Using Boss BR-800 effects for live performance

[justinian]

I'm wondering if BR-800 can be also used for live performance in scenario if 2 or more inputs/channels (guitar+vocal or 2 guitars) can share one/same effect.
I don't own BR-800 but I read entire manual and many posts on different forums, trying to make decision if I should buy this product to use it not only for recording but for performing too.

[Geir]

Yes you can. There's a dedicated input mode (GuitarInput+Input 4) and a bank of patches that allows you to have separate effects for guitar and vocals. You could also have up to four inputs connected with different effects, but the effects in the 4-input bank are like this:

1 --LowCut---Compressor/Limiter----EQ---NoiseSupressor
2 --LowCut---Compressor/Limiter----EQ---NoiseSupressor
3 --LowCut---Compressor/Limiter----EQ---NoiseSupressor
4 --LowCut---Compressor/Limiter----EQ---NoiseSupressor

so no "guitar-effects". You can however add chorus or delay + reverb separately on each input.

[justinian]

Thanks Geir!

If I understood well you could assign some effects (but just one at the time) separately on each channel (up to 4) or you can separate effects for guitar and vocal by using designated input mode "GuitarInput+Input 4".
First option would be very practical to use BR-800 as mixer with basic effects for acoustic duo. Second option is great for solo performer (probably more effects/options for guitar and vocal).

[Geir]

Yes I think you go it more or less. this is from p 62 in the manual. For the 4-input mod only this chain of effects are availabe:
-[L.CUT]-[COMP/LM]-[EQ]-[NS]-


for the VO + GT.AMP you have two chains of effects:
(GUITAR)
-[COMP/LM]-[AMP]-[EQ]-[NS]-[MOD]-[DLY]-

and vocals:
 -[COMP/LM]-[EQ]-[NS]-[MOD]-[DLY ]

the guitar effects are :
Compressor/Limiter
Amp
Equalizer
Noise Suppressor
Modulation
- Enhancer
- Guitar Sim
- Slow Gear
- Sitar Sim
- Octave
- Pitch Shifter
- Phaser
- Flanger
- Tremolo
- Rotary
- Uni-v
- Vibrato
- Ring Mod
- Chorus
- Doubling Delay
Delay

and the vocal effects are:
Compressor/Limiter
Equalizer
Noise Suppressor
Modulation
- Enhancer
- Pitch Shifter
- Phaser
- Flanger
- Tremolo
- Vibrato
- Ring Mod
- Chorus
- Doubling Delay
Delay

So you got quite a few options when going for the Guitar+Vocal mode

[justinian]

Yesterday, I tested BR-800 in local music store for a first time and the guy who was helping me mentioned something which would have impact to use this little box for vocal/guitar effects. Apparently the main guitar input is one the front (guitar/bass  high-impedance jack) and for using 4 inputs on the back you might need additional pre-amp or mixer.
I'm wondering if anybody on this forum is using BR-800 for this purpose?

[Geir]

That is correct !!

If you're gonna use all 4 inputs you won't have any guitareffects and you might also need a preamp. If you can do with 2 inputs the "GuitarInput+Input 4" mode willl give you the hi-Z input in front + input 4 on the back, which also has phantom-power if you need it.

cheers

[justinian]

Thanks again Geir!

That means regarding hi-Z input that I would be ok with guitar on the front jack and mic on the back (input 4) with a limited effects designated for this combination.
Originally you mentioned that you can  also add chorus or delay+reverb.
Does it apply to both channels or it could be separately controlled.

[Geir]

In addition to the insert COSM effect (described in the earlier comments) each track can have reverb, EQ and chorus OR delay added. with the limitation that you have to choose either chorus or delay to apply for all tracks (you can of course set the effect level to 0 for the tracks you don't want to apply it to. In fact it defaults to 0).

This does not only apply to the recorded tracks but also to the input "tracks" except for the EQ. This means that if you choose the 4-input mode you can add separate amount of reverb and chorus/delay for each of the input channels.

For some reason, when selecting GuitarInput+Input 4 mode you only have one common control for reverb and CHO/DLY. The chorus and delay effects are however part of the simul effect bank so that shouldn't be a problem.

hope this clarifies it for you.

I've tested it for you. In the attatched demo I connected a synth, an electric guitar, an electro-acoustic and a mic and played all at once ... live ..... no kidding ....eveything is just plugged straight into the br800, no preamps.

[Tony W]

Geir Floyd

[Ted]

Geir: The only thing I don't understand about your test is why it didn't last for five more minutes.