Based on the listed specs, the latest hex processor from BOSS will work for multi-channel audio with MG3 Hex. Otherwise it looks quite unimpressive — except for its size, IMO:
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@Vaultnaemsae, It would be interesting to make an honest comparison of the functions and flexible playability, including the latency behavior and sound range of the GM800 and VG800 with the possibilities that MG3HEX already offers.
Also with this view of what future extensions to MG3 could look like.
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at this point it’s like boss is flipping off their customers.
NOT class compliant? ie: we must beg them to maintain drivers (gp-10 anyone?)
NO balanced outs? do they know what the modern stage is like?
at least they’ve stopped claiming that their latest regurgitated iteration has significantly reduced latency over the prior. that was getting embarrassing.
if it were true, at this point, boss would be detecting the pitch before you even put your fingers on the fretboard.
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I don’t think there’s any comparison. I was merely pointing out for people who are interested in MG3 Hex that this device will do the job to get multi-channel audio into MG3 Hex. That’s all.
Largely agree. Take it for what it is.
But I just found this in one of the guides which leads me to believe that it will work with iOS — but maybe not 8in/8out. That remains to be seen. Will report when I have a solid answer:
Yes, unbelievable! On top of it they introduce a 1/8" TRS type MIDI in/out plug!! Again some “box” to embed it into the existing MIDI structure…
I received my order of the VG-800 yesterday.
Indeed, only the stereo output of the VG-800 is accessible using this generic mode on Ipad and not the 6 signals per string, unfortunately!
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Sh…, mine is on the way. Exactly the usability for MG3Hex iPad I wanted to test!
Thanks for confirming, @xtian82. I think it will still be a useful tool to work with audio-MIDI applications on iOS/iPadOS regardless.
It’s a bit disappointing as there had been a fairly high-powered suggestion on the VGuitar forum that it would be possible. I had my doubts though based on the VG-99’s driver implementation.
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in terms of portability, the combo of vg800 and ipad would be hard to beat.
a gigging hex guitarist could fit everything including the guitar into a single gig bag.
setup - not 5 seconds but certainly much less that 5 minutes.
it’s a shame this is not an option.
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Hello Xtian82, and thank you for this information. If you don’t mind, could you tell us more about how the VG-800 works with MG3Hex in a DAW context: is it a good candidate? If you can elaborate a little… I plan to buy one, and not only to use it with MG3, but it would be a big advantage if the VG-800 provided a smart solution for working with the MG3Hex.
My first goal is to have all my setup, that is a bit more complex now, working for my next session…
Nevertheless I start the VG-800 evaluation and compare it to the GM-800 performance.
With surprise I notice that the generation of guitar to MIDI by the VG-800 is meanly better than with the GM-800! (15ms Vs 22ms)
But it depends on the pitch of the note played on the guitar.
I capture the output of the guitar on the first row. The two others are the overall latences of my setup.
The VG-800 have exactly the same number of USB signals available than the GM-800 and I find the performance to be roughly the same between the two devices when there are connected to MG3Hex (20 to 22ms for my overall chain).
Oh, thank you for this!
what is the latency of notes played on the low e string?
the high e on the 25+ year old gr-55 was 17.2 ms which is pretty darn close to your vg-800 result. otoh, the low e was 30.4ms.
the gr-55’s average was 20.3ms. i’m sure the vg-800 will beat that, but probably not by more than 3ms.
data from: MIDI Speed Tests - Axon Yamaha Roland
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Indeed, for the low E string, the latency of the VG-800 is around 25ms. On the screenshot you can see the differences between the VG-800 (track 2), the MG-800 (track 3) and MG3Hex (track 4).
Be careful though, my measurements should be taken with caution because they depend on many parameters, such as the sampling frequency, the buffer size, the number of modules in the chain, etc…
This is just to give an idea of the magnitude and especially to note the algorithms and/or hardware have changed between the GM-800 and the VG-800, to the benefit of the VG-800.
Then, latency is only one of the parameters that makes a synth faithful to the playing feel, and on these aspects MG3Hex compensates for its slightly higher latency.
Now the vocation of the VG-800 is mainly the DSP processing of hexaphonic sounds to obtain realistic sounds of acoustic and electric guitars, and there, if I compare the sounds obtained with those of my GR55, which I have not sold, there is a big evolution!
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i’m sure the guitar modelling is very solid. otoh, i have that with the sim1 pedal, and i didn’t have to pony up for the boss amps which i will never use (have you tried neural dsp?).
at this rate (1ms per decade) boss will finally achieve parity with the 1997 yamaha g7 (12ms average) sometime in 2085.
is the vg800 still afflicted with the boss tone studio software issues the sy1000 had (forever to load, forever to exchange patches, boss recommending it be closed when the unit is being played)?
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Hi @kimyo, I also bought a second-hand SIM1, but unfortunately no other sounds.
Do you have any other sounds?
Or do you know where I can get more sounds?
I would be very pleased if I could get some new sounds!
i have an xt plus which came with 5 free patches.
and i got a bit luckier than you when buying used, i also have an xt-1 which came populated with all of the sounds on the website.
unfortunately i haven’t been able to share those with the xt plus. there is some kind of encryption which prevents sharing, i believe.
your pedal has no sounds at all? i’m not positive but i think there were patches present before i connected it to the control software for the first time.
the sound store link is dead, i have an email for a support guy, i’ll send him a message to ask what’s up.
Hi @kimyo, the standard patches that come with SIM1 are there, but I can’t get any more anywhere.
If you have any new information on where to get additional sounds, I would be very grateful 