Boss IR-2 - Game Changer?

[Tal_175]

This has just been released. It may not be available in some stores yet. It looks like it's gonna be the talk of the town for a while:
Boss launches the IR-2, its smallest amp and IR pedal to date | Guitar World

[nyc chaz]

It's basically a Strymon Iridium at half the price.Should be a huge seller.

[YOGA64]

I'm buying one!

[Christian Miller]

Nice! Lack of a balanced XLR output would put me off though.

[Tal_175]

Nice! Lack of a balanced XLR output would put me off though.

That's right, no balanced out. Although since the pedal is an active source, a passive DI box should do the job when going direct.

[rpjazzguitar]

Is this an ME90 without the FX?

[Tal_175]

Is this an ME90 without the FX?

It's more like IR-200 packaged in the classic Boss pedal form factor (and price).
BOSS - IR-200 | Amp & IR Cabinet

[Christian Miller]

That's right, no balanced out. Although since the pedal is an active source, a passive DI box should do the job when going direct.

More shit to carry around and/or organise. I’d actually pay a bit more to have a box that does both. The SBUS does a decent job of that for the moment… obviously less amp models, but I’m not doing any Metallica tribute shows atm so I think I’ll be ok.

[Alter]

So what are the amp simulations (not meaning what amps but what quality)? Boss Ir-200, Boss Gt1, Boss Gt1000, any info on the quality and the whereabouts of the software in this one? I have a Boss Gt1000 core but if this one is good it would be great for my analog pedalboards when playing ampless (i now use a sansamp blonde) and as an amp backup live..

[rpjazzguitar]

Since I just emerged from the rabbit hole on this in another thread, I'll point out the following.

This device has a nominal output rating of -20dbu per the manual. That is, roughly, instrument level. It's hotter than a typical mic, hotter than a typical guitar (I think) but not as hot as either consumer line level or pro line level.

If you're plugging into a mixer, it's fine. The gain control on the mixer will allow you to get the level you need.

If you're going into a typical guitar amp, also fine. It will work. You may or may not like the sound of all that emulated amp stuff feeding an actual amp.

If you're going into a powered speaker, you have to make sure that the powered speaker will sound good enough and loud enough with that -20dbu signal.

It depends on the speaker, I think. If it has a line level setting, like the Mackie SRM350 say, it won't go loud.

If you switch it to the mic setting, for some reason, it may not sound good. In my limited experience, bass frequencies get really loud, so you have to control them somehow (the unit has a bass knob, so it may not be a big deal).

For some Alto speakers there's no mic/line switch and only one knob. I think that -20dbu won't be enough volts and you'll have to turn that one knob way up -- at which point it will sound awful. If there's some way to avoid that, or something I've missed, I hope someone will post it.

So, it looks to me like the best application is using it to run into a mixer. And, to have reverb and whatever else you need, in the effects loop.

Some powered speakers have enough of a mixer built in for it to work fine.

And some mixers have reverb. In that situation, I think you could go guitar>IR2>PA. Use a Bose S1 or similar for the PA and you get reverb in the Bose unit -- and a wireless transmitter if you want one. Less than 20 lbs in a small package. Pretty convenient.

[pingu]

11 of the most popular Amp emulations (including a fender Twin)
with the appropriate speaker IRs
in a Boss pedal format with headphone out for £180
(and it sounds great in the demos)

I think they’ll probably sell a few of those gadgets
(heck I want one now)

[pingu]

1301945[/URL]]I think you could go guitar>IR2>PA. Use a Bose S1 or similar for the PA and you get reverb in the Bose unit -- and a wireless transmitter if you want one. Less than 20 lbs in a small package. Pretty convenient.

Bose S1 is 15lbs
and IR2 is 1lb
yes I think that would work

[Spook410]

Relatively low power (160mA) requirement. Stereo return on the FX loop if you set it up that way. Has a 12V battery. No spring reverb choice on 'ambient' (hall, room, plate). Don't love the IR choices but you can download your own. $200 at Sweetwater. A cheap PA speaker (one that likes -20dbu) and off you go.

[alltunes]

It always kills me how these gear reviewers always have to cloud the waters by putting some other pedal in the chain even guitar reviewers do this. Let’s just hear the pedal or guitar right off the bat.

[pingu]

Relatively low power (160mA) requirement. Stereo return on the FX loop if you set it up that way. Has a 12V battery. No spring reverb choice on 'ambient' (hall, room, plate). Don't love the IR choices but you can download your own. $200 at Sweetwater. A cheap PA speaker (one that likes -20dbu) and off you go.

are you referring to the Boss IR2 ?

9v battery

[rpjazzguitar]

No.. talking about a 1982 VW beetle. Jeez. Yea. 9V battery.

The 82 bug had a 12 volt system. The 6 volt was a thing of the past by then.

Just sayin'.

[Spook410]

The 82 bug had a 12 volt system. The 6 volt was a thing of the past by then.

Just sayin'.

It was a snarky comment so I deleted it.. but for the record.. I had a 66 VW that was the last of the 6V systems. Yea.. it was pretty terrible. And.... obviously... the IR2 has a 9V transistor battery, not a 12V. Getting old and distracted is hard. BTW.. I've enjoyed your posts on levels. Made me think through my too large stack of gear and connections.

[rpjazzguitar]

It was a snarky comment so I deleted it.. but for the record.. I had a 66 VW that was the last of the 6V systems. Yea.. it was pretty terrible. And.... obviously... the IR2 has a 9V transistor battery, not a 12V. Getting old and distracted is hard. BTW.. I've enjoyed your posts on levels. Made me think through my too large stack of gear and connections.

I was just kidding around, thinking about all the technogeek stuff I've been posting.

I had a 63 with the 6 volt system. It was good in a wartime blackout.

[pingu]

Relatively low power (160mA) requirement. Stereo return on the FX loop if you set it up that way. Has a 12V battery. No spring reverb choice on 'ambient' (hall, room, plate). Don't love the IR choices but you can download your own. $200 at Sweetwater. A cheap PA speaker (one that likes -20dbu) and off you go.

while we’re there
does it actually have ‘hall , room , plate’ ?
I think it’s only got ‘ambience’
(BTW be as snarky as you like !
it’s fine)

[John A.]

The IR-2 seems like good value for a lot of function, with usability trade-offs due to the small form factor. Boss's stock in trade. It'll probably get sales at the expense of other products that do the same (or less) for more money in a bigger box; it might even convince a few people to go amp-less who might not have with one of the existing products. But it's not clear to me what game this changes. Amp modelers of one kind or another, "fly rigs", etc. have been around for decades. How is this more than just a nice increment to an already pretty crowded space. Am I missing something?

[Tal_175]

The IR-2 seems like good value for a lot of function, with usability trade-offs due to the small form factor. Boss's stock in trade. It'll probably get sales at the expense of other products that do the same (or less) for more money in a bigger box; it might even convince a few people to go amp-less who might not have with one of the existing products. But it's not clear to me what game this changes. Amp modelers of one kind or another, "fly rigs", etc. have been around for decades. How is this more than just a nice increment to an already pretty crowded space. Am I missing something?

It probably won't but it also depends on whether it will actually deliver the professional quality, utility and tone of the more expensive and bulky alternatives in a stompbox format and price. It would definitely pose a big question for the competition to answer.

One might speculate if the price and size of the pedal encourage a large number of guitarists to try out professional "ampless" solutions who were on the fence before? Considering how cheap and small class-D amps have become (in terms of dollars per watts), would two pedals and a cabinet become a professional live performance solution for non-jazz guitarists as well?

[Spook410]

while we’re there
does it actually have ‘hall , room , plate’ ?
I think it’s only got ‘ambience’
(BTW be as snarky as you like !
it’s fine)

Manual said ambience could be set to hall, room, or plate.

And the world has quite enough snark already without me adding. But thanks for the kind thought.

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

It depends on the speaker, I think. If it has a line level setting, like the Mackie SRM350 say, it won't go loud.

This is too broad a generalization. You’re correct that it depends on the speaker. But even different versions of the same model can be vastly different in performance. The Mackie SRM350 v3 has a much more versatile input stage than the earlier ones and is probably fine with any generally available device with a -10 dBV line output. As I’ve suggested before, you really need to know the specs on all of your equipment to aggregate compatible devices.

Manufacturers and vendors do not make this easy. Whether this is intentional or merely the result of a lack of concern doesn’t matter. It’s wrong and a disservice to us all. You shouldn’t have to buy everything first and spend weeks fidgeting and seeking help on internet boards. Return privileges are often expired by the time you throw in the towel and accept that it just won’t work.

[pingu]

Manual said ambience could be set to hall, room, or plate.

And the world has quite enough snark already without me adding. But thanks for the kind thought.

oh yeah I just read the manual
thats great thanks Spook

I might have to get one of these
gizmos ….
Gtr , IR2 , Bam200 + Toob
or
Gtr , IR2 , PA

[rpjazzguitar]

This is too broad a generalization. You’re correct that it depends on the speaker. But even different versions of the same model can be vastly different in performance. The Mackie SRM350 v3 has a much more versatile input stage than the earlier ones and is probably fine with any generally available device with a -10 dBV line output. As I’ve suggested before, you really need to know the specs on all of your equipment to aggregate compatible devices.

Manufacturers and vendors do not make this easy. Whether this is intentional or merely the result of a lack of concern doesn’t matter. It’s wrong and a disservice to us all. You shouldn’t have to buy everything first and spend weeks fidgeting and seeking help on internet boards. Return privileges are often expired by the time you throw in the towel and accept that it just won’t work.

Right. It depends on the exact speaker.

This statement certainly does not require an illustration but, for some reason, I can't stop myself.

In the case of the SRM350 the manual lists "sensitivity". -36dbu for mic and +4dbu for line. dbu can be converted to voltage. so, it's telling you how many volts it wants to see at the input to run full out.

But, for SRM350v3 (version 3), the manual doesn't list sensitivity at all. It says mic-line 8k ohm balanced and 1/4" Wide Z, 1M ohm unbalanced. These numbers look like impedances. I looked into it. Impedance can be understood as the essense of mutual feeling in a romantic relationship. You can't put it into words, but you know if it's not working. Alternatively, you can add up resistance and two kinds of reactance and take a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory for the headache - because after the calculations are done you still probably won't be 100% sure and you'll have to try it.

For the original version of the SRM350, I understand the spec. Tells me how many volts I need and that I won't have enough for Line, by a factor of about 5.

For V3, the spec, as stated in the manual, may tell an audio engineer whether the ME80 will work, but it tells me nothing. I think Nevershould might explain it, e.g. that there's some circuitry that adjusts to the voltage coming in. But it doesn't say that in language I understand. Which forces me to try it out. Not that big a deal, since it's always a good idea to get a return privilege. Obviously, they're not trying to sell these items to guitar players.