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BOSS ME 90B

#381
I picked up an open-box ME-90B last month and have been playing with it, with the long term goal of ditching my pedalboard+toys. So far I'm pretty confident I can do that but I'm still working on the patches.

My ME-90B outputs to a Scarlett 18i20 and then into an M4 MacBook Air and Yamaha HS5s. But I haven't recorded it with Logic yet.

BTW, in case anyone else is using a Mac with the ME-90B, I went through hell trying to update the latter to the latest v.104 OS. This is one case where it's a showstopper if you try to do it with any anti-virus software running on the Mac. Disabling BitDefender was the fix. BitDefender scans zip files after they're unpacked and apparently sets a flag in the sys file that the ME-90B's installer detects as file corruption.
 
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#384
Ok, got my ME90B and really digging it. Chorus, fuzz, compression, and delays all sound really great, and the controls are easy to use. I like the LEDs, and all the amps and extra fx in there will be fun to dink around with :-)

Question about saving memories - is there a way to use “control” function to save a variation straight from the panel? Or do you have to use Tone Studio? I’ve been scouring the manual but no luck yet.
 
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#385
RingoK said:
Ok, got my ME90B and really digging it. Chorus, fuzz, compression, and delays all sound really great, and the controls are easy to use. I like the LEDs, and all the amps and extra fx in there will be fun to dink around with :-)

Question about saving memories - is there a way to use “control” function to save a variation straight from the panel? Or do you have to use Tone Studio? I’ve been scouring the manual but no luck yet.
Click to expand...
Hey man, glad you're enjoying it, it's a brilliant multi effects unit!
To save a sound, in manual mode, you hit the "write" button over on the right hand side.
You then select the slot using the bank up or down buttons, then select a number to assign, using the main lower buttons, 1, 2, 3 or 4.
Then, in memory mode, you simply use the bank buttons to get to the right bank and then hit the right number to retrieve the settings.
You just need to remember where you saved them ;)

The above is exactly why I chose this over a unit that relies on software to really unlock it's potential, everything you need on the ME-90B can be done with a knobs and buttons, and I love it!
I just wish you could name the saved sounds properly, so they would be more memorable, but this is an issue even on significantly more expensive units, so it's just something to live with.

Hope that helps?

Eude
 
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#386
eude said:
I just wish you could name the saved sounds properly, so they would be more memorable, but this is an issue even on significantly more expensive units, so it's just something to live with.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I'd pay the extra 50 bucks or so for an LCD screen on the device so you could see the named setting, even if you had to use the Boss Tone software to name it.

However, small consolation, if you get the Bluetooth transmitter for the ME-90B the Boss Tone software will run on your mobile phone or tablet. In some cases it's even more convenient than the pedals because you can set your current sound using your phone while it's sitting on your music stand with two clicks.
 
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#388
Matt Halliday said:
I'm tempted over an HX Stomp, but no external expression pedal option? And MIDI in/out would also have been a nice addition.
Click to expand...
The ME-90B has a programmable onboard pedal to control things like volume, effect parameters (wah, modulation depth, time, etc.)

It doesn't have dedicated 5-pin MIDI ports but it does have a USB-C port to connect it to a DAW or MIDI editor. But that's over my head. It also has an optional Bluetooth adapter (~$40) that allegedly supports MIDI wirelessly.
 
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#389
Matt Halliday said:
I'm tempted over an HX Stomp, but no external expression pedal option? And MIDI in/out would also have been a nice addition.
Click to expand...
The lack of MIDI was what eventually led to me replacing my ME-90B with a Darkglass Anagram :)

The fact that they made the USB port only work with computer-based DAWs was so short-sighted in my mind. They should've made it a full USB MIDI interface, or added dedicated MIDI ports. Obviously part of their design and cost/value decisions.
 
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#390
Sharing in case anyone interested. This one is 48/32

www.guitarworld.com

“Boss has packed some serious muscle into a small box... For its price, it’s going to be very tough to beat”: Boss GX-1B review

Boss's GX range of multi-effects gets a bass-specific baby brother...
www.guitarworld.com www.guitarworld.com

based on comparison to previous version

  • Higher audio fidelity (48 kHz, 32-bit float)
  • More effects and deeper processing
  • Stereo looper
  • Color screen
  • USB-C
  • Wireless MIDI support
  • Better for recording, live rigs, modern workflows

Click to expand...
 
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#391
Very satisfied with my Boss ME90B, this thing is awesome. The sound quality is superb, deep, dynamic.
The software runs very smoothly on Mac, the settings are immediate, and there are lots of different effects.
I love the sound of the SWR SM-400 with my JMJ Mustang.
If I'd known, I would have bought this equipment a long time ago. It far surpasses the Two Notes Genome software I used to use for practicing at home.
 
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#392
youkoulou said:
Very satisfied with my Boss ME90B, this thing is awesome. The sound quality is superb, deep, dynamic.
The software runs very smoothly on Mac, the settings are immediate, and there are lots of different effects.
I love the sound of the SWR SM-400 with my JMJ Mustang.
If I'd known, I would have bought this equipment a long time ago. It far surpasses the Two Notes Genome software I used to use for practicing at home.
Click to expand...
Ross from Two notes here. Have you tried using our GENOME v1.14 build? We have made a lot of enhancements since GENOME was released and I wanted to ensure you have tried out the latest version. :)
 
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#395
Ross Davies said:
Ross from Two notes here. Have you tried using our GENOME v1.14 build? We have made a lot of enhancements since GENOME was released and I wanted to ensure you have tried out the latest version. :)
Click to expand...
Yes, I tested the latest version. It's still installed on my Mac mini m4 because I bought the whole software suite. But it's clear the software puts bass players in the background. I've never been able to get a vibrant, dynamic sound like the ME-90B, even using Codex and NAM files. Maybe my Black Lion Revolution sound card has something to do with it, I don't know.
 
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#396
youkoulou said:
Yes, I tested the latest version. It's still installed on my Mac mini m4 because I bought the whole software suite. But it's clear the software puts bass players in the background. I've never been able to get a vibrant, dynamic sound like the ME-90B, even using Codex and NAM files. Maybe my Black Lion Revolution sound card has something to do with it, I don't know.
Click to expand...
Thanks for getting back to me. With NAM and CODEX, you should absolutely be able to get the sound you are looking for. What amp model are you specifically looking for - maybe I can assist with finding a capture?
 
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#397
Thank you for your help. I can get the sounds I want with Genome, but it requires time and effort, it's not something you can do on the fly, easily.

However, I've never managed to get good sound quality. I always get this muddy sound. I haven't found a solution; it's certainly due to my skill level or my equipment.

I tried calibrating the Genome input according to your recommendations, but without any improvement.
 
#398
youkoulou said:
Thank you for your help. I can get the sounds I want with Genome, but it requires time and effort, it's not something you can do on the fly, easily.

However, I've never managed to get good sound quality. I always get this muddy sound. I haven't found a solution; it's certainly due to my skill level or my equipment.

I tried calibrating the Genome input according to your recommendations, but without any improvement.
Click to expand...
Thank you for getting back to me. If possible, if you can send me some screenshots of your GENOME session with some links to target tones, I can certainly make some recommendations! Always happy to help out on the hunt for better tone! Thanks so much!
 
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#399
Here’s an addition to my previous praise for this gizmo…

I’ve had a Boss Katana mk1 for years that I use for guitar. I like it a lot for rehearsals and playing out, but through headphones it always sounds “meh.” Almost prefer to practice unplugged vs that tinny sound. So my expectations about ME90B for headphone practice were low…

It sounds so good, multiple times I’ve tricked myself into thinking I accidentally cranked my amp and will wake up the family! Then I take the headphones off and confirm, nope - that’s just an audio illusion. 5 out of 5 stars! Pretty sweet.
 
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#400
RingoK said:
Here’s an addition to my previous praise for this gizmo…

I’ve had a Boss Katana mk1 for years that I use for guitar. I like it a lot for rehearsals and playing out, but through headphones it always sounds “meh.” Almost prefer to practice unplugged vs that tinny sound. So my expectations about ME90B for headphone practice were low…

It sounds so good, multiple times I’ve tricked myself into thinking I accidentally cranked my amp and will wake up the family! Then I take the headphones off and confirm, nope - that’s just an audio illusion. 5 out of 5 stars! Pretty sweet.
Click to expand...
Yup, it sounds incredible through headphones doesn't it, it's an awesome unit!
 
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