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Audiofanzine FR
Published on 11/06/08 at 02:45
(Originally written by pierrelaforge/translated from Audiofanzine FR)
Features: Already described on this page...
Generally speaking I would say the Boss ME50 offers the following advantages:
- direct access to the parameters (no complicated menus, etc.)
- Comprehensive connections: stereo output on TS phone jack, line output with a tiny integrated preamp, line input to feed your favorite CDs...
- Very good tuner (much better than in most multieffects...)
I do miss a USB port to connect the unit to a PC. It's a must have in the DAW era.
***TIP***
You can plug a standard amp footswitch into the ME50 footswitch connector to control the mic simulation and the compressor (it worked with my Laney dual-channel footswitch). Useful...
UTILIZATION
Very easy to use, beginners shouldn't have any problem.
What about the user's manual? I haven't opened it except to set the expression pedal (see paragraph below)!!
Note: you'll have to calibrate your expression pedal if it suddenly turns on and off when you try to control the volume with your foot (see manual: push a button while you turn off the unit, blah blah blah). After that, set the switch value to "2" ("1": the switch is too responsive; "6": you'll have to depress like a madman).
SOUND QUALITY
Distortion effects: 2 or 3 are really nice (like a RAT or Tube Screamer) but most of them don't sound very good especially with a high gain! The metal distortions and the crunch sounds sound quite artificial.
Reverb effects: the hall verb is great, but the other two settings are unusable (cathedral, etc.)
Delay effects: nothing to say...
Wah-wah effect: quite good...
Compressor: ok. But you cannot set it correctly with only two parameters... Hard settings can easily generate feedback so I don't use the compressor.
OVERALL OPINION
I used it 2-3 years and just sold it a few days ago. The unit is alright and, of course, the sound also depends on the amp you're using. It will produce powerful sounds with a decent tube amp. It sounds better with high gain sounds than with clean or crunch sounds.
I recommend you to use it in manual mode in order to control the effects with a footswitch...Don't use the sound bank mode where effects are assigned to A1, A2, etc. Why? Because in bank mode you'll get a short silence every time you switch... You won't have that problem in manual mode.
Features: Already described on this page...
Generally speaking I would say the Boss ME50 offers the following advantages:
- direct access to the parameters (no complicated menus, etc.)
- Comprehensive connections: stereo output on TS phone jack, line output with a tiny integrated preamp, line input to feed your favorite CDs...
- Very good tuner (much better than in most multieffects...)
I do miss a USB port to connect the unit to a PC. It's a must have in the DAW era.
***TIP***
You can plug a standard amp footswitch into the ME50 footswitch connector to control the mic simulation and the compressor (it worked with my Laney dual-channel footswitch). Useful...
UTILIZATION
Very easy to use, beginners shouldn't have any problem.
What about the user's manual? I haven't opened it except to set the expression pedal (see paragraph below)!!
Note: you'll have to calibrate your expression pedal if it suddenly turns on and off when you try to control the volume with your foot (see manual: push a button while you turn off the unit, blah blah blah). After that, set the switch value to "2" ("1": the switch is too responsive; "6": you'll have to depress like a madman).
SOUND QUALITY
Distortion effects: 2 or 3 are really nice (like a RAT or Tube Screamer) but most of them don't sound very good especially with a high gain! The metal distortions and the crunch sounds sound quite artificial.
Reverb effects: the hall verb is great, but the other two settings are unusable (cathedral, etc.)
Delay effects: nothing to say...
Wah-wah effect: quite good...
Compressor: ok. But you cannot set it correctly with only two parameters... Hard settings can easily generate feedback so I don't use the compressor.
OVERALL OPINION
I used it 2-3 years and just sold it a few days ago. The unit is alright and, of course, the sound also depends on the amp you're using. It will produce powerful sounds with a decent tube amp. It sounds better with high gain sounds than with clean or crunch sounds.
I recommend you to use it in manual mode in order to control the effects with a footswitch...Don't use the sound bank mode where effects are assigned to A1, A2, etc. Why? Because in bank mode you'll get a short silence every time you switch... You won't have that problem in manual mode.