ZOOM A1 Four

The Zoom A1 Four expands the not-so-wide range of compact multieffects for acoustic instruments and does so decisively. The pedal is especially designed for string, wind and acoustic string instruments (saxophone, trumpet, mouth organ, violin, double bass, acoustic guitar, etc.). The multi-effect features over 80 effects (35 of which are brand new ones created for acoustic instruments), a looper with 30 seconds of recording time, 68 great sounding percussion accompaniment patterns, 40 company presets, 50 slots/memories for storing user presets, and a link to the Zoom Guitar Lab software/library where you can create and edit individual effects and presets plus download effects from the library's sound database.

In addition to a range of modulation (chorus, phaser, tremolo, vibrato, octaver, fx, pitch schift), overdrive, auto wah, eq and dynamic (noise gate, compressor) effects, you'll be pleased to find a simulation of instruments and speakers and 15 proprietary IR characteristics of acoustic guitars from well-known brands (Martin, Gibson, Taylor) including a 12-string model or resonator. In addition, you can expand the basic offer with effects from the Zoom Guitar Lab library. Up to five effects can be used simultaneously, i.e. you can easily emulate your favorite set-up of boxes, amp and speaker.

The question of how to integrate wind or string instruments with the unit is easily solved by the included MMA-1 microphone adapter, which you connect to condenser (the adapter offers optional phantom power) or dynamic microphones. On the adapter itself you can adjust the input signal strength in addition to the power option.

To complete the list of features and capabilities of this compact multieffect, add a built-in chromatic tuner supporting all standard tunings (including open and drop), an aux in input for audio/mp3 sources, and the ability to use the output jack as a headphone jack.

The multi-effect can be powered by four AA batteries (two AA batteries are needed to power the MAA-1 adapter, batteries not included), Zoom AD-16 adapter (not included) or via USB, which is also used to connect to Zoom Guitar Lab and for firmware updates.