New Boss MS-3 multi-effects

[Al Krow]

This new boss multi-fx has just come out and looks very interesting. Retailing at £399 it's clearly aiming to go head to head with the Line 6 Pod HD500x (£370), whilst offering a much more compact design able to sit on a pedal board which the Pod was never looking to do.

[url="https://www.boss.info/us/products/ms-3/features/"]https://www.boss.inf.../ms-3/features/[/url]

Whether it is worth more than double the recently released Zoom B3n (£167) will also be interesting to discover? If it is, in terms of additional features and quality of the effect sims available, then it could be another good option for Zoom MS-60B users who just need something better / more user friendly for live performance or Zoom B3 users who are considering whether to trade-in for the newer B3n or upgrade to a mid range multi-effects such as the much acclaimed Pod.

Edited June 4, 2017 by Al Krow

[hookys6stringbass]

This looks interesting....
But I wish they'd release a new bass GT 100b type multi effects...

[Dood]

Looks very cool. A great idea! I only hope that there's the option to blend in clean bass in all of the effects to make it useable for bassists too. It'd be great to be able to use drives and distortion, but not useable if there's no option to keep our all important low end intact. Other than that, seamlessly melding on board effects with external pedals is a dream come true and the reason I bought my TC Electronics G-System (currently for sale). There's no manual online I can see for this pedal yet, so I await to find out more. The Zoom B3n is obviously a hot topic too but of course is bass orientated out of the box. I'm looking forward to seeing some reviews.

[bartelby]

[quote name='dood' timestamp='1496651401' post='3312883']
There's no manual online I can see for this pedal yet, so I await to find out more.
[/quote]

[url="https://www.boss.info/us/support/by_product/ms-3/owners_manuals/19223d67-1bd1-4e5f-aac9-207c4fc22fe9/"]https://www.boss.inf...9-207c4fc22fe9/[/url]

direct link:
Manual
[url="https://static.roland.com/assets/media/pdf/MS-3_eng02_W.pdf"]https://static.rolan...S-3_eng02_W.pdf[/url]

Parameter Guide:
https://static.roland.com/assets/media/pdf/MS-3_Parameter_Guide_eng01_W.pdf

Applications Guide:
https://static.roland.com/assets/media/pdf/MS-3_Application_Guide_eng01_W.pdf

Edited June 5, 2017 by bartelby

[visog]

Andertons peeps review including bass - clean and grunge: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8AQeY3_t9c&t=1566s

And some other reviews here too:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqxxfPTnH48
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3c8sL72b_Q
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JNy5L3yVQY&t=32s

Plus some the first couple of a series of set-up guides...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBaXLCMHt7E
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aX2WB6fUkwg&t=4s

[Dood]

[quote name='bartelby' timestamp='1496652628' post='3312897']
[url="https://www.boss.info/us/support/by_product/ms-3/owners_manuals/19223d67-1bd1-4e5f-aac9-207c4fc22fe9/"]https://www.boss.inf...9-207c4fc22fe9/[/url]

direct link:
Manual
[url="https://static.roland.com/assets/media/pdf/MS-3_eng02_W.pdf"]https://static.rolan...S-3_eng02_W.pdf[/url]

Parameter Guide:
[url="https://static.roland.com/assets/media/pdf/MS-3_Parameter_Guide_eng01_W.pdf"]https://static.rolan...ide_eng01_W.pdf[/url]

Applications Guide:
[url="https://static.roland.com/assets/media/pdf/MS-3_Application_Guide_eng01_W.pdf"]https://static.rolan...ide_eng01_W.pdf[/url]
[/quote]

Ooof! Thank you!!!! Should have gone to Specsavers.

[hookys6stringbass]

[quote name='visog' timestamp='1496663170' post='3313019']
Andertons peeps review including bass - clean and grunge: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8AQeY3_t9c&t=1566s

And some other reviews here too:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqxxfPTnH48
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3c8sL72b_Q
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JNy5L3yVQY&t=32s

Plus some the first couple of a series of set-up guides...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBaXLCMHt7E
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aX2WB6fUkwg&t=4s
[/quote]

Thanks for that...
I can see me using this with my Tech 21 VT deluxe ...

[NoirBass]

I saw this and assumed it was just a loop switcher, didn't realise it had inbuilt effects too. Hmmm, that is a lot more useful.

[Al Krow]

What caught my attention is the ability to load:

[color=#000000][font=proxima-nova, sans-serif][size=4]"six simultaneous pedal effects"[/size][/font][/color]

With my Zoom B3n I can have just one "patch" (which can be a combination of several different effects) on at any given time. I can't switch effects on and off within a patch but only swap to a completely different patch. So, for example, if I wanted delay and then later to add in low octave, I would need to have two patches one for "delay" by itself and then a separate patch for "delay+octave". So the Zoom is, in effect, a series of single pedals only one of which can be played at any one time.

Does anyone know if the Boss is the same as the Zoom in this regard, or is it providing the ability to have six different pedals coming in and out of the mix? Akin to having six dedicated single pedals any one of which can be switched on or off, as required? If so that would be a very significant enhancement in my books.

Edited June 5, 2017 by Al Krow

[bartelby]

[quote name='dood' timestamp='1496667601' post='3313063']
Ooof! Thank you!!!! Should have gone to Specsavers.
[/quote]

no worries, I'm off to there on Wednesday!

[BigRedX]

[quote name='Al Krow' timestamp='1496678387' post='3313161']
What caught my attention is the ability to load:

[color=#000000][font=proxima-nova, sans-serif]"six simultaneous pedal effects"[/font][/color]

With my Zoom B3n I can have just one "patch" (which can be a combination of several different effects) on at any given time. I can't switch effects on and off within a patch but only swap to a completely different patch. So, for example, if I wanted delay and then later to add in low octave, I would need to have two patches one for "delay" by itself and then a separate patch for "delay+octave". So the Zoom is, in effect, a series of single pedals only one of which can be played at any one time.

Does anyone know if the Boss is the same as the Zoom in this regard, or is it providing the ability to have six different pedals coming in and out of the mix? Akin to having six dedicated single pedals any one of which can be switched on or off, as required? If so that would be a very significant enhancement in my books.
[/quote]

The effectiveness (sic) of being able to turn individual effects on and off in a patch (as opposed to setting up individual patches with the relevant effects on or off) very much depends on how this is achieved. IME with the Line6 BassFex and Shortboard foot controller, the individual on/off switches are on the second tier of the foot controller, which means that it is too unreliable for use live where I am just as likely the hit the patch memory foot switch immediately below the effect on/off switch that I was aiming for.

I find it fine for rehearsal where I am trying out effect combinations, but almost totally useless for live performances.

[la bam]

I'm not sure about the new B3 but on the old B3 you can turn each PEDAL on or off on the fly. Just hold down the patch button and it'll show you what pedals make that patch and which are on by means of a red led. Just click the button under each to turn on or off as you go.


[quote name='Al Krow' timestamp='1496678387' post='3313161']
What caught my attention is the ability to load:

[color=#000000][font=proxima-nova, sans-serif][size=4]"six simultaneous pedal effects"[/size][/font][/color]

With my Zoom B3n I can have just one "patch" (which can be a combination of several different effects) on at any given time. I can't switch effects on and off within a patch but only swap to a completely different patch. So, for example, if I wanted delay and then later to add in low octave, I would need to have two patches one for "delay" by itself and then a separate patch for "delay+octave". So the Zoom is, in effect, a series of single pedals only one of which can be played at any one time.

Does anyone know if the Boss is the same as the Zoom in this regard, or is it providing the ability to have six different pedals coming in and out of the mix? Akin to having six dedicated single pedals any one of which can be switched on or off, as required? If so that would be a very significant enhancement in my books.
[/quote]

[Al Krow]

[quote name='la bam' timestamp='1496687267' post='3313236']
I'm not sure about the new B3 but on the old B3 you can turn each PEDAL on or off on the fly. Just hold down the patch button and it'll show you what pedals make that patch and which are on by means of a red led. Just click the button under each to turn on or off as you go.
[/quote]

Cheers for that! I think the same must also be possible with the B3n, but I hadn't considered that this "editing" was something that could be done easily "on the fly" mid song. I'll definitely go check this out further. The Zoom B3n just seems to get better and better! Looks like I won't need to be upgradging to the Boss after all

[MarshallBTB]

The B3n definitely does this. That's how I use mine, I have three patches that I can jump between, and switch different effects in and out within the patches. Really easy to do

This new boss pedal looks really tempting though, could create the perfect mix of multi effects and single stomps.

Edited June 5, 2017 by MarshallBTB

[0175westwood29]

have to admit super interested in this maybe as a little board that can be setup to give me a alot of the sounds of my big board bar the fuzz and more unique pedals i have.

also could add it to main set up and control it using the es8

Andy

[CameronJ]

This looks like a nice way of creating a streamlined hybrid board. Kind of an ideal best of both worlds solution. Thankfully I can't afford it

[elephantgrey]

No midi input that I can see, only midi out. Seams odd, did I miss something?

[bartelby]

[quote name='elephantgrey' timestamp='1496754185' post='3313634']
No midi input that I can see, only midi out. Seams odd, did I miss something?
[/quote]

It's a controller, why would it need midi in?

[CameronJ]

Might be nice to receive clock sync/program change data from elsewhere in a band or recording context. It wouldn't be a deal breaker for me but might be for some I guess.

[elephantgrey]

I guess you could use it as the master to send out all programme change and tempo, but would definitely like to see cc message input.
Also, not all midi enabled hardware plays nice with tempo as slave (my rc50 for instance), would be useful to send in tempo.

[bartelby]

[quote name='CameronJ' timestamp='1496756297' post='3313648']
Might be nice to receive clock sync/program change data from elsewhere in a band or recording context. It wouldn't be a deal breaker for me but might be for some I guess.
[/quote]
[quote name='elephantgrey' timestamp='1496756659' post='3313655']
I guess you could use it as the master to send out all programme change and tempo, but would definitely like to see cc message input.
Also, not all midi enabled hardware plays nice with tempo as slave (my rc50 for instance), would be useful to send in tempo.
[/quote]

Ah, yes. I can see that being useful.

[BigRedX]

[quote name='bartelby' timestamp='1496754377' post='3313637']
It's a controller, why would it need midi in?
[/quote]

Anything that offers tempo synchronised effects needs to be able to act as a slave tempo device. Then you can choose the one with the most versatile and stable tempo control (like a DAW) to act as the master clock.

[Elfrasho]

This to me is quite clever. Almost every multifx has its critics in relation to the dirt and fuzz . This embraces it. Use your favourite dirt boxes in the proper position in the chain, and let the boss do everything else. Brilliant!

Im Not up with fancy switchers etc... does this allow you to mix andatch what loop gets used where? For 3xample could you have two patches identical apart from loop1 and loop2 switched in order?

[hookys6stringbass]

[quote name='Elfrasho' timestamp='1496820114' post='3313988']
This to me is quite clever. Almost every multifx has its critics in relation to the dirt and fuzz . This embraces it. Use your favourite dirt boxes in the proper position in the chain, and let the boss do everything else. Brilliant!

Im Not up with fancy switchers etc... does this allow you to mix andatch what loop gets used where? For 3xample could you have two patches identical apart from loop1 and loop2 switched in order?
[/quote]

+1 to that...I'm very excited about this... I'd better start putting some money aside for it..

[Musicman20]

[quote name='Elfrasho' timestamp='1496820114' post='3313988']
This to me is quite clever. Almost every multifx has its critics in relation to the dirt and fuzz . This embraces it. Use your favourite dirt boxes in the proper position in the chain, and let the boss do everything else. Brilliant!

Im Not up with fancy switchers etc... does this allow you to mix andatch what loop gets used where? For 3xample could you have two patches identical apart from loop1 and loop2 switched in order?
[/quote]

Exactly.

I have an ES-8 which I'm yet to delve into but the only downside with this MS-3 is you can't change the order of the external loops without physically moving the pedals. Not a HUGE deal as there are only 3.