppose it's all a thing of learning, and finding where you want to make your trade-offs - from my reading, users tend to mix the same cabs, with the same amps! Preset me, then, and take up just one patch!

The G3xn had an immediacy to the controls, that i kinda miss.

The B6 has a potential in its spec, that i might never see fully realized.
 
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#1,522
arlypbarley said:
Not sure if it's documented but, apparently, the b6 provides a 'professional' signal, separate to the line output - a nod towards understanding the needs of some users.

I suppose it's all a thing of learning, and finding where you want to make your trade-offs - from my reading, users tend to mix the same cabs, with the same amps! Preset me, then, and take up just one patch!

The G3xn had an immediacy to the controls, that i kinda miss.

The B6 has a potential in its spec, that i might never see fully realized.
Click to expand...
That MS 60B+ kinda looks interesting to me right now for the amount I use pedals anymore.

The B6 is a little pricey for me, the B Four looked like more of the same of the B1on but newer and better sound quality. I don't know what to think of the B2 Four, a stripped down B6?
 
#1,523
It's honestly about knowing how to use the gear you have.

I have a Noble, Two-Notes Revolt, Hotone Ampero II Stage, and the B6. Live, and in the mix they are virtually indistinguishable in terms of tone. Ya gotta learn how to dial in your gear. Sometimes it's not intuitive, like the Helix (and that's one of the reasons why I don't use it...).

You should be able to get a good tone with ANY name brand gear these days...
 
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#1,524
arlypbarley said:
Not sure if it's documented but, apparently, the b6 provides a 'professional' signal, separate to the line output - a nod towards understanding the needs of some users.

I suppose it's all a thing of learning, and finding where you want to make your trade-offs - from my reading, users tend to mix the same cabs, with the same amps! Preset me, then, and take up just one patch!

The G3xn had an immediacy to the controls, that i kinda miss.

The B6 has a potential in its spec, that i might never see fully realized.
Click to expand...
I liked being able to mix cabs with heads even if its something I only like. I used the Fliptop cab with most amps. Really though I didn't use many of the amp models at all. So I probably don't really need that feature but I do like the option to.

:)
 
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#1,526
Because I'm an old-school effect processor junkie (my first rack effect was the Lexicon PCM41, +/- $1000 USD in 1982 IIRC), I've had to learn to extract as much function out of gear that is limited. In this context, today's inexpensive multifx modelers are ALL technological wonders in terms of creative possibilities. I support ZOOM products, even with their shortcomings, when they offer something I can use. Flip side of this is my support of Fractal Audio, who offers arguably too many updates for me to keep up with for my FM9 Turbo, which rightly also costs about 4x the Zoom B6.

It's just gear, and far less important in the grand scheme of things IMHO than one's skill as a musician/entertainer. There's too much good gear available to get hung up on the quirkiness of effect pedals at the lower-end of the market.
 
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#1,527
DJ Bebop said:
That MS 60B+ kinda looks interesting to me right now for the amount I use pedals anymore.

The B6 is a little pricey for me, the B Four looked like more of the same of the B1on but newer and better sound quality. I don't know what to think of the B2 Four, a stripped down B6?
Click to expand...

I usually hate replies that start, 'I have no actual experience of..!' and, that being said, i haven't researched the b2 four but..

to my eye, it has b6 styling, and b2 internals. most commenters agree that, only the b6 has such high sample rates, and that the b four skirts around the subject!

FWIW, i don't think the b6'll bring joy to your life. a more 'focused' pedal might prioritize your requirements, and leave no, bad, aftertaste.
 
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#1,528
InkCow said:
What is this G4 you are referring to?
Click to expand...
Maybe the G1 Four

347122-xc_g1-four_dual.jpg
 
#1,529
The multi-fx business is pretty tricky; involving lots of competition and razor thin profit margins. In order to hit a price point, things like design, component sourcing, firmware development, documentation, & support are all tight.

Zoom has a developed a decent reputation for value, good sound, features, and durability in this 'budget' arena. There are now quite a few companies playing in this lower-middle realm.

I think some companies make pedals that are more like a platform. Fractal, Line6, Kemper, Neural, maybe IK (?) sell hardware, but part of the value is the expectation that you will get new features as part of joining those clubs.

Zoom and Boss (for example) won't plan firmware updates unless they are: A. fixing a serious problem, B. adding features that were already in development, but that weren't ready upon release of the hardware, C. in consideration of what competitors are offering.

When a company that specializes in entry-level products releases a flagship-- even if it is less than half the price of the other manufacturers' flagships-- it's reasonable for expectations to be higher. Buyers won't want compromises to sound quality, hardware build/durability, and general usability. But I suppose we should expect that some minor disappointments will come with the territory.

As a side-comparison: I have a Boss SY-1000, which is quite amazing & powerful. It has had quite a few firmware updates, fixing bugs, and trying to find some compromise with regard to its pitch-tracking. It is still not entirely right; and users are now comparing between firmwares 1.06 - 1.09 to see which one gives them the best results. Eeergh!
 
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#1,532
stubbsonic said:
The multi-fx business is pretty tricky; involving lots of competition and razor thin profit margins. In order to hit a price point, things like design, component sourcing, firmware development, documentation, & support are all tight.

Zoom has a developed a decent reputation for value, good sound, features, and durability in this 'budget' arena. There are now quite a few companies playing in this lower-middle realm.

I think some companies make pedals that are more like a platform. Fractal, Line6, Kemper, Neural, maybe IK (?) sell hardware, but part of the value is the expectation that you will get new features as part of joining those clubs.

Zoom and Boss (for example) won't plan firmware updates unless they are: A. fixing a serious problem, B. adding features that were already in development, but that weren't ready upon release of the hardware, C. in consideration of what competitors are offering.
Click to expand...

"A. fixing a serious problem - nothing fundamental but, there are issues. things we might consider!
B. adding features that were already in development, but that weren't ready upon release of the hardware - way too prescriptive, and presumptive that the original dev had a clear understanding of the problem-space, in providing this, final solution.
C. in consideration of what competitors are offering - I don't think that m/any companies care much. I would swap this for:

C. Feedback from paid-up and loyal supporters of the product that hard-test, and understand, the product, in a way that the engineers might not, and don't appear to.

The Novation Circuit firmware history is based on near un-ending devotion to the project, the product, it's potential, and, perhaps, what actual users expected, and what they found.

B6 comments, generally come from a same place and, the firmware should be updated on that same basis.


"..users are now comparing between firmwares 1.06 - 1.09 to see which one gives them the best results."

A sticky wicket! But, boss did remember that they sold you something, and reached out! i wonder if Boss, like zoom, put all provisions for firmware updates in the original firmware and the user-manual, leading users to anticipate such an update, once all of these quirks, missing and undocumented features were considered.
 
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#1,533
arlypbarley said:
A sticky wicket! But, boss did remember that they sold you something, and reached out! i wonder if Boss, like zoom, put all provisions for firmware updates in the original firmware and the user-manual, leading users to anticipate such an update, once all of these quirks, missing and undocumented features were considered.
Click to expand...

Boss didn't reach out. Rather Boss ended up on the receiving end of MANY requests (not all of them very gracious). That's a $1000 box, so expectations and forum conversations were pretty intense. There have been several attempts to improve things-- but even their last update (v 1.09) has some serious problems. I hope they address them. Many folks with experience with the older Boss V99 say that it had superior tracking.

What are the lingering problems with the B6?
 
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#1,535
stubbsonic said:
Boss didn't reach out. Rather Boss ended up on the receiving end of MANY requests (not all of them very gracious). That's a $1000 box, so expectations and forum conversations were pretty intense. There have been several attempts to improve things-- but even their last update (v 1.09) has some serious problems. I hope they address them. Many folks with experience with the older Boss V99 say that it had superior tracking.

What are the lingering problems with the B6?
Click to expand...
I don't know that they're show-stoppers, as so many users have so many different needs.
It's just that, after all this time and expense, there are many minor features and enhancements that could be delivered, at a sweep.

The whole UI wouldn't object to some finessing - the 'Edit All' menu option, that they don't really promote, edits EVERYTHING (bar one thing)!

Add one thing - pedal selection to 'Edit All', making it a truthful option, and the menu system could shrink a page or two - less is more.

My first thought of using it was, 'this drum machine looks great - how do i program it?' Well, you can't, but, you should!

The maths don't add up on the cpu load - some patches are insanely greedy - more than their stated consumption.

I look up patch info - what is 'REL', or 'BAL, or 'Level'? They're usually the same thing! The language could be made consistent across patches, and introduce wild concepts like, 'song', 'setlist', 'venue' - crazy, crazy, blue-skies thinking!

So, there are no midi ports - fine. but the b6 is lousy with midi over usb - expose it! make it available to creative types - let them integrate like crazy.

Guitar Lab could have community facilities - sharing - unless zoom don't believe in community, we exist!

Can't use tonelib, for no reason I can figure.

The b6 is a beginning - it strongly comes over as something you want to configure to own, and make your own. As a multi-tool, perhaps, you might nudge the b6 in your particular direction.

Well, and after how many years, there's buckley's chance of any of it - when you own a b6, it, more, owns you!
 
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#1,538
mcnach said:
Hmm, orientation of the power switch... that's a new hate I never heard before :D
Click to expand...
new, and tiny!
it throws me every time i go to throw the switch!
to my mind, it's the right direction, if you are at the back of the b6, whereas, your average bassist is in front of it. to me, it reinforces the idea that users were not a major input to the b6 that i own, and will, almost certainly, sell on.

Probly!
 

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