Boss VE-500 Vocal Performer

All the Vocal Tools You Need, Right on Your Pedalboard

Filled with deep sound-shaping capabilities, the VE-500 is a professional vocal toolkit that lets you process your voice any way you like, from subtle sweetening to the dramatic, over-the-top effects heard on so many modern records. And with its newly enhanced harmony and pitch engine, you can easily expand your sound with real-time vocal harmonies and more.
The VE-500’s stompbox configuration makes it simple to integrate with any pedalboard—just plug your guitar into the instrument input to drive the harmony, pitch, and vocoder functions, and then use the Thru output to feed an unprocessed signal to your other pedals. And with the VE-500’s stereo XLR outputs, you’re able to send your processed vocal sounds directly to a PA mixer, stage monitor, or recording device.

Automatic Multi-Part Vocal Harmony Driven via Guitar or MIDI

Are you short of good backing singers in your band? The VE-500 is the perfect solution, making it easy to elevate your songs with rich, ear-catching vocal harmonies. Its automatic harmony engine is powered by advanced BOSS processing that detects the chords and key you play with your guitar, generating smooth and natural two- and three-part harmonies in real time as you sing. And by working with the VE-500’s different harmony modes, you’re able to refine the harmonies as needed for songs that have more complex key structures. The harmony engine can alternately be driven via MIDI (through either the VE-500’s MIDI or USB inputs), enabling you to generate pitch-perfect live harmonies with a MIDI keyboard or DAW-based backing tracks.

Vocal FX That Impress

The VE-500 contains wide-ranging effects with deep editing parameters for crafting nearly any vocal sound imaginable. In addition, highly flexible routing options are available for processing live and harmonized vocals together or separately. Use the Enhance section to polish your voice with essentials like compressor, de-esser, and EQ, then tap into the two dedicated Reverb/Delay sections for everything from subtle coloration to lush, expansive clouds of ambience. Four independent FX engines are available as well, and each contains an enormous selection of effects types. Spice things up with a little chorus, flanger, or tremolo, add some secondary reverb or delay, or take things over the top with distortion, radio voice, ring mod, slicer, filtering, and more—the sky’s the limit!

Get Creative with the Built-in Vocoder

Another killer VE-500 feature is its powerful vocoder function, which is derived from BOSS’s unique and innovative VO-1 Vocoder pedal. By vocalizing into the connected mic as you play, you can transform your guitar’s tone with electronic voices and an array of all-new colors for modern music styles. It’s even possible to replicate traditional talk box sounds, providing instant access to classic “talking lead guitar” tones without having to use a talk box rig and mouth tube.

Stay in Tune or Create Special Effects with Automatic Pitch Correction

The VE-500 also includes a dedicated pitch correction section, which is guided via guitar or MIDI just like the harmony function. You can employ it for transparent pitch stabilization, which is especially useful if you’re not such a great singer but still need to contribute some lead and/or backing vocals to your band’s sound. It’s also possible to switch in alternate modes that provide the heavily effected sounds heard on modern hits, including hard pitch correction, electronic tonalities, and even robot-voice sounds.

Total Performance Control

With the VE-500’s large display and panel knobs/buttons, it’s simple to create and call up sounds. After you’ve dialed in the perfect setup, simply save it to one of 99 user patch locations for instant recall while performing. Editor/librarian software is available as well, allowing to tweak and organize sounds from your Mac or Windows computer. The three panel knobs can be assigned to favorite parameters, enabling on-the-go tweaks in the heat of the moment. Three integrated footswitches offer access to a multitude of functions, including patch selection, individual effects on/off, harmony and looper functions, and more. Expanded control is also possible with external footswitches, an expression pedal, or MIDI.

SPECIFICATIONS

Sampling Frequency

• 48 kHz

AD Conversion

• 32 bits + AF method
• AF method (Adaptive Focus method) is a proprietary method from Roland & BOSS that vastly improves the signal-to-noise (SN) ratio of the AD and DA converters.

DA Conversion

• 32 bits

Processing

• 32-bit floating point

Patches

• 99 (User) + 50 (Preset)

Nominal Input Level

• MIC IN: -40 dBu (Adjustable)
• INST IN: -10 dBu

Input Impedance

• MIC IN: 4 k ohms
• INST IN: 2 M ohms

Nominal Output Level

• XLR OUT L, R: -40 dBu, -10 dBu (Selectable)
• INST THRU: -10 dBu (Unbuffered)

Output Impedance

• XLR OUT L, R: 600 ohms

Display

• Graphic LCD (132 x 32 dots, backlit LCD)

Controls

• DOWN switch, UP switch, HARMONY switch,
• EFFECT EDIT button, KEY button, MENU button, EXIT button, ENTER button,
• 1 knob, 2 knob, 3 knob,
• GND LIFT switch

Connectors

• MIC IN connector: XLR type, balanced, phantom power (DC 48 V, 10 mA Max)
• INST IN jack: 1/4-inch phone type
• XLR OUT L, R connectors: XLR type
• INST THRU jack: 1/4-inch phone type
• CTL1,2 / EXP jack: 1/4-inch TRS phone type
• USB COMPUTER port: USB Micro-B type
• DC IN jack

Power Supply

• AC adaptor (PSA series)

Current Draw

• 310 mA (with phantom power)
• 210 mA (without phantom power)

Accessories

• AC adaptor: PSA series
• Owner's manual
• Leaflet "USING THE UNIT SAFELY"

Options (sold separately)

• Footswitch: FS-5U, FS-5L
• Dual Footswitch: FS-6, FS-7
• Expression Pedal: FV-500H, FV-500L, EV-30, Roland EV-5

SIZE AND WEIGHT

• Width 170 mm
• Depth 138 mm
• Height 62 mm
• Weight 860 g