BOSS BR-800 Portable Digital Recorder

Product Information

So good in fact, I've rigged it up to a house hold amplifier and some decent speakers, and abandoned my guitar amp. In the end I could never get a DAW working in my setup to satisfactory standard (see the link opposite for more details).

I fell in love, it was around half the size of the BR-8, with sleek rubber buttons that reminded me of my ZX Spectrum 48k back in the day, and a rather fetching champagne colour. As a multitracker, it supports simultaneous recording of up to four tracks so, if you have the microphones available, you could easily use it to record a multi-mic'd live drum kit either for further overdubs on the BR-800 or for transfer to computer.

Its a 4/8 channel mixer and it only makes a wav-file when you have mixed down a master file, and when you have done that, is it possible to edit it then?

After all, this was first released over six years ago, and yet it's going for the same ask today, as it was when released. The BR-800’s powerful onboard effects processor includes GT-10/10B effects, VE-20 vocal effects and harmonies, and COSM-based acoustic-guitar body modeling. We advise you to update to a currently supported browser (such as Chrome, Edge, or Firefox) to improve your security, speed, and overall experience. Used on its own the BR-800 is an extremely functional machine, but add in that you also get an amp-sim and guitar FX-equipped front-end for a software system and you're getting massive flexibility for your money.

I've only given 4 stars because I'm having trouble linking it to my PC, but I'm sure I'll work that out. It featured much larger, quieter and easier (and cheaper) to obtain storage, USB connectivity (to save songs to your PC), twin built-in condenser mics to quickly capture ideas, but most exciting of all, A BUILT IN DRUM MACHINE! When using it in standard multitrack mode, it saves your recordings in it's own proprietary format, that is "HiFi (MT2) Roland/BOSS original format".

Beginners will love the new EZ Recording mode which interactively guides you through the recording process. I'm starting to suspect the reason that Boss hasn't come out with a new model in nine years can be summarized in one word: iPad. Should have been so easy for Boss to sort this out, but they have sold loads of these so probably don't care. With it’s ability to function as a USB interface, the BOSS BR-800 has become a mainstay of my home practice setup, with no need for a guitar amp and effects pedals, I simply have the BR-800 and my PC connected to the same set of desktop monitors. Obviously cassette tape had it’s limitations, primarily the degradation of the tape itself after numerous takes.

Anyone already familiar with the concept will probably be able to get up and running without opening the manual, while beginners will find that BOSS has introduced a couple of modes accessed via dedicated front panel buttons that will gently ease them into the world of multitracking. Another major problem for me is that the mixer level settings cannot be saved in the song data file. Great care has been taken to ensure accuracy in the preparation of this article but neither Sound On Sound Limited nor the publishers can be held responsible for its contents.