BOSS VE-500 Vocal Performer UPDATE

[johntee]

Hi,

This is an update to my post on 12th April 2019, it reveals the answer to my original question as to whether the BOSS VE-500 effects can be modulated via a MIDI keyboard input besides that of a guitar. As there is little available info to date on this, I'm hoping the following will clarify the position for our keyboard players should they wish to buy a VE-500 themselves.

"I received my BOSS VE-500 today and I've been navigating the on board menus for MIDI keyboard interfacing. Initially the unit which I received needed a System update, from 1.03 to 1.05, which the dealers didn't know about even though 1.03 goes back to 2018 and the VE-500's launch. It makes me wonder sometimes whether employees ever investigate or familiarise themselves with new product lines when they arrive in stock, or just drink coffee looking cool.

I eventually found that said update via "(www).Boss.info/support" website but it needs some selective searching for the same. Likewise the supplied in box 'OWNERS MANUAL' is very, very brief and basic. Again I needed to search for their online pdf version plus another called "Parameter Guide" which gives more detail of the VE-500's in depth menus. This was accessed via the Boss website too. (www).Boss.info/global/support/by_product/ve-500/owners_manuals/". The VE-500's software program for editing / creating 'PATCHES' on PC or Mac is rather neat and similar in fashion to MicroKorg's Patch Editor. It can also be found on the mentioned Boss manuals web page too.

So now the good new. The VE-500 will interface with my 'Yamaha Genos keyboard' via MIDI using my keyboards transmit channel 1. The VE's changeable receiving MIDI channel for tethering can be found within the VE's on case button menus. These buttons and all their parameters can also be likewise selected/ varied when using the "Boss EDITING Software Suite" which is a less daunting challenge to a relative newbie like me.

In consequence to the above I've managed to create some basic Vocoder effects to start with, these are nice for the moment, but do need plenty of additional tweaking.

The Harmoniser's many vocal presets are pleasant too, but I'm no 'on key singer' so that's one for the professional song birds to experiment with.

There are plenty of options in the VE-500 to edit, save, and thereafter write them to memory in an on board 'PRESET USER' section. However, besides my own Vocoder 'creations' I haven't tried using these others presets as yet. I'm pleased with the VE-500 up to now and hopefully, time permitting and with additional help along the way, I'll make it fit my personal musical needs."

Regards to all,
John

[Sam Spoons]

Thanks for the info John, it's great when people follow up when queries are resolved.

FWIW my experience of Roland/Boss is that they are one of the best manufacturers when it comes to having an available archive of software, firmware and .pdf manuals for obsolete gear and their full manuals are usually pretty comprehensive.

[johntee]

Thanks for the info John, it's great when people follow up when queries are resolved.

FWIW my experience of Roland/Boss is that they are one of the best manufacturers when it comes to having an available archive of software, firmware and .pdf manuals for obsolete gear and their full manuals are usually pretty comprehensive.

Hi Sam,

The pleasure is mine. I've always enjoyed giving feedback on anything purchased and believe it is of great help to others before they part with their hard earned cash. However, I do offer such on a personal basis only and without prejudice or recommendation, it's offered in good faith.

The VE-500 is a nice piece of kit but it won't suite everyone's needs. I would recommend any prospective buying musician to try it out for themselves in a dealership as it's not the cheapest of boxes.

Roland / Boss are brilliant creators of gear and I cannot really call them. However, I would encourage them to give better in box manuals if my last purchase was anything to go by.

Regards,
John

[Sam Spoons]

Fair comment, but I prefer .pdf manuals as I can always find them, paper manuals always seem to have disappeared into another dimension whenever I actually need them.

[johntee]

Fair comment, but I prefer .pdf manuals as I can always find them, paper manuals always seem to have disappeared into another dimension whenever I actually need them.

Hi Sam,

Like you I have many pdf's for all sorts of things, so I'm a dedicated pdf-er at heart.

On the VE-500 owners manual issue, which is mega thick because it's in eight languages, a double sided "Quick Start Sheet" with more info would have served me better and saved Roland some dosh on printing and maybe the earth some trees. ( There's my bit for the planet )

I take your drift on paper manuals though . Beam me up Scotty.

Cheers,
John

[johntee]

Hi,

A quick follow on update on the VE-500's Editing Software Suite. I've now had some time to review it and said within my earlier post that it appeared similar to the "microKORG SoundEditor".

Wow, what a mega presumptuous mistake on my part. SORRY

The BOSS VE-500's editing program is very basic by comparison to KORG's and whilst there is easy access to the VE's patches on your PC / Mac, the precise editing of wave-form shapes is somewhat limited. For example, there is no visual "Window" representation of the various wave-form shapes within the Boss software that shows you exact editing of them and this is especially noticeable with many patches. The Korg editor software in my humble opinion is eons better for over all editing functionality etc. That's a mega big let down from the BOSS software creation camp.

I fully recognise that no two manufacturers mirror each other during electronic equipment developments, and in fairness these two products above are certainly VERY different, but they do have a commonality; Software Patch Editing software. The well established, and very much older 'antique' MicroKorg Patch Editor offers so much more to the musician than this latest 2018 flagship of BOSS's.

Do I still like the Boss VE-500 that I've just bought? Yes of course, it is from Roland and that means a lot to me, it's a nice piece of kit. On the subject of editing software, it's very, very dated for 2019.

I may get slated for this personal opinion, but please remember that's all it is; personal. Sometimes the truth can hurt, hopefully not too much in this case. My observations here are not meant with malice or such, for that's truly against my nature, but only with a hint of truth. As one of lifes optimists I sincerely hope that Roland can offer an updated VE-500 software editor in the not to distant future, and more in keeping with the needs of 2019; even "taking a leaf" out of Korg's book.

Regards to all,
John

[Sam Spoons]

Fair comment, but I prefer .pdf manuals as I can always find them, paper manuals always seem to have disappeared into another dimension whenever I actually need them.

Hi Sam,

Like you I have many pdf's for all sorts of things, so I'm a dedicated pdf-er at heart.

On the VE-500 owners manual issue, which is mega thick because it's in eight languages, a double sided "Quick Start Sheet" with more info would have served me better and saved Roland some dosh on printing and maybe the earth some trees. ( There's my bit for the planet )

I take your drift on paper manuals though . Beam me up Scotty.

Cheers,
John

I hate multi language manuals, but worse still are those quick start guides with all languages on the same page then, to add insult to injury, the .pdf is a 'cut sheet' of the same doc

[johntee]

Hi Sam,

RE: I hate multi language manuals, but worse still are those quick start guides with all languages on the same page then, to add insult to injury, the .pdf is a 'cut sheet' of the same doc

Yes there's some really crappy ones supplied these days and not to good with supportive English. I suppose "NO ONE SIZE FITS ALL" fits the bill here.

Incidentally, since my previous post on the subject on BOSS Software Patch Editor's weakness's compared to MicroKorg XL, I've plonked about with the VE's a bit more and tweaked some other Vocoder patches which are quite interesting, It was more time intensive and consuming than using Korg's with it's visual waveform editing window and 'mouse click' reshaping of the same, but I'm a wee bit happier with it now. I'm still hoping for a more updated one from BOSS though.

I'm taking my wife and family to "Take That" concert at the MEN Arena tonight. I know I'm showing my age here but we got MEGA good seats on Row A at the front.

NOSTALGIA, who can beat it.

Regards,
John