Zoom A1x Four Acoustic Multi Effects Processor

For the money that I was prepared to spend this really was the only option… the only other I was seriously considering in a similar price range was the Line6 M5, but you can only use one effect at a time. As a saxophonist the zoom is specifically designed for acoustic instruments and comes with an impedance adapter so a mic can be connected, a fairly costly addition for a pedal that comes without. I literally didn’t come across a single other pedal in any price range that A) has patches designed for mic’d instruments or B) comes with an impedance adapter. The Zoom has every effect I wanted and more and the ability to quickly design your own patches on the pedal itself. The interface doesn’t take long to get to grips with and the fact you can chain up to 5 effects in each patch means you can always use the same reverb, for example. Apparently there are even more effects that can be downloaded onto the device. I haven’t explored this yet, I haven’t felt like I’ve needed to. The construction is very durable plastic, it feels like it’ll last. The only draw back is the fact that the numbered buttons for selecting the banks and switching effects on and off are hand switches (maybe you could use your feet but they’re pretty small). Meaning you’ve got to bend down to get to your next effect, a small gripe. If they made a more expensive version with bigger, metal switches like the helix and made the expression pedal larger with more range it’d be a perfect product imo. Though for the price it really is a phenomenal piece of kit.

covers all the details i wanted

Very useful pedal. Good modelling patches with excellent reverbs and modulation FX. Drum machine and looper really handy both for rehearsing alone and for solo performance.