Re: [Harp-L] Re: BRAND NEW CONCEPT IN EFFECTS PROCESSORS--Zoom MS-100BT MultiStomp Effects Pedal with Bluetooth | Sweetwater.com

[Mike <mikefugazzi@xxxxxxxxx>]

I've spent the last several weeks checking out the Zoom gear and have even 
found a few harp players that have used them, or humoured me be posting 
clips of them playing with them.  This was enough for me to go ahead and 
order a Zoom G5.

Having used various multi-FX boxes from several companies, I found, that 
for my tastes, the best route was separate pedal and amp functionality.  I 
haven't played out a ton this last year, but traditionally I have either 
played with full rock bands or done solo looping.  It is paramount to have 
easy amp and effect controls to access throughout the night.  Not easily 
tweaking the amp sounds is a huge turn off.

The Line 6 HD series offered the best layout for me, and I was good with 
the M series effects, but there was too much tweaking in the amp section 
relative to the sound I wanted.  I basically want a clean sound and don't 
find a huge need for a separate dirty channel, etc.  In the end, especially 
with looping, it was way easier to use a M9 and Tech 21 Sans amp (I 
wouldn't hesitate to use a different "amp" pedal, but that is what I had).  

I have had two RP255's and Richard's patches which are great for their 
value and sound.  However, I prefer a pedal board-like layout with effects. 
 The G5 would appear to be relatively easy to tweak, and should I not 
easily find an amp model to use, I can use the Sans Amp Para DI to color my 
sound (already have it).

It is SUPER easy to create a custom list of Hunter patches to eventually 
get to everything there on the DT, but I felt for tweakability and access, 
the M9/G5 layout works better.   I hate scrolling and may find in my return 
window that the G5 is still too much scrolling.

One thing the M9 and DT can't do are pitch shifted delays.  The G5 can and 
I've heard them with harmonica...something that is a huge selling point for 
me.  I wanted good mods, which the G5 has, and good delays.  I don't worry 
as much about reverb or pitch shift effects, although they work well there 
too.  I was looking at EVERYTHING on the market that would cover my needs 
regarding effects...from separate pedals to racks.  I even looked heavily 
at multiple Eventide pedals, which would have ran well over $600 in the 
end, and using an iPad.

What it came down to was the Twin Reverb on the G5 sounding useable (maybe 
the preamp tube will work too), in the hopes of only needing one pedal for 
grab and go.  Granted, my current rig is on a Pedal Train Mini, but no 
pitch shifted delays, and some of the mods and fliters on the M9 just 
aren't very useable.  In contrast, what I've played on the DT and heard 
from the G5 sound way better in that regard.  The only things on the M9 
that I would really miss are the particle verb, sweep echo, and Growler. 
 The G5, or a RP 355 and higher could pretty much do those, though.  The M9 
is fantastic for delays, some of the verbs, and basic effects - chorus, 
phaser, etc.  The synths and out there sounds are glitchy as is the bass 
ocatver.

As I think about it, the M9/Tech 21 is a stellar blues rig if you are 
looking for a few basic effects.  The DT with Hunters settings seems to be 
a fantastic recording tool and great live if you only need to bounce around 
a few things (or are very prepared).  The G5, in theory, would be the best 
of both worlds.  I dunno...we'll have to see when it comes  in next week. 
 If it sucks, I will return it, keep my current rig, and get a DT 
Timebender and live with three different wall warts.




On Tuesday, January 8, 2013 7:52:48 AM UTC-6, Richard Hunter wrote:
>
> I looked this thing over before I asked for a Zoom G3 for Christmas (about 
> which you can learn more at hunterharp.com).  It's an interesting device. 
>  The main reason I avoided it is that the physical structure of the device 
> is a little cramped for a multi-FX box.  For example, there's a physical 
> limit of one edit window at a time; on the G3 you've got three, and you 
> have a dedicated on/off switch for every effect that's visible.  Only one 
> window means more button pushes and back-and-forth to set up a new patch 
> using the device itself.  If you're going to do a lot of editing on the 
> MS-100BT, you need to get close to Zoom's Edit&Share software, which 
> happens to be a very good tool for editing the Zoom device settings if 
> you're comfortable working with a computer.   
>
> So far as the sound goes, the MS-100BT is running the same FX on the same 
> chip as the G3/G5, so it should sound pretty good; the G3 does.  I've 
> checked out two of the Fender amp models in the G3, and they seem workable, 
> with more inherent distortion than the corresponding RP amp models.  The FX 
> vary in quality, but there are some very nice things in there. The delays 
> are very nice; the reverbs are generally not as good as the ones in the 
> Digitech RPs.  The pitch shifter is a little lower-quality than the one in 
> the RPs, but you can stack multiple pitch shifters in a row, which is 
> pretty interesting.  In fact, the most exciting thing about the G3 is that 
> you can put 6 FX (including an amp model) in any order you like. You've got 
> more FX on a Digitech RP, but you can't change the order of the FX, or 
> double up on a particular effect.  So the Zooms have some sound design 
> possibilities that aren't available on the RP. 
>
> I'll pass on more info on the new Zooms as I work through the amp models 
> and FX.  I think in general that these boxes are potentially interesting 
> alternatives to the Digitech RPs, but they're going to take just as much 
> work to configure for harp. 
>
> Regards and happy New Year, Richard Hunter 
>
> -----Original Message----- 
>
> From: Randy Singer 
>
> Sent: Jan 7, 2013 4:18 PM 
>
> To: "har...@xxxxxxxxxx <javascript:>" 
>
> Cc: richard hunter harmonica 
>
> Subject: BRAND NEW CONCEPT IN EFFECTS PROCESSORS--Zoom MS-100BT MultiStomp 
> Effects Pedal with Bluetooth | Sweetwater.com 
>
>
>
> just bought this.....will post a review.....amazing idea...it connects via 
> bluetooth to your smart device so you can download and review settings.
> http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MS100BT 
>
>
>
>
> Randy Singer Music Inc.Office/Cell- 954-422-5888 Textl- 954-929-7733  
> Fax-570-22...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <javascript:> 
>
> author, "Jazz Harp" 
> latest mp3s and harmonica blog at http://hunterharp.com 
> Myspace http://myspace.com/richardhunterharp 
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> more mp3s at http://taxi.com/rhunter 
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>