MOTU ZBox

[LeftyStrat]

Someone tell me this is more than the resistor network found on the inputs of any Fender amp.

http://www.motu.com/products/guitar/zbox

Think it has a transformer?

[Reeltarded]

Nope. Two jacks and 4 resistors with a plug on the end.

It's true that there aren't instrument level inputs on most digital interfaces and the rest of everything else sounds like it was written to get a 14 year old excited to get his parent's wallet out. The copy is distasteful enough for me to curse at and move along. I must be feeling better.

Modeling amps do nothing of the sort. They are two or three serial distortion units with eq networks.

[LeftyStrat]

Modeling amps do nothing of the sort. They are two or three serial distortion units with eq networks.

I've yet to find any modeling amp come close to fun. Maybe if I was a metal player and just wanted distortion and scooped mids, and I always played heavy handed with no dynamics.

But I haven't found any to respond to my playing, or even rolling off the guitar volume.

To my mind what is missing is the dynamics of what is going on in an amp. It's also something I find lacking in IR models of cabs. Cabs and speakers don't react the same when playing nicely vs knocking the snot out of them.

Modeling can probably sound okay in a mix, but it sounds like recorded guitar. No fun to play.

I guess it's getting better. Playing a great tube amp is like having sex, and modeling amps used to be like watching porn, now it's like video chat. Better, but still not the real thing.

[Reeltarded]

POD sounds great driving a quad of EL34s into meltdown, but it sounds flat and lifeless plugged into an interface. I had bought a kidney thingy to drive a pair of Egnaters as a quick everything rig and that was fun, lots of value, a bargain even.. but not the same as rockin a rig. A real rig.

The stand alone units wouldn't benefit in any way through that box, and the "modeling" thing in your computer doesn't give a shit what your input impedance is.

[LeftyStrat]

I had an original POD. When I built a JTM-45 and compared it to their model, I laughed. It was the second amp I ever built.

I'll give Line 6 credit for launching my tube amp building addiction.

[Reeltarded]

Kind of like McDonald's launching your haute cuisine addiction..

My addiction came from the other direction. Dragging gear around is not always cost effective. I decided that didn't matter, if it was worth doing it was worth trying.. heh

[Blackburn]

I think we need a new forum section for the MOTU Zbox. Can anyone get a hold of the schematic??

[Reeltarded]

It's just like a time machhine. Draw an input with the tip grounded to the + side of a lamp cord.

[Structo]

Yeah, being a passive device it probably is a couple resistors.
Possibly a matching transformer.

Selling for less than $40, it can't be much more than that.

I'm just mad I didn't think of it before they did......

https://www.google.com/search?tbm=shop& ... %22ZBox%22

[LeftyStrat]

I almost want to buy one, just so I can open it up and take pictures to post on the net.

[NickC]

I almost want to buy one, just so I can open it up and take pictures to post on the net.

Wouldn't that cause the hermetically sealed crystal lettuce to wilt?

[LeftyStrat]

I almost want to buy one, just so I can open it up and take pictures to post on the net.

Wouldn't that cause the hermetically sealed crystal lettuce to wilt?

I guess MOTU should use goop.

[Reeltarded]

Don't open one of these. It comes with a tamper proof tag about it being illegal to remove the tag.. almost a dare.

[Blackburn]

Don't open one of these. It comes with a tamper proof tag about it being illegal to remove the tag.. almost a dare.

And I think it's rigged with an exploding dye pack like they would do at banks so that the color coding of the resistors can't be read a la Komet.

[Reeltarded]

bright red lipstick and stripper glitter. this stuff wants you in trouble..