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Re: Boss MS-3 Multi Effects Switcher Megathread

Posted: Wed Sep 27, 2017 11:19 am
by handsoffmatt
Stingy Brim wrote:
handsoffmatt wrote:
GrantB wrote:
Good idea though huh!
Mmmmm. Depends. A lot of people are attracted by the size of the MS-3. DC outlets would make it appreciably larger.

The PSB power supply that ships with the MS3 is capable of running MANY pedals - so a daisy chain would be all you need...
Hi Matt

Please excuse my pedal power short-comings ;
So you're saying I can plug a 4 plug daisy chain onto the end of the MS-3 power supply and have it power three external overdrive pedals and the MS-3 with no issues ??

Cheers
SB
OK so firstly. I made a mistake. We ship a PSA power supply with the MS3 (not a PSB).

Boss PSA = 9v 500mA
Boss PSB = 9v 2000mA

Daisy chains allow you to power multiple pedals off a single power supply, providing they are all the same VOLTAGE (in this case 9V DC). Luckily, the vast majority of pedals (including the MS3) run at the same voltage 9VDC.

It's then a case of how much CURRENT your power supply can safely handle. The BOSS PSA can provide a maximum load of 500mA. The MS-3 draws 280mA, so it's then a case of adding up the total mA requirements of your other pedals. If the total is 500 or under, then you can run them all off the PSA with a daisy chain. If the total is MORE than 500 - you'll need a more powerful power supply (like the BOSS PSB)

The next hurdle though is noise. Not everybody makes pedals to the same stringent quality levels than we do, and it's not uncommon that if you are using non-BOSS pedals, then one of them might introduce some kind of noise when plugged into the daisy chain. You won't know this until you try it. If this happens, then it complicates the issue, and you may have to invest in some sort of power supply with isolated outputs.

If you're using all BOSS pedals though, you almost certainly won't run into this issue and can daisy chain them all with impunity.

Re: Boss MS-3 Multi Effects Switcher Megathread

Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2017 4:22 am
by Stingy Brim
Fantastic - Thank you Matt.

Re: Boss MS-3 Multi Effects Switcher Megathread

Posted: Sat Sep 21, 2019 9:27 am
by griff
2 year old thread resurrection..
Pretty keen on one of these.
Mainly wondering how well it does dual amp setups. Can I hook up two amps with 4cm?
They seem like amazing units for the price.

Re: Boss MS-3 Multi Effects Switcher Megathread

Posted: Sat Sep 21, 2019 11:04 am
by slash-ed
griff7628 wrote:2 year old thread resurrection..
Pretty keen on one of these.
Mainly wondering how well it does dual amp setups. Can I hook up two amps with 4cm?
They seem like amazing units for the price.
Are you looking to use the onboard effects with your two amps?

MS-3 won't do dual 4cm, the loops are sequential so you'd end up with one amp feeding into the other.

You could do this with a GT-1000 which has two dedicated sets of effects sends/returns, and the ability to branch those off and even use completely different effects with either of those amps.

Image

Re: Boss MS-3 Multi Effects Switcher Megathread

Posted: Sat Sep 21, 2019 11:19 am
by griff
slash-ed wrote:
griff7628 wrote:2 year old thread resurrection..
Pretty keen on one of these.
Mainly wondering how well it does dual amp setups. Can I hook up two amps with 4cm?
They seem like amazing units for the price.
Are you looking to use the onboard effects with your two amps?

MS-3 won't do dual 4cm, the loops are sequential so you'd end up with one amp feeding into the other.

You could do this with a GT-1000 which has two dedicated sets of effects sends/returns, and the ability to branch those off and even use completely different effects with either of those amps.

Image
Thanks Ed.
Yeah looking for effects too.
So could the ES8 do dual 4cm?
Will have a look at the GT1000.

Re: Boss MS-3 Multi Effects Switcher Megathread

Posted: Sat Sep 21, 2019 11:31 am
by slash-ed
You can run loops in parallel on an ES switcher, but then you wouldn't have the built-in effects of course. A dual amp 4cm setup with pedal switcher AND an array of pedals sounds like a patch cable troubleshooting nightmare waiting to happen to me :lol:

Definitely check out the GT-1000 for your application, I reckon.

Re: Boss MS-3 Multi Effects Switcher Megathread

Posted: Sat Sep 21, 2019 1:53 pm
by Mattallica
griff7628 wrote:2 year old thread resurrection..
Pretty keen on one of these.
Mainly wondering how well it does dual amp setups. Can I hook up two amps with 4cm?
They seem like amazing units for the price.
Looks like you can set mono left out or right out (or both, stereo) within the patch setting, so that takes care of the loop return for two amps. The trick is to not have the preamps in the loops not overlap as Ed has said. Obviously you select/deselect loops when changing patches but i don't know if you'll get any switching noises.

I don't have the unit to test this out, but you could try:

L1 send -> Preamp 1 input - Preamp 1 loop send -> L2 return
L2 send -> Preamp 2 input - Preamp 2 loop send -> L3 return

This way they can't overlap unless you select all three loops at the same time. I think.
So you would select loops 1 & 2 for first preamp and loops 2 & 3 for second preamp. A single loop would get no sound.

Line/instrument level signal issues not withstanding of course, as the loops are meant for pedals...

Re: Boss MS-3 Multi Effects Switcher Megathread

Posted: Sat Sep 21, 2019 2:34 pm
by griff
Mattallica wrote:
griff7628 wrote:2 year old thread resurrection..
Pretty keen on one of these.
Mainly wondering how well it does dual amp setups. Can I hook up two amps with 4cm?
They seem like amazing units for the price.
Looks like you can set mono left out or right out (or both, stereo) within the patch setting, so that takes care of the loop return for two amps. The trick is to not have the preamps in the loops not overlap as Ed has said. Obviously you select/deselect loops when changing patches but i don't know if you'll get any switching noises.

I don't have the unit to test this out, but you could try:

L1 send -> Preamp 1 input - Preamp 1 loop send -> L2 return
L2 send -> Preamp 2 input - Preamp 2 loop send -> L3 return

This way they can't overlap unless you select all three loops at the same time. I think.
So you would select loops 1 & 2 for first preamp and loops 2 & 3 for second preamp. A single loop would get no sound.

Line/instrument level signal issues not withstanding of course, as the loops are meant for pedals...
Thanks Matt. Im tossing up between this and the Helix HX. Seems like the Helix can do a 7cm.. which seems to be a dual amp solution.

Re: Boss MS-3 Multi Effects Switcher Megathread

Posted: Mon Apr 13, 2020 12:53 pm
by Kris
return of the revenge of the thread dredge:am i correct in assuming the loops need a return to work?you couldnt just use the send?ie for more than two amps?