Zoom S2t ZFX Stack Package

(Originally written by Kerb/translated from Audiofanzine FR)
Audio interface with tube and solid-state preamp.

This gear is conceived to record guitar and bass but it can also manage vocal recordings... so it's perfect for demos!

UTILIZATION

Ultra easy installation.

Sweet!

GETTING STARTED

No crashes until now.

Very low latency.

Three softwares are provided with the interface:

- Zoom plugin (guitar and bass amp simulation): large choice of amps but average sound.

- Guitar rig 3 lite: JCM800 and Fender Twin simulations but it's far from being the ultimate amp simulation (I've tried out virtually everything!!)

- Cubase lite: everyone knows the software...

OVERALL OPINION

I've been using this product for 3 months and I'm very happy.

The weakest point is the Zoom simulation software which has a very poor sound quality. Luckily, Guitar Rig 3 improves the quality of the bundle (was Zoom so ashamed of its own software that they decided to add a competitor product in their package???).

Very satisfying value for money, I'm sure I would buy this product again.

I give it an 8 due to the limited amp simulations, considering that only Guitar Rig 3 is actually usable (for guitar applications).

I was looking for a portable sound card, my store had this one which fell within my budget and met my needs: To view record guitar, bass and microphone jacks and with XLR and phantom power. I use it in Home Studio, with the instruments mentioned above, and a condenser microphone on a laptop with Core2Duo, 4GB Ram Cubase 5. It works fine on my netbook but more latency.

UTILIZATION

I'm having some problems with drivers from time to time, but this probably comes from the software (Cubase). I use it only under cubase 5 currently.
I bundled software seem interesting to someone looking for the simulation models, but I do not use them, having already a multi effects pedal.
I can play and record two tracks, which at my level is sufficient, I record my instrument one by one. Latency is low, the driver works well. I have a low noise with the microphone.

GETTING STARTED

I had some difficulties to install, among other things because of my computer that constantly reinstalled the drivers from Windows Update instead of those of ZOOM. I disabled the driver search for the card and all is well. The configuration is not complicated, we understand what are the knobs on the front and there is not much to do in software settings. The documentation is weak (as often with zoom I feel), but we easily understand the operation is fairly intuitive.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for more than 6 months soon, this is my first sound card home studio. I compared with many other models before buying, and this one and well done, and complete for the price.
Its look is nice, the corners are reinforced with metal, plastic is solid, the lamp gives the guitar a good quality sound, and we see lights (that is stylish x)! ). It is self powered via USB, there is no constraint of having to plug it.
I just wish it to be plug and play and it works without doing anything other than the plug, but it is normal to have to tamper with such equipment.
I would do it if I had to choose a sound card purchase.