BR-80 - Can it record dry tracks to a DAW while monitoring wet?

[jegtar]

The workshop pdf here: http://cms.rolandus.com/assets/media/pdf/BR80WS05.pdf ,mentions on page3 that you can send dry tracks to the DAW but then says "we will discuss that later" or something to that effect.  I don't see it discussed later or in the manual.

So...Can I monitor the BR-80 effects while recording dry in my DAW?  I would like the option to reamp in some cases.

THANKS!

[cuthbert]

I've never tried that myself, but I've only played around with the BR-80's USB audio interface feature.

The BR-80 is alone in the BOSS BR line in that you can only apply effects to the input, and there's no way to record a signal dry (into the recorder) while monitoring the effects. Given this limitation with the recorder, it would be nice if it is somehow possible when using the BR-80 as a USB audio interface for your DAW.

If someone else doesn't chime in with a definitive answer, maybe you can experiment with it to see if it's possible, and let us know what you find?

[jegtar]

I was holding off on buying it until I found out.  I may just pull the trigger anyway and see what I can come up with.  I know Line 6 stuff records dry through their driver settings, I am hoping this has similar options.

[64Guitars]

The workshop pdf here: http://cms.rolandus.com/assets/media/pdf/BR80WS05.pdf ,mentions on page3 that you can send dry tracks to the DAW but then says "we will discuss that later" or something to that effect.  I don't see it discussed later or in the manual.

I assume you mean this paragraph at the top of the page:

An added bonus with the BR-80 is its BOSS effect processor. You can record
your mics and instruments in your DAW without effects, or "dry," or you can
take advantage of the BR-80's effects, easily adding them to your sounds on
the way in to the computer. We'll discuss how to do this later.

I added the emphasis and italics to show that they're talking about two different things here. When the BR-80's effects are turned on, they are applied to the signal going to the computer. So there's no way to record that signal in your DAW without the effects; they're part of the signal. When they say "We'll discuss how to do this later", I think they're only referring to the second part; applying BR effects and sending the effected signal to the computer. They describe how to do that on page 7.

Adding BR-80 Effects to Your Sounds

You can use the BR-80's COSM effect on any sound you want to record by
inserting an effect on its input, just as you would with a sound you were
going to record on the BR-80 itself: Press the COSM button and choose or set
up the desired effect. The BR-80 can produce both mono and stereo effects.
(To turn off effects, press the COSM button again.)

So...Can I monitor the BR-80 effects while recording dry in my DAW?  I would like the option to reamp in some cases.

Afraid not. The BR-80's effects are attached to the input and can't be relocated as they can on other BRs. When the BR-80's effects are turned on, then only the effected signal is sent to the computer. If the effects are turned off, then the dry signal is sent to the computer, but there's no way to apply BR-80 effects to the signal being monitored.

[cuthbert]

Reading the PDF you linked to, I'm not sure it's actually possible - here's how they describe it:

You can record your mics and instruments in your DAW without effects, or "dry," or you can
take advantage of the BR-80's effects, easily adding them to your sounds on the way in to the computer.

If you parse that paragraph exactly as it is written, they're only saying you can record from the BR-80 either dry or wet. No mention of recording dry while monitoring wet.

Later, they become a little more explicit:

Adding BR-80 Effects to Your Sounds

You can use the BR-80's COSM effect on any sound you want to record by inserting an effect on its input, just as you would with a sound you were going to record on the BR-80 itself: Press the COSM button and choose or set up the desired effect. The BR-80 can produce both mono and stereo effects.

(To turn off effects, press the COSM button again.)

Given that statement, I'm pretty sure it's not possible to record dry while monitoring effects in the BR-80.

But please let us know if you do find a way.

[jegtar]

I get it now, makes perfect sense. 

[64Guitars]

I was holding off on buying it until I found out.  I may just pull the trigger anyway and see what I can come up with.  I know Line 6 stuff records dry through their driver settings, I am hoping this has similar options.

All of the BRs except the BR-80 have a LOCATION setting which lets you insert the effects at different points in the signal path. This can be used to record dry on the BR while monitoring with effects. But the only BRs that have audio interface capabilities are the BR-80 and BR-800. The BR-800 can record dry while monitoring with effects, but I don't know if it can send the dry signal to the computer. I have a hunch that it sends the effected monitor signal. Maybe a BR-800 user can confirm this.

[jegtar]

Thanks again.  I was looking at the eband JS-8 it has the USB routing options that can send out dry tracks but I want also something with stereo mics.