BOSS ME 90B

[RVRSCO]

Got my ME-90B late yesterday. Was wondering what others do…

Do you run it through the send/return of your amp/head or through the input? I know there is an option to select Line/Amp, but curious what the best way to run the board is.

 

[GotGroove]

Do you run it through the send/return of your amp/head or through the input?

Generally, if you use an amp/cab sim you run through the effects loop. This bypasses the preamp section on your head so it doesn't interfere with your sim. Also, time-based effects generally sound better in the effects loop, so if you're heavy on that you may also want to try and run it through the effects loop. If you don't use amp/cab sims or heavy time-based effects, people generally run it through the input.

That said, there is no right or wrong way. Do what makes it sounds best to you.

 

[RVRSCO]

Generally, if you use an amp/cab sim you run through the effects loop. This bypasses the preamp section on your head so it doesn't interfere with your sim. Also, time-based effects generally sound better in the effects loop, so if you're heavy on that you may also want to try and run it through the effects loop. If you don't use amp/cab sims or heavy time-based effects, people generally run it through the input.

That said, there is no right or wrong way. Do what makes it sounds best to you.

If I go through the send/return on my head, should I have the switch set to Line or Amp?

 

[Edgar83]

...run through the effects loop. This bypasses the preamp section...

To achieve this you don't need the "send" part of the loop:
Bass -> ME-90B -> RETURN

If you do this instead (standard send/return wiring):
Bass -> amp input -> SEND -> ME-90B -> RETURN
You're still using your amp's preamp

 

[Michael Moore]

Nice. I have a ZOOM. Incredible value. If this was $200 I would buy it.

 

[Mana Latte]

To those that use the amp models, how are you finding them. I have to admit I’ve had trouble getting “good” sounds using them in that I am constantly fiddling with them. Anymore my main sound is just using the damn EQ setting which is a little disappointing as I bought it for the amp models. Could just be a me thing but I just find them muddy

 

[Krisfield]

Really like AIRD Bass Amps. Very versatile, sounds good with OD and distortion, nice clean sounds. They sound just as good as any other bass amp models out there. Suits me fine.

 

[fmb]

To those that use the amp models, how are you finding them. I have to admit I’ve had trouble getting “good” sounds using them in that I am constantly fiddling with them. Anymore my main sound is just using the damn EQ setting which is a little disappointing as I bought it for the amp models. Could just be a me thing but I just find them muddy

I bought and sent back the Boss ME-90B because I had a similar experience and I wasn't pleased by the drives and distortions.

I was sure it was my fault, but I've recently bought a Boss GT-1000Core and its amps, as well as drives and distortions, are sounding good using both headphones and my Hartke HD500 amp.

Fmb

 

[Geddyfleaharris]

I am using the Drive Bass as my main setting and the Overdrive setting in the Drive section. I find small tweaks make big differences in the tone. I also find that if you turn it on, and have the same settings from the last time you used it, you don't always get the same sound. I have gotten into the habit of turning it on then selecting a different setting from my main one, then switching back to my main setting. A bit weird but no big deal to me. The nice thing besides having some usable drive sounds, I also have usable chorus, phaser, and delay/reverb settings for much less than the cost of purchasing those pedals individually. Cost effective if you only use these effects for maybe one or two songs per night. Bottom line........ it's working for me so far.

 

[AnthonyBe]

I got my ME-90B as soon as they were released last year as I wanted to dramatically shrink my rig and clean up my sound. Having used it for a few different gigs and rehearsals over the last 6 months, I thought I'd share me experience.

First up, the context:
* The type of music I'm playing is all covers of 80-00's pop/rock in a band with both male and female vocals, 2 guitars, drums. Keys all come from backing tracks that I make. With that in mind, I don't need too many different sounds.
* I play a 5-string Yamaha TRBX305 bass with active pickups
* The rig I wanted to replace was my Trace Elliot AH350SM with GP7 preamp (yes, the green writing and UV light tube) that weighs a tonne and a Peavey 15" BW speaker box (also weighs a tonne), both of which I've had since the early 90's and love the sound of, but do not love lugging around. FX-wise I was using a BOSS OC2 (or OC5) Octaver pedal, BOSS CE-2B Chorus pedal, Ibanez TS10 Tube Screamer pedal, BOSS TU-3 tuner pedal, and Alesis 3630 rack compressor. About 1-2 years ago I had replaced the BOSS CE-2B with the BOSS GT-1B. I had wanted to also retire the Tube Screamer and BOSS Octaver pedals but the GT-1B just didn't deliver on that front. The GT-1B was also a problem for me because I found the pedal buttons just too small, and too close together. I only have a size 11 shoe, but I found I had to be super careful to not hit 2 pedal buttons at the same time.
* My goal was to replace all the above amps and effects with the ME-90B so I could go ampless on stage (guitarists in my band were doing same), and use the balanced DI from the ME-90B to go directly into our band's Behringer X32 that we use for our IEM rig with a split for FoH.

Overall, I've been reasonably happy with the result and have achieved the goal of dramatically downsizing my rig.
Pros:
* ME-90B build construction is really sturdy, and balanced DI sound is nice and clean.
* Most of the sounds have met my need, and in particular, the compressors are good. My fave is the MXR, One of our regular PA Ops is a bass player and we nerd out over gear talk prior to gigs. It also means I have another bass player for feedback on how things are sounding out front. He was so happy with the sound I was giving him that he wasn't touching it at all.
Cons:
* I still prefer my BOSS OC2 (or even OC5) over the octaver in the ME-90B. The sort of sounds I'm looking to replicate range from Noiseworks to Peter Gabriel.
* I don't really like the overdrives/distortions. I find them all a bit 'fizzy'. I'm still trying to avoid bringing my Tube Screamer out of retirement for nice warm subtle drive by using a combination of in-box overdrive, preamp, and cab IR (see below).
* The various preamps are OK, but I found the sounds really came to life once I started using the 3rd party cab IRs. They've been recommended in this thread earlier, and I'm also recommending them as a starting point, go get the Shift Line Bass IR pack - Shift Line Bass IR Pack. It's a bit like the difference between a passive bass going through a DI box with flat EQ versus an active bass, split DI and with a mic'd cabinet, EQ's and with a nice warm compressor.

The compromises I accept due to the price:
* I wish the display panel was more than a 2 digit display for bank and patch number. I'd love to see patch naming be visible. I struggle to remember whether "14" or "21" is my fretless patch.
* I wish there was some sort of input level indicator. There are times where I fell like I'm hearing clipping due to my input level being too hot, and back my bass volume back a bit. This is not ideal as it makes it hard to maintain consistent gain staging,
* I wish it had MIDI In for MIDI automation from other MIDI devices or hardware MIDI playback devices (e.g. using a B.Beat Live for live backing tracks AND MIDI program changes)
* I wish you could load more than 3 IRs.

 

[AnthonyBe]

Based on my 2nd-last point in post above, could I clarify the point about the ME-90B and being able to receive program change messages via MIDI?
One thing I'd like to do is automate patch change live on stage with MIDI program change messages coming from our backing track playback system.

p13 of the Reference Manual, in the section titled "Transmitting/receiving MIDI data between a computer and the ME-90B (USB MIDI)" seems to imply that the ME-90B can only receive program change with connected via USB to a computer. I'm guessing this means that Roland have designed this to only accept MIDI via their USB computer interface, while connected to a computer? And further extrapolating this assumption to assume that therefore the ME-90B can't accept MIDI program changes from a keyboard, or other hardware controller?

 

[PhatBottomBass1]

Based on my 2nd-last point in post above, could I clarify the point about the ME-90B and being able to receive program change messages via MIDI?
One thing I'd like to do is automate patch change live on stage with MIDI program change messages coming from our backing track playback system.

p13 of the Reference Manual, in the section titled "Transmitting/receiving MIDI data between a computer and the ME-90B (USB MIDI)" seems to imply that the ME-90B can only receive program change with connected via USB to a computer. I'm guessing this means that Roland have designed this to only accept MIDI via their USB computer interface, while connected to a computer? And further extrapolating this assumption to assume that therefore the ME-90B can't accept MIDI program changes from a keyboard, or other hardware controller?

I just read that the DAW is involved in the USB midi messages to do patch changes while connected to a computer. It sounds more recording friendly where midi is concerned and not on the fly live performance or interconnectivity with other devices supplying say midi clock or other synchronized features.

 

[moles]

Based on my 2nd-last point in post above, could I clarify the point about the ME-90B and being able to receive program change messages via MIDI?
One thing I'd like to do is automate patch change live on stage with MIDI program change messages coming from our backing track playback system.

p13 of the Reference Manual, in the section titled "Transmitting/receiving MIDI data between a computer and the ME-90B (USB MIDI)" seems to imply that the ME-90B can only receive program change with connected via USB to a computer. I'm guessing this means that Roland have designed this to only accept MIDI via their USB computer interface, while connected to a computer? And further extrapolating this assumption to assume that therefore the ME-90B can't accept MIDI program changes from a keyboard, or other hardware controller?

This may or may not be helpful to you, but I used to send MIDI CC messages (patch change) to my GT-10B, over USB, from an Android tablet running Mobilesheets Pro. It worked. Actually, once I set it up to have the GT-10B send the MIDI CC# to Mobilesheets for page turning, it got very streamlined.

Just trying to wrap my head around a solution here - but I'd say if what you're running your tracks from cannot operate as a Host device, then maybe having some intermediary box that can send the MIDI Thru signal is the only way... Hmmm....

 

[8StringThing]

I just got mine, and it's a great unit! The issue is this - the expression pedal only does volume, regardless of what selection I use with the knob. Also, the light (indicator/on) does not light up. I have tried recalibrating it, and nothing. I got the BT accessory and am having a heck of a time trying to connect that too. It's really a pain at this point. The firmware is up to date as well.

 

[eude]

I just got mine, and it's a great unit! The issue is this - the expression pedal only does volume, regardless of what selection I use with the knob. Also, the light (indicator/on) does not light up. I have tried recalibrating it, and nothing. I got the BT accessory and am having a heck of a time trying to connect that too. It's really a pain at this point. The firmware is up to date as well.

I found that you need to really mean it when you engage the expression pedal, press hard on the top of it, and it should work.
I was using mine sat down for the first two times I used it and thought mine wasn't working too, standing over it and pressing a little harder made it engage just fine.

The Bluetooth, I ended up connecting it via the phone Bluetooth on the phone before turning on the app, like you would when connecting headphones or hooking it up to your car.

Press and hold the button until the light on the Bluetooth adapter flashes a bit quicker, then open Bluetooth settings on your phone and connect it, the one called Midi. Once done, open the app, skip the connection dialogue and you should be good to go.

Hope the above helps!

 

[8StringThing]

I found that you need to really mean it when you engage the expression pedal, press hard on the top of it, and it should work.
I was using mine sat down for the first two times I used it and thought mine wasn't working too, standing over it and pressing a little harder made it engage just fine.

The Bluetooth, I ended up connecting it via the phone Bluetooth on the phone before turning on the app, like you would when connecting headphones or hooking it up to your car.

Press and hold the button until the light on the Bluetooth adapter flashes a bit quicker, then open Bluetooth settings on your phone and connect it, the one called Midi. Once done, open the app, skip the connection dialogue and you should be good to go.

Hope the above helps!

My friend, you are the best. You've just made this unit 10 times more useful for me! Interestingly, your information and instructions were totally opposite of what I was reading for the instructions in the manual. Haha. Thank you again, my friend! Rock on.

 

[eude]

My friend, you are the best. You've just made this unit 10 times more useful for me! Interestingly, your information and instructions were totally opposite of what I was reading for the instructions in the manual. Haha. Thank you again, my friend! Rock on.

Sometimes the experts don't know best, happy to help and delighted I could sort your issues out.

 

[Marko Hazabent]

I have the unit for like a week now. I like it a lot. I am selling all of my pedals and both my pedalboards. I ran into an issue i read another user also had. When switching from memory to manual mode and switching additional effects on it seems like you have to “wake” them up by turning knobs, as nothing happens until you mess with settings (at least in my case). Factory settings leave used effects in memory mode on as you switch to manual. So i set my unit to “N0” in system settings for switching to manual mode. That means the settings are according the current position of knobs. I hope you understand what i meant to say. It solved my problem.

 

[Pantofolaio79]

I have had the me 90 b for a few days now.. the general impression is more than good.. however, I too have encountered the problem that when switching from memory mode to manual mode it is as if the effects had to be woken up by acting on the settings.. not I figured out if there is a way to solve this problem..

 

[pedrodelawasp]

I have been contemplating picking one of these up since they were announced. Initially as quick grab and go rehearsal tool, or a convnenient fly-gig board. I’ve also been looking to reduce the overall weight of gear being lugged to gigs generally - an issue that’s become more prominent as I’m recovering from a fractured elbow and will not be able to lift anything of significant weight for a while.

A couple of reservations, though, due to some of the ‘either/or’ choices where effects sit within one section. In particular, not having independent control of reverb and delay, using the loop phraser meaning you can’t use reverb or delay at all and the choice between compression or pitch based effects.

I guess I could remedy some of these by having a few of my existing pedals in conjunction with the ME-90B and/or editing patches with the Tone Studio, it that might ultimately defeat the downsizing exercise, as well as giving some cabling headaches if I’m using the loop, a separate board, different PSUs, etc… A few things to ruminate.

Advice and thoughts very welcome.

Here’s a picture of my pedal set up from a recording session just prior to Christmas to give an idea of the gear and potential combinations I’ve liked having at my disposal: