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MGR/Calvin(Parablue) « Boss VF-1 »
Published on 01/13/03 at 15:00Paid:$850(Australian)
Was originally looking for an effect which could convert a male voice to a female voice and was recommended this effect. Funny, when i bought it i didn't even know it was a multieffects, only felt it was the only equipment capable of the task besides the VT-1
I'm still discovering this effect and have been very pleased with it. My current setup is large, but just refering to the guitar section in my studio, this is how it goes:
Boss VF-1>Boss Mt-2>Boss PSM-5>Boss DD-5>Boss OD-2>Boss CS-3>Boss NS-2>Vox>Marshall Valvestate VS100
Spare Pedals: Digitech XP-100 Whammy Wah, Boss CE-5, Boss GE-7, Boss PH-2, Boss LS-2
With such a large library of effects, what i can say is that the VF-1, just as any multeffects racks would be has very strong delays, chorus, reverbs and is very versatile having many other functions like Amp simulators, vocoders, effects for keyboards, bass etc. It really works well as a central unit in my studio. However, what really makes it surpass other units i feel is it's individual control of every parameters in each effect. For me, i play with sound mixing programs like Sonar and Logic and thus understand the importance of these parameters, so commonly are there many pedals and multieffects out there that has parameters made so easy, it's only suitable for the novice musician. The VF-1 has such a large option of parameters to control, it's potential is very strong, giving accessibility to do many things.
It's acoustic sound is fantastic, and is especially strong in it's clean effects, i just took one day to control a clean acoustic-like sound that is fantastic in every account, controlled every parameter, from EQs, to reverbs etc, it even allowed me to control my mic distance in the amp simulator. In the end, my sound ended up rich, warm, acoustic and with the thickness and roundness. It would be hopeless creating such a sound with my other boss pedals. I'm still discovering more sound as days passed.
As usual, since the VF-1 is a multieffects RACK, it has poor, weak distortion and overdrive. I used to have a Zoom Valve DSP which was so bad i sold it off at 30% of the price. And the Yamaha FX200 wasn't good as well in distortion and overdrive. In conclusion, all multieffects RACKs aren't good in distortion and overdrive, that's why they are normally mixed with Pedals like MT-2 and OD-2. However, Multieffects RACKs normally have a sweeter, cleaner, spacious sound as compared with pedals.
The VF-1's Male to female pitch effect is hopeless, as i start singing, the pitch shifter doesn't follow with my voice pitch in time, making the "female" voice very plain. And forget it if you want to compare it with a real female voice. (And it doesn't look as good as a real female as well!!)
Best acoustic sound quality, good reverbs, chorus, delay effects. Reasonable wah effects (None can beat the Vox!!). Reasonable Pitch Shifting and Harmonizer (Still defeated by the Digitech XP-100). Distortion has a clipping sound to it.
Multipurpose functionality. This effect will potentially be the next cliche.
I like it's effects block function, where it can move effects around, but sadly haven't found a way yet to move some effects. Great amp simulators (But none can beat the real amps!), easy to control. Great EQs, allowing adjustment of Q(Bandwidth) which most other effects doesn't have that parameter. Looks awesome on the outside, with it's metallic red surface, really colours my studio up, rather than the plain ol' black and grey.
+It has MIDI controls, few effects have that!!
You can hook up bass with it, vocal mics, keyboards and about anything u could find a use to it.
On summary, i think this rack is the best rack i've seen so far, I don't like stuff like GT-5, ME-30 and Line-6 Multieffects pedals. I've tried them, and they didn't sound at all exceptional, they are more like an all-in-one kinda thing, but my choice of equipment is mostly looking at what special powerful sound each pedal or rack gives which make it good at what it does. Like "Spice" that adds up together to form a great dish. All-in-one kinda racks normally wouldn't be good in any specific sound effect except they'll easy to carry around, which made me refrain from buying the VF-1 at first. But after i've used it, i realised it is really good in it's clean effects and other functions, which forms the "cliche" in my studio. That fit's the "jigsaw puzzle" i have in my setup.
This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com
Was originally looking for an effect which could convert a male voice to a female voice and was recommended this effect. Funny, when i bought it i didn't even know it was a multieffects, only felt it was the only equipment capable of the task besides the VT-1
I'm still discovering this effect and have been very pleased with it. My current setup is large, but just refering to the guitar section in my studio, this is how it goes:
Boss VF-1>Boss Mt-2>Boss PSM-5>Boss DD-5>Boss OD-2>Boss CS-3>Boss NS-2>Vox>Marshall Valvestate VS100
Spare Pedals: Digitech XP-100 Whammy Wah, Boss CE-5, Boss GE-7, Boss PH-2, Boss LS-2
With such a large library of effects, what i can say is that the VF-1, just as any multeffects racks would be has very strong delays, chorus, reverbs and is very versatile having many other functions like Amp simulators, vocoders, effects for keyboards, bass etc. It really works well as a central unit in my studio. However, what really makes it surpass other units i feel is it's individual control of every parameters in each effect. For me, i play with sound mixing programs like Sonar and Logic and thus understand the importance of these parameters, so commonly are there many pedals and multieffects out there that has parameters made so easy, it's only suitable for the novice musician. The VF-1 has such a large option of parameters to control, it's potential is very strong, giving accessibility to do many things.
It's acoustic sound is fantastic, and is especially strong in it's clean effects, i just took one day to control a clean acoustic-like sound that is fantastic in every account, controlled every parameter, from EQs, to reverbs etc, it even allowed me to control my mic distance in the amp simulator. In the end, my sound ended up rich, warm, acoustic and with the thickness and roundness. It would be hopeless creating such a sound with my other boss pedals. I'm still discovering more sound as days passed.
As usual, since the VF-1 is a multieffects RACK, it has poor, weak distortion and overdrive. I used to have a Zoom Valve DSP which was so bad i sold it off at 30% of the price. And the Yamaha FX200 wasn't good as well in distortion and overdrive. In conclusion, all multieffects RACKs aren't good in distortion and overdrive, that's why they are normally mixed with Pedals like MT-2 and OD-2. However, Multieffects RACKs normally have a sweeter, cleaner, spacious sound as compared with pedals.
The VF-1's Male to female pitch effect is hopeless, as i start singing, the pitch shifter doesn't follow with my voice pitch in time, making the "female" voice very plain. And forget it if you want to compare it with a real female voice. (And it doesn't look as good as a real female as well!!)
Best acoustic sound quality, good reverbs, chorus, delay effects. Reasonable wah effects (None can beat the Vox!!). Reasonable Pitch Shifting and Harmonizer (Still defeated by the Digitech XP-100). Distortion has a clipping sound to it.
Multipurpose functionality. This effect will potentially be the next cliche.
I like it's effects block function, where it can move effects around, but sadly haven't found a way yet to move some effects. Great amp simulators (But none can beat the real amps!), easy to control. Great EQs, allowing adjustment of Q(Bandwidth) which most other effects doesn't have that parameter. Looks awesome on the outside, with it's metallic red surface, really colours my studio up, rather than the plain ol' black and grey.
+It has MIDI controls, few effects have that!!
You can hook up bass with it, vocal mics, keyboards and about anything u could find a use to it.
On summary, i think this rack is the best rack i've seen so far, I don't like stuff like GT-5, ME-30 and Line-6 Multieffects pedals. I've tried them, and they didn't sound at all exceptional, they are more like an all-in-one kinda thing, but my choice of equipment is mostly looking at what special powerful sound each pedal or rack gives which make it good at what it does. Like "Spice" that adds up together to form a great dish. All-in-one kinda racks normally wouldn't be good in any specific sound effect except they'll easy to carry around, which made me refrain from buying the VF-1 at first. But after i've used it, i realised it is really good in it's clean effects and other functions, which forms the "cliche" in my studio. That fit's the "jigsaw puzzle" i have in my setup.
This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com