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Zoom Owners' Club!
- Thread starter champbassist
- Start date
i 3d printed a tiny pedal board for this extremely minimal setup. it's all i need tbh. i still feel the DI box is kinda excessive since i'm just a bedroom bassist.
I use a similar setup live except I have a para driver instead of just a direct box. I figure I can use phantom power for the preamp and batteries for the zoom and I'm good. I do also have a dedicated compressor because I like the compressor and don't want to set up a compressor for every patch. Kind of the same with the preamp but I do switch it off when I want a different amp sound. Gives me a baseline to return to without turning knobs.
I could just as easily drop the compressor and show up to a gig with the zoom and the para and be perfectly happy.
I still have my working 506...can I join? 
You betcha! I still have mine but it is currently not working as one of the inputs is faulty after being trod upon by an energetic singer. It led to me getting a 607 that also saw a lot of gigs, I was busy back then playing 10-15 gigs a month.
It's kind of fascinating that sometimes older "budget" devices have their own special signature sound which can become familiar. I think this happens across at all price levels. It's interesting with Zoom and Digitech gear because they were clever with their DSP even with lo-fi AD/DA and circuitry. I suppose the same could be said for Boss gear as well. I remember their SE-50 and its successor, the SE-70-- were unique and kind of sought after for a while.
Todays gig setup.
Two R100C:s chained, 1995:ish CIJ Jazz and 1971 MIJ Greco and a Zoom B3.
Two R100C:s chained, 1995:ish CIJ Jazz and 1971 MIJ Greco and a Zoom B3.
My 506 was my first foray into multi-effects boxes in the mid-90s and pushed me to go all out and led me to purchasing a BOSS GT-6B about 23 years ago that I still use today. I keep the 506 and plug it in and tinker with it every now and then. I have recreated most of my favorites from it in the GT-6B, but there is one patch I have on the 506 that is truly gnarly and I have been completely unsuccessful in recreating in the GT-6B. Such a fun little box and I am loathe to ever let it pass out of my control.
Thanks. Yes, the neck is very nice, maybe slightly chunkier than the thinnest jazz necks, but just perfect for me. The bass itself is light and very comfortable to play, so the Greco (had it as a spare) did not get any playtime at this gig.
Hello fellow zoomers! Are there any midi wizards? I need a bit of help, I have a ms-60b (old one, non plus) and mvave chocolate plus (new version), how can I use my controller to switch between effects inside one preset instead of switching between presets? Four effects, four switches, there has to be the way, right? Also would be cool to still be able to switch between presets by pressing two switches at the same time or maybe even turn the effect on and off from the controller. If there’s a way, please explain like I’m 7, this is my first multi effect and my first midi controller. Thank you very much!
Did you ever find a way to install ClearDRV on the B1 Four?I just wish Zoom Effect Manager could import FX from files (ZDL, ZD2), it's a question of time that someone manages to hack FX out of MultiStomp+ models' firmware (apparently same ZD2 format) and I sure as hell want ZOOM's new Clear Driver Preamp (ClearDRV) from the MS-60B+ installable in my B1Xfour. One can only dream
The +-models haven't been hacked yet. so as far as I know, that still impossible.
What I'm trying to do is to hack a B1Xfour indeed and install the MS-60B+'s ClearDRV (not available in the B1Xfour). It is possible to hack them with Zoom Effect Manager's regular "inter-four" model effects swap. It's not possible to install .zd2 files directly (yet, it's in the to-do list apparently), but another utility, zoom-zt2, can do that and also can extract the file from an MS-60B+ too. FX file format is the same .zd2. I just haven't found any hacking geek that can share such file with me.
Wish there was an app to extract FX to files directly from the firmware, as did the old Zoom Firmware Editor (only works for 1st. gen MultiStomps and B1on/B1Xon/G1on/G1Xon).
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It's an interesting development for sure. But since that Zoom-zt2 software makes permanent changes that can't be undone, I don't think you'll find many people wanting to risk their pedals. I know I won't touch it until any changes I make with it are reversible.
But it's a start. ZEM could use that software to add all effects to their software at the cost of a single pedal of every type. That's half the process. The next step is making sure you can actually edit the content freely and not ruin it by removing something. But it's also the hardest obstacle to overcome.
I hope both guys gets enough donations to do it and get it to work properly.
IDK where you got that, but you can reverse everything you do on zooom-zt2. It's been there for years. It just installs/uninstalls FX in your device, same as ZEM, but in a more rustic way/interface (or command line script calls). Also exports ZD2 files from a device itself, just unfortunately not from a firmware installer. I've used it extensively to load G1Xfour effects into my B1Xfour, before Zoom Effect Manager had any support for the four models. Developer claims it has in fact support for MS+ models, but I don't own or have any around to test. If I had an MS-60B+ around I'd definitely try to export the ClearDRV.
The ZEM project is still my best bet. It's unlikely it'll take too long to crack the MS+ models too, that's right next Invalid Link Removed. Still based on the four/B3n/G3n gen FX file ZD2 format. So probably you'll be able to install MS+ effects in a four/n model. I've donated to this guy a couple times already, and will defintely keep doing it, it's a superb tool. Really hope he figures out MS+ support soon (also ZD2 file import/export capabilities would be a total hit for me).
It specifically says so:
- 'WARNING: There is no online resource for MS-plus effects (zd2/icon/ir) files, a factory reset WILL NOT RESTORE removed/deleted files!'.
- 'The script has been tested with G1Four, it is expected/hoped that it will also work on the G1XFour, B1Four, B1XFour, G3n, G3Xn, B3n and G5n'
also is no guarantee and you could end up bricking your B1 even if you did successfully extract and store the new effect. All it takes is 1 connection hiccup during the reading or writing process and you may have to go looking for a new pedal.
Unlike ZEM, where I can just rewrite or restore everything to it's original state, even if something goes wrong. I've never heard anyone say their pedal broke down due to using the ZEM software. That is the kind of stability I want. That's not to downplay your experience with it and I'm glad it works well for you so far, but it just doesn't sound safe enough for me.
There's also this bit: ' It is also at least partially compatible with the MS-50G+, MS-60B+, MS-70CDR+ and MS-80IR+.' Sorry, but 'partially' compatible without explaining what is and is not compatible and how it affects things is just not good enough for me. To each his/her own.
I am going to keep an eye on this though. If they can make this as good or better than ZEM, I'll be happy to use it. But not yet.
I agree.
All disclaimers are in place for these unofficial projects, of course, use at your own risk. If you delete effects from your device you can restore them via Zoom's official firmware installer anytime, they're not just lost. Connection hiccups can brick a device even with those same firmware installers from Zoom itself. IDK what would happen on ZEM if you disconnect your device mid-update (nor have the guts to try it, ever
).
Happily just found the Zoom club!
I have a Zoom 506ii I had forgotten all about! I got it about 6 years ago as part of a package deal when I bought a Yamaha fretless.
I remember playing with it then and then sticking it in the closet. I was reorganizing said closet and there was the Zoom. Plugged it in, and just fell in love with it! So fun to make my basses, including my EUB, sound like so many fun sounds! I even just found and bought a NOS FP02M expression pedal for it.
I'm mostly using the stock settings, but will start playing around with them as I get more familiar with it. The pedal is a fun addition.
I have a Zoom 506ii I had forgotten all about! I got it about 6 years ago as part of a package deal when I bought a Yamaha fretless.
I remember playing with it then and then sticking it in the closet. I was reorganizing said closet and there was the Zoom. Plugged it in, and just fell in love with it! So fun to make my basses, including my EUB, sound like so many fun sounds! I even just found and bought a NOS FP02M expression pedal for it.
I'm mostly using the stock settings, but will start playing around with them as I get more familiar with it. The pedal is a fun addition.
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