Using Boss BR-800 as a Effects Processor

[JP Illes]

I started this out as a post in the "Definitive Summary of Effects" Sticky, asking if anyone had tried using the Boss BR-800 as an Effects Processor. I said I would post a report on my experience using the BR-800 effects sent through the Send Effects of the DP32sd. It works very well. Here is the process that I used:

First, I set the Input Select on the BR-800 to LINE IN, then selected the first Effect Patch. This allowed access to a set of effects that can be used in series with an individual ON/OFF for each one. The available Effects are:

Compressor/Limiter
Lo-fi
Noise Suppressor
Modulation (11 Different Effects )
Chorus
Delay

For my test I used my Main Vocal Track (Track 5 in my case) and Track 6 as my Target Track. I plugged the Input of the BR-800 to SEND 2. I plugged the Output from the BR-800 into Input C of the DP32. Then I set the DP32 as follows:

1. Selected Track 5
2. Send Eff2 and Master2 of Track 5 to the maximum of 127.
3. Select Send Eff2 on Track 6 to OFF.
4. Assign Track 6 to Input C
5. Assign Input C to Stereo Bus C
6. Armed Record on Track 6

In this case I turned off all of the Effects on the BR-800 except for Delay. I could have chained multiple effects if wanted or required.

After plugging in the Input and Outputs of the BR-800, I Armed Record.

With monitor set to Stereo, I pressed play on the DP32 and adjusted the Delay Effect controls on the BR-800. When I was satisfied with amount of Delay Effect, I pressed Record on the DP32.

The result recorded Track 5 onto Track 6 plus the Delay Effect.

It worked perfectly. Now that I know that it works I can go back and add and enhanced EQ and compression to Each my other tracks as required for a mix down. I am using SEND 1 in the DP32 for my reverb effect as needed on each of my tracks.

That's my report...

 

[Mark Richards]

Nice job!
Some Gain Staging questions:

• Where did you set the Track 5 Fader?
• Was Track 5 Send Eff 2 set to Pre or Post?
• Where did you set the BR-800's input and output levels?
• Where did you set the Input C Trim Knob?
• In the Mixer screen, where did you set the Input C internal Fader level?
• Did you apply any EQ or Dynamic Effects to Input C?
• Where was the Input C Pan Knob set?
• Where did you set the Track 6 Fader?

 

[JP Illes]

• Where did you set the Track 5 Fader?
• Unity
• Was Track 5 Send Eff 2 set to Pre or Post?
• Post
• Where did you set the BR-800's input and output levels?
• Input set at about 11:00, Output fader about 2/3 up
• Where did you set the Input C Trim Knob?
• 1:00
• In the Mixer screen, where did you set the Input C internal Fader level?
• Left at unity
• Did you apply any EQ or Dynamic Effects to Input C?
• Not at this time...
• Where was the Input C Pan Knob set?
• Unity
• Where did you set the Track 6 Fader?
• Unity

 

[JP Illes]

Went up to the studio this morning and found one of my responces was in error.

• Where did you set the BR-800's input and output levels?
• Record Level set at 2:00 , Output fader set at unity

 

[Mark Richards]

Track 5, Track 6, and Input C are all feeding the Stereo Bus at the same time.

Typically you wouldn't want to monitor a tripled audio signal on the Stereo Bus, particularly when two of them are the same signal from the outboard gear.

The result recorded Track 5 onto Track 6 plus the Delay Effect.

Next time, try this (an adaptation of the information in the stickies):

• Don't Assign Input C to the Stereo Bus (not necessary).
• Set Track 5 Send Eff2 to Pre.
• Set Send Eff2 Master Knob to 127.
• Set the BR-800 input control to unity gain or an appropriate lower level.
• Use the Track 5 Send Eff2 Knob to control the BR-800's incoming signal level.
• Set Track 5 Fader Off (inf) to remove it from the Stereo Bus.
• Set Input C Trim Knob full CCW (Line) and set the BR-800's output level, up to unity gain, to control the Input C/Track 6 incoming Record signal level.
• Leave all other Track 5, Track 6, and Input C Mixer Screen and Input C Dynamic Effects in their default settings if you don't wish to apply them.
• Place the portastudio in Record Ready to monitor the signal coming in on Input C/Track 6.
• Set the Stereo Bus Fader to unity gain (all the way up).
• Use only the Track 6 Fader at unity gain or less to monitor the blended/processed audio signal on the Stereo Bus.

This setup will:

• Give you a clean signal throughput and an accurate representation of the actual blended signal on Track 6.
• Minimize the risk of introducing intra-sampling distortion that the peak meters won't see.
• Allow you to use the Track 6 meter to assess the incoming signal level; and the Track 6 Fader and the Stereo Bus Meters to evaluate the recorded (blended) Track 6 output signal level.

 

[JP Illes]

THX Mark, I'm a little new at this and need all the help I can get.

 

[JP Illes]

Mark, I tried your process and it worked when I sent my Vocal Track 5 + Delay to my Target Track 6. It worked pretty well. I tried again with a Source Track + BR-800 compression to a Target Track. This didn't work so well, the Target Track with the compression came out all distorted.. It wasn't that way when I monitored it before recording.. The compression effect in the BR-800 is a bit weird, none of the attributes are the same as any other compressor that I have looked at. I am going to try doing a source track with EQ to a Target Track. That's the one I am really interested in.. If that doesn't work then I am going to hang up using the BR-800 as an effects processor, and just use for guitar and bass COSM effects for recording those tracks, that works really well..

 

[-mjk-]

@JP Illes don't give up man. Have a shot of single malt and give it a go. Distortion is all about gain staging. I'm positive that you can figure out how the gain structure is creating distortion.

 

[Shawn2571]

I have the DP32sd and the effects blow. Lol I just ordered a used Br800 yesterday. May have to try this sometime.

 

[Mark Richards]

I have the DP32sd and the effects blow.

@Shawn2571, is that based on bench testing against some objective standard, or just your personal opinion?

 

[Shawn2571]

My opinion I guess, but I couldn't get a good guitar sound out of it for the life of me. Maybe could get an acceptable vocal sound with some work. But the effects are very limited and can only be routed to one or two tracks to a time. As far as the audio resolution quality of the dp32sd and preamps it sounds pretty good it just need external effects