Zoom 9050S

You can have some difficult to get the sound you want, but the four knobs make mircles!

Set this unit like you set your stom boxes

My setup Cort viva series II > 9050 > Marshall VS40R (at home) JCM 800 (at studio).

Endless presets, but someones are weak and unusable (just like other zoom products...). You can store your favorite settings in 99 presets, but if you use the FC-50 control board you only can switch between the first 40 of them, because of a limit of 10 banks of 4 settings :(

You can get any sound of it, from Angus to Limp Blizkt, passing thru old Metallica distortions, using the hyper drive.

The overdrive distortion sounds good, but my favorite is the crunch selection, that gives me the (almost) tube sound of Marshall amps, but even you can use your favorite distortion pedals or your amp distortion using the effect lopp in the unit (you can turn the loop on and off just changing your patch) this is the thing I like, because I still use my old DS1.

If you have imagination you'll love it. Lots of effects, lots of sfx, and a incredible natural reverb, using ER2 setting.

I can say this is a MAGIC BOX. Sit down and enjoy it

If you tak care of it it will last forever, mine has about 7 years and is in perfect conditions

Never dealt with them

Nice equipment if you play a lot of different styles, just because you have all-in-one configuration. It does almost every thing

I've been using this unit now for about 4 years (purchased from new U.K. #450). Straigt out of the box I remember plugging my headphones into the front socket, then my guitar (a Fender Strat Plus) also into a front socket and doing exactly what I did when I demoed it, . . . spenting about two hours just ploughing through what is a pretty amazing unit. The manual is very clear an concise, straing to the point, simple! I've made no upgrades to firmware, It's as I bought it.

I have an ever growing studio set up, . . . I don't play live but I do compose. I bought this unit to use with my Fender Strat, but have ended up putting vocals throught it (there are dedicated patches for vocals), keyboards and anything that makes a noise. When selecting different pickups you will notice an increase in noise floor, but just click the ZNR (Zoom Noise Reduction) button, then press execute and amazement will follow (it really does work). Remember not to stand too close to your computer monitor or you'll never fix the problem! Effect quality, hmmm, . . . tricky one, . . . on there own i.e. no backing, I would say half of the effects are very "wasp in the Jam Jar" but but but, get these in a mix and you will find they sit very nicely indeed. Effects that sound sorted (very strong) need a bit of tweek, they always do, unless your building around that particular effect. I've seen people domo this effects unit, and many others and get very wound up when there is an obvious lack of forethought that being where the effect/sound is going to sit (mix wise) live or studio! You've probably gathered by now I don't play live. It's plugged through my desk via send and return (miked up) or into two line inputs for direct input (i.e guitar). I am very much into Dave Gilmore (Pink Floyd) Keyboards an Guitar alike and the Zoom does'nt disapoint. It was the whole Pink Floyd thing that got me into guitar and bought the Zoom accordingly.

I've never ever, I'll say that again, . . . never ever had a problem with this unit. I must say though it's never been out of the studio so I can't vouch for live robustness - if thats a word?

I've never needed to get in contact with Zoom for any reason. But I am now on a search for some system exclusive (new presets) if any are available. I'd love to hear form you www.graphic.traffic@cwcom.net. I have to give a rating for customer support, but I've never need it. So based on a fabulous product I give 10 for the incredibly kind and helpful PRODUCT that it is.

Being a crator of many musical styles I find the Zoom up to the job. You can't alwas find a required effect/sound, but creating one is'nt difficult. It would have been nice to have included a tap function thought for instant delay requirements. Technology moves on, would I buy one again (4 years on infact) I'd have to suss out my alternatives first, . . but its like an old friend now. I love the units simplicity and it's asthetics. The blue backlit display (very sheek). I hate wall warts (you know, the transformerpower pack) but thats the price you pay for signal clarity apparently. I wish there was some sort of Macintosh Software for a Zoom Studio patch creator with artists sounds and knowhow (dream on). When I first bought the unit, certain sounds launched me into a fantasy world giving great inspiration as all new kit does. I still encounter this but find the most limiting factor to be myself. A certain effect/sound calls for a certain style, and if you can't play that style you bypass that patch. Having a wide selection of choice is great, but stay focused on your project or you can easily get lured into patch overload.

Not too hard to use I found difficulty at first because it was my first "rack" after all my adolescent years stepping on effects instead Easy to use with recording I have since discovered -- go direct from the zoom!!

Trippy effects -- love them Distortion and amp simulators -- very convincing Never used it with anything else but guitar and bass

I've never had a failure with this unit but i never play live with I still use the boxes from those angst-ridden teenage years

I bought this unit spanking new when it just came out a buddy had a 9030 and i was in love with it, but this one is a fairly siginificant improvement. My girlfriend nearly broke up with me for buying it...(should of spent a grand on her, i guess)... but i still don't regret it! I would buy this one again, oh yes!

Easy to use, but manual doesn't explain it at all (I'm talking about spanish version).

Just one big trouble: it isn't able to get an really "by-pass" sound. I usually use a 76 strat with an incredible clear sound; but the unit kills that sound, no matter if fx are by-passed or simple off.Distortions aren't as good as time effects (in fact, I'm still using for this my old boss OD-1). EQ high frequency seems to be too low. Everything else sounds great for the price of the unit.

100% reliable, almost if installed in a rack. In other case, it seems so "weak"

Good enough for the price, but it isn't what ZOOM says it is.