The legendary BOSS BR Series of multi-track recorders hasn’t had an update for over 10 years now. Could the BOSS BR-1000 be on the horizon?
Before the BOSS BR-1000: History of the BOSS BR Series
Before we get into my wish list for the BOSS BR-1000, let’s check out the BOSS BR series history. In this article, I’ll start with my own experience of using these brilliant recorders.
BOSS BR-8
I’d cut my teeth on old cassette-based recorders like the Tascam Porta-05, but in the space-year 2000 I was about to take things into the digital realm. The BOSS BR-8 was a mini-disk-based recorder which provided a lot of features I still miss today. A one-stop solution for vocals, guitar, drums, and bass, handled by the COSM processor and the rhythm track. True, those mini disks were expensive and you could only store above three songs on them, but the conveniences far outweighed any shortcomings.
In the end, it was its lack of connectivity that began to grate as the years and technology rolled on. I really wanted a better storage solution and the editing and drums felt increasingly limited. Still, as a DAWless, closed system, I loved it.
BOSS BR-600
In comparison to the chunky BR-8, the sleek and sexy BR-600 was a huge upgrade. I loved the twin condenser mics to sketch ideas, the cool champagne finish, and those Sinclair ZX Spectrum-style rubber keys. But the BR-600 was more advanced too. Now I had much smaller (and cheaper) SD storage, with USB connectivity to back up to a computer and far more features, like mastering and complex rhythm arrangements.
But the BR-600 was still a BOSS BR, it still had all those brilliant-sounding zero latency guitar and vocal models, including the amazing GUITAR-TO-BASS patch that negated the need for a bass and produced some of the most intricate bass tracks I’ve ever done. It was still no fuss, plug and play. It was still a joy to work with and one of the quickest and easiest routes to actually getting songs done.
I loved it even more than the BR-8, but as DAWs became more and more prevalent I was seduced by AutoTune, EzDrummer, mastering software, and automation. But the grass wasn’t always greener. I always preferred the immediacy and convenience of the BR series. I always loved the way my vocals and guitars sounded out of the box without any fuss. Most of all I was always more productive, and it was always more fun.
BOSS BR-800
When 2010 came around. The BR-800 was one the easiest purchases I ever made. Now we had full USB-connectivity with the BR-800 able to function as an audio interface for the first time. The best of both worlds? See my full review here, but sadly this iteration marked the end of my love affair. In many ways, it felt like a backward step. No drum editing (although drums were now handled through the DAW), and not a whole lot extra to write home about. It was as if BOSS had finally thrown in the towel to the DAW world, producing a unit that could no longer be productive off the grid. It just wasn’t as fun anymore, and it was at that point that I ventured afield onto iPads and Garageband. Shame
BOSS BR-1000
But I don’t want to have to use an audio interface to connect to my iPad. It’s a pain. I’m not really bothered about the drummers and live loops. I don’t much care for the vocal effects or the guitar amps. What I REALLY want is for BOSS to fall in love with producing home-recording world-beating multi-track recorders again. What I really want is a BOSS BR-1000!
Zoom has done something interesting with the R20 / R12, but it’s not quite there, so here’s my wish list for a potential market-leading multi-tracker for BOSS.
- The latest BOSS/Roland tech for the vocal and guitar FX, out of the box, directly into the unit. No messing. AIRD would be nice.
- A decent LCD screen, similar to the Zoom R20, making mixing and drums a breeze.
- And on the subject of drums. It needs to be song-orientated, so lots of styles, kits, and sections, (intro, ending, v1, v2, fills, etc). Just like it should be for a BOSS BR. Drum editing shouldn’t be necessary if there are enough parts to play with.
- Something lacking in the Zoom R20.: Proper auto punch-in/out, loop recording with markers. Again, the way it’s always been for the BR Series.
- Two combined inputs max. There really is no need for any more. And phantom power obviously.
- Keep those dual condenser mics. Those were great! Too much to ask but if the size and quality are a step up from the BR-800 they might even work as a main vocal mic?
- A decent inbuilt auto-tune. One that works properly this time please, BOSS.
- Simple mastering out of the box, and perhaps a mechanism for sharing the finished song, which doesn’t involve moving SD cards about. Maybe Bluetooth?
That would be perfect.
So come on BOSS/Roland. Please make the BR-1000 happen. Making music just isn’t as much fun as it used to be!
What’s your experience of the BOSS BR Series? What’s on your wish list for the BOSS BR-1000? Do you prefer DAWs nowadays? Drop me a comment below.
