Using an FX Pedal with Synths (Zoom MS-50G, Minilogue, MicroFreak)

I test out the Zoom MS-50G multifx pedal on a couple of my synthesizers.
00:00 Arturia MicroFreak
11:20 Korg Minilogue
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[@AudioPilz]

Yeah, MS-50G FTW!!! Love that thing!!!

[@BellXllebMusic]

If any of you own this pedal, check out this guy's video on how to hack it into having more effects!

[@kevinulrich9092]

As always Gabe, thanks for another well produced video. Probably half of my arsenal was acquired based on your recommendations and these videos are always inspiring me to squeeze more out of my my gear. MS 70cdr arriving tomorrow!

[@Snalygaster]

Really compliments the minilogue. You had a super nice sounding jam there for a sec!

[@HazyJ28]

I love that you're basically freestyling. Would love to see more free-form "just wing it" sessions like this! Much respect homiezzzzz

[@mrjtfool]

Gabe, it's like you're always looking at the next thing I want to buy and then reviewing it for me

[@TheMetaldudeX]

These pedals, the guitar, bass, and chorus models are essentially the same on the inside but run different firmware. You can “hack” the pedal to have the functionality of all 3 pedals in one.

[@llng7370]

Is the DSP limit higher on the ms70?

[@Subtronik]

Nice work. I have a Zoom MS-50G coming in a couple of days. Sounds like I chose the right fx pedal to pair with my synths.

[@BradyKent]

Seeing Gabe using an effects unit that has names for classic guitar pedals but seemingly not recognizing them is kinda funny to me as a bassist. For reference: the T. Scream refers to the Ibanez Tube Screamer, the Fuzz Face is an actual pedal used on countless Jimi Hendrix songs, etc. Also, the fact that he loves the sound of fuzz makes so much sense. Growing up with electronic music made fuzz my favorite sound, too; it's the most extreme type of distortion. I'd love to see more of this kind of video, because this is something I do with my own pedals. Also, if Gabe ends up seeing this, this was a really fun video :) Keep it up!

[@SynthApprentice]

As a guitarist, I feel the same way about that.

[@Whiskeyklone]

Definitely works both ways. I play guitar and have just got into synths but always been fairly knowledgeable about music gear in general. A friend who knows tons about guitar gear and nothing about synths wants to get into it and was asking about Moo-jees and Roland You-knows...

[@Si_G]

I just like stuff that makes noises. I got into synths (and diy modular) from guitar pedals. I was putting so much time and money into making guitar sound like a synth.. now I have no money left :)

[@davidbanner9001]

The zoom FX pedals are the best for their price and work amazing well with synths. I have two CDR-70's, one each for my MicroFreak and Monologue. Also check out the hacks for the MS-50G etc.

[@osrthejourney]

I use the 70 CDR and it is amazing with the CT. I have the CR to sample my sounds into! A great combination.

[@jevogroni4829]

i never tried it yet for some reason, but now i can see my zoom pedal will be fun with my volca bass

[@tomblaze2]

I looked this video man - amazing what you can generate from hardware synths + basic multi fx… sounds more DAW like - I would dig more video with hardware and fx like this

[@jthorpe4droid]

Cool video, I have the 70 CDR because at the time when I got it they were the same price as the 50g, and use it on my BSII mainly. The only issue I have is trying to remember the menu system, the workflow just doesn't seem to stick in my head. Also ToneLib Zoom is a good patch manager for these pedals.

[@A_Force_Truly_Evil]

it's great. really some effects make a difference

[@boriscat1999]

You can load any effects from the related Zoom MS pedal series onto each other. For example, you can pick some of the nice delays and filters from the MS-70CDR and put it on your MS-50G in place of some of the guitar patches you probably won't need for synthesizer. There's a free patch editor called zoom-ms-utility makes it easy to do over USB.

[@RoomAtTheTopStudio]

I have the 70 CDR that I use on my synths for live effects. It's very impressive especially for the price

[@Si_G]

Yes it’s fun for stacking delays and verbs inside the (stereo) pedal. And I believe the pedals can easily be hacked to sideload effects from each other. I keep meaning to try it. Although the price is similar to an NTS1 which is also very flexible.

[@promethiousb1489]

Awesome unit,,great with synths..

[@Leo9ine]

Now try the hacked firmware that gives you every model of zoom pedal's effects in one box!

[@hyon_suk]

Hi, I just posted a question before I saw your comment ... I'm an absolute newbie when it comes to making music, but was immediately drawn to the seemingly endless possibilities of the Zoom MS-CDR70. With that little beast even beginners sound ok ;) But I've run into a weird technical problem and hope anyone here might have an idea how to solve it: I connected the Zoom to a Yamaha MX49 V2 and the effects are great. However, once connected, the delay effect is retained despite being switched off and furthermore, stays applied to all voices on the keyboard. You can switch to other effects but the delay sound stays underneath ... Only unplugging it completely and re-powering the keyboard turns off the effect. I have already done a factory reset, the firmware version 2.10 has been installed. Have you ever run into the same issue and know what could be the reason or what to do? I would be super grateful for an answer! Thanx!

[@sarahhey8654]

@@hyon_suk just turn off the delay in the fx chain

[@ricgl84]

You should do a video testing the hack on that pedal. Where you can add effects available for the other zoom pedals.

[@TheOriginalEUrban]

Okay, I never really understood why you would need a DI/Reamp setup for connecting line instruments to guitar stuff, but that hiss tells me everything.

[@PhrygianPhrog]

Can you clarify? Am I right in thinking you first need to ramp the synth signal down when it goes into a guitar pedal because the pedal is expecting a weaker guitar signal, and then ramp it back up again after the pedal when it goes in the mixer/interface (unless the mixer has an guitar input of course)? Also I heard using a Boss pedal at the front of the chain, in bypass mode, will set the signal to the right level.

[@Joel-re1jz]

The Particle Verb is really good on the Zoom MS series.

[@strandedaliensband]

I use the Zoom G1X Four foot pedal sometimes. I bought it for my Cigar Box Guitar but you can use it for anything that will plug into it. 👍🏻😉

[@trevor_mounts_music]

Love my CDR-70. Use it on an aux send on the mackie to put reverb and delay on stuff. Lush!

[@Stadsjaap]

Of course, there's a hack by which you can load MS-70 CDR algorithms as well as all the G1 and B1 FX onto your MS-50. The MS-70 is much more geared toward synth FX. More modulation and reverb/delay type stuff. Especially the Particle Reverb is quite nice. Still prefer the NTS-1 for a cheap verb that punches above its weight tho...

[@I.O.M.]

MS-70 is a great pedal. I don't use it all that much but when you do need it comes in super handy.

[@Dagardmusic]

Gabe and the prodigy signature sounds

[@jeditasticlymungus]

Bonkers I love it 🙂

[@BenColemanUK]

I have both the MS-50G and the MS-70 CDR. Of the two the 70CDR would be my first choice for using with synths, it has lots is amazing reverbs, choruses etc. If you do some web searching you can find a tool that will let you exchange effects between the two pedals, which I highly recommend

[@itsrodionraskolnikov]

What is the difference between the two? Is it only a matter of number of presets?

[@BenColemanUK]

@@itsrodionraskolnikov the 70 has more chorus and reverb effects and no distortion or amp sims. The 50 has the distortion but no reverbs. Kinda weird they did it this way, but the software lets you get the best of both worlds and swap any effects between both

[@itsrodionraskolnikov]

@@BenColemanUK got it. Thanks

[@jmichell1880]

Do you need to have both pedals for the hack, or is it just a matter of installing firmware or something ?

[@BenColemanUK]

@@jmichell1880 you can find downloads with zips containing all the effects from both pedals I think. I don't have a link to hand, as I don't know the legality but some googling should help

[@lyh1]

The zoom ms are almost out of stock in my area. Very good all rounder. I like to put a real distortion pedal before it, best for thin sound synth.

[@AnthonyDunstan]

Thanks

[@frankenjstein9371]

You should run the Minifreak into a line shifter to step down the signal to instrument level.

[@aseomg]

0:50 Damn, I was sipping warrior tea 🤓

[@d.v.o.6135]

Hi i use MS-70 its a Fine Effekt gear. U can use a Little Software Tool to get the effects of all Zoom Pedals its call zoom effect manager 1.1.0. Nice Chanel Great work. Grettings from Germany .

[@Mr.Tubster]

Sounds interesting 😉

[@Mr.Tubster]

I need this too...

[@noodlingaround2023]

Really nice. Thanks. How would I connect the Microfreak to the zoom pedal and to my monitors (or audio interface then monitors). Thank you

[@GabeMillerMusic]

Standard guitar cables (1/4" audio cables) are all you need for both

[@hyon_suk]

Hi, I'm an absolute newbie when it comes to making music, but was immediately drawn to the seemingly endless possibilities of the Zoom MS-CDR70 (didn't try the MS-50G yet). With that little beast even beginners sound ok ;) But I've run into a weird technical problem and hope anyone here might have an idea how to solve it: I connected the Zoom to a Yamaha MX49 V2 and the effects are great. However, once connected, the delay effect is retained despite being switched off and furthermore, stays applied to all voices on the keyboard. You can switch to other effects but the delay sound stays underneath ... Only unplugging it completely and re-powering the keyboard turns off the effect. I have already done a factory reset, the firmware version 2.10 has been installed. Has anyone run into the same issue and knows what could be the reason or what to do? I would be super grateful for an answer! Thanx!

[@fabiancortes6255]

You should do a video with the Boss Rv-6.

[@baconbigbeats]

Hey bro great stuff! Well delivered. Tell me is everything coming from the microfreak stock? You didn’t add anything right? Looking to get one simply from that cyberpunk sound in the first half of your video. I already have the zoom.

[@GabeMillerMusic]

Yep, all of those synth sounds are from the MicroFreak and pedal only, other than the kick, which was from the Circuit. All of those were custom MicroFreak patches that I designed, and most of them are in my super cheap MicroFreak pack (link in the video description). I also did a dedicated review of the MicroFreak if you're interested in learning more about it

[@baconbigbeats]

@@GabeMillerMusic yeah you really should charge $5 instead of $3.50 for all patches. People don’t like odd numbers like that (I’m in sales hah). Also the value is there and yes I’ll pick up a pack or two. So if you had to pick just one and you already have the zoom, would you get the the circuit or the freak first?

[@WildernessMusic_GentleSerene]

Why the 50G instead of the CDR? I bought 3 ZoomMS70 CDR, much more symbiotic with synths.

[@randommcranderson5155]

You can find some tools online that let you copy any of the effects to any of the zoom pedals…or all of the effects even.

[@ld8341]

Not all at once, IIRC. Even the larger 70CDR memory can't quite cope with everything at once.

[@teatime2595]

Can you just use the zoom 50 out of the box with a synth or do you have to make your own efx? Like is it difficult?

[@alexandertepper5821]

I thought you would cover the force but its cool gabe the force has a lot more drum programs, the same as the mpc one and a whole lot more you should try the force out homie

[@GabeMillerMusic]

The Force is on my list of devices to try, I'll get to it eventually. Tbh I'm a bit burned out on trying new gear at the moment, so I need to make sure I pace myself.

[@danielm4932]

the 5$ sample pack buying option on the link is not working on Chrome for windows...

[@outdatedgear5036]

It's probably clipping because the pedal accepts a instrument level signal. The synths are pushing out a line level signal.

[@ExplicableCashew]

1:32 is a historically accurate recreation of the reaction of every guitarist in the late sixties

[@6pin66]

Everybody always goes for the 70 CDR , I'm more of a fan of this one . More punch , more dirt . Still a ton of the goodies from the CDR anyways . Unless you're planning to do ambient/techno like everybody else , this gives you way more range .

[@Leo9ine]

Hacked firmware and you get both in one

[@oldasrocks9121]

Try the MS 60B too

[@user-sx2iw2hq3l]

Hi, Gabe! What is the main differences between Zoom 50g and Zoom70cdr? Thank you

[@davidpowell9965]

The only hardware difference is the 70cdr supports stereo or mono input, but they both have different but overlapping effects. The 70 has some weirder effects instead of the guitar amp simulations and stuff, it is probably the best for synths. However, you can unofficially flash either of them to contain your own choice of effects from the full list... But tbh I haven't bothered cause most of the synth appropriate stuff is on the 70

[@user-sx2iw2hq3l]

@@davidpowell9965 thank you. Really useful opinion

[@acidperex]

@@user-sx2iw2hq3l CDR = Chorus, Delay, Reverb. The other one is a multi fx, so it has a lot more, but you can modify the firmware of those pedals and include more fx. As mentioned above, the 70CDR is used very much for synths.

[@user-sx2iw2hq3l]

@@acidperex thank You Andres. I just didn't know, that I could modify the firmware. That was discovery for me

[@user-sx2iw2hq3l]

Please tell me how, along with the firmware, I can choose the effects that I need for this, maybe there is an effects editor or another

[@sarahhey8654]

I see that Gabe likes the Big Muff...😅✌

[@hotlobsterrocks1778]

I'm thinking of getting the MS-50G but I'm also thinking of getting the MS-70CDR. I think the only difference is, one is mono and the other is stereo. Not sure if stereo would be much better. What is your take on it?

[@rookmaster7502]

The 70CDR lacks the distortion effects, but has a greater number of delay-reverb-chorus-type effects than the 50G. You don't have to use stereo with the 70CDR, but it is nice to have available.

[@hotlobsterrocks1778]

@@rookmaster7502 I been looking more into it and the 70 does have nice delays, reverbs and chorus effects. I think however the 50 might suit my needs more as I also play guitar along side making house music. Both the 50 and 70 are pretty good for what they are. Many thanks for your reply and the information. 👍

[@rookmaster7502]

@@hotlobsterrocks1778 I forgot to mention: The 50G cost a little less than the 70CDR. The main reason I opted for the 70CDR was because I already own various distortion/overdrive pedals; I can use them in conjunction with the 70CDR.

[@wighttoan]

I come from a guitar background and got into synths a few years ago. I avoided these Zoom pedals because they were sold at my local big box guitar store to kids looking to go further than a DS-1.So I just assumed they were lame beginner multi fx units. And now I can never find one for sale locally.

[@arthurh7197]

With setting of the synth do you side chain with the kick ?? It rooocks

[@GabeMillerMusic]

I can use the Circuit Tracks to sidechain incoming audio, it's pretty rad.

[@PerroConChaleco]

wait, how do you side chain the input signal? Can that be done with the rhythm?!

[@GabeMillerMusic]

It can only be done with the Tracks, not the Rhythm unfortunately.

[@distantcomets]

That got... *aggressive* !!!

[@donvittoriosierra]

How is the audio routed here with one pedal? Is the circuit going in the minilogue then everything from the minilogue going to the pedal?

[@GabeMillerMusic]

The Minilogue is going into the pedal, which is then going into the Circuit, since the Circuit has audio inputs in addition to the midi outputs.

[@Roses_R_redeR]

Gabe you should do Dreadlocks....🥀

[@matthewmcree1992]

I totally agree with Gabe that warm and analog can be hella overrated. I'm a classically trained violinist (as acoustic and analog as it gets, hence 500 year old violins that are still played) and I am all about the cold and digital shit, especially the supersaw (as a fan of trance since the supersaw's dominance in the early 2000s). And who could ever get tired of the ultimate in digitalness: flangers, bitcrusher, and side chained compression?

[@kellyketsi9707]

Can i ask if its worth it if you got a computer full of vst.Thank you.

[@GabeMillerMusic]

If you're using a DAWless setup like the one in this video, then yes, but if you're recording/layering your synth into your DAW, probably not.

[@Whiskeyklone]

The hiss - that pedal CAN be powered by battery like you did, but it doesn't work properly with them. It needs a 500Ma(!) power supply to work without any noise issues. It's a fantastic pedal but tries to do too much in a tiny format and the consequence of that is that it gets noisy when underpowered. I am a guitar player just getting into synths and I have been looking at my overblown pedal collection to decide what to use in the FX Send/Return of my mixer.... And my Multistomp seems perfect. Compact, excellent delays and reverbs, and the distortion/fuzz models are all digital which means they will work better with the high line-level coming from a synth. Analog dist/fuzz and synth do not play nicely together...

[@ld8341]

The noise is entirely algorithmic and not electronic. The Zooms have insanely low noise floors but certain amp and fuzz models just do that to the signal. The patches on the 70CDR tend to suit synths better but Gabe was obviously going for the grungy guitar sound in his choice of the 50G.

[@Whiskeyklone]

@@ld8341 You say that, but I get noise when I don't put 400Ma+/do put batteries into it and the noise goes once I get over 400Ma. This has been widely documented by users all over the internet - It's how I learned the cause of my noise issues. There is some algorithmic noise on some of the effects, true, but that's not what I was talking about and not what Gabe experienced in the video - it was the distinct hiss of it not having enough juice.

[@ld8341]

@@Whiskeyklone Zoom specify their AD16 500mA psu for the CDR. Most reverbs and multi-effects can have high current draws. You may get away with 100mA on a fuzz or distortion but I'd generally pair a standard 1A psu for a reverb or similar.

[@Whiskeyklone]

@@ld8341 Yes, I know. I have an AD16. Your comment has nothing to do with what I wrote or even your own point, but whatever.

[@jaymian6836]

Nice! Although 'Zoom MS-70 CDR' (in the same price range) works way better with synths than this pedal

[@KazmaHD]

2:36 you're absolutely just built different.

[@thomasstillman4805]

Try using the Particle Reverb in one of your patches and go into mode setting. Turn that knob! kzbin.info/www/bejne/d4Xbd2uYoM2Lqbs

[@kamilqazi5241]

Gabe you want to return this one and get the MS-70CDR instead because it seems like you’re more interested in the effects vs the different guitar amps/cabs. Thank me later haha

[@Goettel]

AFAIK the 50 has the exact same effect selection as the 70, plus the preamps/cabs. The only other difference is the 50's mono in vs the 70's stereo in.

[@Roses_R_redeR]

....🥀

[@InnerVisions68]

All the Zoom pedals are the same, by the way. The only difference is the algorithms flashed to them, and the unit labeling. I’ve heard rumor 😉 there is a tool to flash update them to include all algorithms/effects from all pedals in that family. 🤫

[@ld8341]

Not strictly true as some are mono in, some stereo out, some have more memory for patches and able to run more effects concurrently. But yes, some hacks allow you to run any patch on most models.

[@claycowartisamazing]

sounds too cheesy for my own music