Boss ME-90 Guitar Multi Effects Pedal Instruction Manual

ME-90
Startup Guide

Before using this unit, carefully read “USING THE UNIT SAFELY” and “IMPORTANT NOTES” (the leaflet “USING THE UNIT SAFELY”.
After reading, keep the document(s) where it will be available for immediate reference.
© 2023 Roland Corporation

Setting Up The Unit and Using the Top Panel

1. Use the effect setting knobs to configure each effect.

2. Switches between banks. In manual mode, this turns the AMP and EQ on/off.

3. Switches between patch numbers.
   In manual mode, these turn the COMP, OD/ DS, MOD and DELAY on/off.

4. In memory mode, you can use the pedal to turn on or off multiple effects at once, or instantly switch the setting of a specified effect setting knob (one knob only) to a specific value.
   In manual mode, this turns REV on/off.

5. Switches between memory mode and manual mode.
   Keep this pressed for two seconds to turn the tuner on.

6. Adjusts the volume.

7. Shows various information for the ME-90.

8. [EXIT] button
   Press to return to the previous screen or to undo an operation.
   [WRITE] button
   Press to save your patch settings or to execute a copy operation.
   [CTL] button
   In memory mode, this configures the operation of the [CTL] pedal.
   [EDIT] button
   Enters memory edit mode.

9. Controls the pedal effect.
   You can switch the pedal effect on/off by strongly pressing down with your toes.

10. Connect a BT-DUAL (BOSS Bluetooth® Audio MIDI Dual Adaptor, sold separately) here.
    Use this to wirelessly play back music from your mobile device (such as a smartphone or tablet), or to edit the effects of this unit from the app on your mobile device.

• To prevent malfunction and equipment failure, always turn down the volume, and turn off all the units before making any connections.
• When you operate the expression pedal, please be careful not to get your fingers pinched between the movable part and the unit. In places where small children are present, make sure that an adult provides supervision and guidance.
• Do not use a USB cable that is designed only for charging a device. Charge-only cables cannot transmit data.

Installing the Batteries

Install the batteries into the battery case at the bottom of this unit. Make sure that the batteries face the right way.

• When turning the unit over, be careful so as to protect the buttons and knobs from damage. Also, handle the unit carefully; do not drop it.
• If you handle batteries improperly, you risk explosion and fluid leakage. Make sure that you carefully observe all of the items related to batteries that are listed in “USING THE UNIT SAFELY” and “IMPORTANT NOTES” (leaflet “USING THE UNIT SAFELY”).

WARNING
Use caution when handling batteries
If used improperly, you risk the dangers of fluid leakage, overheating, combustion, explosion, etc. Carefully observe the following: ¹ Do not heat, disassemble, or toss them into a fire or water. ¹ Do not expose them to sunlight, flame, or any other source of extreme heat. ¹ Do not attempt to charge a dry cell battery.

Turning the Power On

• Before turning the unit on/off, always be sure to turn the volume down. Even with the volume turned down, you might hear some sound when switching the unit on/ off. However, this is normal and does not indicate a malfunction.
  1. Hold down the [POWER] switch of this unit for several seconds, and then turn on any connected equipment. Turn on your amps and speakers last.
  2. Adjust the volume of the connected equipment.
  3. Use the [OUTPUT LEVEL] knob to adjust the overall volume of this unit.
  • Unsaved data is lost when the power turns off. Before turning the power off, save the data that you want to keep.
  • To turn the power on again, press the [POWER] switch once more.

Tuning Your Guitar (Tuner)

1. Hold down the [MEMORY/MANUAL] pedal for at least two seconds.
   This turns the tuner on.

2. Play a single note on the open string you want to tune.
   The name of the pitch that’s closest to the string you played is shown in the display.

3. Adjust the tuning of each guitar string so that both tuning guides are illuminated.
   

4. To turn the tuner off, press any pedal switch.

Using the Effects

1. Select the effect type.
2. Use the knob to adjust the sound.

• In manual mode or in memory edit mode, you can turn the effect on/off with the number [2] / [OD/DS] pedal.
• The effect indicator lights up when the effect is on.

Switching Between Manual/Memory mode

What is “memory mode”?
The effect combinations and settings (sounds) are recalled as “patches”. There are 72 patches. Out of the 72 patches, 36 (4 patches × 9 banks) can be saved in the user banks (9 banks of presets and 9 user banks). You can use the pedal to instantly switch between banks and patches.

What is “manual mode”?
Use the [BANK ▼] [BANK ▲] pedals, the [CTL] pedal and the number [1]­[4] pedals to turn the effects on/off that you set using the panel knobs. This lets you use this unit as if you were individually switching the compact effects on an effect unit board on/off.

1. Press the [MEMORY/MANUAL] pedal.
   Press this pedal to toggle between manual mode and memory mode. When memory mode is on, the red indicator is lit. When manual mode is on, the blue indicator is lit.

Saving a Sound (Patch Write)

NOTE

• If you turn off the power or switch to a different patch before you write the patch, the sound you created is lost.
• When you write a patch, the patch that is already at the save destination is lost.

1. Press the [WRITE] button.
   The pedal indicator blinks.

2. Press the [BANK É] [BANK Ç] pedals or the number [1]­[4] pedals to select the user bank and patch number where you want to save the patch.

• To cancel patch write, press the [EXIT] button. 3. Press the [WRITE] button once again.
  All sound settings except for OUTPUT LEVEL are saved.

Configuring the Device Overall (System Settings)

The settings used globally throughout the ME-90 are called “system settings”.

1. Press the [MEMORY/MANUAL] pedal to switch to manual mode.

2. Press the [EDIT] button to select the parameter to set.
   The parameter to set changes each time you press the [EDIT] button.

3. Use the [BANK ▼] [BANK ▲] pedals to select a value.

4. Press the [WRITE] button.
   The settings are saved.

• For the parameters you can set, refer to the Reference Manual (Roland website).

Using BOSS TONE STUDIO

You can use dedicated software (BOSS TONE STUDIO) to edit and manage the patches from your computer or smartphone.
Download the software from the BOSS website. For details on how to use the software, refer to the Readme.htm file that comes with the download.

→ https://www.boss.info/support/
BOSS TONE STUDIO lets you do the following.

• Easily download patches into this unit from the BOSS TONE CENTRAL website.
• Swap the effects that can be selected on the ME-90.
• Collect your favorite patches to create an original liveset.
• Share your original livesets with users around the world via the BOSS TONE EXCHANGE online platform.
• Edit the settings of your patches.
• Rename your patches.
• Reorder the patches as you want and switch them around.
• Back up patches and system settings, and restore the backup settings.
• View the “ME-90 Parameter Guide” (Roland Website).

Reference Manual (Roland website)
Refer to the website listed below for detailed documentation on how to operate this unit.

https://roland.cm/me-90_om

BOSS TONE CENTRAL
You can download patches for this unit from our dedicated BOSS TONE CENTRAL website.

http://bosstonecentral.com/

References

• BOSS TONE CENTRAL
• BOSS - Support

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