Boss' Guitarist-Friendly BR-8 Digital
Studio 8-Track
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| (Click for a close-up) |
February 14, 2000
BOSS is proud to announce its first foray into hard
disk recording with the introduction of the ultra-affordable BR-8 Digital
Recording Studio. Built with an eye towards guitarists and songwriters,
this easy-to-use 8-track random-access tabletop digital recorder offers
a host of professional features including Virtual Tracks, onboard COSM
guitar and bass amp models, built-in Zip® drive, and a user interface
that takes the mystery out of digital recording.
In the tradition of Roland’s V-Studio Workstations,
the BOSS BR-8 offers eight primary recording tracks and 64 Virtual Tracks—all
with superb sound quality and random-access editing features. Eight
tracks can be played back simultaneously, while two different inputs
(i.e. Guitar and Mic 1) can be recorded simultaneously. All audio is
recorded to the internal 100 MB Zip® drive, providing a low-cost,
transferable recording medium with virtually limitless storage capacity—just
pop in a new disk.
The BR-8 was developed to make recording so intuitive
that even first-time users can make high-quality recordings without
opening the manual. An icon-based graphic LCD guides users through the
entire recording process—just plug in and start recording. The
BR-8 is so smart, in fact, that it can select the optimum effect algorithm
depending on the type of instrument connected to its input.
The onboard effects algorithms are diverse enough to
accommodate any type of recording source—be it a guitar, keyboard,
or vocal microphone. In addition to a host of studio-quality reverbs,
delays and chorus, the BR-8 offers Roland’s acclaimed COSM-based
guitar and bass amp models for incredible "direct" recording.
And the BR-8’s effects processors are very flexible, allowing a
variety of insert effects—such as guitar amp models and vocal multi’s—to
be used along with a dedicated high-quality reverb processor and an
additional delay processor, for a total of up to four simultaneous effects.
Additionally, an optional external pedal can be used to control various
effects parameters in real time.
Because it’s a BOSS, the BR-8 offers several unique
features guitar players are sure to appreciate. For starters, there’s
a built-in chromatic tuner that makes tuning fast with visual confirmation
from the LCD. An innovative Rhythm Guide makes recording fun using a
variety of onboard backing rhythm patterns, while the Phrase Trainer
facilitates learning by slowing down guitar licks (and other audio phrases)
to half the normal speed without affecting the pitch. A Center Cancel
function can even remove vocals for singing or playing along with previously
recorded tracks.
Connections to the BR-8 include two 1/4" microphone
inputs (Balanced TRS), a dedicated 1/4" guitar/bass input, and
an RCA-type stereo line input. Outputs include an RCA-type stereo line
out, 1/4" stereo headphone out, and a stereo digital out (optical
type). A footswitch jack, expression pedal input and MIDI output round
out the BR-8’s impressive specifications.
For more information, visit Roland on the web at www.rolandus.com. |
