New Zoom B3 owner - questions!

R

ReeV0

Apr 5, 2013
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#1
Hello everyone,

I've just become the proud owner of a used Zoom B3, I've only had it for a few hours but i've already run though everything it has to offer. I like how easy and simple to use it is. However, I do have some burning questions (I have read the manual):

1. My most important question - How on earth can you turn off the ridiculous auto-save feature? I can't get my head around it. On the B2, you had to click 'store' when you wanted to save a change. It seems on the B3, every change is saved automatically.

For example, if I go on patch A2 (SLAP WAH), I can change all the the effect parameters within it. Without thinking, I changed the Wah effect to something else, then switched to another patch. I turned off the B3, and came back to it a while later. To my dismay, when I went back on patch A2, it had auto-saved my patch change. So it was still called SLAP WAH, but it had no Wah effect in it!! I had no idea which wah it was supposed to contain, so I had to do a factory reset. How can this be?! Am I doing something wrong? What is the purpose of the 'Store' button?

2. Where are the User slots? I have patches from A0 to J9, and then it reverts back to A0.

3. Is there any way to stop the B3 loading up the 'Rhythm' section everytime I unpause the drums? For example, if I'm using the looper, I'll be pausing/unpausing the drums whenever I'm making changes etc. It's really annoying to have to keep re-loading the looper everytime I unpause the drums.

4. Since I bought it used, is there any way to download Cubase without the CD?

5. What is the purpose of the Edit&Share software? It seems to just do what you can do on the B3 itself?

5. Is there any way to get the bass effect from RHCP - Sir Psycho Sexy? I think he was using a Multron, but can be recreated with a Q-Tron or Bassballs?


Sorry for the long post and thanks for the help!
 
#2
lebjos said:
Hello everyone,

I've just become the proud owner of a used Zoom B3, I've only had it for a few hours but i've already run though everything it has to offer. I like how easy and simple to use it is. However, I do have some burning questions (I have read the manual):

1. My most important question - How on earth can you turn off the ridiculous auto-save feature? I can't get my head around it. On the B2, you had to click 'store' when you wanted to save a change. It seems on the B3, every change is saved automatically.

For example, if I go on patch A2 (SLAP WAH), I can change all the the effect parameters within it. Without thinking, I changed the Wah effect to something else, then switched to another patch. I turned off the B3, and came back to it a while later. To my dismay, when I went back on patch A2, it had auto-saved my patch change. So it was still called SLAP WAH, but it had no Wah effect in it!! I had no idea which wah it was supposed to contain, so I had to do a factory reset. How can this be?! Am I doing something wrong? What is the purpose of the 'Store' button?

2. Where are the User slots? I have patches from A0 to J9, and then it reverts back to A0.

3. Is there any way to stop the B3 loading up the 'Rhythm' section everytime I unpause the drums? For example, if I'm using the looper, I'll be pausing/unpausing the drums whenever I'm making changes etc. It's really annoying to have to keep re-loading the looper everytime I unpause the drums.

4. Since I bought it used, is there any way to download Cubase without the CD?

5. What is the purpose of the Edit&Share software? It seems to just do what you can do on the B3 itself?

5. Is there any way to get the bass effect from RHCP - Sir Psycho Sexy? I think he was using a Multron, but can be recreated with a Q-Tron or Bassballs?


Sorry for the long post and thanks for the help!
Click to expand...
Have you checked out the manual?
https://www.zoom-na.com/sites/default/files/products/downloads/pdfs/B3_Operation Manual.pdf
 
#5
I suggest you install the Edit&Share software. With it, you can save patches you have created on your PC or B3, make backups of stuff you don't want to lose and restore previous patches or effects instantly.

Regarding the "user patches", all of the are user patches, you can tweak change or modify any of them.

You can also share and download patches by others (lots of them in the B3 patches thread).
 
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#6
JACink said:
I suggest you install the Edit&Share software. With it, you can save patches you have created on your PC or B3, make backups of stuff you don't want to lose and restore previous patches or effects instantly.

Regarding the "user patches", all of the are user patches, you can tweak change or modify any of them.

You can also share and download patches by others (lots of them in the B3 patches thread).
Click to expand...
That's all well and good, but none of them can be "saved" on the B3. You make one change, and it's automatically saved.

So, if I want to remember what I had it on before, I'll need to keep a piece of paper next to the B3 with all my custom effects written down. That's the only way I'd be able to 'restore' my patches.
 
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#7
lebjos said:
That's all well and good, but none of them can be "saved" on the B3. You make one change, and it's automatically saved.

So, if I want to remember what I had it on before, I'll need to keep a piece of paper next to the B3 with all my custom effects written down. That's the only way I'd be able to 'restore' my patches.
Click to expand...

I save backups to my PC.

I am not sure if it is possible to turn the autosave function off or not, but all newer Zoom multieffects (starting from the B3 are this way). The idea is that they "replicate" real stomp boxes, so the knobs stay as they are, just like with a normal effects pedal.

You could always take a photos with your phone if you want to remember certain settings and are not near a PC.
 
#10
I never bother with a lot of what your asking, the storing, memory, saving bits. Most of the original patches are junk, with wild variations in volume. I think it’s just to demo the various effects and amp models.

The software and usb connection are really nice. First off, the usb will power the unit. When I plug it in, the unit fires up and the software opens. Now everything is on your screen. Plus the unit becomes a sound option on your computer, you can listen to tunes. And it’s the interface, but I haven’t messed with recording.

Now you can rename the patches to whatever you want. I tend to use it like three stomps in a row, or an amp and two effects. Mostly it gets used for headphone practice, learning tunes, or as a drum machine/metronome. I’ll take it to practice and run the di to the board, and skip the amp. Careful with the global volume, the di signal is controlled with that, and it can be super hot.

The drums and looper being linked is nice, things don’t drift. If you start the drums and hit the looper on the one, it’ll give you a count in.

I really like the B3, it’s a great unit for the $$$. I think I paid $150 for mine used.

Recently picked up a Line 6 HD500x. It’s a much better sounding unit, but it’s ten times more complicated, lacks drums, and is much less stable. I’ve spent hours figuring out line 6 computer stuff, scouring YouTube for instructions, and just messing with it.

When I need to get something done, I’m more likely to go with the B3 just because it’s simple and I know how to work it.
 
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#11
singlemalt said:
I never bother with a lot of what your asking, the storing, memory, saving bits. Most of the original patches are junk, with wild variations in volume. I think it’s just to demo the various effects and amp models.
Click to expand...

I agree totally.

I think I have a backup somewhere of the factory settings (the can also be downloaded) but I just erased everything.
 
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