Boss PX-1 Plugout FX

[gonzoknife]

The freakout over this pedal is over the top. It seems like a decent pedal but not for everyone. I think it's a little overpriced but Boss is in a tough spot where if they price it too low it starts to compete with the actual pedals it models.

I could see myself getting one on sale or after the [insert banned word for import charges] end. I keep looking for a small utility pedal for one off needs. One thing the PX-1 has over the HX One is I guarantee the Boss doesn't have the same white noise problem Line 6 has. That hiss immediately made the HX One useless for me which was a real letdown.

Pedal aside, I think Boss marketing really blew the rollout. The confusion is 100% their fault.

 

[itchyfingers]

Mine will be here Tuesday. I love Boss. I love the concept of a Swiss Army pedal, pourin one out to my I stomp. I love the colorway. It’s the same reason I bought a Katana, to have access to the Boss library for peanuts. I have a grip of Boss pedals, but the rare old ones are rarely worth the investment. Lowest price for a complete and working unit on Reverb today:

OD-1, $438
SP-1, $365
PH-1, $127
SG-1, $499
CS-1, $80
TW-1, $115
SD-1, $55
DS-1, $40
CE-2, $160
BF-2, $130
PN-2, $225
OC-2, $150
PS-2, $105
VB-2, $350
DD-2, $125
DF-2, $162

So what’s that add up to? By my shitty math: $3162 and a full PedalTrain. Versus $250 and one Boss compact sized slot on the pedal board for the PX-1. In 6 months I get to add a few more pedals for 10 bucks each. Seems like a no brainer to me!

Yall out here complaining about micro transactions?

 

[synthpenguin]

Mine will be here Tuesday. I love Boss. I love the concept of a Swiss Army pedal, pourin one out to my I stomp. I love the colorway. It’s the same reason I bought a Katana, to have access to the Boss library for peanuts. I have a grip of Boss pedals, but the rare old ones are rarely worth the investment. Lowest price for a complete and working unit on Reverb today:

OD-1, $438
SP-1, $365
PH-1, $127
SG-1, $499
CS-1, $80
TW-1, $115
SD-1, $55
DS-1, $40
CE-2, $160
BF-2, $130
PN-2, $225
OC-2, $150
PS-2, $105
VB-2, $350
DD-2, $125
DF-2, $162

So what’s that add up to? By my shitty math: $3162 and a full PedalTrain. Versus $250 and one Boss compact sized slot on the pedal board for the PX-1. In 6 months I get to add a few more pedals for 10 bucks each. Seems like a no brainer to me!

Yall out here complaining about micro transactions?

It’s cool that it works for you and that you’re excited about all of those emulations. I wouldn’t personally find most of them very useful, especially not all in the same slot of my pedalboard, and with the value logic, I’d rather just get a VP4 and have 4 slots and all the routing and control flexibility that comes with it (not to mention a lot of other FX and the free updates)

But yeah, if you just want a stereo mod effect or something—the sort of thing you’d only use one of at a time of and all in the same spot—or I guess if you want a problem solver you move around for different boards, then it can make sense.

But either way, no I don’t like Boss normalizing microtransactions for multifx when every relevant competitor is providing free updates with new FX.

 

[Lysander]

So what’s that add up to? By my shitty math: $3162 and a full PedalTrain. Versus $250 and one Boss compact sized slot on the pedal board for the PX-1

Look, it's cool you got a PX-1, which by all accounts sounds great, but justifying the decision based on Reverb prices is... ill advised

SP-1 and SG-1? Those are expensive because they're rare, they're rare because they were discontinued fast, and they were discontinued fast because no one bought the damn things. Boss pedals which are actually good, like the DS-1, sell for dirt cheap and have been in continuous production for 45+ years.

 

[Sascha Franck]

So what’s that add up to? By my shitty math: $3162 and a full PedalTrain.

Ok, let's consider that calculation is valid.
Then, when the pedal arrives, post some sound file running a TW-1 into an OC-2 on the PX-1. Maybe add a little PH-1 on top.
We'll see how your math works out then.

 

[laxu]

Mine will be here Tuesday. I love Boss. I love the concept of a Swiss Army pedal, pourin one out to my I stomp. I love the colorway. It’s the same reason I bought a Katana, to have access to the Boss library for peanuts. I have a grip of Boss pedals, but the rare old ones are rarely worth the investment. Lowest price for a complete and working unit on Reverb today:

OD-1, $438
SP-1, $365
PH-1, $127
SG-1, $499
CS-1, $80
TW-1, $115
SD-1, $55
DS-1, $40
CE-2, $160
BF-2, $130
PN-2, $225
OC-2, $150
PS-2, $105
VB-2, $350
DD-2, $125
DF-2, $162

So what’s that add up to? By my shitty math: $3162 and a full PedalTrain. Versus $250 and one Boss compact sized slot on the pedal board for the PX-1. In 6 months I get to add a few more pedals for 10 bucks each. Seems like a no brainer to me!

Yall out here complaining about micro transactions?

False dichotomy. Most people are not buying vintage Boss pedals unless they are cheap.

Yes even with new pedals and Waza Craft models, you will end up with way more money spent. But you also get something in return:

• Actual analog effects.
• Ability to run all those pedals in whatever combination you want instead of one at a time.
• Dedicated knobs for each pedal.
• Neat colorful little boxes.

Maybe this would make sense if nothing but Boss existed, but you can buy a HX One or TC Plethora X1 for less money and they come with way more fx.

 

[Orvillain]

I love the concept of a Swiss Army pedal

Yeah me too. It's a shame that this isn't what this pedal is.

 

[Sascha Franck]

Maybe this would make sense if nothing but Boss existed, but you can buy a HX One or TC Plethora X1 for less money and they come with way more fx.

Sure, but I don't think they nail some of the Boss tones. But then, we don't know whether the PX-1 really nails those tones, either.

 

[laxu]

Sure, but I don't think they nail some of the Boss tones. But then, we don't know whether the PX-1 really nails those tones, either.

That's not necessarily that important either. If a Boss model on a Line6 does not satisfy...I just use something else that does.

I think it's cool to have a product like the PX-1 for Boss pedal lovers, it's just the pricing model that is fucked up. If it was 10 € to buy a pack of effects, that's ok as the kind of "It's Friday, I might have some fun with new effects" type of expense. Same as buying a capture pack or IR pack or Starbucks or whatever.

10 € per effect...hard sell when the pedal is priced so high.

 

[Sascha Franck]

If a Boss model on a Line6 does not satisfy...I just use something else that does.

Well, that's not exactly possible. IMO there's no octaver as good as the OG OC-2. And nothing as good as the OG TW-1, either.

I think it's cool to have a product like the PX-1 for Boss pedal lovers, it's just the pricing model that is fucked up.

Well, in case you're fine with the 16 pedals available at launch, it might not bother you.
Sure, when you compare feature by feature, others come with a way better VFM factor. But if that was the only important thing, we would all be using MS-50s.
Personally, if they really nailed all the pedals (and it wouldn't be the instant GT-1000 feel, as in the pedals being pretty much far away from the originals), I'd likely be fine with what they offer without extra purchases. And in case they'd allow for cycling through more than 2 patches, I'd defenitely be interested. Even just 3 might be sufficient, that's about what I averagely used with the MS-50. For me, such a pedal would be perfect to add the odd pedal that I don't need as a permanently available thing. Octaver, touch wah, flanger, phaser and maybe the odd drive would be what I'd be interested in. Precisely what the PX-1 has on offer.

 

[synthpenguin]

Sure, but I don't think they nail some of the Boss tones. But then, we don't know whether the PX-1 really nails those tones, either.

fwiw these are all available in Roland Cloud (the first group of them was released there a bit ago, before the PX-1 was announced, and the Boss PX-1 page confirms they’re the “same PX-1 effects”), so anyone can demo them on a computer that way.

They also have an RE-201 and Juno-60 chorus, which aren’t available on the PX1, and a JC120.

Roland - BOSS Effects Pedals | Software Effects

BOSS Effects Pedals: Software Effects - Timeless BOSS effects. Now in your DAW.

www.roland.com

I haven’t tried them since I have no interest in installing the Roland Cloud software again, but I remember hearing good things.

ETA:

 

[synthpenguin]

I wrote this re: preloaded effects and internal memory in a discussion about the PX-1 elsewhere, and figured it was relevant to share here too ~

- - - -

My understanding is that it has 16 slots, but 8 are fixed (the “permanent library”) and 8 are configurable with the app or desktop software.

And then there are 16 effects included with the pedal software, with 8 coming loaded in the 8 fixed slots, and then you can swap out what’s in the 8 user slots with the app / software… BUT only 8 effects are actually pre-installed, and so you require registration and the app / software to access all 16 advertised effects.

See this Boss copy about the second half of the total 16 effects: “The following eight effects are also included with the PX-1, and you can load them into the pedal’s eight user locations. After registering your pedal with a free Roland Account, download the effects into the PX-1 using the BOSS Effect Loader app.”

And then this page of the manual where it shows 8 pre-installed effects: https://static.roland.com/manuals/px-1/en-US/index.html#204456715381582091

This page of the manual also mentions that when performing a factory reset, all effects but the 8 pre-installed ones are deleted: https://static.roland.com/manuals/px-1/en-US/index.html#104609547381599499

That suggests to me that you require the app and registration to actually access all 16 effects (i.e. 8/16 effects are not preloaded). It’s worth mentioning that those 8 that are not pre-installed are some of the more popular non-drive Boss effects like the chorus and flanger and octave pedal.

This also raises questions about license transfers when buying used, but I’m not sure what is typical with Roland / Boss there (e.g. with their plugout synths).

One other thing: the first manual page I linked to above mentions: “The number of effects you can save on the PX-1 depends on the size of the effects that are already stored on this device.” So while it may not be the case with the current available effects, this seems to mean that there may be combinations that don’t actually allow you to have 16 effects on the pedal at once, and so internal memory probably is pretty limited.

 

[Dave Lewis]

Phillip McKnight don’t like it or does he

 

[gonzoknife]

The more I read about the PX-1 I think it's a great idea that's handicapped by Boss which is a very Boss thing to do. Simply providing midi patch changes would have been a huge win. It would have been a great utility pedal if you could scroll through all the models on the pedal with a foot switch or midi.

Why does Boss always have to be Boss?

[note: if it drops in price I still may buy it *cough* Black Friday *cough*)

 

[synthpenguin]

The more I read about the PX-1 I think it's a great idea that's handicapped by Boss which is a very Boss thing to do. Simply providing midi patch changes would have been a huge win. It would have been a great utility pedal if you could scroll through all the models on the pedal with a foot switch or midi.

Why does Boss always have to be Boss?

[note: if it drops in price I still may buy it *cough* Black Friday *cough*)

Agreed.

Honestly, for all my criticism, if it had midi patch changes and all 16 effects preloaded (so it didn’t require registration and downloading an app to get them all), I’d seriously consider it (especially used) since I’ve been looking at stereo chorus pedals anyway.

As it is though, I’d rather not mess with it, personally. Especially since I throughly disliked my previous experience with the software side of Roland Cloud stuff.

Either way, I’d never buy additional effects out of principle lol

 

[synthpenguin]

I am really curious if they’re going to eventually introduce the Juno 60 Chorus and Space Echo FX they have in the Roland Cloud though. The latter would probably be fairly awkward with only three knobs, but maybe doable.

If this goes well for them, I do expect to see a next-gen Boss multifx / modeler based around this concept, considering what Roland has been doing with their workstations and digital synths for years now. Something with all these Roland Cloud FX, their newer Roland Cloud JC-120 model, and updated versions of their X amps that they’ll presumably make available as plugins too. And possibly lots of old Roland digital rack fx algos (like they did with adding their old rackmount ROMplers etc to Roland Cloud)

I hope this doesn’t happen though since this sort of stuff killed my interest in a lot of Roland’s current synth / keys lineup. But yeah.

 

[david57strat]

I've got nothing against BOSS pedals. I've owned and used quite a large number of their offerings over the past four or so decades, and still have a hand full of them - but in spite of how long they last and how nicely they're constructed, they are no longer my first choice when I want top-drawer effects of any kind. There are way too many other options available, these days.

I see the PX-1 as a utility pedal for those who don't have many pedals and who like the BOSS look/interface and don't want to be bothered with individual pedal purchases. But, for someone who has pedals from maybe 18 or more different pedal companies, this isn't a “I must have one of these" kind of device.

I'd prefer to just stick with the dedicated pedals I've already got, and may add to those (but still, probably with other dedicated pedals, for the most part). I also prefer the option of placing individual effects in the spot in the chain that they're needed. That's not really an option, with a pedal of this type.

I've already got a GT-1000 Core and HX Stomp and I almost never use them. I'm kind of sorry I purchased them, rather than maybe a half dozen dedicated, high-end pedals, instead. I think the latter would have seen a hell of a lot more use.

I'm saying this, even if the PS-1 can perfectly emulate all the original models of pedals that it claims; but being that it's a digital unit - likely, not. Digital emulations are getting better and better, but I don't believe BOSS are quite there, yet.

The only pedal it claims to emulate, that I may have been interested in buying, is the original BF-2 - but I have an original MIJ BF2 that I absolutely love, and I"m not convinced BOSS have figured out a way to get the same magic that this model had, in digital form (I've also had their GT-3, GX-700, and GT-10 multi-effects processors, and still own all but the GT-3 that I gave to a fellow guitarist) - hence the not inexpensive purchase, some months ago, after having sold my original BF-2, decades ago (big mistake that I'll never make again).

All analog, baby.*

* Not saying I dislike digital effects, at all. I have quite a few of them, and many of them are absolutely stellar.

This particular effect (from BOSS) is one that I prefer in its analog state, though.

 

[spawnofthesith]

While I ultimately think this pedal is kinda dumb, I don’t approve of the attacks on @itchyfingers …


I can -vaguely- respect this unit as far as “rare” boss pedals go. I guess the real litmus test is how accurate the algos are

 

[david57strat]

Oh... that's bloody typical!

DM-2 - the classic Boss delay that almost everybody would want, and it's a paid upgrade.

This is a feckin' cynical move. I wouldn't buy this on principle now.

Proper disingenuous Kemper scheiße right there.

Already have a DM-2W that I picked up, used but in excellent condition, in May of '23, for a song, on TGP.

It happens to be the only analog delay pedal I own - so far. I guess I'm more of a digital guy, when it comes to delay pedals.

I like it a lot, for what it is, but I'm not in love with it, compared to its digital counterparts by many other makers, a few of which are pictured below.

I don't think I'd be in need of a digital wannabe of that pedal - even if available, as an upgrade.

I would imagine that they could far better than the miserable 300 ms maximum delay time (standard tone) of the DM-2W, but the appeal is still not there, for me.

 

[Dez]

This will sell. There are plenty of people that don’t want to fiddle fuck with the HX One, and the Zoom one is mediocre to shit, IME. And fuck Behringturd/TC.

I kinda want one lol