Boss ME Series - User Manual

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EFFORTLESS CREATIVITY

AT YOUR FEET

The BOSS ME series has been

a favorite of performing guita-

rists for over three decades,

combining multi-eﬀects power

with intuitive hands-on control

for crafting tones in seconds.

The ME-90 is the most

advanced ME model to date,

oﬀering exceptional audio

quality with 24-bit AD/DA and

32-bit ﬂoating point proces-

sing, ﬂagship-grade AIRD amp

models, IR loading, an eﬀects

loop, and more. Compact,

battery-powered, and ﬁlled

with premium BOSS tones, this

versatile all-in-one processor

makes it easy to build custo-

mized sound setups for every

playing situation.

LATEST

PROCESSING

TECHNOLOGY

ME-90 features the latest

BOSS audio engine.

Responsible amp

modelling via A.I.R.D.

technology and a

plethora of new inspiring

eﬀect algorithms,

including a brand new

Tune Down eﬀect.

CUSTOMIZATION

The last eﬀect of each

section is customisable

via BOSS Tone Studio

editor. It also

automatically positions

each of them in the

appropriate order for best

sound result.

OUTPUT

The output is also

optimised for the gear

connected to it :

• Guitar Amp

• Line (this adds

Mic/Speaker emula-

tion).

KNOB-BASED

INTERFACE

All the 97 eﬀects and

amps are immediately

accessible from the panel

for instant tone creation

without menu-diving.

FLEXIBLE FX LOOP

The new Send/Return

enables the use of

external amps and eﬀects

with ME-90. This can be

Pre or Post preamp

section.

You can also control the

FX loop by foot in Manual

mode.

IMPULSE

RESPONSE

There are 3 custom IR

slots for you to load your

own mic and cab IR in the

unit via its dedicated IR

loader.

MEMORY &

MANUAL

Manual mode behaves

like a regular pedalboard

layout while memory

mode enables to save

eﬀect combinations with

intuitive control

assignments.

LIGHTWEIGHT & BATTERY POWERED

With only 2.9kg, you can play anywhere.

With just 4x AA batteries, ME-90 oﬀers +6hours of performance.

WIRELESS

With BT-Dual (optional)

you can stream audio as

well as edit your eﬀects

& patches via BOSS

Tone Studio for mobile.

Need help?

Do you have a question about the Boss ME Series and is the answer not in the manual?

Summary

ME-90 Core Features

Latest Processing Technology

Features the latest BOSS audio engine with A.I.R.D. amp modelling and new effect algorithms.

Knob-Based Interface

Provides immediate access to 97 effects and amps for instant tone creation without menu-diving.

Impulse Response (IR)

Offers 3 custom IR slots to load user-created microphone and cabinet impulse responses.

Memory and Manual Modes

Manual mode mimics a pedalboard, while Memory mode saves effect combinations with custom assignments.

Customization Options

Last effect in each section is customizable via BOSS Tone Studio for optimal order and sound.

Flexible FX Loop

New Send/Return enables external amps/effects, controllable before or after the preamp section.

Optimized Output

Output is optimized for Guitar Amp or Line connections, including mic/speaker emulation.

Wireless Connectivity

Optional BT-Dual allows audio streaming and effect editing via BOSS Tone Studio for mobile.

ME-90 Control and Operation

Carryover Settings

Configure whether effects in the DELAY section carry over when switching patches (00 or 01).

Send;Return Control

Assign CTL/REV footswitch to control Reverb (r0) or FX loop (r1) in Manual Mode.

Send;Return Position

Determine if the FX loop is inserted before (50) or after (51) the preamp section.

Control Assignment

Assign footswitches to toggle specific effects in Memory Mode by pressing the CTL button.

Control Behavior

Set footswitch behavior (Toggle/Momentary) in Memory Mode via BANK pedals and EXIT.

Tap Tempo Function

Set delay time or tempo by pressing and holding the CURRENT MEMORY/DELAY footswitch.

Impulse Response Loading

Load user IRs by pressing EDIT and the footswitch corresponding to the desired IR slot (1-4).

Looper Operation

Control Phrase Loop functions including Record, Play, Overdub, Stop, and Erase via footswitch.

Summary

ME-90 Core Features

Latest Processing Technology

Features the latest BOSS audio engine with A.I.R.D. amp modelling and new effect algorithms.

Knob-Based Interface

Provides immediate access to 97 effects and amps for instant tone creation without menu-diving.

Impulse Response (IR)

Offers 3 custom IR slots to load user-created microphone and cabinet impulse responses.

Memory and Manual Modes

Manual mode mimics a pedalboard, while Memory mode saves effect combinations with custom assignments.

Customization Options

Last effect in each section is customizable via BOSS Tone Studio for optimal order and sound.

Flexible FX Loop

New Send/Return enables external amps/effects, controllable before or after the preamp section.

Optimized Output

Output is optimized for Guitar Amp or Line connections, including mic/speaker emulation.

Wireless Connectivity

Optional BT-Dual allows audio streaming and effect editing via BOSS Tone Studio for mobile.

ME-90 Control and Operation

Carryover Settings

Configure whether effects in the DELAY section carry over when switching patches (00 or 01).

Send;Return Control

Assign CTL/REV footswitch to control Reverb (r0) or FX loop (r1) in Manual Mode.

Send;Return Position

Determine if the FX loop is inserted before (50) or after (51) the preamp section.

Control Assignment

Assign footswitches to toggle specific effects in Memory Mode by pressing the CTL button.

Control Behavior

Set footswitch behavior (Toggle/Momentary) in Memory Mode via BANK pedals and EXIT.

Tap Tempo Function

Set delay time or tempo by pressing and holding the CURRENT MEMORY/DELAY footswitch.

Impulse Response Loading

Load user IRs by pressing EDIT and the footswitch corresponding to the desired IR slot (1-4).

Looper Operation

Control Phrase Loop functions including Record, Play, Overdub, Stop, and Erase via footswitch.

The BOSS ME-90 is a versatile guitar multiple effects processor designed for both live performance and studio use, combining multi-effects power with intuitive hands-on control. It represents the most advanced model in the ME series, offering exceptional audio quality and a wide range of features.

Function Description

The ME-90 serves as an all-in-one processor for guitarists, allowing them to craft customized sound setups quickly and efficiently. It integrates a comprehensive suite of effects and amp models, making it suitable for various playing situations. The device features a flexible FX loop, enabling the integration of external amps and effects, which can be positioned either pre or post the preamp section. The output is optimized for different connections, including guitar amps and line outputs (which add mic/speaker emulation).

Important Technical Specifications

Audio Quality: 24-bit AD/DA conversion and 32-bit floating-point processing ensure high-fidelity sound.
Amp Models: Features flagship-grade AIRD (Augmented Impulse Response Dynamics) amp models, responsible for realistic amp modeling.
Effects: Includes 97 immediately accessible effects and amps, with a plethora of new inspiring effect algorithms, including a brand new "Tune Down" effect.
IR Loading: Equipped with 3 custom IR slots for loading user-defined mic and cab Impulse Responses via a dedicated IR loader.
Connectivity: Offers a flexible Send/Return FX loop.
Power: Lightweight at only 2.9kg and can be powered by 4x AA batteries, providing over 6 hours of performance, making it highly portable.
Wireless (Optional): Supports BT-Dual for streaming audio and editing effects/patches via BOSS Tone Studio for mobile.

Usage Features

Intuitive Interface: Features a knob-based interface, allowing immediate access to all 97 effects and amps without menu-diving, facilitating instant tone creation.
Memory & Manual Modes:
- Manual Mode: Behaves like a traditional pedalboard layout, where effects can be toggled individually. In this mode, the CTL/REV Footswitch can control either Reverb or the FX loop.
- Memory Mode: Enables saving effect combinations with intuitive control assignments. Users can save custom settings for each memory slot.
Customization: The last effect of each section (COMP/FX1, OD/DS, MOD, EQ/FX2, DELAY, REVERB) is customizable via the BOSS Tone Studio editor. The editor automatically positions these effects in the appropriate order for optimal sound results.
Control Assignment: In Memory Mode, users can assign effects to footswitches by pressing the CTL button and then the desired effect footswitches, saving these settings to memory.
Control Behavior: In Memory Mode, the CTL button's behavior (Toggle or Momentary) can be configured via the BANK UP & DOWN pedals.
Carryover Function: Allows effects in the DELAY section to carry over when switching patches (factory setting) or to be cut off. This does not apply to DELAY for EQ/FX2 and MOD.
Send/Return Position: The FX loop can be inserted either before (Pre) or after (Post) the preamp section, configurable via the EDIT button.
Tap Tempo: Press and hold the CURRENT MEMORY/DELAY footswitch until it blinks, then tap the tempo. Press and hold again to exit.
Looper: When the Delay section is set to PHRASE LOOP, pressing and holding the CURRENT MEMORY/DELAY footswitch (until it double-blinks) activates the looper:
- Press once to Record.
- Press again to Play.
- Press one more time to Overdub.
- Double-press to Stop.
- Press and hold to Erase.

Maintenance Features

BOSS Tone Studio: A desktop and mobile editor for managing patches, editing effects, loading IRs, and customizing settings. This platform also serves as a user and artist patch sharing platform.
IR Loader: A dedicated IR loader within BOSS Tone Studio allows users to manage and load their custom Impulse Responses into the ME-90's 3 custom IR slots.
Impulse Response Management: Users can access and select different IRs (original speaker simulation, User 1-3 IRs) by pressing and holding the EDIT button and then the corresponding footswitch.