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Zoom MS-60B announced... at last

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#841
Overdrive777 said:
Hi guys!
I'm looking for a compressor to my Pedaltrain Nano board (3-4 pedals). I have mainly checked out the Aguilar and MXR.
How does the Zooms compressor compare to the other ones? Is it as good as those or almost anyway? Would love to save so space on my board:)
Click to expand...

I haven't used mine live yet, but playing around with it so far -- at home -- it compares very favorably with my Diamond Bass Comp.
 
#842
king_biscuit said:
Just got one of these yesterday, and so far I'm really impressed. I like the amp sims and compressors a lot. Also the BB sim sounds really nice! I have a couple of questions:

Is there anyway to turn the unit off when powered by AC, other than to unplug the AC?

On page 9 of the manual there is a description of the "THRU" mode for bypassing an effect. What is the purpose of this mode? Why not just delete the pedal from the chain instead? What am I missing? Thanks.
Click to expand...

No way that I've found to turn off when externally powered. That would apply to both a typical pedal supply and the awesome bonus of mini-USB. There is an auto off function that is on by default and turns it off after 10 hours.

The pedal through is the default setting for a new patch and is kind of the equivalent of turning it off. Don't know if its true bypass but haven't heard anyone (including me) mention anything about impacting tone. Most people create a bypass patch and add it too their list of patches. Advantage if this approach is that you can step and hold button down and get the tuner even if you are in bypass mode. You can also set tuner to bypass so its always on. There may be some other use for the pedal through but haven't found one. This pedal had been in my practice in gig setup since I got it last month. Invaluable even just for the tuner.
 
#843
Britbonic said:
No way that I've found to turn off when externally powered. That would apply to both a typical pedal supply and the awesome bonus of mini-USB. There is an auto off function that is on by default and turns it off after 10 hours.

The pedal through is the default setting for a new patch and is kind of the equivalent of turning it off. Don't know if its true bypass but haven't heard anyone (including me) mention anything about impacting tone. Most people create a bypass patch and add it too their list of patches. Advantage if this approach is that you can step and hold button down and get the tuner even if you are in bypass mode. You can also set tuner to bypass so its always on. There may be some other use for the pedal through but haven't found one. This pedal had been in my practice in gig setup since I got it last month. Invaluable even just for the tuner.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info. I still don't understand the THRU setting within a patch, though. Why not just not have anything there. For example how is

Distortion - Compressor - Amp - THRU

better than or different than just

Distortion - Compressor - Amp

I'm sure I'm missing something because I've only been playing with the thing for a couple of hours.
 
#844
Overdrive777 said:
Hi guys!
I'm looking for a compressor to my Pedaltrain Nano board (3-4 pedals). I have mainly checked out the Aguilar and MXR.
How does the Zooms compressor compare to the other ones? Is it as good as those or almost anyway? Would love to save so space on my board:)
Click to expand...

I'm a compressor junky, and for the $$ it is as good if not better then the ones I've owned. Plus there are several to choose from. I wish it had the two band in it that the B3 has, cause its rockin'!

J!
 
#846
Overdrive777 said:
Hi guys!
I'm looking for a compressor to my Pedaltrain Nano board (3-4 pedals). I have mainly checked out the Aguilar and MXR.
How does the Zooms compressor compare to the other ones? Is it as good as those or almost anyway? Would love to save so space on my board:)
Click to expand...

If you're a discerning pedal junkie, I'm sure that you could find better/more flexible compressors if you spent the bucks on something like one of the multi-channel FEA's or an upscale rackmount.

But I liked it better than the Diamond or the MXR, which are both very popular pedals.

That was good enough for me.
 
#847
steve_rolfeca said:
If you're a discerning pedal junkie, I'm sure that you could find better/more flexible compressors if you spent the bucks on something like one of the multi-channel FEA's or an upscale rackmount.

But I liked it better than the Diamond or the MXR, which are both very popular pedals.

That was good enough for me.
Click to expand...
Didn't see any in patch postings. Anyone care to share fav compressor patches? I have the MXR on my main board and would love to emulate it.
 
#850
Britbonic said:
Didn't see any in patch postings. Anyone care to share fav compressor patches? I have the MXR on my main board and would love to emulate it.
Click to expand...

Can't help you there. The MXR bugged me because the threshold settings were so touchy, and it farted out on my low B. The Zoom doesn't give me any of that grief.

If you're using the MXR for relatively transparent compression with fingerstyle, try the 160 Comp patch. Slowly dial down the threshold 'till it sounds audibly squashed, back it off a little, and then play with the mix control to fine tune it.
 
#851
steve_rolfeca said:
Can't help you there. The MXR bugged me because the threshold settings were so touchy, and it farted out on my low B. The Zoom doesn't give me any of that grief.

If you're using the MXR for relatively transparent compression with fingerstyle, try the 160 Comp patch. Slowly dial down the threshold 'till it sounds audibly squashed, back it off a little, and then play with the mix control to fine tune it.
Click to expand...

The more I play with the 160 patch, the more impressed I am. In fact the 160 into the agamp patch really sounds killer! I haven't played with digital stuff in a while, and I actually had pretty low expectations for the MS-60B. However, I am blown away at how powerful and natural it sounds. For $100.00 it is an absolute steal!
 
#852
steve_rolfeca said:
Can't help you there. The MXR bugged me because the threshold settings were so touchy, and it farted out on my low B. The Zoom doesn't give me any of that grief.

If you're using the MXR for relatively transparent compression with fingerstyle, try the 160 Comp patch. Slowly dial down the threshold 'till it sounds audibly squashed, back it off a little, and then play with the mix control to fine tune it.
Click to expand...

The 160 is the one I've been using most. Just a little confusing being used to the MXR mostly because of different names for everything. I guess threshold is same as input on MXR, ratio is ratio but no controls for attack and release. Plus there's a gain and a level. Assuming gain is gain compensation, similar to output control on MXR but why do you also need level? Lot's of these dual gain control setting on MS60B. I get it for amps and overdrives but for other pedals doesn't always make sense.
 
#853
After several days, I'm more impressed than ever! Every amp model sounds killer and paired with one of the very serviceable built in compressors, any model would make for a great primary tone. The BB pedal is close enough and sounds really good, and the delays and reverbs are very nice. I wish the B15 was in there, but it does so much already, who could really complain. I'm still exploring some of the other effects, but so far none of the pitch shifters will replace my OC2 for synthy octave down.

As far as the programing and effect switching, it is about as well laid out as possible for a single switch pedal, and it took me about 1 1/2 hours of playing around and looking at the manual to pretty much have everything figured out.

The unit itself seems very sturdy and is quite attractive.

Verdict: For $100.00, no pedal board should be without the 60B!
 
#854
Today I am taking my MS-60B to band rehearsal - as the only pedal (!)
I have dialed in close approximations of most of my old sounds from the board, and with some adapted patches from the MS-60B factory patches, I think it will do the job.
 
#855
I got mine two days ago, and honestly could not be happier... The verbs and comps are stellar, same goes for the filters... Love it !
Read all pages of this thread, thanks to those who posted tips and hints... Helped me get up and running on minutes. I am just stunned by this thing.
Awesome job Zoom !
 
#856
Shardik said:
Today I am taking my MS-60B to band rehearsal - as the only pedal (!)
I have dialed in close approximations of most of my old sounds from the board, and with some adapted patches from the MS-60B factory patches, I think it will do the job.
Click to expand...

Please give your thoughts on your practice? Don't know that I could do this as an only pedal, but the thought is very attractive. Does PT make a Micro Nano?
 
#857
Johno Dunn said:
Does PT make a Micro Nano?
Click to expand...

LOL. From reading descriptions on their site, the PT Mini was something they built for people that wanted a tiny pedal board option. To their disbelief, people wanted something even smaller than that, whence came the Nano. I'd love to see how they react to requests for a 2-pedal option.

Funny, though, I'd probably be interested in that. Perfect for a 60b and an HPF, or a good dirt pedal of choice.
 
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