How to efficiently use your Zoom G1xOn plus Patch Settings

First is the tuner, I use it to mute my guitar when Im trying to setup on stage or during rehearsals or recording. It means that I avoid making noise, blasting sound on the amp whilst setting up. And obviously, tune my guitar discreetly. Also when waiting for our turn, backstage, I can double check and tune my guitar.

Second is the batteries. I can use the battery option and not worry if there's a power outlet near me on stage. Plus save me time on plugging my power adaptor. Another thing is giving me the chance to tune my guitar backstage without worrying of any power outlet. Plus I can jam anywhere, anytime. Like outdoor gigs. I can just plug my guitar to my Zoom G1xOn and use the headphone out plus batteries and enjoy.

Third, is the direct line stereo output. Saves me whenever the backline is playing up or during rehearsals when Im unable to bring my amp or during open mic when there's no extra amp to use. I can simply use the direct out and plug my effects pedal straight to the PA system.

Now, about my patches. My first patch (A0) is bypass mode or setting. It's very useful during live gigs especially if the organisers are the one providing backline for the band. Meaning the amps are already there. Using the bypass mode/setting, Im able to check the dry sound of the guitar and the amp and it's easy to tweak the EQ, gain and other effects like Reverb, etc.

Zoom G1xOn has only two footswitches which control up and down option for your saved patches. Even though there's only two switches, Im able to improvise and use it like three stompbox. So, my A1 is clean tone, A2 crunch, and A3 lead tone. This is my generic setup. Meaning I can jam with any band or musicians or play any song with this setup. I got clean sound with just reverb on and the option to turn my wah pedal on. Then my crunch or rhythm, is when I need a bit of overdrive which is subtle for any rock music. And lastly my lead tone which is much louder and produces a lovely tone and sustain.

PATCH SETTINGS:

A1 - Clean  

FD Combo (amp)
Gain: 24 Tube: 30 Level: 86
Treble: 48 Mid: 45 Bass: 44
Pres: 52 Cab: FD combo 2x12 Out: Line

Hall (Reverb)
Decay: 10 Tone: 5 Mix: 46
PreD: 49 Level: 130 Tail: Off

A2 - Crunch

Big Crunch (amp)
Gain: 82 Tube: 30 Level: 80
Treble: 51 Mid: 42 Bass: 59
Pres: 61 Cab: BigCrunch 1x12 Out: Line

ZNR (noise gate/reduction)

Thrsh: 5 DETCT: Gtr In Level: 100

Carbon Delay (delay)
Delay: 360 Regen: 33 Mix: 30
Mod: On Width: 31 Speed: 28
Tail: Off  Sync: Off

Hall (Reverb)

Decay: 10 Tone: 5 Mix: 31
PreD: 10 Level: 100 Tail: Off

A3 - Lead

Booster (boost/overdrive/tube screamer)
Gain: 83 Tone: 26 Level: 120

BGN Drive (amp)
Gain: 73 Tube: 15 Level: 100
Treble: 41 Mid: 54 Bass: 40
Pres: 62 Cab: D2 Drive 4x12 Out: Line

ParaEq (equaliser)

Freq1: 200Hz Q1: 2 Gain1: 3

Freq2: 400Hz Q2: 4 Gain2: -8

Level: 100

Delay
Time: 560 F.B.: 37 Mix: 40
HiDMP: 5 P-P: Mono Level: 100
Tail: Off  

Hope you find this helpful and you enjoyed my blog. Please subscribe for more hacks and tricks that I will be sharing on this blog. Cheers!

Review of Chase CCG400C Classical Guitar Gigbag

I bought this gigbag for my Valencia VC104ebk. This softcase is really value for money. The material used and how the bag was built is of good quality and standard. Here's the specifications of this gigbag.

Features:

- subtle integrated reflective integration (reflectorised)
- comfortable foam mesh carrying handle
- additional grab handle on the back
- no.8 two-way zipper (heavy duty)
- built-in polyester bridge, headstock and strap-pin protector
- soft, non-scratch, quilted nylon interior lining
- A4 music pouch with zippered accessory pocket
- ergonomically designed mesh lumbar support
- 15 mm soft padding
- luggage grade 600D polyester
- number of compartments (4)

Internal Dimensions:

Length:  102 cm
Width:    41.5 cm
Depth:    10 cm

M-Audio Keystudio vs Evolution MK249C2 MIDI keyboard

This is a comparison of two 49-key USB MiDi keyboards that I own. The Evolution MK249C2, which I bought 8 years ago from carboot sale and I fought for this MiDi keyboard. It was £20 but I bargained it to £10 and the guy selling it wouldn't so we agreed at £15. No USB lead and/or software when I bought it and I was new with MIDI keyboard that time so I really don't know what to do with it apart from I know I will make use of it for recording. Oh the other thing was, the power button is playing up. I had to clean it with WD40. I used Audacity when I first tried this keyboard and Mixcraft.  Until, I got a proper software, which is EnergyXT and then in recent years Garageband.

The other MIDI keyboard is the M-Audio KeyStudio which is also 49 keys was given to me on my 40th birthday this year. It came with a lead. Looks neat. No problem whatsoever.

I can't detail much about MIDI keyboards because Im not an expert on this. But I will state here the obvious like the Evolution MK249C2 has got LED screen and got lots of knobs and buttons from effects, transpose, tuning, assignable buttons, effects, expression, etc. Also it has sustain pedal input, MIDI output, power input and the USB connectivity.

The M-Audio has less buttons, in fact only three; one for edit and two for octave (+/-). Then the slide bar for volume and the pitch bend and modulation which Evolution MK249C2 got. It only has USB connectivity and sustain pedal input. Although it has less buttons, it has almost the same function with the other one. I've looked online for the manual and it says that when you press the Edit button, you can activate certain programs by pressing the black keys for example to transpose and other functionality.

When I tried both keyboards using Garageband, the sustain pedal worked but when I tried it using EnergyXT software on a laptop, the sustain pedal is not working. I mean the program doesn't allow it.

It's very difficult to choose which program is the best because on Garageband, apart from limited choices, the sound quality is so realistic and the speed is very good. On the other hand, EnergyXT got lovely electric piano and strings and a lot more trance program to choose from. But then no sustain and a slow speed and not so good sound quality than Garageband.

Just hear for yourself the difference.

M-Audio KeyStudio MIDI Keyboard using Garageband

Evolution MK249C MIDI keyboard using EnergyXT

Valencia vc104ebk Unboxing and quick review

Valencia 4/4 black electro classical nylon guitar vc104ebk retail price £149 bought £71 on eBay from Ebony and Ivory Ltd. Well packed. Double boxed with bubble wrap and plastic plus two balls to cushion the Valencia box itself. Guitar is inside Valencia labelled box and wrapped and well protected inside.

Out of the box, upon quick viscual check, it really looks good. Then I immediately opened the battery compartment and put the battery in. Then, after tuning the guitar, played a little and it sounded very good.

This time a thorough inspection: The headstock and body are done beautifully especially the gloss finish. However, the neck has sharp edges, the frets got visible glue stain or marks and looks  cheap. The worst part is that it’s got a spot/scratch on the fretboard as shown on the video. Apart from that, it rather sound very good unplugged.

It's night time, so I had to get my ZoomG1xOn pedal and plugged this electro-classical using bypass mode and then plugged my headphones. I put it on bypass mode. It sounded superb pluuged in. It has built in tuners where you can adjust pitch. 3 band eq with presence and phaser. The builtin phaser though doesn't have any control apart from a button to press on and off. So you won't really hear a very distinct phaser sound but you can feel that when you press the button there's a change to the sound but not prominent and you can't adjust or alter it. I did try the guitar using a patch that has got reverb on in my Zoom G1xOn and it's beautiful especially turning the builtin phaser effects on from the guitar. Also I tried it on the Acoustic Simulation patch of Zoom G1xOn and it changed the character of the guitar, it's more crisp and it's like a pro guitar, the one you would use for gigs and stage performances. I think this could be a very good recording guitar or a project guitar for a certain song, album or music that you experiment.

Overall, this guitar is very good. If only they put more effort to that neck. A little more on quality assurance or last check before sending the guitar.

Here's the sound of the guitar: