BOSS has announced the MS-3 Multi Effects Switcher, a new-concept pedalboard solution that maximizes creative options for guitarists and bassists. Combining a flagship BOSS multi-effects engine and multi-pedal switcher in one small, integrated unit, the MS-3 enables anyone to put together a professional effects system that’s light, compact, and versatile enough to achieve nearly any sound imaginable.
Loop switchers like this used to be the province of touring professionals running rack-mounted systems roughly the size of a small refrigerator. The MS-3 folds a similar idea into a single floor unit, using its three loops to bring in a handful of favorite analog pedals while the internal effects handle everything else. It sits alongside BOSS’s own ES-5 and ES-8 switchers as a smaller, effects-equipped option for players who want the switching flexibility without building out a full rack-based loop rig from scratch.
The MS-3 can run up to six internal pedal effects at once while seamlessly integrating three of the user’s favorite external pedals. It includes 111 onboard effects types, plus a dedicated noise suppressor and built-in tuner. The MS-3 offers deep rig control capabilities as well, allowing users to switch amp channels, adjust effects in real time, work with MIDI devices, and more.
The MS-3’s heavy-duty footswitches provide easy command of the entire system. There’s a backlit LCD that clearly shows patch and bank numbers and parameters, plus dedicated knobs for editing and status indicators for all loops and effects. In addition, 200 patch locations provide ample memory for storing effects and control setups for instant recall, not unlike what BOSS offered years earlier with the ME-80.
With the free MS-3 Editor/Librarian software, users can edit effects, assign control parameters, set tempos, and more from their computer. The software also makes it possible to back up and restore patches, and organize them into Live Sets built around specific gigs or bands.
