Boss BR8

  • Thread starter Thread starter Negotiator
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Negotiator

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I know this is on the lower end of the spectrum for Roland Digital Multi-tracks, but the unit is in my price range. I've read everything I can on the unit, called Roland Tech Service and talked to them as well. Does anyone have one of these that has played with it long enough to give me a real review of the product?
 
It can only record two tracks at once and doesnt have any XLR inputs but other than that and for only $1000 canadian which is $500 less than the Yamaha MD8 I have been lookin at it sounds like a great setup . Lots of cool features and built in effects too.
 
Negotiator I can't give you an indepth review of the BR-8 I've only had it for a few days now. it has two on board fx processors that sound great,and really easy to use.the vocal effects,witch I was really concerned about are as good as any vocal processors I've used in the past.as cellercat mentioned it has no XLR inputs it uses the TRS type that allows balanced or unbalanced.and you can record only two channels at once,witch I have no problem with.the drum machine or rhythm function sounds better than I thought it would, not bad at all. I haven't had much time to use it but i hooked my DR-5 up to it stright line in and recorded in stereo I was more than pleased with the quality sound.Its everything I hoped it would be.for the price you cant beat it,I just upgraded from a tascam 424 Im new to ditigal recording and i was comparing between the vs840ex and the BR-8 the 840 was alittle more than needed for song writing and I liked the price difference.its a great little machine!!!!!!!

hope I was helpful.
 
Thank you for your replys. This machine looks like the right option for me to enter the digital arena. No XLR's and only two simultaneous record tracks are ok for my application.(just a guy without a band anymore, who likes to play with himself!)

Thanks again.
 
I am considering purchasing the BR-8 and I note that some people have experience with it. It sounds like it will record electric guitar ok. I am wondering how it does with vocals. I have an octava 319 that I put through a Art tube MP. Would I be able to hook it up ok to the BR-8? Anyone have experience recording voals on the BR-8? How do you think it does? Also how many track minutes does it record on the zip drive? Is the sound compression so much that it really degrades the sound? Can you record a drum track from a drum machine with it? I am fairly inexperience with recording and am looking for a way to put reasonably good sounding demo recordings together. Any help would be appreciated. MattC
 
Mattc
The br-8 has 35 vocal presets and 15 vocal transformers a total of 50 patches.
You can edit all 50 of them to suit your needs.
Any inline processor can be connected to the br-8 as far as I know.
Ive recorded some vocals and they sound great. you should have no problem recording a great sounding demo with this machine.

I was laying down tracks one hour after i took the br-8 out of the box.


hope I was helpful.
 
Hey Jimimac,

How ya doing? I went to Samash music yesterday, and saw the BR-8, I haven't been that excited about a piece of gear in a long time!!! It looks like a great machine.

A couple of questions, if you don't mind.

1. Can you process electric guitar and vocal at the same time?

2. How many guitar efects are there, and are they stereo?

3. Did you know that you can get an expresion pedal for it? Do you know how much it costs?

4. Can you mix the mic inputs on the machine, with line inputs from outside?

Can't wait to for you make a mp3 for us to hear!!!

Thanks
 
I'm not Jimimac, but maybe I can help.
1) Yes, you can record guitar and vocal.

2) There 50 guitar effects, 4 are really for bass players who want to record. You have the option to record in stereo or use the doubling loop effect during the final mix.

3)Yes, there is an expression pedal the EV-5 and a punch in/out pedal. I'm sure about the price.

4) There are two mic inputs and there 50 effects for a mike, I have a Roland DR10 mic, it has the freq curve of the COSM setting.

The only other think is that each 100 MB ZIP disk will only hold about 5 mins of music if all 8 tracks are used. Boss says a ZIP will hold 50 mins, but each track that you use is 1/8 of 50 mins. Still for me it's great, I don't plan on making a CD on the BR-8, it's for fleshing out songs to take to the band. I do find myself recording almost every day :).


[This message has been edited by 72fender (edited 04-05-2000).]
 
I finally picked up a BR-8 on Friday. It's going back to MARS tommorrow. I could not even get eight tracks down on a cover tune of 2 minutes 45 sec. I was looking at the D-8
before I came across the BR 8. I think I'll go that route. I am really bummed. I thought the BR 8 was going to be it!! The phrase trainer is horrible on it and the center cancel is marginal.
 
Thanks, this group is great!
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by GT:
Hey thanks,

And welcome aboard!!<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
 
I found the expression pedal at ZZsounds for $59.95.


[This message has been edited by 72fender (edited 04-05-2000).]
 
72Fender, are you getting 5 minutes in the MT2 data mode? That is the default unless you change it. I switched to the "lesser" quality mode of LV2 and got more useable time without any noticeable signal degredation with all 8 tracks.
 
Yeah, it was MT2 mode. I not making demos to send out, just as a composition tool.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Negotiator:
72Fender, are you getting 5 minutes in the MT2 data mode? That is the default unless you change it. I switched to the "lesser" quality mode of LV2 and got more useable time without any noticeable signal degredation with all 8 tracks. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
 
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