Nashville's summer NAMM show gets underway next week, and while the smaller of the two annual NAMM conferences usually offers fewer new releases than the January show in Anaheim, this year is already seeing some big drops from some big names.
Earlier today, Boss got in on the July release action with the announcement of two new pedals: the SY-1 Synthesizer pedal and the RC-10R Rhythm Loop Station.
Boss SY-1 Synthesizer
First up, Boss' new SY-1 synth pedal follows a trend we've seen over the past year or so of companies making guitar pedals that emulate the sounds of classic synths like the EHX Key9, Keeley Synth-1, and several others.
Per Boss' website, the SY-1 offers 121 ultra-responsive sounds in a compact format, and while this isn't Boss and Roland's first foray into the realm of guitar-synth hybridization, it clearly offers the most extensive functionality in the smallest format yet. Unlike some of the firm's previous guitar synth efforts, it's also ready to play straight out of the box.
The sounds of the SY-1 break down across eight categories as follows:
- LEAD 1/2—A wide range of sounds suitable for single-note soloing.
- PAD—Full tones that work great with chords, from layered pads to synth brass and more.
- BASS—Fat synth bass sounds, including filtered and sub-octave tones.
- STR—Classic analog-style strings, including layered voices and sweeping textures.
- ORGAN—A large selection of organ sounds, including many with rotary-style modulation.
- BELL—Percussive synth sounds with metallic resonance.
- SFX 1/2—A variety of synth sound effects, including explosive one-shot sounds, animated pitch/filter voices, and more.
- SEQ 1/2—Pulsating sounds with rhythmic pitch or filter changes.
Each category has 11 variations to select, along with controls over rate, tone, and volume blend.
Boss RC-10R Rhythm Loop Station
With the RC-10R, Boss has quickly added another entry to its recently launched 200 series pedal format. This pedal is essentially a combination loop station in the legacy of Boss' popular RC line and backing-track generator.
Eye catching features of this one include 280 preset rhythm styles, 16 onboard drum kits from Roland's classic library, six hours of recording time, and two-track looping functionality. All-and-all, for performers looking for the next step in live loop and backing track operation, the RC-10R offers a compelling new option. Read more about its specs on the Boss website here.
Find your own SY-1 Synthesizer pedal and RC-10R Rhythm Loop Station on Reverb now.