OneWatt
Registered: March 2003
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 27
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Review Date: Fri May 30, 2003
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: $350.00
| Rating: 4
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Pros:
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Quality sound, credible voicings, useful & convincing backup
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Cons:
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Tricky to program
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Just picked up a BOSS Jamstation - thought I'd share a few initial reactions with others here...
My intended use is for use as a "backup band" as I work through arpeggios and solos and over changes/standards. My interest is primarily jazz although the Jamstation is clearly heavier on rock, R&B, pop, plus country, 70s, 80s, fusion - but there are definitely well over a dozen respectable jazz environments (including several 6/8 and 5/4 grooves) plus quite a few latin combinations and others of interest.
Brief review thus far: Surprisingly pleased with the sound quality and fullness of the accompaniments. Not at all cheesy - rich range of sounds with a remarkable amount of control over voices, mix, FX, even EQ, verb , etc.
It's reasonably easy to program ONCE you invest some time to get the hang of it - and in all candor, its panel - although well-constructed and nicely laid out and lit up - is NOT the most intuitive panel to program. Moreoer, the owner's manual (hefty and nicely printed) appears to have been translated from Japanese to Latvian to Armenian to Latin to English, but otherwise it's very clear.
Once you're up and running, you can use loads of preset chord patterns in any key, all in a couple hundred styles. Of course you can program your own chord changes - whole songs with intro, multiple verses, fillins, breaks, ending. Virtually any chord can be voiced, the usual chordal suspects including a healthy selection of flat 5, flat/sharp 9, aug, dim, 6/9, 13, etc. so you probably won't have to squeeze your tune into some primitive reduction of an arrangement as you select the changes you're actually seeking. You can also use midi to load up your own styles/changes (although I haven't had a need to try this yet).
You can also plug your guitar, line in, or mic directly in and hear it mixed in via phones or out to speakers. Morevoer, if you're so inclined you can digitally record your playing in the mix - although you need a smartcard memory for more than a couple of minutes (not of interest to me yet so I can't comment on this feature).
If you're looking for a backup band (drums, bass, keyboard, strings, etc.) in the size of a hardcover book, this is a super choice. I've read that some folks are using it for solo performance, although I'm not sure that's something I'd ever be inclined to do - but this does tell you something about its capabilities. The voicings (drum kits, and full range of midi voices) are extensive so if there's a sound you want, it's most likely in there. Individual control over 4 separate midi tracks + your audio input (converted to digital).
Got it for $350 new at a local music store known for aggressive pricing - have seen them used on the net in the $200s.
Hope this note is of help to someone out there. Life's busy lately but I'll try to respond to particular questions time permitting.
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