Empress Effects ZOIA Modular Digital Multi-FX and Synthesizer Pedal

Empress Effects ZOIA Digital Overview

Why stick with one pedalboard when you can have infinite combinations with ZOIA from Empress Effects, an innovative modular effects system in pedal form. ZOIA sports a growing list of over 80 modules, which can be internally routed and combined in any way you want, from custom FX paths to from-scratch effects, synths, and controllers.

ZOIA comes loaded with over 20 ready-made effect modules to make things easy before you're ready to build your own. You can save up to 64 unique patches for instant recall and switching between your own instruments, FX chains, individual effects, or external audio setup. With the universal control port and 3.5mm MIDI jacks, you can connect almost any external control device— including expression pedals, footswitches, and synthesizers— to communicate via MIDI, CV, and traditional expression/footswitch signals, allowing you to control your modules and experiment endlessly. The ZOIA includes a microSD card for storing and loading your patches and two 3.5mm to MIDI 5-pin DIN adapter plugs.

Nearly Unlimited Sound Creation

With a constantly growing list of over 80 modules and the ability to route and connect your modules together for any kind of internal configuration which you can dream, the creative potential with ZOIA is enormous. Create effects and synthesizers from the ground up, connecting together oscillators, VCAs, modulations, and much more. Use whole effect or synth modules (for example, just plop down a phaser when you need it), or download patches created by other ZOIA users as a springboard for your own creativity. Modules are separated into five categories:

• Interface modules (I/O and control),
• Analysis modules (followers and detectors)
• Audio modules (filters, oscillators, amps, mixers, loopers, etc.)
• CV modules (LFO, ADSR, sequencer, CV processing, quantizer, etc.)
• Effect modules (EQ, delay, modulation, dynamics, reverb, etc.)

Universal Control Port

The control port jack allows the ZOIA to be controlled by a multitude of devices:

• MIDI: The control port can receive MIDI messages on the tip of a 1/4" TRS connector and send MIDI messages via the ring of said 1/4" TRS connector.
• Expression Pedal: The ZOIA is compatible with expression pedals that output signal on the tip, allowing you to control audio FX parameters, oscillator frequencies, VCAs, and much more.
• Control Voltage: With CV control, the ZOIA responds to CV signals from 0 to 5 volts, and can both receive (tip) and send (ring) CV signals. With CV, you can interface your external synth modules with the internal ZOIA modules, offering huge avenues for experimentation.
• External Switch: The ZOIA can be used with either a normally open or normally closed momentary or latching external switch. You can route the external switch to numerous modules, including tap temp inputs, sequencers, gain stages, and more.

Pristine Sound Quality

With 24-bit / 48 kHz sampling and 32-bit internal DSP, ZOIA provides high-performance digital audio for the demanding creator, capturing every nuance of your instruments tone, whether it be a guitar, bass, synthesizer, drum machine, or even samples. And with a low-noise signal path that maintains a signal-to-noise ratio greater than 105 dB.

Almost like having a built in manual, the dedicated help function will give you quick information at a glance about ZOIA's various modules and options. This makes it much less intimidating to dive right into ZOIA's module building system. All information is displayed on a bright, high-resolution OLED display for easy editing.