BOSS BR-800 Portable Digital Recorder

Product Information

Used on its own the BR-800 is an extremely functional machine, but add in that you also get an amp-sim and guitar FX-equipped front-end for a software system and you're getting massive flexibility for your money. Zoom R8 – Similar spec to the BOSS BR-800, although it does include editing features that the BOSS lacks. Nor does it give you the option to retain your favourite recording settings - once it's turned off, you're back to its default recording settings. There's no bass programming, but one of the insert effects for guitar is designed to shift the pitch so you get a bass guitar sound from your normal six-string. Nevertheless, with a decent external drum machine/keyboard I was able to put together tracks that I was fairly happy with.

Took the SD card out and plugged it into my desktop, checked the properties, and even that had a bit rate of 2116kbps.As a multitracker, it supports simultaneous recording of up to four tracks so, if you have the microphones available, you could easily use it to record a multi-mic'd live drum kit either for further overdubs on the BR-800 or for transfer to computer. It even has a built-in stereo mic so you can get ideas down quickly without any loss of inspiration.

Now, all of that may not sound too different from the BR series machines that preceded this one but the difference this time is in the USB functions. The BR-800's powerful onboard effects processor includes GT-10/10B effects, VE-20 vocal effects and harmonies, and COSM-based acoustic-guitar body modeling.Connected to a PC, the BR-800 will function as a USB audio interface for recordings that utilize the internal effects. After all, this was first released over six years ago, and yet it's going for the same ask today, as it was when released. Its a 4/8 channel mixer and it only makes a wav-file when you have mixed down a master file, and when you have done that, is it possible to edit it then? And if built-in mics, a drum machine, and portability are important to you, then the BR-800 might be the better choice.

That is, unless you choose to remove the card to a PC and convert from there - which is an immensely faster process, and is definitely recommended over converting via the BR800 to a computer. A second mode is Song Sketch, designed for instant recording of wav files - ideal for those occasions where you want to grab song ideas before you forget them. To end though, even though the era of the stand-alone ‘portastudio’ style recording interface is sadly resigned to history, in six years I’ve never felt the need to upgrade, the BOSS BR-800 just lets me get on with the job of making music,and I can’t give a better recommendation than that.Unfortunately, you won't be able to use a matched pair of condensers, as phantom power is available on just one input channel.

Connected to a PC, the BR-800 will function as a USB audio interface for recordings that utilise the internal effects. I fell in love, it was around half the size of the BR-8, with sleek rubber buttons that reminded me of my ZX Spectrum 48k back in the day, and a rather fetching champagne colour.With the BR-800, players are able to record guitar, bass and vocals and add effects derived from Boss's flagship processors. We advise you to update to a currently supported browser (such as Chrome, Edge, or Firefox) to improve your security, speed, and overall experience.