Zoom G2Nu and G2.1Nu guitar effects pedals offer direct USB recording
By Darren Murph 
posted March 12th 2010 7:11PM
posted March 12th 2010 7:11PM
Power, Tone and Intuitive Control Advance with Zoom's G2Nu and G2.1Nu
Hauppauge, NY – March 11, 2010 – Zoom's new G2Nu and G2.1Nu take the performance, tone and functionality of the incredibly popular G2 guitar effects pedal and incorporate years of engineering innovation. What emerges is a variety of new and practical features along with enhanced ease of use, improved tone technology and patches created by legendary guitar virtuoso Steve Vai.
Zoom's revamping started with the overdrive/distortion sounds. Twenty types of guitar amps and stomp boxes offer finely tuned sonic qualities including gain settings and harmonic character. Both new pedals also feature 100 preset guitar sounds, 20 of which have been created by world-renowned guitarist Steve Vai. Additional patches meticulously emulate famous rock sounds from the sixties and seventies as well as other famous artists. And the G2.1Nu also features a built-in expression pedal for enhanced control.
"The new G2Nu and G2.1Nu show how the investments we've made in engineering and technology have progressed to help produce amazing models," says Masahiro Iijima, CEO for Zoom. "I truly believe that these advances, along with the assistance of guitarist Steve Vai, help make the G2Nu and G2.1Nu the best sounding pedals we've ever developed."
The new pedals can also operate as audio interfaces, letting users record directly to a computer via the built-in USB port. Plus, Zoom's direct monitoring design eliminates latency problems and allows you to seamlessly capture any tone right on your favorite computer DAW. A large 1.9-inch LCD display and a new, more intuitive interface also provide easier navigation during both live and recording sessions.
"For more creativity and interactivity we've also made software available through a free download," says Iijima. "Not only does this software allow you to download the latest patches, it also helps you edit patches easily to quickly achieve the sound you're looking for. Plus, import and export functions let you exchange patches with other users. All these new functions and capabilities make these our best sounding, most intuitive and technologically advanced pedals to date."
About Samson Technologies
Samson Technologies Corp. is the exclusive U.S. distributor of Zoom recording and signal processing electronics. Samson designs, manufactures and distributes high-performance wireless, audio and music accessory products in the United States and 106 countries abroad. Samson is also the exclusive worldwide distributor of Hartke products. Samson Technologies is based in Hauppauge, New York. For more information, please visit www.samsontech.com.
Ummm what? Is this new for Zoom? I've never owned one but I know my Digitech RP-350 does this, and that came out years ago..
@Snake I don't understand how this is news either. I too have a Digitech, the RP-150, and it performs USB recording and acts as its own sound card being able to play music through your computer speakers. After owning the Zoom G1 previously, the click buttons were terrible and would shuffle through effects too quickly instead of one at a time. Digitech FTW.
@DefECho I love my Digitech, best instrument add-on i've purchased.
@Snake
.... agreed. Processors have had usb recording interfaces for years now. Still, it's nice to see music related gadgets get some attention.
@Snake
I have a Zoom 606 and it served me well, nothing special.
Hey could someone tell me why did Digitech discontinued the Hendrix Pedal? I wanted to get one of those.
Hey you know what, I sent this link to a youtube video to engadget, and they didnt post it, I think it is a very interesting Virtual Guitar effects interface using wii. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mn7E0-n2sMw
@Snake yeah not new. i think Tonelab ST records too so does a couple of line 6s i think.
@Snake not to mention my toneport gx does this too.
@Beatnik yeah that is pretty creative. i use Amplitube myself. not sure how good i'd be using guitar rig with my toes though.
@Snake No, Zoom actually did that for a while, maybe it's new for that lower-range model. I had USB recording on my Zoom G9.2tt for a while now.
@Beatnik It's unfortunate that it was in fact discontinued. I've been looking for a solution to get that hendrix tone. I tend to like analog pedals, for that genuine mojo. Take a look at these guitar effects pedals they make an awesome Jimi Hendrix fuzz pedal is dual channel effect that even has a octave pedal section. I might get one but I would have the univibe chorus part though. Hope that helps
@Snake - Does the digitec have a built-in drum machine, or bass sounds? Curious, because that is what sets this apart.
@meatball I'm not sure what you mean by "Bass Sounds" but yes it'll give your guitar a bass-like tone and it also has a built in drum machine.
For what I do (mostly recording for practice and writing purposes) this is perfect. I would also be able to sell my M Audio USB interface which doesn't get much use these days. I like the simplicity offered here.
That thing looks a little to shiny and maybe a little to delicate to be stood on.
@Steve2000
No need to worry about the delicate nature of these units. The G1/G1x are made of plastic and can withstand a bit of abuse.
These guys have a metal body and can really be abused. The USB actually isn't so new for Zoom, they've had models out for years that do the direct USB recording.
Audio quality is quite good, they use 24/96 internally, so they don't sound unnatural. That being said, all of these multi-pedals do have a strange limiter. The end of held notes/chords just isn't right, but for the price they will do anything you need and do it fairly well.
The G7 and G9 give you better access to saved patches, they use banks rather than scrolling through patch after patch. Plus they have an A/B setting for each patch. Very useful for clean then distortion without changing patches.
Analogue pedals are still the best, but prohibitively expensive to achieve every effect you'll get in these things.
@thetick Thanks for educating me there. I know nothing about this kinda stuff it just doesn't look like something youd want to stand on with outdoor shoes on.
@thetick I think that 'limiter' you're referring to is the noise gate that's preset on all the patches, you can switch it off if it's not to your liking.
@Steve2000 You could throw a Zoom around the room and it would be okay. It's not a brick, but it's definitely sturdy.
@Steve2000 yeah, I can speak for the G1X (which is what it looks like this is meant to replace), and the thing's the most durable bit of my guitar setup. I've stomped on that thing so hard, in places that it wasn't meant to be stomped on. Works without a hitch, too.
@thetick
so how much ARE they?
@Cydoniac
Yeah, noise gate, not limiter. Thanks for pointing that one out.
I had a brain block and limiter was all I could come up with :D
@cjwild
Sweetwater have them listed at $264 down to $199
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/G21Nu/
I'm from Australia, so I have no idea about your taxes and stuff. zzsounds may be cheaper, not sure.
As for the tone purests, you do have to remember that beginners don't want to spend thousands to get a brilliant setup. They just want to learn to play and are probably going to be mimicking a lot of different bands and sounds. Those on a budget will freak out buying a hand made point-to-point wired tube distortion pedal.
In Australia we aren't as fortunate with regards to prices. A Les Paul standard retails for $5000, Mexican Fenders can push up to $2000. I sold guitars for a living for years and I can tell you I believe that a Mexican Fender is the minimum quality people should start with, IMHO I think they are still rubbish.
You try to convince a beginner that they need to spend $1500 on a guitar and another $1500 on a tube amp. Good luck with that.
@Steve2000
Moreover, u dont actually stand on them.. think of it as the pedals of ur car when ur just cruising along.. :D
My plastic Zoom 606 has served me nicely for well over 5 yrs now..
Great! I've got a G1X now, may upgrade to the G2.1Nu.
I'll try it out someplace first...
I love my G1X, but the USB interface makes this so much more desirable..
Sweet. I'll be looking forward to the reviews. Been looking for a way to record on my mac, and this might be the ticket!
If you're looking for a straight recording box that's a foot pedal with presets, Apogee makes one. I've been dying to try it into garageband. It's only a recording/input device, unlike the zoom and digitech stuff.
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/GiO/
Kinda pricey at $400 though.
@brudy918 yeah i'm gonna wait til they upgrade the full tonelab le to have usb.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoom_Corporation
Uhm... Zoom's been making Guitar pedals since 83? and the g2's have had audio interfaces since like 2006 I think?
Also that link goes to the video camera, not the audio recorder.
what the hell engadget?
@soylentdean
Yeah... these guys seem a bit out of their element when it comes to guitar gear (maybe audio gear in general).
That being said, I think it is cool how Zoom went from being known as bargin-basement guitar FX to making some really decent stuff, especially their portable recorders.
@soylentdean
Yea, I've had my G2.1u for around 5 years now, I got it specifically because it has USB recording.
This is just an upgrade to that pedal, I mean the name is practically the same, except they shoved and 'N' into it. Not entirely sure what the upgrades in this are, besides the slight cosmetic differences and that the display has been upgraded.
I wouldn't be caught dead playing through a POS like this: too compressed, too fake sounding, too digital. I go analog all the way...gimme tone, not presets! The only digital pedal I use is the Line 6 DL4 which has epic tone. Ibamez analog delay and tube screamer FTW. Get a tube amp, a legit audio interface, and learn to mic your amp.
@purfikt I agree I think getting a few good analog pedals is the way to go. I mean digital coding is not organic music it's a software engineers subjective opinion of what good tone is. I stick to analog effects like boutique effects just to name a few. If you really think about it all classic rock/blues up until the late 70's used analog guitar gear. I like the old fuzz pedals if I'm gonna play some Hendrix.
I wholeheartedly agree. Nothing beats good tubes and a good amp mic. I don't care that hybrid is the new standard, it sounds too fake.
If I'm travelling, I just use my Zoom H4 recorder for everything, and it too does direct USB recording.
I really don't like most of Zoom's FX, though. Boss and Line 6 are much better sounding, IMO, especially in a comparative pedalboard.
@DeAthWaGer Hey that's exactly the problem sounds "too fake". Its digital software plain and simple. Jimi Hendrix never played through anything digital, it was analog. Custom analog pedal are the way to go for pure tune like http://www.elitetone.com/ and others. I like the convenience of digital and ease of use, especially in the studio. I remember recording reel to reel. Now that was intense. You had to cut the tape and paste it back together to make an edit!
This is great. I mean MySpace and YouTube did wonders for the average Joe that wants his music heard. But the direction manufacturers are going now is wonderful. Now I can record my music in one easy step with all of the sounds they use in major productions without having to jump through hoops and wires.
Wonder what the actual changes are over the g/a/b2.1u series of pedals? They've got USB input (I have an a2.1u and use it), XLR output alongside audio jack.
The old pedals were plastic and horrible, but the g/a/b2.1u series of pedals are all metal and can take a serious pounding, plus have decent foot switches. It's not particularly clear from the article what, if anything, these new 'n' versions add, other than maybe some Steve Vai presets?!
Wow the Digitech RP's do the same exact thing for way less (I think the cheapest one with a USB interface is like what around 70$ US?), and they have been, for about 5 years now? Lol. Engadget needs to stop writing about music gear -- they are obviously clueless.
I had an RP250 for a couple years and it was really nice...but -- it died on me one day, and I was screwed...was out of warranty unfortunately. I ended up going with an M-Audio FireWire pro and I use Amplitube (Software) for all the effects.
Amplitube actually sounds better than the RP250 did, but it takes awhile to create a good sound with it...the presets really are not that great.