G3 v2.

00 Firmware Update Guide

For Windows
Copyright© 2012 ZOOM Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
Ver. 2.00

● Zoom Corporation will bear no responsibility for losses or claims from third parties that result from
the use of this software. Moreover, without our permission, distributing, selling, leasing, renting,

altering and reverse engineering of this software are prohibited. Furthermore, the specifications of
this software and the contents of this document could be changed without notice in the future.

Windows® XP, Windows Vista® and Windows® 7 are trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft® Corporation.

Other product names, registered trademarks and company names are properties of their respective owners.

Note: All trademarks and registered trademarks in this document are used only for identification. There is no intention

to infringe on the copyrights of their owners.

The explanatory illustrations in this manual might differ in appearance from screens on
the actual unit.
 Contents

1. Supported operating systems........................................................................................ 3

2. Introduction.................................................................................................................... 4
3. Warnings before updating ............................................................................................. 4
3.1. Warning about custom patches being overwritten .............................................. 4
3.2. Warning about reduced maximum delay time ..................................................... 5
4. Checking the G3 firmware versions ............................................................................. 5
5. Installing the standard Windows driver on the PC .................................................... 6
6. Using Edit&Share to backup your patch data ............................................................ 7
7. Updating the firmware.................................................................................................. 8
8. Using Edit&Share to convert patch data................................................................... 13
9. New and changed functions in G3 v2.00 and later ................................................... 14

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1. Supported operating systems
Windows® XP SP3 or later (32-bit)
Windows Vista® SP1 or later (32-bit, 64-bit)
Windows®7 (32-bit, 64-bit)

Before using this application:

1）Log in to your PC using an account with administrator privileges.

2）Before launching this application, close all other running applications.

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2. Introduction
Thank you for downloading the following software to update your G3.
Zoom G3v2/G3X System v2.00 Updater
Zoom G3v2 Preset v2.00 Updater
Your G3 will gain the following functions when updated to firmware v2.00 (or later).
 The use of up to 6 effects at the same time
 An ON/OFF setting for the auto-save function
This document explains the G3 firmware updating process.

3. Warnings before updating

3.1. Warning about custom patches being overwritten
In order to use patches made on a G3 using firmware v1.12 or earlier, you must use the
Edit&Share software to convert the patch data. Back up your patches using Edit&Share
before updating your G3 with v2.00 firmware. Be aware that when you update the
firmware all the custom patches on the G3 will be overwritten and erased.

NOTE
A HINT on page 31 of the G3 Operation Manual, states, “Updating the firmware version
will not erase saved patches.” This does not apply, however, to the v2.00 firmware update,
which will erase saved patches.

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3.2. Warning about reduced maximum delay time
When a patch created in G3 Ver. 1.12 or earlier is imported into G3 Ver. 2.00 or later, a
maximum limit is applied to the time setting of delay effects. If a patch with a delay time
setting that exceeds the G3 Ver. 2.00 maximum is imported, that setting will be changed to
the new maximum value as shown below.
Effect type Time setting before import Time setting after import
Delay 2501 or higher 2500

x10 or more x 10
AnalogDly 2501 or higher 2500

x10 or more x 10
ReverseDL 1251 or higher 1250

x4 or more x4
MultiTapD 2501 or higher 2500

x10 or more x 10
StereoDly *TimeL/TimeR
1000
1001 or higher
x4 or more x4
Dly+Rev *DlyTime
1500
1501 or higher
x6 or more x6

4. Checking the G3 firmware versions

Follow the procedures on page 21 of the G3 Operation Manual to check the firmware
versions being used by your G3. If the PRESET and SYSTEM versions are already v2.00
or later, you do not need to update the firmware with this application. If they are earlier
than v2.00, follow the procedures below to update the firmware.

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5. Installing the standard Windows driver on the PC
With the G3 POWER switch set to OFF, connect it with the PC using a USB cable. If Edit
& Share or the ZOOM G series ASIO Driver is not installed or a different USB port was
used when the driver was installed previously, a “Driver Software Installation” window
appears.

The standard driver will be installed after a short time.

NOTE
Installation of the ASIO Driver is not necessary for the firmware update, so if the ZOOM
G Series ASIO Driver installer launches, click Cancel to stop installation.

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6. Using Edit&Share to backup your patch data
The patch data format used by G3 v1.12 firmware and earlier versions is different from
that used by G3 v2.00 firmware and later, so they cannot be used as is. Use Edit&Share
ver5.0.0.0 or later to back up and convert your patches.

6.1. Connect the G3 that is using v1.12 or an earlier version to a PC, and launch
Edit&Share.

6.2. In the library, drag and drop the “User Area” under the G3 icon to under the PC icon

Drag & drop

This completes the backup of your patch data. We will convert your patch data after
updating the G3 to v2.00 (or later).

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7. Updating the firmware
In order to update a G3 to v2.00 or later, both PRESET and SYSTEM firmware must be
updated. Follow these procedures to update both firmware.

7.1. Before updating the firmware, disconnect all MIDI and audio devices connected by
USB to the PC that you are using. You should also quit all applications running on the
PC.

7.2. Set the G3 POWER switch to OFF. Then, while pressing and holding both PATCH
SELECT keys (▼ and ▲), connect the G3 with the PC using a USB cable. This
prepares the G3 to receive a firmware update. The G3 displays the following message,
showing that it is ready for a firmware update.

CAUTION
If Edit & Share is launched when the G3 is connected to the PC, the firmware
update will not occur correctly, so quit Edit & Share if it is launched.

CAUTION
The standard driver is necessary for the firmware update. Follow the Wizard to
complete its installation. (See “Installing the standard Windows driver on the PC”
on page 6.)

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7.3. Update the PRESET firmware first. Double-click the “Zoom G3v2 Preset v2.00
Updater.exe” included in the download to launch the firmware updater application.

After launching, a window that looks like this appears.

7.4. Confirm that “ZOOM G3 Series” appears in both the MIDI IN and MIDI OUT fields. If it
does not, click the fields and select “ZOOM G3 Series” from the lists of MIDI devices.

NOTE
If using Windows XP, “USB Audio Device” should appear in the MIDI IN and MIDI OUT
fields instead of “ZOOM G3 Series”.

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7.5. Click the Execute button to start the firmware update.
The progress of the firmware update appears as a bar like this.

In addition, the G3 display appears like this.

Do not disconnect the USB cable during the firmware update!

7.6. When the firmware update completes, a message like this appears.

Click Exit to quit the firmware updater application.

Disconnect the USB cable when “Complete!” appears on the G3 display like this.

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7.7. Next, update the SYSTEM firmware.
With the G3 POWER switch still OFF, while pressing and holding both PATCH
SELECT keys (▼ and ▲), connect the G3 with the PC using a USB cable. This
prepares the G3 to receive a firmware update.

7.8. Double-click the “Zoom G3v2 System v2.00 Updater.exe” included in the download to
launch the firmware updater application.

After launching, a window that looks like this appears.

7.9. Confirm that “ZOOM G3 Series” appears in both the MIDI IN and MIDI OUT fields. If it
does not, click the fields and select “ZOOM G3 Series” from the lists of MIDI devices.

NOTE
If using Windows XP, “USB Audio Device” should appear in the MIDI IN and MIDI OUT
fields instead of “ZOOM G3 Series”.

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7.10. Click the Execute button to start the firmware update.
The progress of the firmware update appears as a bar like this.

In addition, the G3 display appears like this.

Do not disconnect the USB cable during the firmware update!

7.11. When the firmware update completes, a message like this appears.

Click Exit to quit the firmware updater application.

Disconnect the USB cable when “Complete!” appears on the G3 display like this.

7.12. Finally, use the All Initialize function to complete the G3 firmware update. While
pressing the STORE key, set the POWER switch to ON. Then follow the instructions
on screen to execute the All Initialize function.

This completes the firmware update.

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8. Using Edit&Share to convert patch data
Connect the G3 using v2.00 firmware (or a later version) to the PC and launch Edit&Share.

Drag and drop the patch group backed up in the library (“[G3]User Area001” in this case) to
the G3v2/G3X User Area.

Drag & drop

A message asks, “Are you sure to replace the User Area?” Click Replace.

This completes conversion of the patch data. Now, patches saved with G3 v1.12 and earlier
versions can be used by G3 v2.00 and later versions.
Only the first three effects are used by the converted patches, but G3 v2.00 and later
versions allow the use of up to six effects simultaneously, so “Select effect type” appears for
the three empty effects.

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9. New and changed functions in G3 v2.00 and later

G3 v2.00 and later versions have the following new and changed functions. Download the
G3/G3X Operation Manual from the ZOOM website (http://www.zoom.co.jp/) and refer to
the pages noted in parentheses below for details about how to use them.

1. The use of six effects simultaneously and a scroll function to access all six effects
(→ P11 and P12 HINT)
The PATCH SELECT keys now function as SCROLL keys.

2. AUTO SAVE setting (→ P24)

The GLOBAL parameters now include an option to turn AUTO SAVE ON and OFF.

3. New amp models (→ P45)

The following amp models have been added.
 DELUXE-R
 VX JMI
 CAR DRIVE
 TONE CITY
 MS1959
 BGN DRIVE
 ALIEN
 REVO-1

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