Boss ME-30 Guitar Multi-Efffects

July 11, 1997 -- Stepping up to deliver professional-quality guitar multi-effects at an unbelievably low price, BOSS proudly premieres the ME-30 Guitar Multiple Effects unit. Equipped with 16 onboard effects, a built-in assignable expression pedal, a luminous icon-driven LCD and an innovative "Phrase Trainer" to record and practice riffs from an external audio source, the pedalboard-style ME-30 is poised to give entry and intermediate-level guitarists comprehensive, powerful multi-effects for practice and performance.

The ME-30 starts by employing BOSS' newest, ultra-clean digital signal processing technology, ensuring that every drop of guitar tone and playing nuance is faithfully captured. Then it gives guitarists 16 great multi-effects options including Compressor, analog Distortion and Overdrive, EQ, Phaser, Noise Suppressor, Chorus, Flanger, Pitch Shifter, Tremolo, Delay, Reverb and Amp Simulator, with three additional effects-Wah, "Tremolo Arm" and Ring Modulation-assignable to a built-in Expression Pedal.

Standout effects include rich, full BOSS analog Overdrive and screaming Distortion, ultra-clean Reverb and Delay, and the pitch-shifting "Tremolo Arm" effect-which allows insane dive-bombs and whammy pyrotechnics through the built-in Expression Pedal.

Guitarists can choose from up to 30 preset multi-effects "Patches" or create up to 30 of his or her own for a total of 60 patches. Even better, all editing and effects programming are done through a luminous LCD and a super-friendly, icon-driven interface which uses "chained" stomp-box icons to instantly confirm which effects are in use at any given time.

In EDIT mode, the blinking effect name above each pedal icon lets users know exactly which effect is being edited. And with "virtual" knob editing icons, even beginners will have no problem creating and editing their own effects patches-it's as simple as turning knobs on a stomp box. Once created, these effects patches can be named and stored in any order for very flexible practice and performance options.

Ever wish you could master a difficult riff or lick by slowing it down a notch or two? With its innovative "Phrase Trainer" function and built-in auxiliary input, the ME-30 easily lets practicing guitarists record up to 12 seconds of audio for "loop"-style playback. Then the ME-30 lets guitarists slow down the sampled audio phrase to as low as 25% of its original speed-without affecting its pitch-perfect for developing KILLER guitar chops! Audio phrase recording and playback times are confirmed instantly, as are Expression Pedal assignments.

Rounded out with features like a built-in Tuner, an onboard Amp Simulator for "live" sounding late-night headphone practice and recording, an adjustable input setting with icons for different guitars/pickups, and optional battery operation (using six "AA" cells), the ME-30 gives guitarists world-renowned BOSS multi-effects in a convenient, amazingly low-priced pedalboard.

BOSS products are manufactured and distributed by Roland Corporation. The suggested retail price is $299.

For more information, visit their web site at www.rolandus.com.