Zoom G2X Four Guitar Multi-Effects Processor with Expression Pedal, Multi-Layered IR’s, Amp Modeling, 75+ Built-in Effects, Looper, Rhythm Section, Tuner, Audio Interface, Lightweight

Product Information

The internal patches include over 100 effects, recreating a wide range of traditional and boutique sounds, from classic spring reverbs to extreme distortion and modulation effects to wah-wah and more. Mix and match up to 7 effects to create your own patches. However, where this pedal comes into it's own is patch creation. You can use the pedal controls or PC-based software to make a patch using a huge range of amps, cabs and pedals. If you can dream it, you can probably make it... or at least a close approximation of it... on the G1X.

All are named after real songs, but the actual sounds produced by the patches barely resemble their namesakes: the Paranoid patch, for instance, uses a scooped Big Muff fuzz entirely divorced from anything Tony Iommi ever played. The Purple Haze patch doesn’t use an octave fuzz effect, even though there is one in here, somewhere. The Dean Town patch uses twice as much overdrive as Cory Wong ever has. And so on. Digital connectivity is limited to just a USB-C port – no MIDI ports of either size and no Bluetooth. Over USB, you can use the pedal as a two-channel audio interface to record directly, but as we’ll get into later, it’s not quite cut-and-dry as to whether you can actually use it to control the unit and load presets. In any case, it doesn’t support MIDI over USB. With so many different effects and simulators to choose from, you'd be forgiven to think that the Zoom G1X Four would be difficult to operate.Would you be surprised to learn that it doesn’t get any better when I try to build my own patch? Slightly fatigued by the scooped high-gain sounds dominating the factory presets, I decide to give something ambient a go. So, I load up the basics: a pitch-shifter, a mono delay and – oh. The pitch-shifter and the delay have eaten most of the device’s CPU, meaning a bunch of the amps just refuse to load. BUT: It is by default set to "amp" output mode and it does NOT have a global switch to change to "mixer" or "headphone" mode (!!??). So you have to trigger a cryptic "microphone" feature in the cabinet simulation to get a decent sound when playing via the livingroom stereo or even listening to it via headphones (!?) I mean, you can do that, but you have to do it for EVERY patch you use. Okay, no problem so far, but you need to inform the customers about that. I guess most of the time the device is gonna be uses in a livingroom or with a computer or a DAW or headphones. Not with a "real" cabinet. Learned about that "microphone" mode from the interent. There are 3 different ways the unit can be powered: with a micro USB charger, with a standard 9V PSU, or with 4 x AA batteries.

There are plenty of products that are comparably priced to the G2/G2X Four – and while they may not all be as feature-rich as something like the HX Stomp, they’re all lightyears ahead of their Zoom equivalents. And that’s just their on-paper specifications. Sonics are a bit more subjective, but given the G2/G2X Four’s amp and effect models, it’s not like any of them are going to be worse. That’s a whole lot of things you can’t do. But the most damning result of the meagre CPU is the actual audio processing. The G2/G2X Four have as much headroom as the contraption Giles Corey was pressed to death in, so even the amp models based on high-headroom pedal platforms have almost no dynamic range. And it’s really, really easy to make the unit clip internally: I was getting audible peaking from somewhere in the signal chain, with 6dB of headroom left on my audio interface. This wasn’t the result of using too many dirt pedals – this was with a plate reverb and a Fender Twin! App-solute ChaosHandy Guitar Lab app (iOS/Android) for editing on smartphones and access to new effects (requires connection via USB-C port) In addition to the wide array of effects available, you also have access to to 13 different amp models. The models are designed to emulate classic amps & cabs from classic brands such as Fender, Marshall, Orange, and more. If that's still not enough sounds for you, you can also take advantage Zoom's free Guitar Lab software which gives you access to loads of artist patches, effects, and more. Functionality Perform Live Seamlessly switch up your sounds during live shows using either of 2 performance modes. PRESELECT mode lets you jump from patch to patch without affecting the patch you’re currently playing. STOMP mode lets you turn individual effects on and off with the tap of your foot. For the G2X Four, you can only assign the motion of the expression pedal to a select number of effects, rather than whatever effect parameter you like. You can’t run effects in parallel, nor can you use more than one amp model at a time. There are a few stereo effects – but these are only actually stereo if they’re placed after the amp models, as the IRs are mono, and, again, you can’t use two amps. Preloaded in the form of 250 presets, these patches were designed to document the sonic evolution of guitar sound. Each patch recreates the sound of a legendary song from the 1950s to the present day.

I use this at home as my main effects unit. It's usually the only effects unit in my signal chain. Overall I'm very happy with the unit for this purpose. Looper for recording up to 30 seconds / 64 beats of CD-quality audio with seamless start and end times Each amp model is based on Zoom’s innovative Multi-Layer IRs, which capture the sound characteristics as well as the feel of classic amps and speaker cabinets. These IRs have been miked at three volume levels through legendary cabinets and can be crossfaded and activated depending on the volume of your guitar. Handy Guitar Lab app (iOS/Android) for editing on smartphones and access to new effects (requires connection via USB-C port).

The classic ‘guitarist’s first multi-effects’ gets an update...

Zoom’s product launch video shows how the G2/G2X Four’s arrow key cluster can be navigated with your foot. This is a hugely optimistic portrayal. In reality, the screen is too small and low-res to parse much useful information from sitting, let alone standing. The ‘up’ key is positioned in such a way that pressing it with your foot means you cover the entire screen. And try to press the centre button, and there’s a good chance you’ll also mash one of the directional buttons. The ZOOM G2 FOUR and G2X FOUR give guitarists more tone variations than ever before thanks to all-new amp modeling and innovative IR technology. You’ll dial in amazing sounds right out of the box. The G2 FOUR and G2X FOUR take amp modeling to the next level. They combine faithfully reproduced models of classic amps (and a few new ones, too) and pair them with cabinet models that utilize our new Multi-layer IR technology. This gives guitarists both great tone and the feeling of that “big stage” sound in any environment. FEATURES Play along to any of the 68 beats on the built-in rhythm machine. This rhythm section is the perfect accompaniment when practising, whether it’s metal, blues or any other genre. Thanks to the inclusion of a built-in looper function, along with 68 drum rhythms in a variety of time signatures, the Zoom G1X Four Multi Effects Processor is the perfect tool to help you improve your playing technique and boost your creativity.