Four years after launching the G5 Guitar Effects and Amp Simulator Pedal, Zoom has announced what the company claims is the "finest collection of guitar effects offered in one package." The G5n multi-effects processor packs 78 effects, amp and cabinet emulators, together with factory patches created by a diverse line-up of guitarists and onboard rhythm patterns.
The 225 x 454 x 75 mm (10 x 18 x 3 in), 3.4 kg (7.5 lb) G5n features 68 "beautifully-crafted" onboard DSP effects, including distortion, compression, delay, flanger, phaser and reverb, together with five modeled guitar amplifier (such as a Marshall JCM800 and Mesa Boogie Mk3) and five cabinet emulators (including a Fender 65 Twin Reverb and a Bogner Ecstasy). There are 68 rhythm patterns that can be used with the built-in 80 second looper, a chromatic tuner that supports many alternate tunings and 100 custom patches from noted axe men like Jeff Schroeder (Smashing Pumpkins), Kyle Bolden (Stevie Wonder) and Wes Geer (Korn).
Up to nine effects can be chained together in any order and used simultaneously, with a 256 x 32 dot-matrix LCD main overview display up top showing active player selections. The G5n has its own dedicated expression pedal for real-time volume, tone control or effect parameters. Each of its four stomp switches has an independent editing display, and there are 200 memory locations for storage and quick recall of factory or user patches.
Patch bank scrolling and selection is undertaken using the footswitch pads at the front. The Zoom Guitar Lab software for Windows and OS X computers also allows users to download and install artist-created effects chains and additional sounds.
The G5n is reported capable of 24-bit analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog conversion, 32-bit signal processing with a sampling frequency of 44.1 kHz, and features an output booster circuit for increased volume and distortion.
Connectivity comes in the shape of a single instrument input jack, two output jacks cater for mono or stereo connection flexibility, a USB port for direct connection to computers, an aux input to feed in sounds from line-level devices or music players for jamming along to pre-recorded backing tracks, and a headphone jack.
The Zoom G5n will be available for US$299.99 from April, and ships with Cubase LE8 music production software and an AC adapter.
Product page: Zoom G5n multi-effects processor