MUSIKMESSE 2016: For decades, Boss has been the go-to name in guitar tuning, and its latest offerings seek to retain the crown at all price points, while the VE-8 Acoustic Singer effects processor furthers its foray into vocal effects.

Boss VE-8 Acoustic Singer

Aimed at acoustic singer-songwriters, the VE-8 acoustic multi-effects pedal promises studio-quality vocal and guitar processing, including real-time harmonies and looping.

Vocals effects on offer are a basic reverb, choice of four harmonies (with automatic key detection and doubling effect), electronic and distorted sounds, as well as the mysterious Enhance setting, to add “clarity and control”.

The guitar channel, meanwhile, claims to remove piezo ‘quack’ via the Acoustic Resonance dial and fine-tune your tone with the Notch control, as well as add reverb, chorus, octave, mod delay and more. There’s a handy built-in tuner, too.

A dedicated footswitch controls the built-in looper, which can loop guitar, voice or both, while patches can be stored in any of 50 memory locations.

As you’d expect, the VE-8’s rear is jacked up to the hilt, with guitar and XLR inputs, phantom power, plus stereo XLR and 1/4-inch outputs for integration with PAs and acoustic amps. Both vocal and guitar channels offer three-band EQ and low-cut filter, and you can use the VE-8 as an interface via USB at home, too.

Phewph, that’s a lot of features - the VE-8 looks to be a very practical, well-considered package for acoustic guitarists. It's available from May for £269. Then there are those new tuners…