Buying off ebay: Is there only one model?

[xvertirx]

Hi,

well I read a lot on these and other forums and I have to have a Boss Micro BR! I see on ebay that they're selling brand new for $30-40 less than most regular stores. I can't figure out why they can sell them that much lower so I was wondering if they're selling an old model. Is there only one model or are there older and newer ones?

Anyone here have an experience buying this on ebay? Let me know.

Thanks!

[GrazBass]

For what I know there is only one model of Micro BR.

[xvertirx]

Thanks. Looks like I'll go with ebay.

[guitarron]

cant miss-i wish i would have went the ebay route-
you should check out BPMMUSIC.com
absolutely the cheapest on roland gear i've seen-
I bought a br600 from them-they were greart to work with-you can order over the phone or internet
ron

[xvertirx]

cant miss-i wish i would have went the ebay route-
you should check out BPMMUSIC.com
absolutely the cheapest on roland gear i've seen-
I bought a br600 from them-they were greart to work with-you can order over the phone or internet
ron

bpm music sounds like an even better route. I'm gonna do a little more research...now I'm thinking i might get the BR 600

[jkevinwolfe]

X,

You'll find them both to be incredible machines. You should really evaluate your needs and go from there since you'll find the sound quality of both to be solid.

The Micro's strength is that it's designed as a songwriter's/one-man-band tool. There really is nothing better for quickly laying down song ideas and doing solid demos by yourself. It's not that you can't record other musicians, it's just that it's more set up to record on one mono track or two stereo tracks at a time. Since it fits in my guitar case, I find myself using it as a portable effects box a lot. It's actually smaller than all the effects boxes I had been considering and adds some nice drums. It uses SD cards. Some find the MP3 features (not on the 600), including the ability to cancel out vocals in other folks songs and slow them down to be very useful.

The 600 is a substantially larger unit, but still smaller than a laptop. It's truly a digital workstation. You gain dedicated sliders for mixing (All levels on the Micro must be controlled by Value Up and Value Down buttons) and more advanced editing options as well as a more advanced rhythm section and pad controls. I think it's a better option for recording more than one person or a band. It uses compact flash and six batteries, which it burns through faster than the Micro.

I think some people feel they'll outgrow the Micro, but I don't think this should be too much of a factor in your decision. You could record 16 different instruments with both units. (The 600 just makes it easier.) I know that if I had the BR 600 I probably would be wondering if I really needed a 16 track recorder. I'm sure you'll be happy with either decision you make. I'm still overjoyed with my Micro just as users seem to be overjoyed with their 600s.

Kevin

[robsmith]

Hello,

I purchased my Micro BR off of ebay for $157.00 (including shipping).

It was new in the box, still shrinkwrapped. I also bought a SONY mic from ebay ($8.00, including shipping), great deal!

If had to buy again, I would do exactly the same thing. Read the description carefully and make sure that you are getting a new unit.

Bob

[64Guitars]

Some find the MP3 features (not on the 600), including the ability to cancel out vocals in other folks songs and slow them down to be very useful.

These same features (Center Cancel and Time Stretch) are also available in the BR-600. Of course, they work with wave files rather than MP3, so you have to convert your MP3s to wave format on your PC before importing them into the BR-600. This isn't a problem since the MP3s originate on your PC anyway and there are lots of programs available that can do the conversion easily.

You can read more about both recorders on the new Boss BR website here:

http://www.bosscorp.co.jp/BR/

They also have a comparison chart:

http://www.bosscorp.co.jp/BR/comparison_chart.pdf

In my opinion, the BR-600 offers the best value of any of the current BR series recorders and I would definitely recommend it over the Micro BR. Its built-in drum machine is far more versatile than the Micro BR's and it's compatible with the free BR Rhythm Editor software (the Micro BR is not). And the BR-600 has 26 insert effects and 9 mastering effects, versus the Micro BR's 11 insert effects and 5 mastering effects. Also, the BR-600 has 17 effects algorithms versus the Micro BR's one algorithm. Algorithms determine the order of the effects.

[lupus55]

I bought mine from ebay. Not a problem, it came in a shrinkwrapped box from Japan with a japanese manual. I downloaded the english version from the Japanese Boss site. I have bought all my Boss products from ebay and saved approx 40 percent off list price all good so far. Mind you I don't know what the situation would be if I needed to make a warranty claim.

[Pedro]

That's the problem of buying used or semi-used, the warranty part is somewhat dubious. But don't be alarmed, Micro BR seems like a reliable gadget. It has been out for almost one year and half and I haven't read about any serious malfunction on a unit.

PS: I just checked eBay and there are a lot of nice deals over there for Micro BR's.