The Empress Effects ZOIA 10K is a limited special edition of the ZOIA, a modular multi-effects pedal for synthesizers and guitars. Empress describes the ZOIA as more than a pedal: it is an entire modular effects environment, letting you create custom sounds from effects and other modules on a grid. The 10K edition marks the company's milestone of 10,000 ZOIA units sold, and it comes in a beige finish with a bright blue OLED display, limited to 500 units worldwide1.
gearnews.com reported the ZOIA 10K's availability in December 2024, alongside the free ZOIA 5.0 firmware update, and noted that the concept and technology of the modular effects unit are identical to the regular version2. In other words, the 10K is a colourway and a milestone celebration, not a different circuit.
The 10,000-unit milestone and the 500-unit run
Empress explains the occasion on its product page:
"The ZOIA 10k is a celebration of our milestone of 10,000 ZOIA units sold, marking the occasion with a special limited edition."1
The exclusive colourway is available only in 500 units worldwide1. Demand ran well past that: Empress states it sold out of the non-Scratch and Dent units in a record-breaking 2 days3.
The ZOIA 10K is a limited edition that has sold out. Empress also offered a Scratch and Dent version, which is likewise listed as sold out on the company's product page3.
What it is and how it differs from the standard ZOIA
The ZOIA itself is a modular effects pedal, a multi-effects stompbox where you build your own effects chains and instruments from modules rather than choosing fixed presets. gearnews.com, covering the 10K's release, described it as Empress Effects' modular multi-effects unit for synthesizers and guitars2. For a player, that means one box that can be a delay, a synth, a sequencer-driven effects rig, or something else entirely, depending on how the patch is built. For more on the category, see Multi-effects Pedals.
What the 10K edition changes is the look. gearnews.com reported that the Special Edition comes in beige with a bright blue OLED display, while the concept and technology of the modular effects unit are identical to the regular version2.
Power and connections
The ZOIA 10K draws 300mA at 9V DC center negative through a 2.1mm barrel connector1. That is a substantial current draw for a single pedal, so a dedicated output on a pedalboard power supply rated for at least 300mA is the practical choice.
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Power input voltage | 9V DC (center negative)1 |
| Required current | 300mA1 |
| Power connector | 2.1mm barrel connector1 |
| Input impedance | >= 1MΩ1 |
| Output impedance | 100Ω1 |
| Dimensions | Length 5.7", width 3.75"1 |
| Weight | 1.5 lbs1 |
For control, the pedal's 1/4-inch Control Port accepts MIDI, an expression pedal, control voltage, and external switch inputs1. There are also 1/8-inch MIDI I/O ports that accept 1/8-inch-to-MIDI adapters, which are included1. If you are building a MIDI rig around it, see Midi Pedals and Expression Pedals.
Audio specifications
Empress publishes a full set of audio measurements for the ZOIA 10K on its product page1:
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Converters | 24-bit, 48kHz with 32-bit internal processing1 |
| Dynamic range | 105.5 dBA1 |
| Frequency response (-3dB) | 10Hz to 23.4kHz1 |
| Output headroom | +16.2dBu1 |
| Input headroom (no pad) | +0.5 dBu1 |
| Total harmonic distortion | 0.22%1 |
A few of these matter in practice. The +16.2dBu of output headroom is enough to feed line-level gear like audio interfaces or mixers without clipping. The +0.5 dBu input headroom with no pad is modest, which is worth knowing if you run hot instrument-level or line-level sources into it. The 10Hz to 23.4kHz frequency response covers the full audible range, consistent with its use with synthesizers as well as guitars1.
Patches and memory
The ZOIA 10K stores up to 64 patches in its onboard memory1. Because the ZOIA is a modular environment, each patch can be a completely different setup, from a single effect to a full multi-effects chain or a synth voice, so the 64-patch limit is the number of distinct configurations you can keep loaded at once.
The Scratch and Dent version
Alongside the standard 10K, Empress offered a Scratch and Dent ZOIA 10K. These are units with small cosmetic flaws, such as a smudge on the screenprint, scratches, or possibly a powdercoating defect. Empress states that Scratch and Dent pedals are functionally working perfectly3. The Scratch and Dent ZOIA 10K is listed as sold out on the company's product page3.
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Questions
How many ZOIA 10K pedals were made?
Empress Effects limited the ZOIA 10K to 500 units worldwide. The pedal marked the company's milestone of 10,000 ZOIA units sold, and the special colourway was available only in that run of 500. The non-Scratch and Dent units sold out in two days, and the Scratch and Dent version is also listed as sold out on Empress's own product page.
What is different about the ZOIA 10K compared to the standard ZOIA?
The concept and technology of the modular effects unit are identical to the regular version, according to gearnews.com's report. What sets the 10K apart is the finish: it comes in beige with a bright blue OLED display, a colourway limited to 500 units. Functionally, it is the same modular multi-effects environment as the standard ZOIA.
How many patches can the ZOIA 10K store?
The ZOIA 10K stores up to 64 patches in its onboard memory, according to Empress Effects' product page. Patches are the pedal's saved configurations, and since the ZOIA is a modular environment, each one can hold a completely different custom effects setup.
What power supply does the ZOIA 10K need?
The ZOIA 10K runs on 9V DC center negative through a 2.1mm barrel connector and requires 300mA. That current draw is high enough that a battery or a low-output daisy-chain output is not a practical option, so plan for a dedicated supply output rated for at least 300mA.
Can I use an expression pedal with the ZOIA 10K?
Yes. The pedal's 1/4-inch Control Port accepts MIDI, an expression pedal, control voltage, and external switch inputs, according to Empress Effects. There are also 1/8-inch MIDI I/O ports that accept 1/8-inch-to-MIDI adapters, which are included with the pedal.
What is a Scratch and Dent ZOIA 10K?
A Scratch and Dent ZOIA 10K is a unit with small cosmetic flaws, such as a smudge on the screenprint, scratches, or possibly a powdercoating defect. Empress Effects states that Scratch and Dent pedals are functionally working perfectly. The Scratch and Dent ZOIA 10K is listed as sold out on the company's product page.
Sources (3)
- ZOIA 10K, Empress Effects Inc.
- Empress Effects ZOIA 10K: Special Limited Edition and New Firmware 5.0, gearnews.com, 2024-12-10
- S&D ZOIA 10K, Empress Effects Inc.
