Acoustic & Electronic Instruments, Musicians, News, Tutorials, Videos & Interesting Finds
Acoustic & Electronic Instruments, Musicians, News, Tutorials, Videos & Interesting Finds

Roland intros BOSS Micro BR BR-80 portable digital recorder

Sometimes (in fact, most of the time in my experience) musical inspiration hits you when you’re away from your studio.

In the rush to get down the ideas before those creative juices dry up, or your memory plays tricks and you forget the melody line for that future masterpiece, equipment like the portable BOSS MICRO BR BR-80 digital audio recorder from Roland is essential.

Although it’s aimed at guitarists there’s absolutely no reason why other musicians can’t use it.

It’s fitted with three modes which let you create, record and perform music — you could use it for impromptu gigs if you come up with something you’re ready to record and then perform live straight away.

Features include:

  • Three modes: MTR (multi-track recorder), eBand, and Live Rec
  • Records directly to SD/SDHC memory card (up to 32 GB)
  • High-quality stereo condenser microphone built in for instant audio capture
  • 64 V-Tracks and eight simultaneous playback tracks
  • eBand function for phrase training and play-along tracks
  • Huge library of built-in backing and rhythm patterns
  • World-class COSM amps and effects onboard
  • Use as a USB audio interface with built-in effects
  • SONAR X1 LE software included

The Complete Studio To Go

Don’t be fooled by its size — this little studio is loaded! The MTR (Multi-Track Recorder) mode offers 64 V-Tracks with eight simultaneous playback tracks. In addition, a dedicated stereo rhythm track is provided, as well as an onboard library of great grooves to choose from. The intuitive user-interface continues the simple-to-use tradition of BOSS’ acclaimed BR series, with a graphical design that follows the layout of a conventional recording console. With EQ, reverb, and mastering tools plus, world-class COSM amps and effects for guitar, bass, and vocals the BR-80 is ready to deliver complete, pro-quality recordings with ease.

Virtual Jam Band

The BR-80’s eBand mode offers musicians a fun way to play along with their favourite songs. With the bundled eBand Song List Editor software, you can import CD, MP3, and WAV audio files from a computer via USB. The Centre Cancel function can be used to minimise the volume of pre-recorded vocals and solos for play- and sing-along enjoyment. eBand mode is also an excellent partner for musical training, as it lets you record your performance adjust playback speed and/or pitch as desired.

Built-In Stereo Mic

In combination with the onboard high-grade stereo condenser microphones, the BR-80’s Live Rec Mode lets you capture pristine stereo recordings instantly. Record vocals, guitar parts, and song ideas the moment inspiration strikes. Your recorded audio files can be easily imported into the BR-80’s MTR mode to use as a basis for multi-track song production.

High-Quality Multi FX

The BR-80 is packed with professional multi-effects powered by a newly developed custom DSP chip. Over 40 types of COSM amp models give you instant access to a wide range of powerful guitar and bass sounds. The preset patches allow first-timers and pros alike to enjoy high-quality sounds immediately, while power users can tweak parameters in micro detail for the ultimate tonal control. The dedicated vocal effects, comparable with BOSS’s popular VE-20, include doubling, harmony effects, pitch correction, and more.

PC Companion

The ultra-flexible BR-80 can be used as a stand-alone digital recorder or as audio interface for a USB-equipped computer. Cakewalk’s SONAR X1 LE DAW software (for Windows) is bundled with the BR-80, giving users a full-fledged PC-based music production environment with latency-free recording and a powerful range of COSM amps and effects. Furthermore, the bundled Wave Converter software lets you easily exchange data between the BR-80 and SONAR X1 LE or any other DAW.