Reviewed by Jan Steiger
The Boss Effects plug-in takes on its own role models, does a damn good job, and even offers advantages over analog pedals! Today we’re playing referee.
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A direct duel pits the brand-new Boss Effects plug-in against two legends of good sound that have been and still are found on countless pedalboards around the world. Ladies and gentlemen, the orange-yellow power from the Far East, the secret stars of distorted sound: the Boss DS-1 and SD-1.
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Before we get to the all-important battle, here are a few facts and audio samples about the new Boss Effects plug-in. It offers significantly more than the aforementioned classic distortion sounds.
The Boss Effects plug-in currently offers a total of eight pedals, and the selection is unlikely to have been random. Quite the opposite. In addition to the three distortion pedals, all of which enjoy cult status, we also find the PH-1 Phaser in the modulation section, and under the heading “Others,” we find the CS-1 Compressor, the TW-1 Touch Wah, and the two legendary Slow Gear SG-1 and Spectrum SP-1 pedals.
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The sound of the Roland/Boss plug-in
Okay, a brief confusion: The plug-in is offered under the Roland label, not the Boss brand. We don’t really care, but if you’re looking for the software, you shouldn’t go to the Boss website, but rather to Roland and then visit the Roland Cloud.
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I use the pedals with the factory presets. The audio file names indicate the preset, and the pedals are all placed in front of the amps. I can’t find any weaknesses in any of the virtual pedals; the rare and sought-after Slow Gear and Spectrum pedals are especially fun to use!
The analog pedals in the FreqPort Loop
I discussed the FreqPort FreqInOut in a separate review, so here are just a few facts: In short, the FreqInOut is a patchbay that allows you to use analog pedals like a plug-in in a DAW. Just like in the purely digital solution, the Boss pedals are simply inserted within a track in the insert before the amp simulation. And lo and behold: the pedals and the Boss Effects plug-in sound incredibly similar. Boss has really done a great job with the digital replication here.
The Boss DS-1 distortion pedal sounds a bit airier in its analog version, while the plug-in seems to compress more. The settings for both pedals are, of course, exactly the same. The DS-1 uses the “Low Gain Dist” preset, which mimics the real pedal, while the SD-1 uses the “Hi Gain Super OD” preset. The difference is more pronounced with the SD-1, but both sounds capture the SD-1’s very open character well.
Conclusion
The Boss Effects plug-in actually does exactly what I expect. It delivers the sounds of well-known stompboxes in sensational quality, making them fit for the digital age. The usability and integration into existing setups are exemplary.
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Plus
Plug-in sounds
Sounds of the original pedals (also usable in DAW via FreqPort FreqInOut)
more effects expected in the future
extended plug-in capabilities within a DAW
Minus
Plug-in currently only accessible via subscription
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