Boss GX-100 modeller/ multi-fx?

fretmeister

Apparently the AXFx3 now has about 3000 slots!

hollywoodrox

I was really excited to see this as I love the GT 1 , Ive had two  still using one now . 

Always admired the GT 100 and 1000 and have nearly bought an ME50 a few times as I know it can get sounds I like ,also owned a ME 70. 

I feel for what I would like I’m covered By the GT1  which is extremely useful being battery powered . But I really know my next unit will be in the Helix family and looks like it will be the HX Stomp  .  They cover all the hardware models I desire , including things like  80s rack gear  and they have a great range of modelled amps including Friedman and SLO 100.

I downloaded the Boss parameter document which only seems to have about 20 pre amp models 
which for the price could seem lacking to some . 

I’m not knocking Boss , This may outperform the other famous modellers and gives you a lot more for your money in some features probably . But the stomp and Helix I think for me have a wider choice ,although  it will probably be trickier for me to set up as I’m used to dialling stuff in on the GT1 etc which I find quite easy  although assigns can be a bit complicated at times 

StefB

fretmeister said:

StefB said:

NorthernStomps said:

StefB said:

fretmeister said:

Only 16 IR slots is somewhat limiting compared to the competition.

How many does the average user typically use?

Not being flippant, I've just never used IRs and if I did can't see any scenario (in a function band set up) where I'd ever need more than 3 or 4 to cover the main cab types.

I play using a valve amp and never leave the house with fewer than 50 different speaker cabs

So do I, hence my naivety about the *need* for multiple IRs. 

I'm not so far down the other end of the 'all you need is a Bandit/HRD and a HSS Strat to cover every gig' spectrum that I don't understand its nice to have the choice, but still.

It's a recording thing mainly.

But - even if the live approach is very different that still needs the IRs to be auditioned at rehearsals at gig volume before a choice can be made.

An IR is really just another variable setting. You don't pick where your treble control is going to be at home and assume it will work without adjustment at rehearsal at full volume or at every different venue.

So you buy a modest IR pack of a 4x12 loaded with V30 speakers.

That IR pack will probably come with over a hundred different actual IR files

It will have a dozen or so different mic options. Then for each of those mics there will be close medium and far mic distances, and maybe really far room mic as well. Then for each of those, on axis and varying degrees of being off-axis. Sometimes there will be a blend of mics as well - again with an individual file for every permutation.

And this is just for a 4x12 with V30s in it.

Even if you already know your favourite mic for this 4x12 is the good old SM57, you'll still have far more than 16 IRs to audition.

Do you really want to have to take your PC with you just to swap them round rather than just twisting a knob to A/B them?


I think everyone calms down and does end up picking some favourites, but then there are some in big covers bands who have a patch per song and within that patch have a different IR for clean and dirty sounds.

16 really isn't a lot.

Thanks for the explanation @fretmeister, appreciated and useful to know.

fretmeister

I was amazed the first time I bought an IR pack - it was an Ownhammer Mesa 4x12 one.

Literally thousands of files - different capture rates, different IR length, and then all that stuff above.

Very easy to disappear down the rabbit hole and never actually getting any playing done!

TTBZ

I'm quite interested in this, I was looking at the IR-200 as I wouldn't mind trying Boss modelling (I've given Line 6 enough tries now - just not for me) as everyone comments on the feel being the best. This has the X-Modded too which seems the best Boss amp for tones I like. Also Boss FX are great so might be a better pedalboard replacement than the Stomp was. Haven't heard any convincing demos of it yet but if it's the same amps/processing etc as the bigger GTs then it should be capable of sounding great.

16 IRs is plenty imo. I audition IRs by recording direct with the cab turned off then load up NadIR and scroll through til I find what I like, then import that one. With York Audio it's almost always Mix 01 anyway. 

chrisj1602

Having just sold my Pod Go to go back to an Iridium and a few pedals, this is rather annoyingly tempting me.

roberty

bermudianbrit said:

god I detest this trend of touch screens on gear, combined with no screen reader accessibility for the IOS apps or windows apps. I am so tired of every piece of musical gear in the last 10 years screwing blind players.

This is a real shame. The apps in particular should be accessible. I'm sure they would take a complaint like this seriously

roberty

Bidley said:

Agree with @fretmeister, although 16 is plenty when you know which IR you want, when you consider the mic/distance conbinations as well, it's not many at all.

I wonder what the reasoning behind it is. Why not have infinite slots and only be limited by the internal storage capacity?

They upped the number of presets on the DD-200 from 4 to 128 in a subsequent firmware release. Maybe it will happen

UnclePsychosis

Colour me interested... 

tekbow

Having had a look at the parameter guide vs the 1000 series, the gx100 has 24bit AD/DA vs the 32 of the 1000, and half the sampling rate at 48khz.

Also has assignable blocks rather than the 1000s fixed blocks, But less of them and the prospect of running out of DSP, much like the HX stuff.

On IRs, I tend to find that 16 would be plenty, but to Boss' credit the new IRs they introduced inthe recent 1000 update are MUCH better.

I tend to just use my CAB M+ in a loop.

NelsonP

The high gain tones sounded a little off to me in the Andertons demo. Typical modell-y, slightly thin, overly compressed, lacking dynamics etc. Was listening with headphones to give it the best shot, but youtube demos not that reliable an indicator etc...

Feature wise I think they nailed it. And the effects will be excellent. I'm sure more amps will come but how many do you need? 16 irs onboard is enough for me. That avoids a huge rabbit hole.

Chuffola

I'm tempted for the effects alone - been thinking about which multi-fx would be worth getting and will be going into a decent amp, so no real need for amp modelling for me (although always useful to have for various reasons)

If I do use the amps, a smaller number of great sounding ones is more useful to me than 300 slight variations a la Line 6. 

Horses for courses though!

EricTheWeary

I watched a bit of the Brett Kingman video and it was very much this sounds like a multi FX and Boss can't make it out of the 80s. Which isn't to say it's not better than that in reality or that Brett was having user error but in terms of YT there are £50 boxes that can sound like that. 

TTBZ

tekbow said:

Having had a look at the paramount guide vs the 1000 series, the gx100 has 24bit AD/DA vs the 32 of the 1000, and half the sampling rate at 48khz.

This could explain some of the poor sounding clips so far. Waiting for some comparison clips to see how it stacks up compared to the GT and see what people think of the feel in comparison. Hopefully Leon Todd will do a proper run through of the amp models through his IRs as I thought his GT1000 tones were the best I've heard out of it.

Out of all the Boss stuff I've seen, the most consistently decent clips across all YouTube channels have been with the IR-200 so far. I guess having all that power dedicated to just amp models must make a difference somehow.

tekbow

TTBZ said:

tekbow said:

Having had a look at the paramount guide vs the 1000 series, the gx100 has 24bit AD/DA vs the 32 of the 1000, and half the sampling rate at 48khz.

This could explain some of the poor sounding clips so far. Waiting for some comparison clips to see how it stacks up compared to the GT and see what people think of the feel in comparison. Hopefully Leon Todd will do a proper run through of the amp models through his IRs as I thought his GT1000 tones were the best I've heard out of it.

Out of all the Boss stuff I've seen, the most consistently decent clips across all YouTube channels have been with the IR-200 so far. I guess having all that power dedicated to just amp models must make a difference somehow.

Obviously I meant parameter guide.

Sorry, typo and autocorrect did the rest.

menamestom

TTBZ said:

tekbow said:

Having had a look at the paramount guide vs the 1000 series, the gx100 has 24bit AD/DA vs the 32 of the 1000, and half the sampling rate at 48khz.

This could explain some of the poor sounding clips so far.

I would be very surprised if anybody could tell the difference between sample 48 and 96 sample rates, especially via youtube at 44k.

Perhaps it’s less DSP intensive modelling or just nobody has had chance to dial it in yet.

I’m half interested, could swap my stomp for one and have a few more buttons to work with.  But the effects would beed to be amazing.

roberty

menamestom said:

TTBZ said:

tekbow said:

Having had a look at the paramount guide vs the 1000 series, the gx100 has 24bit AD/DA vs the 32 of the 1000, and half the sampling rate at 48khz.

This could explain some of the poor sounding clips so far.

I would be very surprised if anybody could tell the difference between sample 48 and 96 sample rates, especially via youtube at 44k.

Perhaps it’s less DSP intensive modelling or just nobody has had chance to dial it in yet.

I’m half interested, could swap my stomp for one and have a few more buttons to work with.  But the effects would beed to be amazing.

I think there are reasons to use higher res audio for DSP calculations but anything beyond 44/16 is outside the audible range

Voxman

I've not heard the GT1000 but I am curious to hear and feel the AIRD system that reportedly gives a much more amp in the room feel. 

smogmonster

There is no mention of a looper. It would be a bit a bit disappointing if that is one of the things they have cut to make that price point. 

Voxman

smogmonster said:

There is no mention of a looper. It would be a bit a bit disappointing if that is one of the things they have cut to make that price point. 

Same 19s looper as in GT1000.  Same number of amp models but GX100 appears to have more fx. It has 2 routing options and up to 15 blocks v 3 routing options with up to 24 blocks in GT1000.

The GT1000 has fx always on which I'm told make patch and fx switching virtually instantaneous. GX100 doesnt work this way so don't know how the GX100 switching will compare here. 

However, I wouldn't be surprised if Boss revamp the GT1000 with more intuitive UI and touch screen in the very near future. 

I would also be surprised if manufacturers like Mooer and Line 6 also didn't have some similar new touchscreen units in the works for 2022.