Boss VE-8chat_bubble_outlineFrom real comments

A very large number of commenters describe the manual as poorly written, with tiny print and buried parameters that require repeated reading to understand. Several say basic functions are intuitive but advanced settings are hard to find and recall later.

@yuriytitov1973

The thing what I really really agree is about of BOSS devices' knobs settings and User's Manual. I believe the Roland must kickout a team who makes up the User's Manuals...\nThe knobs functions are never to be frienly and clear understood, they are always strange mixed up, and you never find out yourself until you read a manual 5 times. Then if you didn't use some function a some time, you need to read the manual again otherwise you will not recall it by yourself.\nThe Uset's Manuals are supposed to explain to the user how to use a device in easiest and understandable way. I have many Roland and BOSS gadgets: guitar processors, pedals, also the VE-8. When I tried to read the manuals my brain collapsed, When I have finished the manual of BOSS VE-8 I forgotten what I bought this device for... 🤯 I call this \"plenty things about nothing\". The simple things are complicated, the searching parameters are hidden...\nThanx that we may have such video reviews with some additional helps and explanaitions.launch

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February 21, 2023

@lgovantes1

Awesome tutorial. You are a great teacher and performer and added just the right amount of humor to keep me engaged. It seems that the basic functions are intuitive but the complex functions are berried in the menus. I love the unit, but I wonder if a future upgrade would maybe make use of an app to set parameters easier. I love the fact that is uses batteries for using it for busking.launch

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March 14, 2022

@mattd7650

Where is Boss Support when something isn't working like it should? Because my ve-8 isn't. The vocal and guitar channels won't split on any of the outputs. I have done what the manual instructs, but both channels always have vocals. The same problem with usb audio too, you can't split the signals. And for the life of me I can find any real \"support\" from Boss. No email, no chat, nothing.launch

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February 24, 2022

@phallicusoblongus

This was by far the most informational and helpful video for those who didn't understand the manual. My only gripe is that I wish you covered how to effectively use the pitch correction. Regardless if you agree with pitch correction, you can use it ass an effect just as much as you can use it as a crutch. I would have really loved to hear how the correction worked if not for instructional purposes.launch

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November 6, 2020

Multiple users report accidentally hitting the harmony and loop footswitches together, causing distorted 'crazy radio voice' sounds mid-song that require stopping and resetting the unit entirely.

@LuGuRamos

This happens to me periodically… what I did was:\n• Programmed a patch were it’s all clean, no effects, so if I hit the 2 pedals it doesn’t make horrible sounds (just goes into the memory of a dull patch);\n• Always when this happens, I hold down the 2 pedals, and it goes back to what it was like before activating the memory (no need to reset the pedal or bend down to hit the memory button).\n\nDepending on the sound system, your position, etc., going into the memory patches may cause some high feedback noise, but it lasts only 2 seconds (the time I take to deactivate it).\n\nI simply love this pedal, but I’m aware of its pros and cons.\n\nHope to have helped, bro!launch

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May 5, 2024

@markbaxter4613

I had the same issue last night playing. Slipped a pedal and hit both at the same time. It went to crazy radio voice. I had to stop in mid song and reset it. I still love the pedal but I immediately stopped and reset it. I have the AB switch for the looper so I don’t have to double tap to stop and I am sitting behind a keyboard as well so I’m usually pretty accurate when I pedal tap but yes! I had that same thing happened I swear last night playing. Was the first time it happened and again I immediately reached down and shut it off and on again. 😮launch

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March 25, 2023

@clydeletreta6325

I know what you mean brother, this happened to me too, I accidently hit the loop and harmony buttons and the reds lights came on and everything sounded like crap...had to stop the song, turn off the ve8, then back on to reset the unit....I don't use the loop button so I covered it up with a laundry bottle cover, all good now.... I just use the harmony and chorus buttons...🤙launch

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March 8, 2023

@fostervf16

Design error. You should have put the harmony button on the right. It will be the most used button. With my experience with almost every pedal like this you almost always hit the pedals next to it by accident. But of its off to the right you can avoid hitting the other pedals.launch

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July 29, 2016

The looper is criticized for its short 80-second loop time, insufficient for looping full songs, and the lack of an undo function limits its usefulness in performance. One user called the looper the weakest part of the pedal.

@HuffDuster

Got this pedal as a demo from Sweetwater all those years ago when it firat dropped. It's been the centerpiece of my acoustic rig ever since. Even when I've tried to replace it a couple times, it ends up finding its way back on my board. The looper isn't very functional without undo & the vocal side is cool but where this pedal really shines is a multi effects processor for an acoustic guitar.launch

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April 6, 2025

@willpierce8686

Thanks for all the great ,\"How to operate stuff \" videos. I purchased the VE-8 a few years ago and it really makes my guitar and vocals sound much better. I also use the same FS-6 switch. The problem I have with the VE-8 is the looping time. It's only 80 seconds. It's enough time for a short chord progression but I like to loop a whole song and then play solo guitar over the first part of the song then return to live playing. This is very frustrating as most songs are over the 80 second loop time.\n I've since switched to an old Boss RC-50 which has a lot of loop time but does not sound as good as the VE-8. Anyways , just something to keep in mind for people that may need more looping time.launch

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September 23, 2020

@jeffreypwright1

Man, this thing is ALMOST perfect, I wish they included a way to loop the Aux as i use a handsonic on stage. Secondly, a loop undo would allow for more complexity in the tunes. Finally the USB driver didn't want to take on Win7 Ultimate, but that will probably be fixed soon. Roland/Boss if your reading if you could add those in on a firmware update that would be killer.launch

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June 21, 2016

The requirement to double-tap the footswitch to stop the looper is described as unmusical and difficult to execute reliably mid-performance, frustrating multiple users who wanted a simpler start/stop method.

@davidadame9948

Great review and very helpful, thanks Thomas. I am glad to see I'm not the only one annoyed by the manual. As I only play 5 or 6 times a year, the complexity level of assigning the output path requires me to have the manual at hand during gig setup. Could the print be ANY smaller? Watching me setting up in the corner of a poorly lit bar trying to read the damn thing is a never ending source of comedy entertainment for my duet partner.\n\n\nThat being said, I do like the sounds I get out of it, although because of the complexity of the interface and my impatience, playing live I tend to stick to using it for guitar processing only, and keep it to a few basic settings. I've learned that if I have to hold one item while pressing something else - well I'm just not going to use that feature. That's probably why I'm an acoustic guitarist.\n\n\nThe harmonizer is very useful for me as a creativity and practice tool, but I don't use it live simply because I don't have a need. The looper is also a great practice tool, but for the exact reasons you explained I have never used it live. The \"press twice quickly to stop it\" for me is as un-musical an act as possible: Our feet are connected to our brains to keep time, not to quickly press twice during the middle of a ballad - I just can't get comfortable with that.\n\n\nIt's a great tool but a complex tool, thanks again for the deep dive.launch

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December 8, 2019

@AstralToneworx

Finally. The one and only review of VE-8 that actually explains it well. Thanks for doing this. Its a very complicated pedal and I think you know more about it than Boss engineers. I have a love hate relationship with this pedal. Still can't get over the \"Double press\" to stop the looper. I use a Boss FS-6. However, the choices given to external switches are just terrible. You can only stop the looper from external switch but can't start it. The options for the 2nd switch as somewhat useless too.launch

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October 20, 2018

@PapaJmusic

Hi Laura! I have a VE-8 now mostly because of your vids. For the life of me I cannot get the looper to stop and start as I’d like. It’s mostly because of the double tap to stop. If I use a FS-5(U), can I start and stop easier with that? I’d like to record a section, loop it, stop it and start it again later in the song etc. Thank you for always making great vids!launch

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October 11, 2018

At least one user reports a significant issue with K&K Pure Mini pickups causing level dropouts, and another notes problems using pitch correction with a 12-string guitar, plus inconsistent output with certain guitars like a Taylor 314 CE.

@HansOellerich

I own this pedal and I like it but my Taylor 314 CE isn't getting along with it. For some reason, that particular acoustic has significantly less output when I run it through this Boss acoustic singer pedal. My Ovation has no problem with this pedal. Has anyone else out there experienced this problem? I would really appreciate some guidance if anyone has it.launch

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September 13, 2021

@jackoshaw

One thing I've found is it's nearly impossible to use a 12 string guitar and the Pitch correct at the same time......It will sound like the guitar is seriously out of tune.... When you turn the pitch correct off, the problem with the guitar disappears ... if your using a 12 string, You have two choices....Either sing out of tune or play out of tune.... Best advice, Learn to sing in tune... God as my witness, I have been working hard on that, lately!....:D...............and thanks for posting this... Very well done!launch

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April 27, 2018

@greghill6117

BOSS Engineers read this. You have a BIG ISSUE with the popular K&K Pure Mini pickup system. If plugged straight into the VE-8 just pressing the bridge or saddle makes the guitar level completely cut out. Palm muting is a disaster. It must have something to do with the sudden change in impedance from the bridge plate transducer. I think the guitar input stage on this unit is poor. There is a work around, plug into a Boss pedal (tuner or GE-7) before the unit and the issue is fixed. BOSS please design better input and output stages and stop focusing on all the stuff in between.launch

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November 22, 2017

Users struggle to separate guitar and vocal signals cleanly across outputs for mixer use, with one saying channels always bleed vocals into both outs despite following the manual, and reporting difficulty finding Boss support.

@mattd7650

It's a great pedal, there are some downsides to it though. I wish they had made a firmware update for it to fix issues, but I don't think that is Boss' style. I think they just leave you hanging with whatever they make. I wish they would have some more options for the outputs. I mean they have about every option except what I would consider the most useful. One xlr vocal(with effects), and the other xlr guitar(with effects). No matter what I try the only way to take advantage of the effects is to mix the signals. That's not good for using it with mixers and other band members. It's great as long as it's just me in a small venue, or if I am just using vocals or guitar in isolation, but it surely could have been more flexible. It sound's great imo, I always hear compliments on its sound. p.s. the usb recording ability is a waste of time and they should have spent that time making it just a little more flexible.launch

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February 22, 2023

@mattd7650

Where is Boss Support when something isn't working like it should? Because my ve-8 isn't. The vocal and guitar channels won't split on any of the outputs. I have done what the manual instructs, but both channels always have vocals. The same problem with usb audio too, you can't split the signals. And for the life of me I can find any real \"support\" from Boss. No email, no chat, nothing.launch

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February 24, 2022

Some users feel the harmony footswitch is positioned poorly, making it easy to hit adjacent buttons by accident, and wish the harmony and guitar effects switches were swapped for better ergonomics.

@bigdoghou1

I bought this about a year into it and use it exclusively at every gig.... I have a big foot and wish the Harmony and Guitar effects button switch were reversed, then I wouldn't need to use a non latching footswitch... I'd like to see a group option in the Harmony section so it sounds like the band is shouting out the words... no actual harmonization.launch

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June 16, 2025

@fostervf16

Design error. You should have put the harmony button on the right. It will be the most used button. With my experience with almost every pedal like this you almost always hit the pedals next to it by accident. But of its off to the right you can avoid hitting the other pedals.launch

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July 29, 2016