When the Boss MS-3 Multi-Effects Processor And Loop Switcher was first announced, it instantly became one of the most anticipated pieces of gear around. Early impressions built it as a powerful yet portable device that could deliver the flexibility and precision of professional-grade setups that normally require dozens of pieces of expensive gear, all for about $400. Truth be told, I was admittedly skeptical. Well, I’ve had a chance to spend some quality time with the Boss MS-3 and all I can say is that it delivered the goods and then some. No, it’s not perfect but it definitely succeeds in its main goal of bringing a massive amount of tonal tools in a sleek little package.
The Features Of The Boss MS-3
At its core, the MS-3 is a hybrid multi-effects processor and loop switcher built into a small board-friendly package. With 112 built-in Boss effects — six of which can be used at one time — and the ability to incorporate three of your own pedals via its loop inputs/outputs, sky’s the limit when it comes to the possible tonal combinations you can dream up. Add in the built-in tuner, noise suppressor, and global EQ, and you have a highly versatile effects powerhouse.
Each effect can also be further tweaked just like a real pedal. This can be done on the unit itself or through your PC/MAC with the included Boss Effects Librarian software. For example, you can set the specific timing for delay, the gain level for distortion, the parameters on the compressor, the mix level of the effect, and so on. You can also rearrange the six effects being used in any order on the signal chain, before or after the three external pedal loops. Once you’re done tweaking to your heart’s content, you can save your work on one of the 200 patches.
Unfortunately, you can’t rearrange the effects loops themselves, so they are essentially grouped together in whatever order you have them setup as. While it’s not a deal-breaker by any means, it would have been nice to be able to arrange each of the three effects loops without having to manually switch their order.
The features don’t end there, though. The MS-3 also comes equipped with stereo outputs for dual amp setups (with the ability to switch between the amps themselves or individual amp channels), MIDI connectivity to interact with MIDI gear, along with both footswitch and expression pedal compatibility.
The Build Of The MS-3
Despite having more tricks up its sleeve than a Vegas magician, the Boss MS-3 is actually a surprisingly compact unit. It comes in at a little less than 10-inches long and 4-inches wide while weighing only 2 ½ lbs. As for the build itself, the MS-3 feels extremely sturdy and durable thanks to its brushed aluminum chassis and high-quality construction. From the footswitches to the knobs, to the jacks and buttons, everything feels firm and tight. I particularly like the nice amount of pushback on the knobs and the satisfying clicks of the switches.
While the backlit LCD screen is relatively small, the font is crisp and clear enough that I never had a problem reading it, even during the day. And, of course, the MS-3 is powered through the included AC adapter. All in all, it’s solidly built unit that should easily last you years of constant use.
Controlling The MS-3
With so many features packed into such a small footprint, you might be thinking that operating the MS-3 in real time would be a convoluted mess. Luckily, that couldn’t be farther from the truth. While it does take some time to familiarize yourself with how the MS-3 handles navigating its various features and settings, once you get the hang of it, it’s a fairly intuitive process.
The bulk of the interaction with the MS-3 can be categorized into two main setups — Memory Mode and Manual Mode. As you might have guessed, Memory Mode allows you to quickly select between your pre-saved patches while Manual Mode allows you to set things up manually. The red light indicators help by allowing you know exactly what effect, loop or utility is engaged so you never feel lost while maneuvering through your saved patches or tweaking settings.
Check out the video below for a quick look at setting up your signal chain, dialing in effects, tweaking settings and more.
The MS-3 In Action
While putting the MS-3 through its paces, I lost count of how many times I was surprisingly impressed. I’ve owned plenty of multi-effects units in my life but most of them felt more like toys than professional grade equipment; made to mess around at home and away from the stage or the studio. It was as though I had to compromise quality for having so many different sounds in one box. Not so with MS-3 as the included effects are outstanding.
From the various distortions and overdrives to the delays, reverbs, tremolos and more, each felt as though they were coming from an actual stompbox. And while I doubt anyone will actually take advantage of all 112 choices, it’s nice to know that each effect is treated like a professional tool and not some gimmick or afterthought.
But as good as the built-in effects are, the ability to incorporate three of your favorite stompboxes is truly the killer feature of the MS-3. We all have those two or three pedals we can’t live without and while we can often make due with something else, it always feels like a compromise.
I also have to highlight the included noise suppressor. I don’t know what kind of tech Boss has cooked up behind their noise gate but it is honestly fantastic. Not only was the MS-3 completely noise-free during use, I couldn’t spot a hint of lost dynamics — a problem commonly associated with using noise gates.
And finally, if you’re thinking of adding the MS-3 to your board, I can’t stress enough how much I highly recommend adding an expression pedal and external footswitch to the setup as they each add a ton of added flexibility and control. For example, you can set the footswitch to flip through amp channels, use the expression pedal to control the gain setting on a distortion effect, and so much more.
Final Thoughts …
It’s truly insane the number of sonic possibilities this little unit can bring to the table. From the countless number of high-quality effects, powerful utilities and the impressive amount of control, the MS-3 truly sets the bar for a multi-effects unit can and should be. While some might want to dismiss the MS-3 as a fly rig meant for situations where you can’t bring your entire rig with you, or for new players looking to build their effects collection, I strongly beg to differ. The MS-3 isn’t a piece of gear you use when you don’t have access to your normal rig — it is powerful and flexible enough to be at the core of it.
Your Turn to Sound Off!
Do you feel your sound can benefit from a feature rich piece of gear like the MS-3 or just make things more complicated than they need to be?
Let us know in the comment section below!
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