With the A1 Four acoustic pedal, the Japanese effects specialist Zoom has created a multi-effects unit which has not only been developed to allow the multifaceted editing of acoustic guitar sounds but can also be used with practically any acoustic instrument. The compact pedal is equipped with 80 specially designed effects that give the saxophone, violin, trumpet, double bass, and even the harmonica a whole new tonal range and provide an impressive level of sound for recordings or live gigs. Additional features of the A1 Four include a looper with a 30-second recording capacity and a drum machine with 68 built-in acoustic drum styles. The device is also equipped with a microphone adapter that can be used to connect dynamic or even condenser microphones and features switchable 48V phantom power for the latter, all wrapped up in an attractively priced package.
Despite its extensive functions, the Zoom A1 FOUR is extremely easy to use thanks to its illuminated display, which guides the user logically through each operating step. 50 rewritable presets are available to the user, which can be accessed via the two large footswitches. The signal passes through five effect blocks, which can be populated with numerous effects. Although effects such as distortion, delay, reverb, and chorus are typically designed for use with an electric guitar, the Zoom A1 FOUR offers completely new effects, which have been developed specifically for acoustic instruments. For example, a low-pass filter has been added to the wah effect to allow adjustment of the frequency range for wind instruments, and distortion clipping has been moved up an octave to achieve balanced saturation for string instruments.
The Zoom A1 FOUR acoustic pedal also offers up to 28 different presets based on the respective tonal characteristics of various acoustic guitar shapes, including emulations of proven and coveted models from companies such as Martin, Taylor, Gibson, and Yamaha, whose “acoustic fingerprints” have been developed using Impulse Response technology and can be subjected to further editing using the four gain, bass, mid, and treble parameters. The signal can then be routed to the "effects department" and edited using these specially designed effects.
The Zoom A1 FOUR acoustic pedal features a looper with a 30-second recording capacity, which can also be used in combination with the built-in drum machine for practice and jamming sessions. The drum machine has 68 typical presets designed for acoustic styles such as Bossa Nova, Samba, Jazz, and Latin American rhythms. Easy editing on the A1 FOUR and patch management are also possible courtesy of the Zoom Guitar Lab software, which is available to download free of charge to a Mac or PC. Connectivity is provided by the USB port, which can also be used to transfer future firmware updates. Naturally, the Zoom A1 FOUR would not be complete without a tuner, which thanks to the illuminated display enables quick and reliable tuning even in dark environments.
With its numerous features, the Zoom A1 FOUR acoustic pedal offers ground-breaking and highly creative options for users wishing to add a special sound to their violin, harmonica, or any form of brass instrument, or to give their acoustic guitar a different tonal character. With up to five effects that can be used in unison and have been specifically adapted to acoustic instruments, and courtesy of the drum machine with 68 presets, looper, and 50 memory slots, this multi-effects unit is a true all-rounder for amplifying and shaping the tone of acoustic instruments – and a package that, given its extensive range of options, is also available at an extremely reasonable price.
Founded in 1983, the Japanese company Zoom manufactures a variety of audio equipment, including a range of portable "handy" recorders as well as multi-effects processors, effects pedals, drum machines, and samplers. Over the past thirty years, the company has built a reputation for producing innovative yet affordable products based on original microchip designs. Since the Zoom-9002 (an ultra-compact multi-effects processor that can be attached to a guitar strap) was introduced in 1990, Zoom has become one of the leaders in digital audio processing.
Practising and jamming with the looper and drum machine can be an extremely fun experience, and one which does not tie the user to a mains power connection, as the Zoom A1 FOUR can also be operated seamlessly on the go with a set of AA batteries and a pair of headphones. The compact pedal is quickly stowed away in a gig bag or case, and connected up just as quickly to a studio or stage mixer for an unparalleled sound performance, while the anti-feedback filter eliminates the annoying high-pitched noise and "whistle" to which amplified acoustic instruments are often prone.