The ZENTARA MINI-SR is a mini overdrive pedal from Behringer, described by the maker as a "Legendary Transparent Boost Overdrive in a Mini Pedal with Huge Dynamic Range"1. It sits in the territory shared by boost pedals and overdrive pedals: at low gain settings it lifts your signal without changing it, and as you turn the gain up it adds grit, up to full saturation.
What it does
Behringer positions the ZENTARA MINI OVERDRIVE as bringing "transparent boost and expressive overdrive to a compact pedal"1. The idea is one pedal covering two jobs. Dial the gain back and you have a clean boost: enough level to lift a solo above the band, or to push an amp that is sitting at the edge of breakup into overdrive. Turn the gain up and the pedal introduces more overdrive of its own, through to full saturation1.
The maker's description of the sound is about balance rather than color: "Find your balance of clarity and grit. Dial back the gain for a clean boost or turn it up to introduce more overdrive, preserving the character of your guitar and amp"1. In other words, Behringer's claim is that the pedal adds level and drive while leaving the core tone of the guitar and amplifier intact, which is what players usually mean by a transparent boost.
Because it is a mini pedal, it takes up little room on a board, which suits players who want a dedicated boost or low-gain overdrive without giving up much space1.
Videos
Grays Guitars
Kent Lindsay
Questions
Is the ZENTARA MINI-SR a boost or an overdrive?
Behringer describes it as both: a transparent boost and overdrive in one compact pedal. With the gain dialed back it works as a clean boost to lift a solo or push an amp at the edge of breakup, and with the gain turned up it introduces more overdrive, up to full saturation, while the maker says it preserves the character of your guitar and amp.
Sources (1)
- ZENTARA MINI-SR, Behringer