jrockbridge
Stealing Your Riffs
Mark asked me to tell you guys what I thought about the Zoom MS-50G ($99) when I got it, so here goes...
First of all, many of the fx are very good for a digital multi-fx unit. I was surprised at the quality of the Spring Reverb sim. I have a Van Amps Solemate real spring reverb pedal. The Solemate ($275) beats the Zoom spring sim by a good margin but after some tweaking the digital version is one of the better spring sims I've experienced.
I think the Zoom Univibe sim is very good. In fact, I like it better than the Line 6 M-Series vibe sims.
The delay sims are very good. The reverse delay is fun for coping that Hendrix, 'Are You Experienced' reverse lead thing.
I compared the Zoom Tremolo sim to my Dano Cool Cat CT-1 Tremolo pedal. The Zoom sim has the right voicing, by the sound is thinner. Still, I'll bet the sim could be made to sound warmer by adding an EQ sim...since the MS-50G will allow use of up to 6 fx simultaneously.
Some of the fx sound a bit harsh and digital-spikey but in many cases can be made to sound warmer with some simple tweaking.
Bottom line, the fx are very good for a multi-fx unit but not on par with high quality individual stomp boxes. I like some of the fx and dislike others. But, I think there are certainly enough usable fx to make it worth $99.
IMO, the form factor would make this difficult to use as a multi-fx stomp live. But, maybe some creative person will mount one of these on a guitar and use it as their main fx generator.
* Now the bad news, there's a major flaw with the amp modeling in these units. On any amp model, there is a high frequency noise that occurs when the gain is turned up. The higher the gain, the higher the noise. Lowering the gain to nothing on any amp model does seem to get rid of the problem.
The same high frequency noise occurs on the 'Acoustic Sim' but instead of 'Gain' it's the 'Top' adjustment that cause the high frequency noise. Turn the 'Top' adjust clockwise, the high frequency noise increases. Turn the 'Top' all the way counter-clockwise and the noise goes away.
I have verified that the HF noise has been noticed by other MS-50G owners. I suspect this is a software problem that can be fixed by a firmware update. Part of the reason I think this is that none of the crunchy stomp box models have the same HF noise issue. So, the problem with gain is only happening with the amp models...including the 'Acoustic Sim' which probably uses the same software modeling engine as the amps.
I suspect Zoom will eventually release a free firmware fix for the HF noise with the gain on the amp models. But, who knows how long that will take.
Personally, I'm planning to return my MS-50G because I bought it specifically because it included amp modeling. But, it would be worth owning just for using fx into an amp.
[EDIT] After sleeping on it, I've decided to keep the pedal. I really like it, especially for $99. The HF noise that is tied to the gain on amp models is not a deal breaker for me after all.
First of all, many of the fx are very good for a digital multi-fx unit. I was surprised at the quality of the Spring Reverb sim. I have a Van Amps Solemate real spring reverb pedal. The Solemate ($275) beats the Zoom spring sim by a good margin but after some tweaking the digital version is one of the better spring sims I've experienced.
I think the Zoom Univibe sim is very good. In fact, I like it better than the Line 6 M-Series vibe sims.
The delay sims are very good. The reverse delay is fun for coping that Hendrix, 'Are You Experienced' reverse lead thing.
I compared the Zoom Tremolo sim to my Dano Cool Cat CT-1 Tremolo pedal. The Zoom sim has the right voicing, by the sound is thinner. Still, I'll bet the sim could be made to sound warmer by adding an EQ sim...since the MS-50G will allow use of up to 6 fx simultaneously.
Some of the fx sound a bit harsh and digital-spikey but in many cases can be made to sound warmer with some simple tweaking.
Bottom line, the fx are very good for a multi-fx unit but not on par with high quality individual stomp boxes. I like some of the fx and dislike others. But, I think there are certainly enough usable fx to make it worth $99.
IMO, the form factor would make this difficult to use as a multi-fx stomp live. But, maybe some creative person will mount one of these on a guitar and use it as their main fx generator.
* Now the bad news, there's a major flaw with the amp modeling in these units. On any amp model, there is a high frequency noise that occurs when the gain is turned up. The higher the gain, the higher the noise. Lowering the gain to nothing on any amp model does seem to get rid of the problem.
The same high frequency noise occurs on the 'Acoustic Sim' but instead of 'Gain' it's the 'Top' adjustment that cause the high frequency noise. Turn the 'Top' adjust clockwise, the high frequency noise increases. Turn the 'Top' all the way counter-clockwise and the noise goes away.
I have verified that the HF noise has been noticed by other MS-50G owners. I suspect this is a software problem that can be fixed by a firmware update. Part of the reason I think this is that none of the crunchy stomp box models have the same HF noise issue. So, the problem with gain is only happening with the amp models...including the 'Acoustic Sim' which probably uses the same software modeling engine as the amps.
I suspect Zoom will eventually release a free firmware fix for the HF noise with the gain on the amp models. But, who knows how long that will take.
Personally, I'm planning to return my MS-50G because I bought it specifically because it included amp modeling. But, it would be worth owning just for using fx into an amp.
[EDIT] After sleeping on it, I've decided to keep the pedal. I really like it, especially for $99. The HF noise that is tied to the gain on amp models is not a deal breaker for me after all.
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