You simultaneously make me want to buy more gear and sell everything

I guess I can live on macaroni and cheese straight out of the box.

looks like pedal, works like a synth, feels like MIDI-controller. I suppose Empress team should consider joining their efforts with Polyend and make some new breed of [e]mpressive products.

Thanks to this review, I bought the Zoia pedal about a year ago. At first I used it to sequence my modular setup with basic delay, reverb, granular effects. After purchasing a Digitakt (thanks again Ricky), my sequencing got a bit more flexible, but with the Zoia, I transitioned to building chord patches with its internal oscillators and filters. After awhile, I started making custom 2-channel looper patches that could be midi controlled with the Digitakt encoders. This is an amazing way to discover and sample new melodies. One trick that I absolutely love is to use the looper alongside the Digitakt, record a pattern in time, mangle the hell out of it, fade out the Digitakt, change pattern, then fade back in to something new leaving that mangled Zoia loop pattern behind.. rinse and repeat.. loads of DJ fun to be had there. Ricky, I challenge you to do a compact creations with just the Digi and the Zoia! Side note, with the Subharmonicon having just been released, I was feeling like I could not resist the temptation. But then someone on patch storage created a patch the functions in a very similar way. Point is, the Zoia will keep reinventing itself and will quickly become your little side car for all types of functions. Now when I get the urge to buy new hardware, I often wonder if I can make something similar with the Zoia and that process often leads to something new and rewarding. The Zoia is totally inspiring and very worth the time/ money investment. I could not be happier with all the little discoveries made with this pedal.

I'm a bass player and own the Zoia. This thing is super dope. Takes a little time to get acquainted but definitely intuitive and easy to use once you get it figured out.

i don't care about analog equipment, i watch your videos for the background music

OHHHH MAN, I’m gonna get one in the mail this week. I think it’s finally time to do that collab neighbor!

Thanks for another excellent video. I’ve been watching this channel (and subbed) for about six months and ever-so slowly realized that over that period of time, I have come to really look forward to each and every upload. Your relaxed and easy going personality, coupled with your excellent knowledge of the tech, makes for a great and informative watch. An absolutely brilliant channel.

Just got mine this week. Love it. It's a lot more intuitive than I expected.

Hey Ricky, cool vid. I dig your approach to making videos- even if I dont have the exact gear you are using, you talk about your process and that's the most interesting part to me. Good on ya.

As always, great review and advices. Thanks Ricky!

Dope shit!! Thanx for the video and the great info/function breakdown!

Lucky enough to be an Empress Endorser for about 5 years now and it can not be overstated how great of team they are and how incredible their pedals really are.

Two years later and the Zoia is still king for me. What an absolute beast of a unit.

This is probably the first review that has some info about randomizer. Thanks!

Just found a used ZOIA for a super fare price, been wanting one for a very long time. This machine does it all, so amazing Thanks Ricky for another great vid

I had looked at the Zoia when it first came out but it seemed so complicated. I like devices that allow me to get into making music pretty quickly. But this video changed my mind. Now I’m very interested! I like how you said it can be “as simple or as complicated” as you want. Thanks, Ricky.

So funny story. I was at my music store of choice last night picking up my first Elektron (Digitakt... it's all your fault Ricky) and saw some Empress pedals in the case behind the counter. I noticed it said "Made in Canada" and I mentioned this to the sales guy. He said "local even". Jaw dropped. I had no idea this company was in my hometown! Pretty proud of learning that. Hope you're enjoying it!

Great video Ricky. I'm just getting back into small-physical-object-driven-synths (boxes!!) and this is one I missed. Trust your views, so I'm buying one.

So helpful. Thank you for the great upload again, Ricky.

Price point's a bit out of my budget range, but this thing's obviously worth it. I'd like to have a go with one.

Dope video and super good real life examples of the cool stuff you can do!

Another great video, Ricky, thank you!

Thanks for your take on this, was wondering how steep the learning curve is. Hope to see more from you on Zoia, maybe a dive into creating a patch on the fly or how you implement it in a live setting.

hey thanks for making such a soothing vid

You made me want this pedal. It is like a new dimention of FX pedals.

Can’t wait for the Eurorack version. Also: that is an awesome hat.

Zoia it's my number one piece of gear right now!! I can explore different types of synthesis (sustractive,FM and even Granular) and play with All quite of FX... Love the reverbs on it also.... Super happy with it. And has always your video it's a 10 of 10! Thanks for your work and time !!

Awesome. Definitely on my list. Just need to focus on the sl mk3 for a couple months 🤓

It's definitely 'THE' guitar pedal for fans of grooveboxes, modulars, samplers, and I guess for guitar players as well. It has some bugs and they definitely put it out early (prob'ly because people seemed to think it was taking too long) but Empress seems to be addressing it, 4 updates in as many months. Creating a MIDI enabled, virtual modular platform in a stompbox format has to be the among the most aspirational feats of magic in recent history. Benn and Gear's video on the Zoia sold me on it... I think he fell into a Zoia hole he hasn't posted any new videos since the"Diving into the Zoia" [kzfaq.info/get/bejne/fLOAd7Nnmb-zZ3k.html] 3 months ago.

Absolutely S tier channel. Always fantastic material.

Great video. Concise and I learned a lot. Feel the same about program changes. Why is it often implemented so badly? Dammit. Now I want one of these.

great video and what a great pedal. I love mine!

Just got mine on the third. Once you get the basics, it is incredibly intuitive.

you got that mk2!!

We need a full track of 2:33 !! Thanks Enrique!

Looks cool. Should do a vid making a beat with it

looks incredible. would love to see what you make of the Deluge though.

Now that we're well into 2021 are you still using this and loving it Ricky? I like what I see in the video but to me it still looks complicated and intimidating with all that it's got going on.

Love your videos. Curious since I just got one, will you/have you tried the Microfreak?

Steve Bragg is a really cool dude...did some digging and working for him looks real fun..I did a presentation mentioning a few geniui around and sent him the presentation lol..he's a start! Brilliant device...had ordered but spent dosh errr on synth😂🙌

Thanks for your videos. I’m learning all I can and yours are a important part. Any videos on what advice you can give to starting out producers of house music?

Great review

Thats a sick little device!

Love your videos :)

It does look really impressive... have you tried it with guitar? Thanks!

Great video!

Great video! Can’t wait for the euroburo now... What about the synth modules of the zoia? do they sound good enough to be used along other modules or do you use it mainly for effects?

2nd video i have watched on this, and it just seems more and more interesting.

Getting one!

love ur program bred

Love that expression: Drinking from the firehose

amazing little box

excellent video, these empress guys seems like they deserve my money!

Man, I have been wondering whether I should get this or not... let’s see!!

I think a really cool setup would be 6 Zoia pedals connected to an A&H Xone92

sickass channel keep goin

I need a fx pedal or maschine for the povketoperator or korg volca bass synthesizer

Thank you!

"A full blown digital modular synthesizer". $500. A good demo, which proves that I have no need (or money) for one. Thank you!

Way more than just an effect pedal imo. Great vid :)

I wonder about getting this vs a semi modular box like the mother 32 or lifeforms sv-1

So I assume you can have two mono sources going into the Zoia through the two inputs, but with the octatrack can you cue out one source through one cue output and cue another source out the other? That could really be a game changer for me as I'm considering this device for use with my Octatrack but I'm fairly new to the OT.

Great video! How would you compare the Empress Zoia vs the Mod Duo X ? This looks really fun but the mod duo x seems even more powerful. Which one would you recommend?:)

I would love to spend some time with you for your vast knowledge. Do You teach synthesizers and sequences?

Disclaimer aside...it’s hard to imagine when gear is shipped free to a person that it doesn’t make the review subjective. Not saying it’s not a well put together vid, but presumably if you hated it there’s just be no review.

I wanna get my hands on the eurorack version

I'm looking to buy my very first FX unit for my synths, I'm still a beginner and in need most of a reverb, delay, flanger and perhaps distortion. This product looks really good, but the price is a little too high for my beginner setup. I was actually considering getting a Korg NTS1 to use as an affordable effects unit, as they're fairly cheap and from what I've heard pack some descent soounding effects. Any thoughts on this? Cheers.

You ...are emptying my life savings

Hi there, Was looking for a modulation pedal (chorus phaser etc) and my YT coughed up this video! Can you use it as a dual mono multi FX (Delay on DFAM and reverb on M32) in mono obviously but simultaniously? I can pan my bleeps in the mixer and the hi-hats as well.

In terms of effects, do you think this replaces multiple kaoss pads?

Can it update firmware from a mobile device is it iOS native ? Does it recognize a mobile daw over audio buss with midi and audio over one cable? Peace Christo 👽🐕🎶🛸☮️

I wish I could just drop this in an Ableton track and it would do the routing automatically all with just a usb hook-up

We want compact creations with zoia!

Im looking for a companion multi FX to go after my OTO biscuit, I have been using an H9, however I hate that I need a computer/phone/tablet, to change what kind of pedal it is, this keeps poping up and im curious about it... how would you compare the quality of effects on this to the eventide products? Part of me just wants t o go Biscuit- Timefactor- space, but thats a bit of space for what I feel can be utilized better

I don't use synths, but dang if I don't want to run every mic on my acoustic drum kit through dat pedal

Hi, where did you get the SID samples from on the octatrack? Thanks. Cool video.

Hello, I have bought a Zoia, and watching your video , how when assigning two fx patches in different octatrack patterns, they change automatically. I have a Digitakt, but when I change the patern it stays in the previous patch, but if I touch the "program" knob of the midi page a bit, it goes to patch +1 or -1. I am doing something wrong? Thank you.

luv it! but i still have to seek your guidance.. eventide H9 or Zoia? i can only afford one. thanks)

You are a cool laid back brother. Keep up the great work, always dope. Thanks

I'm thinking that 500 $(us) is a bargain for this. Looking forward to diving down the Zoia rabbit hole! Using it to make tones to use in the chain. Yowza! It's the top dog in effects, and if anything better has come around, I haven't heard of it. Definitely a big step to curing the GAS syndrome...

I want to see how can it stacks up against a Reason 10 combinator.

All the Hype on the Roland 404 MKII and here’s me going NAH My Blackbox Studio and Force and MPC’s got that covered but maybe a Zoia Empress with MyVolts cable and second Powerbank to use with my Blackbox Studio could be wild. So have you done any videos showing off the Zoia Empress with the Blackbox Studio? Thanks man

Zoia vs Microcosm which one for Digitakt companion?

watching this video like damn maybe i should buy that audio interface

using it as an effects unit, how would you map parameters to use them with an expression pedal? what expression pedal would work with the zoia?

Looks cool, thanks for the introduction to the Zoia. Looks powerful. Unfortunately, fairly expensive at $500. See you later oscillator...

I like your “song” 😁

I loved my mpc 4000.

How many modules can be stacked, and or routed? And are the fx chained. Sequenced or independent?

I so covet a ZOIA. I think it would be a really good tool for integrating the saxophone with the more processed sounds of other gear. If you ever get bored with it Mr T. give me a shout eh? 😼

I concur.

Dude I'm totally digging the straightforward and honest approach -- about to get deep with an octatrack and your vids thus far have been immensely helpful. Cheers man.

It would be nice to compare this to the MOD DUO.

You had me at Hmmm.

Would you still recommend this over the Microcosm?

Pretty colours...oooo.

reasons enough, was looking for fx pedal, found it, sorry couldnt use your link does not ship to uk, got it from ebay Same price

Sale pitch "this is for you" ;)

I got a zoia and an octatrack mkii the same day, and I don’t know how to use either, what gives???!!!!! 🤷🏽‍♂️