ZIO Front End + Boost: Official Source Audio Demo

[@kilikdudley]

What?! Source Audio AND Shoe pedals? Maybe my favorite 2 pedal builders of all time.

[@xavierortiz2690]

This is exactly what my 80's solid state Marshall needs

[@rickthomas393]

Pedal sounds Great! It’s also delicious to hear a variety of players demoing settings instead of the usual one player. (Much harder production for you, but wonderful for us listeners!).

[@wakjob961]

This is one of the best ideas for a new spin on the ol' boost pedal I've seen in a long time....nice!

[@allendesomer]

Great demo: the playing *and* the explanations!

[@sourceaudioeffects]

Thanks! Yes, we thought that it was very important to describe exactly what this pedal is doing in this demo. Jesse and Christopher did an excellent job of explaining finer points of ZIO.

[@homerdomer73]

Man…. This is a fantastic demo and description. This pedal could be lost in the subtleties but this nails it.

[@mattgilbert7347]

Great tones. Big fan of both Source Audio & Shoe, this pedal seems like an excellent solution for my rig, been messing around various buffers and boosters/EQ with mixed results - the different modes on the Zio might be a good way to streamline, replace 2-3 pedals on the board. Cheers!

[@U2WB]

I just bought one of these. In a word: fantastic.

[@chiefbucknell]

@11:03 thanks for showing that a fuzz like that still goes before ZIO

[@epmmb]

Got two of your pedals last year... It seems the collection has to grow 😅

[@TheToneLounge]

Now that's a cool pedal!

[@vcaster686]

Innovative product, as usual. Thanks, Source Audio, for doing what you do! Superb demo video; nice balance of clear, concise expertise overlaid with brilliant guitar playing. (Not to mention smart touches like the Fuzz Face bit.) Well done! A ZIO is now high on my guitar pedal shopping list.

[@reverendg5937]

Thank You, I am sold. GREAT DEMO!!!!

[@Mesa3077Boogie]

Sick tones bros

[@officialpoa3171]

*BRILLIANT PEDAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I USE VST'S and this will solve so many issues with my rig!!!! BRILLIANT!*

[@RicksTastyLicks]

I must have at least three pedals that were supposed to do what the ZIO does here. I'm another fan of Source Audio and have some of their earlier perdals. I'm going to have to shell out some $ for a ZIO!

[@byrontanner6436]

I just purchased this- I’m very excited to explore the versatility of this pedal to put the final polishes on my guitar tone before I start tracking! Btw the LA lady is amazing💪🏻

[@redcomn]

This maybe what a modeler need. A front jfet input to glue in the sound for sticky guitar sound.

[@sourceaudioeffects]

Yes! ZIO works really nice in front of amp modelers and a home recording interface. Our friend Thad likes to use it to give his guitar a little extra mojo when he's using in-ear monitors.

[@LeviBulger]

Interesting idea for a pedal. I guess I don't have the problem of having different base tones depending on what I'm plugged into, but if I do want a buffer or a preamp, I find that a Boss EQ, or my favorite "preamp", the Boss CS2 are amazing at the front of a chain. But I would definitely be interested in trying this pedal out just to see if it improves upon things

[@velvik]

you should make an amp/cab sim to compete with the iridium and nss5

[@SS-gx7tg]

I bought an Iridium about 4 months ago and slowly have come to realize it's 100% the most important pedal I own out of a collection of maybe 70-80 pedals total that I own. Being able to switch between Fender, Vox and Marshall sounds (with each one offering 3 additional modes) plus the EQ and "Room" and "Drive" knobs, that pedal allows me to have more quality tones and voices than anything out there. Even after watching this video, I'm proud of Source Audio but I just can't get excited over something like this. I'm sure other players will feel differently, but I agree with you - a Source Audio take on an amp/cab simulator (w/ headphone jack for night time playing!) would be an instant buy for me.

[@Mayathetherian733]

Every time I think I’m done with dirt pedals some damn company puts out another one that seems too good to pass up. Damn you source audio!

[@Dixie-Normus-209]

This is a dirt pedal?

[@Terrible_Peril]

I'd love a firmware update or separate one series pedal that's aimed at bassists. We have different but similar front-end needs when it comes to signal chains in pedal formats. Something to level out active vs passive instruments, some with wildly varying outputs and impedances, maybe something with a variable buffer value that it outputs. I'm happy to experiment with the Zio in it's current form but it's obviously aimed at guitarists-with-traditional-amps. I want an ultimate bassist front end pedal.

[@JonJoshChua]

I like the Pultec eq. It would be great to get a pedal in the future that focuses on Pultec eq in a pedal. 😅

[@amirmanber2397]

I wish it had a treble boost for screaming solo. Also if it had a midi functionality it would be the perfect pedal

[@pjmtry7]

Just Acquired! Forsee so much fun and excitement with this pedal!!!

[@Brutuscomedy]

I'm going to try a Rat Solo into a Joyo American Sound and Tech 21 Tri-AC, in addition to another overdrive pedal, and hear the results. might benefit from one of these too, however

[@LewWelchThePoet]

🤘👍🏿🚀

[@regaudieguillaume]

Would other instruments such as acoustic guitar could benefit from the ZIO?

[@gregmckinney1556]

Anyone know what kind of guitar the guy is playing at the 8:32 mark?

[@SS-gx7tg]

Dunno but that headstock badge looks identical to the epiphone one. Honestly surprised a company got away with that and didn't face a legal challenge.

[@teleking36]

That’s a Rodriguez Buxton

[@gregmckinney1556]

@@SS-gx7tg I agree! I wonder who could make me a badge like that with my logo?

[@gregmckinney1556]

@@teleking36 thanks!

[@NaimFeroudj]

Top

[@martinaleksandrov7080]

Would the LINE OUT output +10db for connecting to unbalanced LINE IN inputs? and matching the impedance as well?

[@henriksoerensen6666]

Hi great pedal great Demo thanks ;-) would this be good in front of amp sim eg. Uad amp sim into apollo? WaS thinking of preamp low cut especially? Cheers

[@lavadoraautomatica1]

Is any of the modes model after the neve 1073?

[@bionno78]

Does this pedal has any sense in front of an high end modeler (Quad Cortex / Fractal) ?

[@MrFrenchHarp]

Has anyone noticed a brittle tone ( glass breaking grit ) in the high treble ( or presence end ) with the Zio? Especially pronounced with the treble toggle to the left? Maybe it’s my phone but some of these clips sound a bit like the digital sound you get when running through smd ( miniature parts, mass production) style construction style circuit boards.

[@nikopappas8484]

No, and SMD would not affect the tone in the way you're suggesting.

[@JohnsDough1918]

​@@nikopappas8484 +1

[@duard8652]

Any plans for something like this for bass?

[@alexei_u]

omg, simply plug your bass in and go!

[@sourceaudioeffects]

It is certainly something we have thought about. That said, this pedal certainly does very nice things to a bass. The LOW-CUT and STUDIO modes in particular can really add a bit of nice punch to a bass.

[@yobanyhernandez125]

How does the eplex mode compare to the ep booster ? 😅 burning question I have

[@nikopappas8484]

While the EP booster does a good job replicating the top end of an Echoplex unit, running it through a freq response tracker shows the bottom end relatively untouched. The ZIO very closely replicates the slight low-end roll off of the original Echoplex unit.

[@stephant.2362]

Does it make sense to use this pedal for reamping?

[@sourceaudioeffects]

Yeah, that could be really affective. Add a little mojo to the recorded signal before it hits the amp.

[@heartofodds]

Seems similar to the thing Kingsley has been working on.

[@kodykindhart5644]

No bass demos??? Please send one to super secret band I’ll post a video and use it on a song Come on yall

[@kodykindhart5644]

? Nothing yet 😝

[@SS-gx7tg]

this video is too complex for me to follow so im guessing this pedal isnt for players like me lol

[@OlandoMcCall]

SA pedals come with a buffer, so I'm not getting it.

[@cmgill2gill135]

Too distorted for me, my idea of ''clean' is clean, this doesn't sound clean.

[@IbanezNick75]

Uhhh, maybe you'd like an EQ pedal then?

[@SS-gx7tg]

This is partially my complaint too. Distorted blues dad licks makes my soul weep.

[@greatwhite3676]

@@SS-gx7tg I didnt hear too many dad blues licks. I didnt hear one SRV lick. You may be looking for the face tattoo and dissonant chord section i guess. You are just too deep for the rest of us.

[@SS-gx7tg]

@@greatwhite3676 Oh my... you're pretty sensitive for a blues dad.

[@greatwhite3676]

@@SS-gx7tg I’m just a regular white guy. No kids scurrying around

[@kecom6184]

How can you say the Echoplex was used famously by Eddie Van Halen to create a specific guitar tone? He got it from Jimmy Page!!!! Jimmy Page was famously known to use the Echoplex for his sound. Other players tried and used the Echoplex after hearing about Jimmy Page!!! That's how Page got a lot of his sound long before Eddie Van Halen. That's like saying Michael Jackson was the King of rock and roll, not Elvis Presley.

[@nikopappas8484]

Because it WAS famously used by Eddie Van Halen.

[@kecom6184]

@@nikopappas8484 Saying something was famously used by someone to create a specific guitar tone implies they created it or started it. The point here is that he said Eddie van Halen used it to "create a specific guitar tone," implying he was the one that figured out how to get this tone from an Echoplex. That simply is just not true. Without Jimmy Page, he never would of known about it. That's like saying anyone who uses the Echoplex to create a specific tone that Jimmy Page created, can be famous by using it to create a specific tone.....you can't do that since Jimmy Page already discovered it. The whole "thing" here is that it is definitely implied Eddie Van Halen created it. Not true.

[@nikopappas8484]

@@kecom6184 Saying something was famously used by someone means it was famously used by them.

[@kecom6184]

@@nikopappas8484 It has an implication that Eddie Van Halen was the one who figured out the sound to "create a specific guitar tone", or started it as his own and is known for it.....not true. That was Jimmy Page. If you are widely and popularly known for something, then you are basically the one that discovered and used it....someone else, after you, can't be famous for the same thing. Famous for copying you maybe, but that is as far a it goes. It could be said Eddie Van Halen is famous for copying Jimmy Page's use of effects to create his sound or tone.....if you had to use the word famous to describe it. You are using the word so loosely that it might be applicable at a 1st grade level....just for the simplicity of understanding. The problem here is it was not famously used by Eddie Van Halen to "create a specific tone"....you can "say" it all you want, but that doesn't make it true. Jimmy page used it to create a specific tone, and is famous for it.

[@rickthomas393]

🧐tempest in a teapot methinks?🥸

[@danielbertola7868]

I'd bet money that every guitarist watching already owns at least one device that will produce the same results this does, arguably with more tonal control, if they would only listen and not GAS. Everyone has a buffer, a boost, and a light OD. Most have all three in several devices. It's 2022 guys. Come on.

[@nikopappas8484]

It is four preamps in one box. Not one preamp with four different voices. Not much like that on the market. There is definitely a niche.

[@danielbertola7868]

@Niko Pappas I understand what's inside. My point is, the result it produces can be found in gear everyone has. Every OD can be used as a preamp. We all have collections of them.

[@danielbertola7868]

@Niko Pappas Also, multiple circuits or multiple voices... four options is four options in tone. Again, the result is what I mean. Its a gimmick

[@lavadoraautomatica1]

Ok but not all buffers are created the same for example all boss pedals have buffers but they’re not high z buffers. The rig doctor does a great explanation on this subject, also basstheworld channel has perhaps one of the best videos demonstrating the change of sound when using a buffer (providence vf bass buffer I believe it is). This pedal is definitely unique in not necessarily what it does but HOW it does it.

[@danielbertola7868]

@kenneth conlon True, i could care less about HOW it does it but what is the end result though. Does it audibly improve the tone you have now, over gear you already have? I say purchase of good cables is a better investment than the Zio. My overall point is that guitarist think the next best gadget will lead them to the light, and spend their hard earned money trying to get there. Every reviewer is "always" blown away "everytime" by the newest gear. We are not progressing at that rate. It's generally all more of the same. Consider the TS clones. Try and count them.

[@hajrudinkrvavac]

as good as it is - no stereo and no midi - sadly have no use for it :(

[@mortenlarsen9708]

Why would you need Stereo? This is a Front End - has no stereo effect. Your comment makes no sense, sorry!

[@hajrudinkrvavac]

@@mortenlarsen9708 my chain is stereo. each of two pickups has it's own signal path and amp/cab. [based on SA neuro hub, soleman + eventide products and GCX] as i can recall, all SA effects pedal produced in the last 3-4-5 years were capable of parallel processing and midi. and this one, suddenly, is not. that was the reason for my comment.

[@andoano]

Total Snooze Alert. I’m bummed this company decided to appeal to the masses with tiny stomp boxes and none of their “pro” features. Versus doing incredible boutique pedals and concepts like they did in the beginning. But I get it. Got to make a living. Their pro pedals for bass were seriously ground breaking, fun and incredible. Wish they were doing more of that still. Innovating.

[@rogersmith8155]

Please take a look at the Ultrawave we released last year. Super-high risk and ground-breaking pedal. Jesse and I are very passionate about innovation. It is what makes us come to work each day. It is the roots and the company I cant see that ever changing. In its own way, ZIO is also ground-breaking and risky. I also loved the "Pro" pedals, but if you look at the Multiwave Pro and compare that to the Ultrawave, you will find that the Ultrawave can do all that the Multiwave did, plus 2000% more. Same for the BEF Pro or the Polymod. The C4 blows those pedals away. We did get lots of complaints that the Pro's were ugly and too big. That we did need to fix, but the sounds were preserved and taken to the next level in each case. Dont worry. We aint changing! :)

[@Dixie-Normus-209]

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