Boss Micro BR

Stratrat · #1 December 5th, 2006

Has anybody looked at/played with one of these yet? Looks like it would be a very handy recording tool, with a lot of other cool features in addition. 4-track recorder with 8 "virtual tracks" for each track, mp3 player, expandable memory, onboard COSM modeling effects and amp (play through headphones/speakers), tuner, ability to slow down mp3 tracks (for learning) without changing pitch, ability to save your tracks to mp3 and download them to your computer via USB, basic onboard editing effects, etc.

Spyfunkr · #2 December 12th, 2006

I got one for Christmas, my wife left me play with it for about 15 minutes before she insisted on wrapping it. Two nights ago, I carefully unwrapped it to play more. Its a great little unit, especially for the price. I can very much see replacing my iPod with it, after getting a bigger SD Card. Its got some multi track limitations, but what do you expect for $230 USD? I wanted it for the very few times I travel (I always take my Wolfgang), and I can see using it all the time. Its got pre-programmed songs on drums, verse, choruse, hook, outro, etc.

Im trying to find out if they support SDHC cards (up 4GB). Any clue?

-Spy

Spyfunkr · #3 December 12th, 2006

I got a response from Boss TS. They said it only supports the SD cards, up to 1GB.

-Spy

Stratrat · #4 December 12th, 2006

I went ahead and bought one (GAS strikes again!). It's a pretty impressive little unit to me. I immediately bought the 1GB SD card and Boss PSA power adapter for it - I hadn't seen any discussion about it supporting larger cards, so figured I'd play it safe. These things are so new that there's precious little information about them out there.

It has a lot of different functions and capabilities, but once you get beyond basic recording they become increasingly difficult to figure out. The manual is thick, but not well written (seems to be in "Chinglish") and not very well organized. Just figuring out how to combine the tracks and export them as an .mp3 file was an exercise in frustration itself until I finally figured it out. You can actually record more than 4 tracks onto it by using "bounce" (ping-pong) editing......lay your tracks, "bounce" them onto one track, then record more tracks over them.

It has a bunch of preset drum "arrangements", and even more pieces that you can arrange yourself (as Spyfunkr said). It has a bunch of different COSM amp models for guitar, and also several preset effects/models for vocals. You can adjust the pan and add effects on a per-track basis, and can also easily bring individual tracks forward or back in the mix. In addition to being a recorder it can be used as a headphone micro-amp, tuner, mp3 player, trainer (can slow the song down up to 80% while retaining the same pitch), etc. You can record from just about any source using the line-in - instruments, mp3 players, cassette players, basically anything that has a line-out. The on-board mic is pretty decent too - doesn't sound muddy or tinny. I've used it to record both acoustic guitar and vocals, and both sounded pretty decent, at least to me.

It wouldn't totally replace my iPod because I don't think there's a way to manage playlists, sort by artist/genre, etc. - but it'll definitely be traveling with me anywhere there's a guitar!

Spyfunkr · #5 December 13th, 2006

Wow, nice review. Id have to agree with you on all accounts. Since Ive found out it supports nothing higher than 1GB, it wont be replacing my ipod. (hopefully the Boss TS guy was wrong)

Spy

Stratrat · #6 December 16th, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spyfunkr

Wow, nice review....

Keep in mind that it's my first venture into digital recording, so I'm easily impressed. LOL! Seriously though - I just can't help but be amazed at all the capabilities of this thing stuffed into such a small package. I've toyed with recording into my computer a bit, but I'd much rather use this - and the portability will come in handy when I get to the point that I actually start jamming with other people somewhere besides in front of my computer.....it's literally not much bigger than a hand-held calculator.

Hood · #7 December 19th, 2006

I too am pretty new to recording, however I really like mine. I use it for practice with backround tracks. It can import the mp3's/waves from the SD card as a track, then record with the backing track with myself playing acoustic and electric guitars. It can export individual tracks as mp3's then download all of my tracks to my computer for more tweaking, the end result is pretty darn good. Lots of fun. The book is written in a confusing manner but you you put things together with a few hints and make this great. Sorta like a puzzle but alot more fun. This thing eats off the shelf batteries like candy!... I bought 2 sets of High Power rechargable batteries (they're made for high power devices like cameras with big LCDs that also eat batteries) They last MUCH longer.

Hood

Stratrat · #8 December 20th, 2006

I bought the power adapter because I knew I'd be futzing around with it a lot and didn't want to be going through batteries like water!

I mostly use it on the adapter, but the capability of using batteries is great when you go 'mobile'.

Hood · #9 December 20th, 2006

I must stress how much better the high powered (Long Life or something like that) rechargeable batteries really last and in the long run much cheaper. BTW, I use mine every day and really like it.

Hood

minstrelite · #10 December 21st, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stratrat

Just figuring out how to combine the tracks and export them as an .mp3 file was an exercise in frustration itself until I finally figured it out.

Same thing happened to me, only I never got so far as to figure it out. What I did instead was record directly onto mp3 (it had an option to do so at 192kbps, with mimimal quality loss) and then upload the files onto my PC, which was one of my main aims. Even burning CD's from there, the quality wasn't bad.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stratrat

The on-board mic is pretty decent too - doesn't sound muddy or tinny. I've used it to record both acoustic guitar and vocals, and both sounded pretty decent, at least to me.

Agreed. Very impressive for an on-board mic. Once I got the placement of the unit down (between singer and acoustic instrument) things were quite nice.

I've had trouble with the "Mastering" tool. Anyone figure that out? It says in the manual, "Press Edit and Utility several time; the mastering tool display will appear." The problem is, it never appears. Anyone else have the same problem?

Mastering would be nice for me to reduce ultra-highs and lows on a single recording, yet honor the dynamics (if it does what it claims it will do.)

Hood · #11 December 21st, 2006

"I've had trouble with the "Mastering" tool. Anyone figure that out? It says in the manual, "Press Edit and Utility several time; the mastering tool display will appear." The problem is, it never appears. Anyone else have the same problem?"

I can answer that... You push those two buttons at the same time (exit and utility). The same way you do to get to the tuner. The left side will cycle through bounce, mastering and normal modes each time that you press these two buttons. (Normal is when neither bounce or mastering are lit)

Hood

minstrelite · #12 December 21st, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hood

You push those two buttons at the same time (exit and utility). The same way you do to get to the tuner. The left side will cycle through bounce, mastering and normal modes each time that you press these two buttons. (Normal is when neither bounce or mastering are lit)

Wow, thanks a lot! That's the kind of thing I'd never been able to realize by only reading the manual. It never crossed my mind that they meant to press those two buttons *simultaneously.* What a concept! Anyway, yeah, it works now.

Spyfunkr · #13 December 27th, 2006

Finally got mine out of the wrapping completely

Great little tool. The only thing I could ask for in v2 is illuminated buttons. The unlit ones are hard to see in the jam space and will be harder to see on planes.

Overall, 9.5 out of 10

Spy

Stratrat · #14 December 27th, 2006

Yeah, illuminated buttons would be nice - but would eat up even more battery power.

I do use rechargeables, btw....the ONLY way to go when you've got a bunch of gadgets that digest AA batteries!

jd63238 · #15 December 30th, 2006

I just got my son a micro for xmas, and we are new to recording. He is a 14 yr old guitarist and we are trying to figure things out on this unit. He has learned to mix 3 guitar parts together just messing around, but when he does a major effort for CD presentation, will he have to use the mastering tool and change to an mp3 file to burn to a cd, or can we transfer the song as 1st recorded strraight to the pc and burn? I guess I do not understand what file format the song will be in before converting to mp3 or if we would even have to do anything. We'll continue to mess around...we did not find USB cable in packaging.....was it supposed to be there, or does it not come with unit? Thanks for any help; I have a lot to learn, but will do whatever it takes.