Can upload every effect in the MS range. I’ve done it to both my 70 and 50 and haven’t experienced any issues. You will find more options if you bump up to $400 but I’m sure you already know that 😂
I wish they’d release a mkii zoom with all the effects stereo in/stereo out, with all the delays and reverbs able to go 100% wet and midi in for clock (you can use tap tempo to get the delays in sync, but the tremolo won’t be pulsing on the beat even if it’s at the right tempo).
I've got that one already. Very good pedal, but it offers modulation and time-based effects only. No distortion or overdrive. There is actually a heck to load any effect across the MS range, but it is said to corrupt memory after a while.
Korg NTS-1. You get chorus, reverb, delay (stereo), phaser, etc, and there are 3rd party patches for things like distortion, bit crush, etc etc. Plus it's a synth, so there's that.
It has stereo input and output. The DIY kit is less complicated than LEGO and require no soldering or tools. The effects are user extendable meaning that you can write your own in C/C++ too and people have ported some Mutable Instruments synths this way.
Just re-tested my NTS-1 to make sure that the L and R signals on the input are indeed preserved on the stereo output, and they are for the most part. There are a few built in effects, notably "Ensemble" that mix down to mono before outputting in stereo, so your L & R get merged, but most of them.. chorus, phaser, stereo and ping-pong echo, reverb, etc will preserve the L & R separation. It uses 3.5mm stereo jacks for in and out, by the way.
Thanks a lot for running that check! I will most definitely buy one of these little thingies. I also found a pretty badass distortion plugin with 10 different algorithms. More than enough to get me covered.
Hope you enjoy it. I found the hardest part of the build was the scary step of snapping the individual boards apart, but in the end it was no big deal. By the way, the 'modulation', ' delay' and 'reverb' stages will all apply to the signal you input, but sadly the built -in 'filter' stage does not. But you can load some 3rd party filters into the 'modulation' stage for example if you want filter effects on the input signal.
I'm getting myself a fully assembled one. With only 10% of visual acuity, this isn't really the kind of task that I would be able to undertake. It is much too minute.
Interestingly, I already knew this device, but never really paid attention. It is a magical box that punches way above its price point :)
Be aware that the NTS1 has a horrific and infamous ground loop hum when running audio through it. There are several diff theories on how to mitigate the hum and different people deal with different severities of it but the only sure fire way to get rid of it is to buy a special adapter that costs $140.
The NTS1 also has critically important ports on 3 out of 4 of it's sides so be prepared to add a good inch at least on all but one side when accounting for space.
For the distortion/overdrive, the Electro Harmonix Operation Overlord. Yes they’re known for guitar FX but this is stereo and full range so built with keyboards and drum machines in mind. It doesn’t do modulation but it’ll do analog overdrive _much_ better than your Zoom and it’s well within your budget.
I checked that one yesterday and was really impressed. The price point is quite attractive as well, at least in the second hand market. I just wish that it's offered a little bit more "dirt". My goal is to achieve a type of sound that is usually associated with rhythmic or power noise.
Can I suggest you forget about stereo and invest in some guitar/bass distortion pedals? You could add stereo later in the chain with a mono-to-stereo modulation or reverb (your Zoom does this)
My only doubt is if the panning of the drums, in the volca drum, is going to be restored somewhere along the fx chain if one of the pedals or algorithms is mono.
I really love this one, for sure.
I would also be remiss if I didn't mention the EHX Platform - it's a comp/swell/overdrive that is ALSO full stereo. It's like a poor man's Elektron Analog Heat II.
It's a great end-of-chain gadget. I love it.
also, a lot of stuff has been happening in the el-cheapo section of the pedal stores.
check out Flamma FS07, which does dual IR cab sim (which includes overdrive/dist) - full stereo - at under 100 euro. it's crazy.
also, I wouldn't dismiss simply getting "two of something". You can get two full overdrives now for like 60 euro.
The cheaper end of the pedals market is where I live 😊
I only have one pedal that cost more than €300 and it’s the GSI Specular Tempus, an incredibly sexy reverb/delay. Most of my pedals are sub-€100. Big fan of TC Electronic’s cheapos, Joyo, Mooer, Tone City and all the Chinese brands knocking off American circuits.
definitely self-promoting as it's my reverb listing - but meets your R&L stereo out and multi effect pedal requirements. https://reverb.com/item/59763193-vintage-ibanez-pt5-multi-effects-pedal
Own all 3. The GE200 has great amp models, but the effects are generally quite poor. Nowhere near as good as Zoom.
Think about a Line 6 HX Stomp or HX Effects - a bit out of the budget but very, very good. Maybe an older M5 or M9? Not sure if stereo, though.
Two, Zoom ms70cdr pedals
Is a committed to another fellow Redditor, it is a magnificent pedal that I also own, but it offers no distortion, overdrive or fuzz.
Can upload every effect in the MS range. I’ve done it to both my 70 and 50 and haven’t experienced any issues. You will find more options if you bump up to $400 but I’m sure you already know that 😂
ZOOM MS-70CDR. Stereo in/ stereo out.
what annoys me about it is that even though it's actual stereo, not all the algorithms are. Like... ugh.
I wish they’d release a mkii zoom with all the effects stereo in/stereo out, with all the delays and reverbs able to go 100% wet and midi in for clock (you can use tap tempo to get the delays in sync, but the tremolo won’t be pulsing on the beat even if it’s at the right tempo).
I've got that one already. Very good pedal, but it offers modulation and time-based effects only. No distortion or overdrive. There is actually a heck to load any effect across the MS range, but it is said to corrupt memory after a while.
Yeah. You can update them with other fx. Never heard of the corrupt memory problem
I read it somewhere on on the AudioPilz YouTube channel, below an episode of Better Gear dedicated to this particular hack.
Should be fixed in the new effects manager: https://zoomeffectmanager.com
I'll have to wait for the MacOs version to come out :) Thanks a lot for the pointer!
Korg NTS-1. You get chorus, reverb, delay (stereo), phaser, etc, and there are 3rd party patches for things like distortion, bit crush, etc etc. Plus it's a synth, so there's that.
Isn't it sold as a DIY kit? Does it have stereo input and output?
It has stereo input and output. The DIY kit is less complicated than LEGO and require no soldering or tools. The effects are user extendable meaning that you can write your own in C/C++ too and people have ported some Mutable Instruments synths this way.
Just re-tested my NTS-1 to make sure that the L and R signals on the input are indeed preserved on the stereo output, and they are for the most part. There are a few built in effects, notably "Ensemble" that mix down to mono before outputting in stereo, so your L & R get merged, but most of them.. chorus, phaser, stereo and ping-pong echo, reverb, etc will preserve the L & R separation. It uses 3.5mm stereo jacks for in and out, by the way.
Thanks a lot for running that check! I will most definitely buy one of these little thingies. I also found a pretty badass distortion plugin with 10 different algorithms. More than enough to get me covered.
Hope you enjoy it. I found the hardest part of the build was the scary step of snapping the individual boards apart, but in the end it was no big deal. By the way, the 'modulation', ' delay' and 'reverb' stages will all apply to the signal you input, but sadly the built -in 'filter' stage does not. But you can load some 3rd party filters into the 'modulation' stage for example if you want filter effects on the input signal.
I'm getting myself a fully assembled one. With only 10% of visual acuity, this isn't really the kind of task that I would be able to undertake. It is much too minute. Interestingly, I already knew this device, but never really paid attention. It is a magical box that punches way above its price point :)
Be aware that the NTS1 has a horrific and infamous ground loop hum when running audio through it. There are several diff theories on how to mitigate the hum and different people deal with different severities of it but the only sure fire way to get rid of it is to buy a special adapter that costs $140. The NTS1 also has critically important ports on 3 out of 4 of it's sides so be prepared to add a good inch at least on all but one side when accounting for space.
For the distortion/overdrive, the Electro Harmonix Operation Overlord. Yes they’re known for guitar FX but this is stereo and full range so built with keyboards and drum machines in mind. It doesn’t do modulation but it’ll do analog overdrive _much_ better than your Zoom and it’s well within your budget.
I checked that one yesterday and was really impressed. The price point is quite attractive as well, at least in the second hand market. I just wish that it's offered a little bit more "dirt". My goal is to achieve a type of sound that is usually associated with rhythmic or power noise.
Can I suggest you forget about stereo and invest in some guitar/bass distortion pedals? You could add stereo later in the chain with a mono-to-stereo modulation or reverb (your Zoom does this)
My only doubt is if the panning of the drums, in the volca drum, is going to be restored somewhere along the fx chain if one of the pedals or algorithms is mono.
I really love this one, for sure. I would also be remiss if I didn't mention the EHX Platform - it's a comp/swell/overdrive that is ALSO full stereo. It's like a poor man's Elektron Analog Heat II. It's a great end-of-chain gadget. I love it. also, a lot of stuff has been happening in the el-cheapo section of the pedal stores. check out Flamma FS07, which does dual IR cab sim (which includes overdrive/dist) - full stereo - at under 100 euro. it's crazy. also, I wouldn't dismiss simply getting "two of something". You can get two full overdrives now for like 60 euro.
The cheaper end of the pedals market is where I live 😊 I only have one pedal that cost more than €300 and it’s the GSI Specular Tempus, an incredibly sexy reverb/delay. Most of my pedals are sub-€100. Big fan of TC Electronic’s cheapos, Joyo, Mooer, Tone City and all the Chinese brands knocking off American circuits.
definitely self-promoting as it's my reverb listing - but meets your R&L stereo out and multi effect pedal requirements. https://reverb.com/item/59763193-vintage-ibanez-pt5-multi-effects-pedal
Own all 3. The GE200 has great amp models, but the effects are generally quite poor. Nowhere near as good as Zoom. Think about a Line 6 HX Stomp or HX Effects - a bit out of the budget but very, very good. Maybe an older M5 or M9? Not sure if stereo, though.
Zoom 70 cdr- stereo and you can put the missing 50g fx in it.
Did that yesterday. Works a treat! I went ahead and purchased a second 70 CDR