September 3, 2014

New Product: BOSS RC-1 Loop Station

Jim Bybee [Roland US] Product News boss, guitar, Loop Station, Looper, pedal, simple, Stompbox 0 Comments

Simple and Fun

BOSS RC-1 Loop Station pedal.

Since 2001, BOSS has led the looping universe with a continuous string of innovative, trendsetting Loop Station products. Currently, five different BOSS loopers serve the needs of all types of musicians, from guitarists and other instrumentalists to traditional vocalists and cutting-edge beatboxers. While the more advanced Loop Stations include an enormous array of creative features to choose from, some musicians like to keep things straightforward and simple. If that sounds like you, the new RC-1 Loop Station is your ideal choice, offering streamlined operation that makes it easier than ever to add looping to your rig. More

July 15, 2014

New BOSS Waza Craft Pedals: BD-2W, SD-1W, and DM-2W

Jim Bybee [Roland US] Product News analog, boss, custom, Delay, distortion, guitar, OverDrive, Stompbox, Waza Craft 1 Comment

Special Edition Stomps with Customized Sound

It’s time to clear some space on your pedalboard—the new BOSS Waza Craft pedals have just been announced! Featuring refined circuit designs and all-analog components, the Waza Craft line provides guitarists the ultimate BOSS tone experience. The debut of this special edition series includes the BD-2W Blues Driver, SD-1W Super Overdrive, and DM-2W Delay. All three pedals deliver the famous sound signatures of the past and present BOSS pedals they’re based on, plus switchable modes for customized tones sought after by serious players. More

May 7, 2014

Video: MDP for the Modern Guitarist

OV Valle [Roland US] Artists, Tips & Tricks Adaptive Distortion, boss, DA-2, distortion, DS-1X, guitar, MO-2, Multi Overtone, OD-1X, OverDrive, Pete Thorn, Stompbox, TE-2, Tera Echo 1 Comment

Pete Thorn’s Demo of the OD-1X OverDrive & DS-1X Distortion Effects Pedals

BOSS OD-1X OverDrive and DS-1X Distortion

Guitar nerd Pete Thorn, delivers a detailed demo of the BOSS OD-1X Overdrive and DS-1X Distortion effects pedals. He gives a play-by-play explanation of the pedals with low-gain, single-coil sounds, high-gain sounds and humbucker. He also demonstrates how the technology in these pedals responds to his playing and what it means to the modern guitarist. More

March 15, 2014

New BOSS VE-2 Vocal Harmonist

Jim Bybee [Roland US] Product News boss, Effect Pedals, guitar, Singing, Stompbox, vocals 5 Comments

Vocal Stompbox with Effects and Guitar-Driven Harmonies

VE-2 Vocal Harmonist

If you’re a singing guitarist or a solo vocalist, the new VE-2 Vocal Harmonist makes it easy to achieve polished vocal sounds with rich harmonies everywhere you perform. Compact and affordable, the VE-2 features automatic harmonies that can be controlled by a guitar input and/or manual settings, plus effects, automatic pitch correction, and more. The VE-2 also has USB connectivity for recording processed vocal sounds in computer software, great for both song production applications and capturing studio-quality sounds for YouTube videos. More

March 14, 2014

New BOSS GP-10 Guitar Processor

Jim Bybee [Roland US] Product News boss, effects, guitar, Synth 32 Comments

Instrument Modeling, Altered Tunings, Multi-FX, and Beyond

GP-10 Guitar Processor

Featuring a powerful instrument modeling engine and diverse multi-effects, the new GP-10 Guitar Processor puts an incredible sonic spectrum under your fingers. Driven by BOSS’ acclaimed COSM technology, the GP-10 gives you instant access to guitar, bass, and synth models, tuning changes, and world-class amps and effects, all in one convenient pedal. In addition to providing unparalleled versatility for stage playing, the GP-10’s unique multi-channel audio capabilities and guitar-to-MIDI conversion open new creative opportunities for music production in the studio. More

March 12, 2014

BOSS GT-100 Version 2.0 Update

Jim Bybee [Roland US] Product News boss, COSM, GT-100, guitar, multi-effects 125 Comments

New Features Added to the Flagship COSM Amp Effects Processor

GT-100 Version 2.0 is here! BOSS’ top-of-the-line guitar floor processor gets a big performance upgrade, adding even more great features for stage and studio playing. Available as a free download for all GT-100 owners, Version 2.0 makes the flagship multi-effects more powerful than ever before, with new amps and effects, enhanced USB audio capabilities, guitar-to-MIDI conversion, BOSS TONE STUDIO support, and more.

Download BOSS GT-100 Version 2.0

January 16, 2014

New BOSS ME-80 Guitar Multiple Effects

Jim Bybee [Roland US] Product News boss, effects, guitar, multi-effects 5 Comments

Great Tone Made Easy

BOSS ME-80 Guitar Multiple Effects

Combining a diverse selection of BOSS amps and effects with a unique knob-based interface, the new ME-80 delivers the equivalent of a huge pedalboard of stomps in one travel-ready unit. Hands-on operation makes it a breeze to dial up great sounds instantly, while eight multifunction footswitches and other enhancements provide even more flexibility and real-time control options. Mobile, battery powered, and packing more incredible tones than ever before, the ME-80 is the ultimate compact multi-effects unit for gigging players. More

August 8, 2013

How to Sing Like the Pros

Corey Fournier [Roland US] Tips & Tricks boss, Guitar Center, Judith Hill, Romeo Johnson, VE-5, Vocal Coach, vocals, VT-12 0 Comments

A Free Webinar for Singers & Vocal Coaches

Learn how to sing with Judith Hill and Romeo Johnson – Tune in to the Live Webinar

Singers, voice coaches, choir directors — tune-in to your computer, tablet or smartphone on Tuesday, Aug 13 at 3:00 PM PDT for a free online vocal webinar with celebrity voice coach Romeo Johnson and singer/songwriter Judith Hill. If you’re a singer or know one, make sure to take advantage of this incredible opportunity to learn how these artists approach their craft and what they recommend for singing success. They’ll even perform together and show how Roland and BOSS play a role in their current work. Plus, feel free to ask them questions in real time! More

April 25, 2013

BOSS Your Tone: Overdrive and Distortion

Gary Lenaire [Roland US] Tips & Tricks boss, distortion, Effects Pedals, guitar, OverDrive, Stompbox 11 Comments

Overdrive and Distortion: What’s the Difference?

What’s the difference between overdrive and distortion? Learn the difference and how to get great tone with either stompbox.

Get Great Tone With OverDrive and Distortion

As guitar players, what are we all after? What do we struggle to describe, work to attain, but always know when we hear it? And what is all that gear out there for? The answer to all three of these questions is the same: great tone. With so much equipment available today to help in creating tone, how do we go about making it do what we want? Let’s take a look at some simple and effective ways to get killer tone with overdrive and distortion. More

April 15, 2013

Get Great Tone With BOSS Distortion

Gary Lenaire [Roland US] Tips & Tricks boss, distortion, Effects Pedals, guitar, Stompbox 5 Comments

BOSS Distortion – The Orange Ones

BOSS Distortion

A distortion pedal usually goes beyond the amount of gain and harmonic crunching typical of an overdrive. They tend to get more distorted, are usually (but not always) louder than typical overdrives, and often have multiple gain stages for abnormal amounts of sustain. The BOSS MT-2, probably the best selling distortion pedal ever, is a good example of a distortion pedal with those features. Since distortion pedals tend to be louder and have more inherent distortion than overdrives, it is a little trickier to use them in conjunction with the amp’s own distortion sound. It might be what you want, especially if you’re after a nu-metal, super heavy, or very grungy sound. If you use your pedal this way, you are distorting distortion. This can get pretty ugly, but sometimes it’s just the thing. Set your pedal similarly to using an overdrive to use it this way: For example, set the BOSS DS-1 level up, the distortion somewhat down, and the tone for neutral.

What’s the difference between Overdrive and Distortion? Find out! More