SeriesBoss BR

What connection possibilities (analog, digital, MIDI, etc.) does it offer? - Analog: jack/xlr/rca inputs, rca and headphone output - Digital: no input, optical output - MIDI: only one out - USB 2 - What kind of memory does it use (ZIP, MiniDisc, HDD,...)? CD-R/RW (an important detail is that it only works with the PSU, which means that if you are using it with batteries, you won't be able to burn CDs); Compact Flash type I (from 32 mb up to 1 Gb); (if the device's firmware is updated to version 2.12!!!!) At what sample rate (bits/kHz) does it work? 24 bits/44.1 kHz What syncing options does it support? midi (MMC) How many tracks can it record/play back simultaneously? ... Simultaneous recording: 2 tracks Simultaneous playback: 8 tracks Every track has 8 virtual tracks, for a total of 64 tracks, but you can only play back 8 simultaneously, the subtlety of this "virtual" aspect is that you can bounce maximum 8 tracks onto a single stereo track. USE Is it easy to make settings? Yes and no, the console side of it is reassuring, but you really need to dive into the users manual to make the best of it. However, it has nothing to do with a computer, I managed to create a masterpiece in only one hour (but the world is still not ready to listen to it...). Is the user's manual clear and comprehensive? ... 232 pages for your entire satisfaction! Is it easy to access the main functions? Generally speaking, yes, the manual includes an index to go to the essentials. SOUND For the time being, I have only made direct recordings (guitar, amp, vocals): It sounds great! Concerning the COSM simulations: I haven't used them to this day, so I can't say much about them. The reproduction is excellent, if the original recording is good, obviously. OVERALL OPINION I've had it for a week. I bought it secondhand and if you plan to do the same, ask the seller if he or she updated it, otherwise it's a real pain with the compact flash cards and if you don't have the cards, you can forget about recording anything, unless you use CDs, but then again, you have to plug it to the mains. Go read in the forums about the cards. I used a tutorial to update mine from a CD. You can still find compatible cards available at ,,,,,,, in Germany. For the price and the humble use I give it, YES I'd recommend it.

The Boss Micro BR-80 has 3 simple modes to it, a multi track recorder, eBand and live recording functions. It will record directly to your memory card that can only hold up to 32 GB which for some artist may not be enough for what they need. The library of built in sounds for backing instrumentals are pretty good for the money you pay for this device. There is also a built in condenser microphone that will allow you to capture ok quality audio no matter where you are. I would not rely on this microphone though, but it can be great if you just want to record something quality if you are out and about and happen to have your BR-80 with you. You can play back up to 8 tracks simultaneously, in this small unit you will have all of the major functions that you need to have a small set up. All of the sounds and even the drums are pretty decent with this unit. You can even edit the drums on the BR-80. The downfall to me on this unit is that the output volume is not very good. Even when using with headphones, I have a lot of great pears of headphones and no matter which ones that I use with the BR-80 the audio is not very loud and if you turn it all the way up; it affects the quality big time. I am not sure what the issue is but maybe that is what you get for the price of a simple recorder. Though I do not recommend getting this if you are looking for it to be your main recording source, but I do recommend getting it for a back up or if you are a record on the go type of musician who may be out and about and wants to record something on the fly. In that case you will have a decent studio on you at all times.

The BR1600-CD is the BOSS flagship multi-track digital console recorder. The "CD" designation on the end of the part number indicates that there is a CD burner on-board the console so that when you're done mixing and mastering the songs, you can burn them to the CD drive and have a professional-sounding CD for way less than all of the equivalent studio time would have cost. The BR1600-CD has eight dual-purpose inputs that can accept 1/4" or XLR, and the XLR can provide phantom power to all eight ports. All eight channels can be recorded simultaneously which makes it incredibly flexible for recording stereo guitars, one or two at a time, or as you'll read below, a complete drum set. One of the great features of the BR is the ability to record tracks then export them to WAV format so they can be imported into another program such as SONAR or Pro Tools. The internal 40 GB hard drive is capable of storing a full album's worth of songs with multiple takes per track. UTILIZATION I bought this recorder before computer-based recording really took off and became consumer-affordable. I liked the fact that there were multiple tracks, a built-in CD recorder, and built-in processing and mastering effects. This is an all-in-one solution that is supposed to allow you to record, mix, master, and burn all your music onto a CD. The real sticking point with this unit is the interface and controls--tasks that should be relatively simple require scrolling through several menus and REALLY knowing this system inside and out. The included tutorial DVD is good, but not great. Don't get me wrong, this is a great unit and WILL allow you to produce professional-quality CDs. The problem is that the industry model changed and the fact that you can purchase hardware and software for your computer for equal or less than the price of the BR-1600CD makes it hard to justify unless you don't have a computer. The upgrade to version 2.0 software was easy to perform but didn't really make a noticeable difference. I've since moved to computer DAW recording but still use my BR units for scratch tracks and ideas. One point to emphasize is that when my band needed to record drum tracks, no one had an interface that would accommodate mic'ing up a full drum set. The BR-1600CD was the perfect solution. With eight XLR inputs we were able to mic up the entire drum kit, record the drum tracks, and export the files in .WAV format so that we could then import them into Pro Tools and save a ton of money and studio time, and got great-sounding drum tracks. SOUNDS The BOSS BR-1600-CD has the BOSS GT-6 guitar processor engine on-board plus a vocal toolkit. Considering when the BR-16000-CD was launched this was something relatively unheard of. Having the basic functionality of the GT-6 floor processor at your fingertips to record both guitar and bass, plus an additional on-board vocal toolkit and mastering tools make the BR-1600-CD a force to be reckoned with. Understand, these are not "light" versions or stripped-down versions of the GT-6 and vocal toolkit, these are the full suites of effects and mastering tools. All of the sounds in the BR are top-notch and intended to allow you to produce professional-grade recordings, all of which can be mixed down locally and burned directly to CD. OVERALL OPINION If you're not ready to take the leap into computer-based recording, this is the top of the consumer-grade products. You could obviously purchase more expensive Roland or other units, but for the money, this is the recording console to have. Once you go through the instructional DVD a couple of times and master the navigation of the controls the BR-1600-CD can be used to record, mix, master, and produce a professional-quality CD recording, worthy of any home or car stereo. If you don't have your own studio, or can't afford studio time but want to get your music out to the world, this is the unit for you.

You should choose your digital recorder wisely because now it seems like the market is just getting over populated with them. The price of this one was a little more than I was ready to pay but after reading some reviews on it and messing around with it , I knew that I had to go and get my own. It did take me almost a year before I could get my own though and since I have got it I use it almost every single day with a question. But not that the price was really that high, I just didn’t know that these type of digital recorders where going for that much so it was a little of a shock to me. Maybe because its just a good one from Boss and most of the other ones I looked at where very cheap. I am happy with my purchase. Buy it. UTILIZATION The manual was definitely needed and I needed it for a while. Not that I couldn’t figure everything out on my own I just didn’t want to because I was too excited and didn’t want to wait to figure it all out. The manual was easy to use and navigate through, it was very clear and concise. SOUNDS Sounds are a really good quality and it was exactly what I was looking for. OVERALL OPINION You should choose your digital recorder wisely because now it seems like the market is just getting over populated with them. The price of this one was a little more than I was ready to pay but after reading some reviews on it and messing around with it , I knew that I had to go and get my own. It did take me almost a year before I could get my own though and since I have got it I use it almost every single day with a question. But not that the price was really that high, I just didn’t know that these type of digital recorders where going for that much so it was a little of a shock to me. Maybe because its just a good one from Boss and most of the other ones I looked at where very cheap. I am happy with my purchase. Buy it.

(Originally written by Xavuplex/translated from Audiofanzine FR) I've been using it for a few months. I like the portable concept, the look, the sound, the virtual tracks and the bounce mode (that allows you to merge a virtually infinite number of tracks, it's fabulous). Cons: Battery operation time, integrated mic (useless because of its lousy quality). I didn't try other models, this one seduced me for its price, looks and features. It's exactly what I needed. Excellent value for money. You'll be able make good-quality demos pretty fast. The effects provided are very good and I get decent vocals with a small Sony stereo mic. Yes I would buy it again. I take it everywhere with me to make demos or record ideas directly as MP3 files (very convenient).

I'm singer/songwriter and I use this unit to work out arrangements and ideas which I then burn .wave files to take to a pro studio. I then overdub to the recorded tracks. Purchased it at a Guitar Center about 6 yrs ago for about $1K. I wanted a recorder that was user friendly with good sound quality. The sound quality for my purposes is adequate as I don't usually mix or master on the unit, but finish the process in a studio. After about 5 yrs of use, my cd/rw burner went out and upon calling the Roland Help Ctr. I'm told that there is no replacement part !! There are files I've been working on on the hard drive which I cannot export via cd !@#$!! Now the unit is worthless after spending about $1K investment which I thought should last longer. ROLAND US sucks !! Roland product buyers should have the support they need ( i.e. replacement parts ) to be able to use their products for many years to come. DO NOT BUY BR1180-CD !!!!! unless u don't mind scrapping it for lack of parts !!! This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

This compact 8-track digital recorder (about 10x7x1) comes in a gray finish. I bought it about three years ago. It was my first taste of home recording, so I was looking for something comprehensive but still user friendly. The unit includes a drum machine with many preset beats and the freedom to create your own. I only used it for my own personal entertainment, mostly recording guitar and vocals on it. I bought this item at Guitar Center for $350. <a href="https://www.guitarcenter.com/Boss-BR-600-Digital-Re">https://www.guitarcenter.com/Boss-BR-600-Digital-Re</a> There are tons of big and little things to like about this unit. First of all, being a guitar player who doesn't play/own a full drum set, the drum machine comes in very handy. You can use their preset songs or create your own. It is even handy just to make it play quarter notes to act as a metronome when recording. Another thing I loved was the fact that there is a microphone built in. Sure, they aren't the highest quality, but being a teenager, I spent all my money on this and couldn't afford to buy a mic/connecting cable, So I was glad that it was ready to record right out of the box. To be honest, I haven't really taken full advantage of the many things this unit has to offer. It has pitch correction, loops, a tuner, and tons of mastering abilities. Also, the amount of guitar effects is amazing. I believe there are about 150. And if you don't find the exact one you are looking for, you can modify the preset ones by changing the delay or eq or preamp. One of the things I don't like about this unit is the fact that the screen is so small. I wish it were a bigger screen so it would be easier to see. Also, I wish the battery life was better so that it didn't always have to be plugged into the wall. This unit has held up quite nicely over the few years I've had it. To be honest, it has never really left my basement so it hasn't been dropped or taken on the road, but it looks and feels like a very sturdy product. Overall, this was a great choice for my first digital recorder. It was easy to use, and even if I didn't know how to do something, the manual it came with was extremely helpful and easy to use. It will not give you completely professional sounding results, but it will get you extremely close for a fraction of the price. I was very happy that I bought this product. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

At 48, I've been playing guitar and writing songs for about 36 years "in the closet". Three years ago I decided to "come out". I hooked up with a couple local songwriters groups and have since "played out", joined ASCAP, and begun to build a catalog with the Library of Congress. I write "arty" singer/songwriter tunes and enjoy the same from other artist. Recording is my fondest pleasure. The BR-864 is the answer to my dreams. It's easy to use and my first CD was received favorably by the muscians I admire. Good job Boss/Roland! I researched several units before deciding on the 864. It has everything I need to make good recordings. I bought it from Musicians Friend for $495.00. It's down to $395.00 now, but, that didn't cheapen our love affair. Simplicity and potential. I could work with this unit for months to come and still not utilize the many capable variations. I had a problem achieving a desired function, early on. I called Boss. The tech worked very hard with me to remedy the problem. Yes, it was my fault! I've had no further problems since. I'm still amazed at the multitude of effects and options. I'm convinced that it's limitless. I sometimes get depressed when I think that someday, in the distant future, it may quit working and I'll have to seach for a new "mate". The 864 only has one XLR mic input. I wish it had one more. I can work with it, but sometimes I'd like to have one more. Just never satisfied, are we? The BR-864 is a pretty tough unit. Mine stays in the bedroom studio. I keep it on a piece of foam cut-out to protect it from vibrations and movement. I also keep it covered when not in use. It's my baby. I've had no problems with buttons, knobs, ins/outs, or flaky "guts", but then, she's pretty spoiled. Very user friendly. When I feel the "mojo" and I know I'm going to record, for me, it's like going on a date. Not because the unit is intimidating, but, because I know I won't come out for hours, and when I do I'll have a warm glow about me. Weird, huh? This is a fine unit and capable of so much. I would recommend it to anyone. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

Purchase this unit from Musicians Supply on line. For a quick and basic song writing tool. The unit is easy to quickly setup and record. The guitar interface is simple and the recording controls are familiar like a casette recorder. Does not have enough acoustic guitar algorithms. The included drum machine needs some more realistic sounding drums. Needs a different recording media - like CDRW. 100 mb Zip disks are too expensive and do not hold enough memory. Unit is made well to stand up to normal use. Good overall performance for a basic starter unit. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

Paid 250 on ebay. Got the unit for adding guitar recording to software synth songs. The interface may be daunting at first, but it's actually quite good. You have direct access to all of the important functions on the face of the unit. There are dedicated dials and sliders for all the important input/outputs which is excellent, no switching between two different functions. Most importantly sound quality is really good. Hook up a guitar and mic, and you'll be surprised how good it is. The canned effects are alright, but you can save up to 30 user effects that are fully customizable! Don't like that the memory cards are smart media. They're fine, but you're limited to 128Mb. I guess that's okay, since this is more of a 4 track song writing/developing type of unit, not just a straight digital recorder. oh yeah, and there's no midi in. Construction is plastic, but it's still top notch. Very good overall. Plus, it's the function that counts eh? All in all, it's a good deal, considering you can get them now at bargain prices. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com