IK Multimedia Z-TONE® Buffer Boost and Z-TONE DI
IK Multimedia brings Z-TONE® advanced tone-shaping derived from its AXE I/O® hi-end guitar interface to everyone with Z-TONE Buffer Boost pedal and Z-TONE DI active direct box. Now available, both offer a unique active/passive pickup selector switch to ensure the ideal gain staging for any instrument; switchable PURE and JFET input circuits to adjust from pristine, transparent sound to added warmth and harmonics; and IK’s patented Z-TONE variable impedance control for powerful new ways to shape an instrument’s sound & feel.
Made in ltaly
Z-TONE Buffer Boost and Z-TONE DI are both housed in sturdy metal chassis for extreme reliability and durability and are designed and manufactured in Modena, Italy in IK Multimedia’s own state-of-the-art facilities.
Z-TONE Buffer Boost
This guitar/bass preamp/DI pedal adds Z-TONE tone shaping to any player’s pedalboard or stage rig. Now users can adjust the feel and tone of their instrument directly by adjusting the input impedance of their preamp pedal before hitting the rest of their pedalboard. Z-TONE Buffer Boost also offers premium sound, with a best-in-class dynamic range and extended frequency response, delivering superior performance as an instrument preamp.
A buffered signal preserves instruments’ tone when using pedalboards or long cable runs, and a boost control provides added volume and drive when needed. Both the Z-TONE circuit and Boost circuit can be independently bypassed for more flexible control.
Z-TONE Buffer Boost offers true bypass on the pedal & amp output, while both balanced & unbalanced outputs let bass or acoustic players connect directly to mixers and PAs for a wider range of tonal or routing options. A ground lift switch is also included to eliminate buzz and hum.
Z-TONE Buffer Boost runs off either a 9V battery or standard 9V pedal power supply to make it easy for users to add to their existing rig.
Z-TONE DI
This studio-quality active DI box lets users add Z-TONE tone shaping to line-level sources like mixers and interfaces, making it ideal for use both in the studio and on stage.
Like Z-TONE Buffer Boost, Z-TONE DI offers a best-in-class dynamic range for ultra-quiet operation, and a wide, extended frequency response that won’t cut off an instrument’s natural range. It features adjustable input and output gain, a balanced Main output with ground lift to eliminate buzz or hum, plus an unbalanced out for flexibility and a -20dB pad for an extended operating range.
A convenient “Link out” also mirrors the input signal directly, making it easy to capture a DI signal while still feeding an amplifier or pedalboard. Now users can record or mix both clean and amplified signals for reamplification without the need for additional splitters or gear.
For added convenience, Z-TONE DI can be powered by either a 9V battery or +48V phantom power.
- Active/Passive pickup selector
- PURE channel for transparent sound
- JFET channel adds warmth & harmonics
- Z-TONE variable impedance control creates
a wide range of tones - 20 dB pad for an extended operating range
- Balanced & unbalanced outputs
- Link out splits the signal to amps & pedals
- Ground lift switch eliminates buzz & hum
- Rugged, stage-ready metal housing
- Designed and made in Italy
Bonus software
Z-TONE BUFFER BOOST and Z-TONE DI come with a full download version of AmpliTube 4, IK’s guitar and bass tone studio for Mac/PC. Able to work both as a standalone application and as a plug-in for most popular recording software, AmpliTube 4 recreates the entire guitar/bass signal chain from instrument to the recording device in a hyper-realistic and intuitive way.
Pricing and Availability
Z-TONE Buffer Boost and Z-TONE DI are currently available from the IK Multimedia online store and from IK authorized dealers worldwide. Z-TONE Buffer Boost: $/€169.99* & Z-TONE DI: $/€149.99* (*prices excluding taxes)
