USB power

[chip]

Hi folks. I noticed somewhere on here that the BR80 can be powered by usb. Do I just plug it in so to speak or do you have to change a setting? I use rechargeable batts at the moment but it don't half get through them. I have a couple of laptops lying around that work but they ain't much good for the net, I was thinking of using one to power the BR80.

 I seem to spend my day charging batteries either for the BR, my vaping gear and now a guitar I have. Cheers.

[cuthbert]

As I recall, the BR80 can only be powered by USB when mounting as a disk on your computer, or when using it as an audio interface for a DAW on your computer. You choose which mode it engages by default when plugging into a computer from the BR80 settings.

Therefore, you wouldn't be able to use USB power when recording directly into the BR80; you'd only be able to get USB power if you were using the BR80 as an interface into a DAW on your computer, and recording in the DAW.

[64Guitars]

Why not simply use a PSA adapter? It will draw less power than your laptop computer (or were you planning to use the laptop's battery rather than plugging it in?) With today's high electricity costs, that's something to consider. And the PSA is fairly inexpensive. I have three of them located in different rooms of the house. That way, when I move my BR to another room, I don't have to take the power adapter with it because there's already one in the other room. I find it very convenient.

[Neo]

One of the many reasons I chose the BR80 was for it's USB power, so that I could plug it into a Cigar Lighter to USB adapter and noodle in the campervan.

In fact I'm doing that right now. Powered by the van, with no batteries, just good old USB. No setting changes, just plugin.

Good times.

[Hilary]

One of the many reasons I chose the BR80 was for it's USB power, so that I could plug it into a Cigar Lighter to USB adapter and noodle in the campervan.

In fact I'm doing that right now. Powered by the van, with no batteries, just good old USB. No setting changes, just plugin.

Good times.

You've got a campervan and you're playing your guitar in it - I'm well jealous now! btw I use rechargeable batteries in my BR80 - one lot in, one on recharge - it's not a problem and I can record anywhere

[chip]

Why not simply use a PSA adapter? It will draw less power than your laptop computer (or were you planning to use the laptop's battery rather than plugging it in?) With today's high electricity costs, that's something to consider. And the PSA is fairly inexpensive. I have three of them located in different rooms of the house. That way, when I move my BR to another room, I don't have to take the power adapter with it because there's already one in the other room. I find it very convenient.

64. I just want to power it from the laptop, nothing more. I don't intend to do anything else with it involving the laptop, I have my PC for other processes. If that is impossible then I will get the PSA. But which one?

[Neo]

One of the many reasons I chose the BR80 was for it's USB power, so that I could plug it into a Cigar Lighter to USB adapter and noodle in the campervan.

In fact I'm doing that right now. Powered by the van, with no batteries, just good old USB. No setting changes, just plugin.

Good times.

You've got a campervan and you're playing your guitar in it - I'm well jealous now! btw I use rechargeable batteries in my BR80 - one lot in, one on recharge - it's not a problem and I can record anywhere

Well you know, is a dirty job but someones got to do it.

Took me 18 months of solid work to restore and now only getting round to enjoying it.

[64Guitars]

64. I just want to power it from the laptop, nothing more. I don't intend to do anything else with it involving the laptop, I have my PC for other processes. If that is impossible then I will get the PSA. But which one?

It's not impossible. I just don't think it's practical. A computer uses a lot more power than a BR, even if it's not doing much of anything. Just keeping the display refreshed and running the CPU, drives, fans, etc. requires a fair bit of power (compared to what the BR uses). So it's a bit wasteful of energy to use a laptop just to power your BR, and energy isn't cheap.

In the U.K., the power adapter you need for a BR-80 is the PSA-240, though I believe it has been replaced by the PSA-230ES. In the USA, it's the PSA-120S (120 volt). Just make sure it's a genuine Boss PSA series adapter. Using another brand can lead to major problems because they're often unregulated and the BR requires a regulated power supply.

You can buy it directly from Roland: http://shop.roland.co.uk/p/psa-240

but you can probably get it for less money if you shop around. For example:

http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/product/43771-boss-psa-230-es-power-supply.html

http://www.richtonemusic.co.uk/products/boss_ac_adaptors_psa-roland12449512.asp

http://www.dv247.com/studio-equipment/boss-psa-240-adaptor-9v-200ma-power-supply--11731

You'll find it in almost any music store because it's the same AC adapter used to power Boss effects pedals. So any store that sells Boss effects pedals (there are many) will also carry the PSA power adapter. Check your local store. If their price is a bit high, quote the prices in the links above and ask them if they'll match that price.

[cuthbert]

I don't have my BR80 handy to test this at the moment, but I'm 99% certain that when you connect the BR80 to your computer via USB, you can either enter storage mode (mount as a disk) or interface mode (USB audio interface to a DAW).

You can't plug it into your laptop via USB, use that for the power source for the BR80, and then record to tracks on the BR80.

[64Guitars]

You might be right about that, cuthbert, but I'm not sure. The USB mode can only be set to STORAGE or AUDIO. When it's set to STORAGE, all normal functionality is inaccessible. But I'm not sure about when it's set to AUDIO. That will cause it to send the output signal over USB to the computer, and to accept any audio coming from the computer over USB. You can record the USB audio from the computer on the BR-80, so I imagine that you can record from the other inputs too. However, the USB signal from the computer is mixed with the Line In and Guitar/Mic inputs and there's no level control on the USB input, so any noise coming from the computer will be recorded along with your other signals. For that reason, I think that using the USB as a power source while recording from other inputs is probably not a good idea.