Boss VE-22From real comments

Verdict distilled from 39 mentions across 14 aspects in comments under product review videos.

Positive sentiment32%
PROS 32%
CONS 68%

Rank based on 39 mentions across 14 aspects

View the verdict as

Buy this if...

  • You want a simple, portable all-in-one vocal effects pedal without deep looping needs
  • You're upgrading from the VE-20 and want better sound quality and a color screen
  • You mainly use presets live and don't need automatic key/chord detection

What users love

Skip this if...

  • You need automatic harmony detection via guitar or MIDI input
  • You require the ability to back up or share user presets via USB
  • You want smooth effect transitions and full control over delay/reverb parameters

What users complain about

Compare in seconds

Based on user comments

Best choice
1Mid
Mad Professor Fire Red Fuzz
Articulate soundGreat with extended-range guitarsStrong overall tone qualityPrice concerns
Mad Professor Fire Red Fuzz
Articulate sound
Great with extended-range guitars
Strong overall tone quality
Price concerns
2Premium
Mad Professor Deep Blue Delay
Musical analog toneLong-term reliability and board loyaltySimple, intuitive controlsHigh price pointCheaper alternatives seen as comparableDistortion at high settings
Mad Professor Deep Blue Delay
Musical analog tone
Long-term reliability and board loyalty
Simple, intuitive controls
High price point
Cheaper alternatives seen as comparable
Distortion at high settings
3Premium
Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive
Touch-sensitive dynamicsLong-term favorite / durability of appealSweet, low-gain tone qualityHigh price versus clonesDeluxe loses some original characterLimited mid control
Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive
Touch-sensitive dynamics
Long-term favorite / durability of appeal
Sweet, low-gain tone quality
High price versus clones
Deluxe loses some original character
Limited mid control
Best value
4Mid
MXR Super Badass Distortion
Exceptional versatilityNatural, amp-like tonePowerful 3-band EQDemo videos undersell the pedalNoticeable noise floorVolume drop when engaged
MXR Super Badass Distortion
Exceptional versatility
Natural, amp-like tone
Powerful 3-band EQ
Demo videos undersell the pedal
Noticeable noise floor
Volume drop when engaged
5Premium
Eventide Orville
Exceptional reverb qualityHigh-quality warm pitch shiftingStrong aspirational appealHigh priceCheaper alternatives may sufficeEffect can feel like it plays for you
Eventide Orville
Exceptional reverb quality
High-quality warm pitch shifting
Strong aspirational appeal
High price
Cheaper alternatives may suffice
Effect can feel like it plays for you
6Premium
Origin Effects Deluxe61
Authentic amp-like toneExcellent low-to-mid gain driveUnderrated favorite among ownersHigh price pointLimited gain-staging flexibilityNo built-in reverb
Origin Effects Deluxe61
Authentic amp-like tone
Excellent low-to-mid gain drive
Underrated favorite among owners
High price point
Limited gain-staging flexibility
No built-in reverb
7Premium
Roland TR-808
Iconic, powerful kick drumWarmer, more alive analog characterCultural and historical influenceExtremely high collector priceAnalog noise and static requiring EQReliability concerns of aging hardware
Roland TR-808
Iconic, powerful kick drum
Warmer, more alive analog character
Cultural and historical influence
Extremely high collector price
Analog noise and static requiring EQ
Reliability concerns of aging hardware
8Premium
Moog Subsequent 37
Inspiring and addictive to playWarm, fat analog toneStrong DAW/VST editor integrationHigh price for what it offersLimited versatility outside bass rangeNeeds effects/partner gear to shine
Moog Subsequent 37
Inspiring and addictive to play
Warm, fat analog tone
Strong DAW/VST editor integration
High price for what it offers
Limited versatility outside bass range
Needs effects/partner gear to shine
9
Wampler Tumnus V2
Klon Centaur-style toneConvincing demo influenced purchaseExcellent clean boostNot suited for metal tones
Wampler Tumnus V2
Klon Centaur-style tone
Convincing demo influenced purchase
Excellent clean boost
Not suited for metal tones
10Mid
Wampler Paisley Drive
Transparent toneVersatile across genresWorks well across many guitar typesTwo-channel routing complexityDry signal bleed-throughInconsistent demo impressions
Wampler Paisley Drive
Transparent tone
Versatile across genres
Works well across many guitar types
Two-channel routing complexity
Dry signal bleed-through
Inconsistent demo impressions
You are here
31Mid
Boss VE-22
Bigger color screen and improved layoutEasier to use out of the boxImproved sound quality over predecessorsNo automatic harmony/chord detectionAbrupt effect cutoffsExcessive gimmicky effects, few useful presets
Boss VE-22
Bigger color screen and improved layout
Easier to use out of the box
Improved sound quality over predecessors
No automatic harmony/chord detection
Abrupt effect cutoffs
Excessive gimmicky effects, few useful presets

Who wins on what

Ranked by what users actually praise

Overall Impression

Sound quality and ease of use impress upgraders from older Boss units. Commenters who traded up from the VE-500 or VE-20 note the VE-22 sounds better and is easier to use right out of the box, with a top-notch harmonizer, solid compressor, EQ and de-esser. The bigger color screen and larger, foot-friendly buttons were called clear improvements. One long-time VE-2 user planned to buy it for compact gigs with poor PA systems, citing its portability and battery power.

Missing automatic harmony detection frustrates many buyers. Numerous commenters are upset that the VE-22 lacks guitar or MIDI-based automatic key/chord detection for harmonies, unlike TC Helicon competitors and even older Boss models with add-ons. This forces manual key-setting for every song, which several called a dealbreaker and one reason they returned the unit or regretted the purchase, especially for gigging musicians playing many songs per night.

Workflow quirks like abrupt cutoffs and no preset backup hold it back. Users report effects cut off sharply instead of fading when switching patches or turning off delay/reverb, which disrupts live performances. There's no PC editor or way to back up/share user presets via USB, pitch correction can't be paired with other effects in the same block, and the default key resets to C on every preset change, all cited as inconvenient compared to rivals.

Outdated / Not-accurate data?