EMPRESS ZOIA: QUEEN OF MODULAR SYNTHS

The Empress ZOIA can do anything, because it is everything. If that sounds complicated, it is–and it isn’t.

Fitting the effects capabilities of a modular synth into a modestly sized pedal enclosure, the brand new ZOIA is a complete effects laboratory loaded with all the modules you need to build a custom delay, reverb, phaser, or something entirely your own.

You don’t have to be an engineer or a psychoacoustic wizard to do it. All the modules are pre-loaded and available at the touch of a button, so you’re free to experiment without limit. If time is of the essence, just throw on one of 20 pre-programmed settings for traditional effects and leave it, or use it as a base and go from there, or craft your own from the bottom up. Just use the button array to select or deselect.

Much like the Greek word zoya, or life, ZOIA is what you make it.
ZOIA features 80+ built-in modules, with more in development as we speak:

Interface Modules
Audio Input
Audio Output
Midi Notes In
Midi CC in
Midi Pressure
Midi CC out
Midi PC out
Midi Note Out
Stompswitch
UI Button
Pushbutton
Keyboard
Cport Exp/CV in
Cport CV out

Analysis Modules
Onset Detector
Env Follower
Pitch Detector

Audio Modules
Oscillator
VCA
SV Filter
Multi-Filter
Delay Line
Audio Panner
Pitch Shifter
Audio Balance
Audio Mixer
Inverter
Audio In Switch
Audio Out Switch
All Pass Filter
Noise
Audio Multiply
Bit Crusher
Aliaser
1 Buffer Delay
Looper
Stereo Spread
Bit Modulator
Diffuser

CV Modules
LFO
Sequencer
ADSR
Sample and Hold
CV Invert
CV Rectify
Value
Trigger
CV Flip Flop
CV Delay
CV Loop
CV Filter
Clock Divider
Comparator
In Switch
Out Switch
Slew Limiter
Quantizer
Steps
Multiplier
Random
Rhythm

ZOIA’s expansive feature set also includes:

64 Patches - Save up 64 of your own effects for instant recall.
Patchstorage.com - Sign up with patchstorage.com to load your own patches and share and swap with other users.
SD Card - Empress includes an SD card so you can save your presets and patches in physical form, and through empresseffects.com you can get the newest firmware updates and bug fixes to load straight onto your unit.
OLED Display - Unlike other pedals, ZOIA's equipped with a hi-res OLED display to easily and instantly view your modules and parameter information.
Control and MIDI Port - Connect your ZOIA to any number of external and midi-enabled devices for extra effects and control options. Midi dongles (⅛”) included.
Customizable Scrolling and Recall - Just like a regular stompbox, you can use the footswitches to scroll available modules or presets from your bank for effects switching and molding new sounds on the fly.
On-board Help - The built-in help function ensures you’ll never be at a loss. No more flipping through a long paper manual. Help is always at your fingertips.
Top Quality Audio - The ZOIA samples at a rate of 48kHZ, with 24-bit conversion and 32-bit internal processing.
Low-Noise - ZOIA is extremely quiet where it counts, operating with a signal-to-noise of >105dB.

ZOIA Specs

Input Impedance: >= 1MΩ
Output Impedance: 100Ω
Frequency Response: (-3dB)10Hz – 23.4kHz
Total Harmonic Distortion: 0.22%
Dynamic Range: 105.5 dBA
Input Headroom (no pad): +0.5 dBu
Input Headroom (6dB pad): +5.7 dBu
Input Headroom (12dB pad): +10.8 dBu
Output Headroom: +16.2dBu
Power Input Connector: 2.1mm Barrel Connector
Power Input Voltage: 9V DC (center negative)
Required Current: 300mA
Height (enclosure only): 1.75”
Height (including controls): 2.625”
Length: 5.7”
Width: 3.75”
Weight: 1.5lbs

Call, click, or stop in to pre-order the newest in multi-effects pedals, the Empress herself: ZOIA, today at Chicago Music Exchange.

Empress Zoia Modular Synthesizer Multi-Effect Pedal Effects and Pedals / Multi-Effect Unit

Empress Zoia Modular Synthesizer Multi-Effect Pedal

$549.00

From Empress:

The ZOIA is basically a modular synthesizer in pedal form. Instead of being a delay effect or tremolo, the ZOIA provides the modules necessary to build a delay or tremolo from the ground up. But since you're the one building it, you can make it do whatever you want. With the ZOIA you can build your own custom effects, synthesizers, midi controllers, and virtual pedal boards. And to make life a little easier, we've created modules for all your standard guitar effects. So for instance, if you want a phaser, you can just plop down a phaser. You don't have to break out the textbooks to learn that they're built out of all-pass filters. (Of course, if you're a nerd like us, you can use the ZOIA to build them out of all-pass filters).

0+ Modules and Growing - ZOIA comes packed with a vast collection of modules to create just about anything you can dream up. With ZOIA the only limit is your imagination!
Create your own effects, synths, control devices, and more! - Oscillators, LFOs, filters, bit crushers, envelope followers - these are just a handful of the included modules that can be connected in almost any way imaginable. If you can dream it up, you can create it!
20+ Ready-Made Effects Modules - Pre-built effects modules such as reverbs, delays, chorus', flangers, overdrives and more.
Up to 64 Patches - Create and save up to 64 patches that can be easily recalled during live performance.
Swap and Share Patches - Join the community of ZOIA users on patchstorage.com to try out other users patches, or upload your own awesome creations to share with the world.
SD Card Included - Load and save patches to/from ZOIA. We're also continuously improving the firmware by adding new modules and features, and fixing bugs. Download the newest firmware from empresseffects.com and load onto the ZOIA with the included SD card.
OLED Display Screen for Easy Editing - View all of ZOIA's module and parameter information on the high resolution OLED display screen.
Control Port and MIDI Connectivity - Dedicated control port and MIDI 1/8" in/out jacks allow you to connect a huge range of external devices to control any or all of ZOIA's functions and parameters. 1/8" to MIDI dongles included.
Customizable Patch Recall System - The on-board stompswitches can be used in either scrolling- or bank-style preset modes, for quick on-the-fly patch recall that suits your workflow.
Built-In Help - 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.
High-Quality Audio - 48kHz sampling, with 24 bit conversion and 32 bit internal processing.
Low-Noise Signal Path - Features extremely low noise operation with a signal to noise of >105dB

Input Impedance: >= 1MΩ
Output Impedance: 100Ω
Frequency Response (-3dB): 10Hz – 23.4kHz
Total Harmonic Distortion: 0.22%
Dynamic Range: 105.5 dBA
Input Headroom (no pad): +0.5 dBu
Input Headroom (6dB pad): +5.7 dBu
Input Headroom (12dB pad): +10.8 dBu
Output Headroom: +16.2dBu
Power Input Connector: 2.1mm Barrel Connector
Power Input Voltage: 9V DC (center negative)
Required Current: 300mA
Height (enclosure only): 1.75”
Height (including controls): 2.625”
Length: 5.7”
Width: 3.75”
Weight: 1.5lbs

View details