As for controls, there are four footswitches, one of which is nested in a cluster of arrow keys. There are also four multi-function rotary encoders, which can be used to twiddle knobs on virtual amps and effects, as well as adjust the overall output and EQ. For the G2X Four, there’s the in-built expression pedal. This is, for some reason, covered in the same cheap-looking faux carbon fibre wrap as the rest of the pedal, meaning its surface is almost entirely friction-free. Combine this with the relatively stiff action of the pedal and your foot is basically guaranteed to slide off it unless you’re wearing hiking boots. Changing the effect parameters is a bit fiddly, but no more than you would expect on a compact multi-effects unit. Preloaded in the form of 250 presets, these patches were designed to document the sonic evolution of guitar sound. Each patch recreates the sound of a legendary song from the 1950s to the present day. All are named after real songs, but the actual sounds produced by the patches barely resemble their namesakes: the Paranoid patch, for instance, uses a scooped Big Muff fuzz entirely divorced from anything Tony Iommi ever played. The Purple Haze patch doesn’t use an octave fuzz effect, even though there is one in here, somewhere. The Dean Town patch uses twice as much overdrive as Cory Wong ever has. And so on. There's plenty to explore in the G1X Four with over 70 effects to play with. You've got your classic effects such as overdrive, compression, and fuzz; but you also get crazier effects like ring modulator, pitch-shifting delay, and sitar simulation.

Power Options The G1 FOUR/G1X FOUR runs on just four AA batteries. Alternatively, it can be powered using the optional Zoom AD-16 AC adapter or via USB bus power. The default programs range from the not-so-subtle to the bizarre and amusing. However it's easy to create your own programs. A program can contain up to 5 internal effects. Many of the internal effects are emulations of specific standalone pedals. For example, there are emulations of the Tubescreamer ("TS Drive", Klon ("Gold Drive") and Zendrive. Don't let the eccentric default programs put you off. There are plenty of usable effects in this pedal. When the effects are bypassed the volume knob becomes a pitch adjustment control for the tuner. However the signal is still affected by the volume setting. You just can't change the volume. There are additional internal effects that can be loaded onto the unit via the USB port. To this you need to connect the G1X to a PC and run the software that is provided. It would be nicer if all the effects could be loaded on to the device at the same time, as this would remove the need for a PC. I rarely connect the pedal to a PC and hence I'm probably missing out on some useful effects.However, thanks to the comprehensive on-board controls, and Zoom's Guitar Lab software, dialling in your perfect sounds and saving them as presets couldn't be easier. The G2X Four takes amp modelling to the next level. Carefully recreated emulations of classic amps are combined with speaker simulations using our new multi-layer IR technology. As a result, guitarists benefit from great sounds and always have the feeling of being on the “big stage”, regardless of the environment. The ZOOM G2 FOUR and G2X FOUR give guitarists more tone variations than ever before thanks to all-new amp modeling and innovative IR technology. You’ll dial in amazing sounds right out of the box. The G2 FOUR and G2X FOUR take amp modeling to the next level. They combine faithfully reproduced models of classic amps (and a few new ones, too) and pair them with cabinet models that utilize our new Multi-layer IR technology. This gives guitarists both great tone and the feeling of that “big stage” sound in any environment. FEATURES

Play along to any of the 68 beats on the built-in rhythm machine. This rhythm section is the perfect accompaniment when practising, whether it’s metal, blues or any other genre. Your Favourite Amps and Cabinets With 13 classic amps and cabinets like Fender, Marshall, Orange and more*, the G1 series brings big stage sound wherever you go. The free Guitar Lab app for Android and iOS mentioned in the product launch video, because it doesn’t seem to exist. The Zoom G2X Four give guitarists more tone variations than ever before thanks to all-new amp modelling and innovative IR technology. You'll dial in amazing sounds right out of the box. The unit faithfully combines reproduced models of classic amps (and a few new ones, too) and pairs them with cabinet models that utilize Zoom's new Multi-layer IR technology. This gives guitarists both great tone and the feeling of that "big stage" sound in any environment. Multi-Layer IRHandy Guitar Lab app (iOS/Android) for editing on smartphones and access to new effects (requires connection via USB-C port).

Digital connectivity is limited to just a USB-C port – no MIDI ports of either size and no Bluetooth. Over USB, you can use the pedal as a two-channel audio interface to record directly, but as we’ll get into later, it’s not quite cut-and-dry as to whether you can actually use it to control the unit and load presets. In any case, it doesn’t support MIDI over USB. Looper for recording up to 30 seconds / 64 beats of CD-quality audio with seamless start and endtimes Each amp model is built with Zoom's innovative Multi-Layer IR's, to recreate the tonal characteristics and feel of playing through classic amps and cabinets. These Impulse Responses were captured from iconic cabinets at 3 different volumes and are blended and activated based on the volume of your guitar. Cross Key Navigation There are plenty of products that are comparably priced to the G2/G2X Four – and while they may not all be as feature-rich as something like the HX Stomp, they’re all lightyears ahead of their Zoom equivalents. And that’s just their on-paper specifications. Sonics are a bit more subjective, but given the G2/G2X Four’s amp and effect models, it’s not like any of them are going to be worse.

While the G1X Four isgreat for practice you can also use it for live performances.You can switch between sounds smoothly using the two performance modes, the Preselect mode allows you to jump between patches without affecting your current patch, and Stomp mode lets you turn on/off individual effects. Key Features In addition to the wide array of effects available, you also have access to to 13 different amp models. The models are designed to emulate classic amps & cabs from classic brands such as Fender, Marshall, Orange, and more. If that's still not enough sounds for you, you can also take advantage Zoom's free Guitar Lab software which gives you access to loads of artist patches, effects, and more. Functionality That’s a whole lot of things you can’t do. But the most damning result of the meagre CPU is the actual audio processing. The G2/G2X Four have as much headroom as the contraption Giles Corey was pressed to death in, so even the amp models based on high-headroom pedal platforms have almost no dynamic range. And it’s really, really easy to make the unit clip internally: I was getting audible peaking from somewhere in the signal chain, with 6dB of headroom left on my audio interface. This wasn’t the result of using too many dirt pedals – this was with a plate reverb and a Fender Twin! App-solute Chaos Off the Floor The G1 FOUR/G1X FOUR’s control panel is also designed for hands-on, desktop use. Dial in tones and adjust level settings with absolute precision to craft your perfect sound.

Handy Guitar Lab app (iOS/Android) for editing on smartphones and access to new effects (requires connection via USB-C port) Those clever boffins at Zoom are at it again, bringing us a new, high-quality multi-fx processor with an on-board Expression Pedal for a great price, in the shape of the Zoom G1X Four Multi-FX Pedal! Zoom’s product launch video shows how the G2/G2X Four’s arrow key cluster can be navigated with your foot. This is a hugely optimistic portrayal. In reality, the screen is too small and low-res to parse much useful information from sitting, let alone standing. The ‘up’ key is positioned in such a way that pressing it with your foot means you cover the entire screen. And try to press the centre button, and there’s a good chance you’ll also mash one of the directional buttons.Additional effects/patches can be installed, edited and saved via the Handy Guitar Lab app for iOS and Android.