I too have one in process and yes there was radio silence until there was good news.
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Zoom MS-70CDR+ is almost here
- Thread starter bassbrad
- Start date
One thing that REALLY intrigues me about these is the polyphonic pitch shifting effect...I've been wanting something like the harmony section of the (new) Digitech Bass Whammy without the pedal. The footprint and coordination to do the whammy part doesn't interest me as much as the harmony, plus the tracking on the Digitech is excellent IME.
Does the older M-70CDR have this too? If so, anyone try it and get decent results? I'd be 100% sold on the MS-70CDR+ if that's a possibility with it
Does the older M-70CDR have this too? If so, anyone try it and get decent results? I'd be 100% sold on the MS-70CDR+ if that's a possibility with it
Zoom's pitch shifting effects on bass have traditionally sucked. Maybe they've improved a little, I'll let you know. But even if they've only slightly improved, then they still suck.One thing that REALLY intrigues me about these is the polyphonic pitch shifting effect...I've been wanting something like the harmony section of the (new) Digitech Bass Whammy without the pedal. The footprint and coordination to do the whammy part doesn't interest me as much as the harmony, plus the tracking on the Digitech is excellent IME.
Does the older M-70CDR have this too? If so, anyone try it and get decent results? I'd be 100% sold on the MS-70CDR+ if that's a possibility with it
I've got a Bass Whammy to compare it against and there isn't a pedal out there that tracks as well or sounds as good to my ears. I wish Digitech would release just the "pedal" section of the Bass Whammy with an expression pedal input instead of the built in treadle.
To be fair, I thought the pitch shifting in the HX Effects and HX Stomp also weren't as good as the Bass Whammy. The octave down stuff is fine.
I have a B6, which should be more or less comparable. My experience with the BaPlShift (that's what the B6 calls it) is that it's workable up to 2 semitones down, provided you use a HPF and/or a compressor along with it. On its own it's..not that good. Latency and sound alteration quickly becomes a factor, which you get with any pitch shifter on a bass. If you help it with an HPF/compressor it's usable in a mix with -for me- acceptable latency. I'll never go lower than -2 semi's on any pitch shifter for a clean tone. It just doesn't sound right for me.If so, anyone try it and get decent results? I'd be 100% sold on the MS-70CDR+ if that's a possibility with it
The only exception where I might try to go below -2 semi's would be on something like a SA C4, where the synth-like tone alteration is desired, but only if it tracks well. But not for clean tones. There's simply no avoiding the physics involved in altering low frequencies and I just don't like the sound I get.
How does it track for higher tones like 5th up? I used to pair that with a chorus pedal and got some cool effects out of it, but the form factor on the Digitech is just waaaay too big for my board.
I never tried a 5th up on the regular pitch shifter. I haven't had the need to go there. The HPS, which is also on the 70+, can add a 5th or 7th. I like having access to the dry signal as well and add harmonies. I never tried it with the dry signal turned down but it should work. But the HPS requires the key of the song you're playing in or it won't work. All harmonizers have this I think.
I have some free time tomorrow. If you want, I'll test both the HPS with no dry signal and the 5th up on the pitch shifter and see which sounds better
Yes, HPS is what I meant to say (my poignancy is waning...busy day at the office lol), as in it adding the 5th up along with the dry note being played too. Basically the Digitech Bass Whammy on "Chords" in the Harmony section doing 5th up.
If the HPS in this is like the B6 it will do fine =]
The Zoom MS70CDR+ has arrived and a quick run though has me very pleased. Quiet with impressive sound quality even with multiple effects in a patch. The Bass Analog Octaver sounds pretty substantial and tracked all the way to my open E and sounded massive through my studio speakers. Bit crusher and ring mods sound lovely, or as lovely as those ought to sound. Every other effect sounded just like you want and still we have Bomber and a kitchen sink. 
My only gripe is that the Zoom Guitar Lab does not recognize it and TonerLib has not added it yet so making edits will have to be done on the pedal, which is not my favorite, spoiled with computer screen editing on my 42" monitor.
My only gripe is that the Zoom Guitar Lab does not recognize it and TonerLib has not added it yet so making edits will have to be done on the pedal, which is not my favorite, spoiled with computer screen editing on my 42" monitor.
The Zoom MS70CDR+ has arrived and a quick run though has me very pleased. Quiet with impressive sound quality even with multiple effects in a patch. The Bass Analog Octaver sounds pretty substantial and tracked all the way to my open E and sounded massive through my studio speakers. Bit crusher and ring mods sound lovely, or as lovely as those ought to sound. Every other effect sounded just like you want and still we have Bomber and a kitchen sink.
My only gripe is that the Zoom Guitar Lab does not recognize it and TonerLib has not added it yet so making edits will have to be done on the pedal, which is not my favorite, spoiled with computer screen editing on my 42" monitor.
How are the pitch shifters?
That is something I will be testing soon, I had time to run through most of the presets. I plan to do a more detailed report on all of the effects for bass and synth.
Had a bit more time to audition each of the effects and here are my thought as pertains to bass use. This was using my Peavey Unity LTD on Pbass straight into a headphone amp and studio headphones. YMMV.
Compressors feel a more accurate or true to the analog counterparts in performance and sound. Most do not contribute any noise, exceptions are guitarish versions that need to have a ZNR engaged if you want that sound/feel.
Eqs are very usable and intuitive.
Filters are spot on and there is plenty of control and options to find a magic funky sound.
Octavers sound phat, full, quick tracking all the way down to low E, no artifacts or drops. Pitch shifter is better but it will not replace a transposer or Drop pedal IMHO. I do like the octave and fifth tracking as is seems a bit quicker than past Zooms.
Modulation, Delay and Reverbs sound fantastic and this is where this pedal really shows the most progress from the previous CDR [which is still quite good IMO]. While the exotic nature of many of the delays and reverbs may not suit many bass players use the basics are certainly there and aren't those other sounds a lot of fun to experiment with for those more into electronic or synth sounds, heck yes. It is also nice that there are many popular sounds included from much more expensive units like Strymon and Eventide.
Final thought are if you are needing a lot of effects and don't need distortions, preamps or amp or cab sims this s is a great addition to any effects collection.
I have sent emails to Zoom and ToneLib about adding the MS70CDR+ to the devices that their software supports. We shall see.
Compressors feel a more accurate or true to the analog counterparts in performance and sound. Most do not contribute any noise, exceptions are guitarish versions that need to have a ZNR engaged if you want that sound/feel.
Eqs are very usable and intuitive.
Filters are spot on and there is plenty of control and options to find a magic funky sound.
Octavers sound phat, full, quick tracking all the way down to low E, no artifacts or drops. Pitch shifter is better but it will not replace a transposer or Drop pedal IMHO. I do like the octave and fifth tracking as is seems a bit quicker than past Zooms.
Modulation, Delay and Reverbs sound fantastic and this is where this pedal really shows the most progress from the previous CDR [which is still quite good IMO]. While the exotic nature of many of the delays and reverbs may not suit many bass players use the basics are certainly there and aren't those other sounds a lot of fun to experiment with for those more into electronic or synth sounds, heck yes. It is also nice that there are many popular sounds included from much more expensive units like Strymon and Eventide.
Final thought are if you are needing a lot of effects and don't need distortions, preamps or amp or cab sims this s is a great addition to any effects collection.
I have sent emails to Zoom and ToneLib about adding the MS70CDR+ to the devices that their software supports. We shall see.
Thanks!
I'm moving in the direction of using my HX One pre-dirt, mostly for pitch shifting, and buying the CDR+ for post dirt delay/reverb/tremolo etc.
How is the self noise? I could never eliminate it with the original.
How would you rate the quality of the effects (pitch shifting notwithstanding)? On par with Line 6? Below that?
I find it much quieter that previous MS pedals and have not tried any of the Line 6 offerings. I plan to use the cdr+ as the final stage after other pedals so agree with your idea.
Ordered mine from Sweetwater just this morning, no word yet on when I can expect it to arrive, but I'll chime in on here once I get some time with it.
The part that sold me on this was being able to have a tuner, noise gate, compressor/boost, the HPS, and more Chorus options built into one pedal. Even cutting down the number of pedals onboard by 3 is going to be a big help. Love my WA Julia, but getting some more Boss-like digital choruses on tap will also be nice, looking forward to a Boss BF-2 style Flanger sound at the front of my signal chain too. It'll look like this once I'm done:
Bass -> Zoom MS-70CDR+ -> WA Julia -> WA Ages -> Idiotbox Blower Box -> Idiotbox Blackout Fuzz -> Digitech Digital Flanger -> Digitech Digital Delay -> Tech 21 VT Bass DI -> GK 700RB-II
Hopefully the Zoom MS-70CDR+ does the trick...
The part that sold me on this was being able to have a tuner, noise gate, compressor/boost, the HPS, and more Chorus options built into one pedal. Even cutting down the number of pedals onboard by 3 is going to be a big help. Love my WA Julia, but getting some more Boss-like digital choruses on tap will also be nice, looking forward to a Boss BF-2 style Flanger sound at the front of my signal chain too. It'll look like this once I'm done:
Bass -> Zoom MS-70CDR+ -> WA Julia -> WA Ages -> Idiotbox Blower Box -> Idiotbox Blackout Fuzz -> Digitech Digital Flanger -> Digitech Digital Delay -> Tech 21 VT Bass DI -> GK 700RB-II
Hopefully the Zoom MS-70CDR+ does the trick...
Can anyone comment on whether the + series will work with the MVave Chocolate like the old ones did?
I'm no expert on the subject, but according to the manual it supports midi program changes. So I assume the answer is yes. Perhaps this page from the manual will help:
I just ordered one of these. Looking forward to it. I currently have a B2 Four that I use work a Genzler Magellan pre. The plan is to lighten the load a little and provide a better universe of chorus/reverb effects. I really like the MXR Ross comp, so it’s got that going for it as well.
Got an email yesterday from my Sweetwater Rep. Zoom is projecting mid-June as when I should be receiving my pedal. I'll post some thoughts and maybe a few clips (If I'm feeling brave...) too.
