Boss BR-8

Although it appears complicated when you first approach it, the BR-8 will be easy to use for anyone familiar with computers (the concepts of copy, paste, ect...). The use and editing of guitar effects is easy and allows for an almost infinite variety of high quality sounds for a reasonable price, and the effects are only one small part of the machine's capabilities. The BR-8 comes with both a manual and a video to help you get started (although I never needed to watch the video).

Being that everything recorded is stored in a digital format, endless processing and reprocessing of your tracks (applying effects, bouncing tracks, ect..) leads to no loss in signal intensity and introduces only the amount of noise that is inherent in the effects you apply. A very professional "studio quality" sound emerges. In particular the reverb loop effect has an impressively convincing sound. The choice of multiple simulated pre-amps and speaker simulators is a nice touch to sculpt the exact sound you want.

Appears dependable to date.

N/A

Overall, in my opinion, this product is revolutionary. It really gives you an all-in-one, high quality, affordable (for the amount of things it can do) home studio for the average person. It's ease of use and flexibility will satisfy a demanding home user. I haven't regretted this purchase for a moment.

The sound is pretty good, I like the sounds but I still like to use the Boss GT-5 as a preamp:)

I use an Ibanez RG550 and a fender HM strat with great results.

No problems yet but am using it a lot.

I play everything from heavy to blues to praise and worship at church(wich usually involves the fist two.)

This has to be the most convenient to use device in its class - given that it has on-board effects, tuner ,rythum machine and recording functions all in the one box. Editing of patches is simple and the parameters are very comprehensive. It is easier to get around than a Boss Dr-550 drum machine for example. There is a 80s type lead tone preset which is just superb - and I have Hot Rod Deluxe and a Marshall JCM800 at hand for comparison. In short, these effects will not disappoint.
The Manual is easy to read and covers everything you need to know. You do not have to be a digital/tech wizard to get up to speed.

Gison Les Paul std with Seymour Duncan 59s in neck and bridge.
The unit I purchased has a 2 pin power adaptor which means the unit itself is UNEARTHED when plugged in - and we all know what that means. If you use the guitar direct into this with only headphones for monitoring and no hi-fi stereo monitoring there is a lot of pickup buzz, even with humbuckers! BUT once you go via the stereo monitor the signal is earthed and it is extremely quiet. I was initially very annoyed that it wasnt earthed but have learnt to live with it.
It has its own automatic sound leveller which means that it will alter the output monitor volume level depending on number of tracks used and drum pattern etc. from what you initally set it to. This is apparent thru headphones but once again, it isnt really a problem when you hear the end result.
As mentioned, the effects are great and can be applied to the overall mix, to pairs of tracks and to the drum pattern etc. It is easy to pan the stereo guitar signal onto 2 tracks with chorus and echo acheiving the desired left/right separation. This is usually automatic but can be adjusted via the Pan button. The Reverbs and delays are very versatile and sound great to my ears. Try the 'Sweet Lead' preset effect for an example of a great lead tone.
A point worth noting is that the stereo rythum machine signal does not occupy any track space whatsoever, so you get a full 8 tracks to play with in any mix. You can also program the rythum machine to select any combination of drum pattern/time signature i.e 3/4, 4/4, 5/4 etc. and Tempo AND you can vary these 3 params any number of times within any song. The built-in beats sound great and I found no need to augment the BR-8 with an external drum machine - unless you want to create your own beats from scratch.
The only real negative thing I have to say about the device is the choosing of the 100meg disk format size. Why would you impose this obvious limitation when there is the 250 meg format available for 5$ extra per disk? Answer: Perhaps BR-8 version 2 will be in this format!
And why would you go to the trouble of offering a total of 64 tracks when the 100 meg format absolutely prevents any real possibility of using all 64 tracks? The reality is that you will be able to record a few duplicate 'virtual' tracks on any 3 minute song , assuming you use all 8 tracks. But there is always bouncing of tracks to be considered if crucial space is required and it is simple to achieve. It is also an easy matter to copy tracks or songs onto another Zip disk for alternative track recording.
The 'Phrase sampler' will play back at half-speed and it does sound a little weird - but the Pitch appears to be the same. I can slow Mike Stern licks right down(something I always wanted to do!) but he is still pretty quick..

So far so good. I have had it for 6 weeks trouble-free. Not to sure if the Reverb/Delay/Chorus track loop effect selection is truly independant from the entire Input signal. Be interested in feedback on this one.
You will need to purchase a few extra 100meg Zip disks as the unit comes with 1 demo disk.

No need as yet although I might get Roland to Earth this thing one day!

All in all, this will lick any 4-track recorder, hands down. The convenience of direct disk access can not be underestimated - no more mucking with forward/rewind on tape. There is an instant 'Undo' button which you will be hitting a few times to get rid of those mistakes.
All you guitarists out there who don't jam with anybody regularly really should consider this one. With the inbuilt rythum machine and built-in effects, you no longer have to imagine having a drummer, rythum guitarist, bass player present because you now have them all in this amazing box - and you are the Boss. I never really played bass before but have started using the Bass simulator(with my Les Paul!)- believe me, you wouldnt guess it was really a Les Paul.
This machine will definitely help the solo bedroom-player types out there as it simply forces you play against youself, otherwise whats the point?
Regardess of style,this machine should suit anybody.
One limitation may be that it won't be suited to using mutiple mikes for drum kits - you would need a sub-mixer for that one!

As stated, the only possible drawback is the 100meg format but that isnt enough to stop me buying this again if stolen. The competion cant match it dollar for dollar.

Very easy, you can get in gear with just a little reading

these were recorded with the br-8 and nothing else, a G&L Legacy plugged straight into the 1/4in input..http://www.mp3.com/br-8

only 2 weeks old...ok so far

only 2 weeks old...ok so far

it is just fine for the "lone" guitarist..it beats anything so far as the ideal equipment for a guitarman

Well, I don't own it, yet. But I played around on it for a few hours at guitar center, and it is simply the best value around. You don't even need to look at the manual to start recording. It's most suited for guitarist. All I used was a Fender Big Apple Strat, and a cable. I went direct, and everythin was very easy to use. To get out of any menu screen, back to the main screen, simply press the EXIT/NO button. To put some effects onto the guitar, simply hit the COSM effects button, and scroll through the different presets, which include the ever popular Accoustic Simulator (which sounds better on here than the pedal does), and a small variety of Bass simulators, which sound pretty good. It was very nice to lay down the bass track without having to grab another instrument. To record, hit the record button, it will start blinking in standby mode, and to actually record, hit the play button. I could ramble on and on, so suffice to say, if you don't want to read a Texas Intruments-sized manual in order to opperate a recording unit, this it the one. One-function-per-button opperation keeps things simple.

I was very pleasantly suprised to hear how good it sounded. Had I tweaked with the effects instead of just using presets, it would have sounded like a nicely mastered demo. All of the presets sound great, and it doesn't sound tinny, like some other (direct) digital recording units I've used. It retains low beef, and the highs ring clearly. The presets encompass a variety of sounds, most of which were distortions, but also had the accoustic simulator, which sounds phoenominal, a few bass simulators, which sound very good, and a few other freaky tweaky little toys. The playback sounds very clear, and you have a lot of control over the sounds you're making. It also has a phrase trainer (like the Akai Riff-O-Matic boxes) for slowing down parts, but I have no clue how it sounds.

From what I could tell, this piece seems quite reliable. It's BOSS, which has a habbit of building things like tanks. It seemed sturdy, but I'm not really the person to get the best advice from here.

Nope, not a clue.

I play metal/rock/progressive music, and I've played for almost 6 years (considering that's more than a 3rd of my life,it's been a long time, to me). I've tried out a lot of amps, and a lot of effects, and whenever I'm looking for something, I always hunt for the best piece of equipment. Since I started looking for a recorder, I decided right off the bat that I wanted to go digital, with something I could load onto my computer's hard drive, and distribute MP3's, as well as make tapes and burn discs. I have been looking at other, more expensive models, but this caught my eye. I did a side by side comparison with a KORG D-16 digital 16 track, and it was so confusing, I couldn't even get it to record. Yet the BR-8 was very easy. Plus, it saves the files to 100Mb ZIP discs, in WAV. format, which can play as MP3's aswell. THE ONLY THING THAT MIGHT TURN YOU AWAY, is that it can only record up to 2 tracks at one time. For the lone musician, it's fine, but for someone trying to record a whole-band jam session, it isn't so good. I have to say that my search is over, I'm buying one of these as soon as I get the money. It really is the best value out there. Go out and try one. Check out the built in drum machine, that syncs with your recordings, so it matches during playback, and because it does the beat, in addition to counting seconds, it also counts bars and beats. Just see for yourself.

I just picked it up so I'm still learning, I have a Fostex x-26 that I have used for 4-5years. The br-8 seems to be even easier than this.The manual seem clear,I give it a 9 for ease of use.

The COSM effects are great, I have put down three guitar tracks and it sounds super.( no tape hiss)

It's new and I havent put it through it's paces yet I will update my review at a later date. I have to tell you the truth, Half the reason I put the review up is to get feedback from other owner's ( before you hang me for putting a digital recorder review in the guitar effects section, take a look at Roland It has the whole VX series listed)I would give it a 9 so far