Boss VF-1's Best Algorithms

Introduction

2001 I bought the Boss VF-1 in order to complement my Line 6 Pod Pro. But, contrary to the dust collecting Line 6 Pod Pro my Boss VF-1 is still in use. Not as a guitar processor but because of the special effect algorithms. I want to introduce some of it's effects because I saw a Boss VF-1 on ebay germany sold for 150 EUR. 2001 I paid approx. 450 EUR and for 150 EUR it's a bargain.

Algorithms & Effects

The Boss VF-1 consists of so called algorithms which provide the different effects. There are the "important" algorithms like "Guitar Multi", "Bass Multi", Acoustic Multi" or "Keyboard Multi". "Guitar Multi" is the algorithm most Boss VF-1 Harmony Central reviews are based on. The algorithm contains compressor, wah wah, amp modeler, equalizer, noise gate, modulation effects (phaser, flanger etc), delay and reverb. Since the Boss VF-1 is from '99 the guitar amp modeling is as good (or bad) as the Boss GT-3 or Boss GX-700. Therefore it's no wonder that the Boss VF-1 reviews are not so good.

But the Boss VF-1 contains a lot more algorithms which still stick out.
"Hum Canceler", "Vocal Canceler" (karaoke parties) or "Stereo Multi" and "10 Graphic EQ.
Really cool algorithms are "Voice Transform", "Lofi Processor" and "Isolator".

The highlights of the algorithms are "Vocoder", "Space Chorus" (Roland SDD-320 Dimension D) and "Tape Echo 201" (Roland RE-201 Space Echo).

Quality of algorithms and effects

Of course specialized effects like a TC Electronics M3000 or M-OneXL produce a much better reverb than the 10 years old Boss VF-1, but they don't have a vocoder, Dimension D and Space Echo simulation (and they are more expensive than 150 EUR). The Boss VF-1 is more like a swiss army knife than a high end effects device. If you only need a Dimension D emulation than perhaps try the Boss CE-20 Twin Pedal or the Boss RE-20 for a nice Space Echo emulation. But consider the missing MIDI control of the Twin Pedals!