Zoom B6

Product Information

I did my experiment using the simulation of the dbx160 (160 comp) as the parallel-processed effect. Curiosity is satisfied, but I probably won't ever NEED TO use this method....which is a GOOD thing. Looper: I'm not a looper guy, but if you are and looper time/capacity matter to you, the SD card slot solves this problem

The B6 is very much larger and very much more capable than the B3 and its successor, the B3n. For a start, where the B3n offers a total of 67 individual ‘stompbox’‑style effects or amp models (each one of course separately configurable), the B6 offers around 115. And whereas the B3n enabled each patch to be built from a chain of up to three effects, the B6 accommodates six. But that’s just the beginning of the B6 story; there’s much more to it than just effects count and patch chain length. Probably the easiest way to begin to explain all there is to play with (and there is a lot) is to describe its physical format, so that’s what I’ll do. LIFT ( ): This disconnects the ground pin from the ground. This is useful if noise is caused by a ground loop. The menu and touch screen seem a bit in depth at first but you soon get used to it. The display is brilliant - not too bright but even easy for me to see during a show with my ancient old eyes! I found it to be utterly silent. Unless I plumbed in a high gain distortion followed by a flanger and reverb - but then show me any set up with those pedals which is silent! And there's a noise gate if you want it anyway.The last of the four ‘hard’ switches, the one to the right of the touchscreen, actually has two functions. Firstly, if a looper or rhythm generator (more of both later) tempo is required, repeatedly tapping the switch defines said temo. Secondly, if you press and hold the switch, a big, bold and wonderfully clear tuner display appears on the B6 screen. Engaging the tuner also usefully mutes the B6 output. I found the tuner easy to use and reassuringly stable. It tunes chromatically to 440Hz by default, but other options can be configured if required.

Creating you patches for your Zoom B6 Multi Effects Bass Processor can seem daunting, however with the 4.3-inch touch screen it's easy to arrange your signal path by simply dragging and dropping! Choose from over 11 extremely detailed amplifier models, 12 boutique cabinet models and roughly 50 effects! Of course, modern players demand modern solutions and the Zoom B6 is no exception. You can load your own custom Impulse Responses directly to the unit for a familiar tone in your recordings. Whether you need a few flavours of amplifier and cabinet or a plethora of unique effects, Zoom B6 has you covered. Specifications Inputs Also will be experimenting with loops, to see if they can be saved via SD card and recalled on a patch-by-patch basis. It's a thing of beauty. The pictures don't do it credit. While everyone else produces near identical machines, or apes the Line6 range, Zoom as ever, do their own thing. It's the stealth bomber of multi effects. With bright coloured lights. So not really that stealthy. The experiment with discrete Send and Return did work to create a pseudo-parallel path. Kind of funky getting it sorted.I should have my B6 coming today or tomorrow. There's a discussion over here about the B6 and Atomic BassBox:

IMO, pretty much everything about the B6 is a better than the B3n. Unless you're fully wedded to the WYSIWYG stomp switches and knobs legacy design (in which case the G11 would suit you better...for a jump in cost), there's almost nothing I prefer on the B3n vs. the B6. B3n is smaller, if that matters. Both require a little tap-dancing to switch their "play modes" from stomp mode to bank/patch to memory. This could be improved for the B6.

Zoom B6

You might need this manual in the future. Always keep it in a place where you can access it easily. This enables wireless control of the B6 from an iPhone/iPad using the iOS/iPadOS Handy Guitar Lab for B6 app. USB (Micro-B) port Connecting a computer makes the following possible. No matter what type of gig, recording session or rehearsal you're called to, you can always be ready with the Zoom B6. Featuring four play modes, you can modify how you use the Zoom B6 depending on the call you get for your next gig! Switchable via the dedicated stomp switch, you can choose between Effect Board, Bank/Patch, Memory and Looper modes. In Memory mode, the touchscreen displays the four patches in the selected bank along with arrow icons that scroll either way through the banks. The patches are also assigned to the four front footswitches. Pressing one, or touching one of the screen icons, will enable the patch. Memory mode, with its easy access to four patches, is really well suited to selecting alternate patches for different sections of a song. Patches can be easily renamed and could reflect song sections (intro, verse, chorus, break, for example).

Synth and pitch-based effects have taken a step up IMO. I'm finding that I like them more and can do more with them. On the B3n, this category was a real struggle. The synth sounds I'm getting now on the B6 are so much better than the B3 or B3n. Processed by legendary Zoom technology, no matter what DI type you need for your sound, the B6 Multi Effects Bass Processor will deliver super-fat bottom end thanks to the analogue circuit modelling as well as an articulate top end from the 88.2kHz sampling frequency. Powerful recording and editing softwareSize: the pedal is big for a Zoom pedal...bigger than the G5n I use. I may need to carry it in its own case rather than stuffed in my gig bag. You also get an onboard looper, along with 68 rhythm patterns to play along with, and up to 2 hours of recording time, or a 45-second looper without an SD card. Expansion & Connectivity Wireless control via optional Bluetooth adapter (BTA-1, not included) with Handy Guitar Lab for B6 app