Korg AX30B Bass Effects

The editing itself is quite easy. There are a few quirks,though. One thing I don't like is you can't choose any combination of effects in the first chain. (The first chain consists of effects such as Compression, EQ,Distortion and the second includes modulation and amibient effects). There are four choices only 1)Comp-Dext(exiciter)-5BEQ 2)Comp-Dist-5BEQ 3)Oct-Dist-Awah 4)Comp-3BEQ-Perc. The problem is you can't get Comp-Dext-Dist, Comp-Oct-Awah or Comp-Awah-Perc,etc. It's a bummer when you can't use the octaver and wah with a compressor! Also I don't like the fact that the unit goes into bypass when you change programs. That means you sound gets cut off for a moment. It is also hard to set the levels between different programs.(Read some of the other reviews on this at this site for more details. Like I said, the editing itself is easy and the display is cool. I like naming patches rather than just numbering them.(Why call a distorted patch A-1 or something when you can call it "fart tone" or whatever! One more complaint, 16 programs ain't enough!

I use this unit with an Ibanez SR800LE in a pedal board with a Guyatone BG-01 and Mutron III+ (I reviewed both, by the way)The effects are good overall.The modulation effects tend to sound decent but are not rich sounding. I don't use those kinds of effects that often, however. I will rate each effect separately to give an idea what each sounds on its own. COMPRESSOR-DYNAEXCITER-EQ'S-9 Work very smoothly. I use these effects the most. DISTORTIONS-8 I think they sound good. I use distortion alot for solos and leads. However, I use my Guyatone BG-01 mainly because I step on and off distortion alot and don't like it when the korg goes into bypass while holding a note. I do like my Guyatone a little better anyway. BUT! If the Korg didn't cut off my sound I WOULD use the Korg distortion for gigs. OCTAVE-5 (Use your Boss Octaver, EBS, whatever. It has to be better) AWAH-6 (Doesn't compare to any of my stompboxes. I have a Boss Dynamic Filter, DOD FX-25 Envelope Filter, Guyatone BG-03 Bass Wah in addition to the Mutron and they are all much better) PERCUSSION- 8 Adds a kick drum, electric drum or metallic percussive sound to your dry signal. You can set it to your playing dynamics. For example, you can set it so that only when you hit it hard it will play the sample. It works and sounds well but I never use it. Though I did make an interesting patch that might work well in dub reggae. (Used with delay of course) STEREO CHORUS-6 (Good sound but no much character. Also only has speed, depth and effect level controls. It's basically made to be used with other effects. Boring by itself. STEREO FLANGER-6(similar to my comments on the chorus, a little more interesting though). STEREO PHASER-7 (Not rich sounding like all the other modulations in this unit but it sounds cool with the distortion for a Larry Graham type Jet Phase sound) OTHER MODULATIONS-6 DELAYS- 8 (Hey, there are many different kinds and some even have high end damping, ducking, etc. Alot of control here but unfortunaltely I don't use these on bass much.) RANDOM STEP FILTER- 7 (Can get synth-type effects.Can't get Synth Bass effects, bummer. A blast to mess around with though.) PITCH SHIFTER- 6 Works. BENDER- 6 (Don't know how to use this thing) PANNER- 8 Works. It pans your sound left and right. If you use it mono, you can set it so that it works like a tremolo. EARLY REFLECTION- 7 (Sounds good. Good if you want amibience but don't want to muddy up your sound as regular reverb does) REVERB- 7 (I never use reverb on a bass.)

Seems sturdy enough. I don't wear shoes on stage because I want to feel the pedals when I step on them. (Serious!)Plus, I keep it in a pedal board. I wouldn't get a backup. I'll just play the gig without the effects.

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I got it really cheap in Tokyo. They were getting rid of it because the AX300B had been out for awhile. I got it just to use EQ and Compressor for gigs. I've never recorded with it. I've got other effects for that. I like the display and leds alot. The tuner helps at gigs alot. (especilly when the guitarist forgets his tuner which he often does) If you plan to use it the way I do, it is a good unit. I got it for DIRT CHEAP! So I am really happy with it.

Its pretty easy to use.
One thing.......check in the sound quality section for explaination

One thing, though...All the effects go through a kind of mixer right before they're output and if you don't have the output levels of your effects set right, the unit will distort. A simple thing like, "hey, I need some more chorus" means you have to reprogram the output level of your compressor and dry signal and then match the output level of the chorus signal in the mixer section. This can be a pain in the but because this unit sounds best when you set the outputs of the individual programs to the maximum setting. The unit does have good bass response.
BIG PROBLEM It makes kind of distortion sound. Its kind of soft but it is really apparent if you use an amplifier with tweeters in it. One other thing.....you might consider using a loop box with this unit so that it is not in your signal chain when you are not using it. Think about it, its a $300 box.....how much money is really put into the input and output preamps in this thing? I can really hear the difference in my bass signal between going direct to my amp versus plugging into this box in bypass mode. TOO MUCH DIFFERENCE.
The box sounds cool enough through a 2x15 cabinet though. I think if you play rock this is a cool box.

just dont drop it.

no. Not if you need a really high quality signal. For fun, yes

easy to use, fairly intuitive editing. the manual is well-written (korg may have actually hired a technical writer!!) so after diddling around for a few hours, you can look in the manual and figure it out in a minute or two.

the enhancer is the best i've heard. evrything else (chorus, flange, compressor, etc. is what i would call acceptable. at least for live. this is definitely unacceptable for studio use. There is a very low-volume, fuzz-type distortion added to the signal whether the unit is on or bypassed. it sounds like the the input gain knob is up too high, but i turned it nearly off and the fuzz was still there. However, you can get some very slick, professional sounds out of this box.

it is plastic, after all. just don't drop it. i have used it without a b/u -- no probs. I now use it as a backup for a pedal board, and for out of town gigs when i want to travel light. i'd say it is very dependable.

i suppose i should call korg about that fuzz.....

if i were looking for a quick way to get polished, pro sound...yes i would buy it again. all the effects you could want are in there. i love the nice crisp shine the eq and the enhancer put on my bass tone. i also get some good fat round bottom, too. The only way i have found to improve on this box is to use separate effects. i got a tc chorus, a db

I'm able to get close to the sound I have in my mind out of the processor. Although I'm not going for any radical effects, they are available. Once I got familiar with all the ways to edit the parameters, it was easy to fine tweak the sounds. The manual is somewhat helpful in initial setup, but it's better as a technical reference once you're familiarized with the unit.

I was extremely pleased with how quiet the unit was. Used in an effects loop, it's even quieter. It's also flawless when switching from one effect to the next (no pops or dropouts). There are some horrid distortion effects, but when this unit is used carefully, some nice distortion comes out of it. But it sure can make some beautiful sounds.

The unit is mostly plastic. I'm not rough on my equipment, so I don't expect it to break, but I am a bit skeptical of the pressure pedal, which I hadn't planned on using much anyhow. It's still very new, so I don't know how reliable it will be. It's really just a toy gizmo to me. Nothing I'd personally rely on for my playing.

I'm very happy with it. After trying the Yamaha 500 something, and the Peavey BassFex, I think this is a better unit. Not quite as flexible as the rackmount units, but it does what I need. Its only limitation is you can't build an effects chain from scratch. Korg has selected most likely combinations and left it up to the user to configure the chains.