BOSS SY-1 - Is it really that good?? [McRocklin playthrough]

Thanks for listening to some of the sounds that I created with the very cool BOSS SY-1.
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The launch video that I did with BOSS:
• BOSS SY-1 Synthesizer ...
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#BOSSSY1 #synthesizer #BOSScompact

[@JeffHendricks]

EHX: "We made like 6 synth pedals!" Boss: "Hold my beer."

[@McRocklin]

😆

[@synthanatomy]

@@McRocklin check the new Source Audio synth pedal, that is massive, it has a modular synth engine inside ;)

[@cuervorockero]

@@synthanatomy yep. C4

[@stevesmith3990]

It blows the EHX pedals out of the water. I'll still keep my Synth 9 and Mel9 though.

[@cuervorockero]

@@stevesmith3990 agree. I just got my bass mono synth. Love the thing, but is mono and tends to glitch on faster play.

[@Acousticeg]

Ok now this is what I was waiting for. A real world video. Not just another Boss demo.

[@McRocklin]

Hope you enjoyed it : )

[@dan-3268]

Rabea wants to know your address...

[@harrytuttle8161]

I'm a pedal addict , it's been 2 weeks since my last pedal purchase .You could sell me an empty box and call it reverb and I'll turn knobs all day . Really cool pedal .

[@samfosdick9874]

That's crazy funny dude....just give me the box!

[@ramon2008]

What do you do for work ? Honest question I want to know

[@LochNessAnthony]

I can sell you that

[@centraal22]

Damnit I laughed. G.A.S. forever.

[@johnsmits2494]

The weird odd reverb or delay makes a real assessment very difficult. The player is competent but many cliches are being played, and I think buying this pedal you would try to come to some truly original ideas or sounds. But then again this pedal seems to track better than the EHX modelers.

[@thestarseeker8196]

I absolutely love how you could probably rightfully classify every sound it gives you as "80's", but in the best sort of way. It's like Boss decided to just make the ultimate synth wave guitar pedal.

[@salonundo]

The video served its purpose, i made the purchase before halfway :)

[@McRocklin]

Haha enjoy man.

[@mrz80]

Yeah if I *had* the cash this would totally be a "Shut up and take my money!" moment :D

[@FreneticZetetic]

Exactly the same!

[@gordonmcewen2661]

Why is this the greatest pedal ever? - it has a knob that goes up to 11

[@tobyfunk6858]

Most go up to 10. This one goes up to 11.

[@donmackie6086]

And it was sampled in 'Dublin'.

[@danimalplanimal]

oh wow it does! thought you were joking

[@ProducerLeon24]

Ok mine never sounds this good but now I see it’s the reverb and delay that brings it to life!

[@brandonv7830]

This thing makes me all sorts of emotional.

[@domformula1]

I took delivery of one yesterday and my word, I could be here until next year before I’ve scratched the surface

[@ibanezmaestro5630]

The lick at 2:19 is just TOO brutal!! Can't get enough of that run.

[@SunsetKetch]

Ive been playing for like 20 years on and off...how do I do this type stuff? I can play like 6 as I lay dying songs but cant shred like this

[@ibanezmaestro5630]

@Christopher Atkinson I really don't play like this much either. My emphasis has been tightening my picking hand to play and fat chunky metal riffs. I'm more Hetfield than Hammett anymore. Lol. To play like this, you just have to master scales and practice bending techniques. Lots of blues in this sound. McRocklin's style is extremely soulful and expressive, so bending is a huge part of it. Once you got that down, find you a sweet guitar tone with a generous amount of compression (preferably tube) and add delay to taste.

[@SunsetKetch]

@@ibanezmaestro5630 ding dang if you didnt describe what I do and already do. But like my mind is always sated at like 4 to maybe 9 notes. Not fucking 23

[@ibanezmaestro5630]

@@SunsetKetch Yea I had that issue myself a long time ago. All the solos I would write would be isolated to one part of the neck and I thought it sounded good at the time. Then I heard Ozzy Osbourne's Randy Rhodes Tribute album. The whole thing was great and one of my favorite albums of all time, but his unaccompanied solo on Suicide Solution changed my playing forever. I chased that sound for many years. I wanted to put a solo like that together of my own and I realized that was just never gonna happen by limiting myself to just the first 9 notes of the minor Blues pentatonic scale my dad taught me. Lol. My point is, sometimes it takes an insane amount of inspiration from somebody like Randy Rhodes or Zakk Wylde, Steve Vai, etc. to break you out of your mold. Otherwise we do what is comfortable and don't much care to experiment with colors outside our pallette. We succumb to the "that's just my style bro." mentality that holds so many guitarists back. Trouble is, as we get older and have played for more and more years, we become progressively harder to impress, much less inspire. You might say it's for the same reason why DC and Marvel films don't impact us the same way that movies we saw when we were kids did. We become jaded over the years because we've just seen so many. But when that one guitar player does come around that can make you wanna change the way you play, you will break out of your comfort zone voluntarily and then you'll be on your way. Sorry for the long response. Lol

[@ElisandroDeLeon]

Best sy1 demo yet. I was thinking "why buy this when I can just play an actual synth" but this handles vibrato and legato so well. Better than I could do with a keyboard. Im gonna need a bigger pedalboard. Sounds perfect for those synth guitar sounds. Time for some Mega Man X covers

[@Scott__C]

I think this type of thing is what Roland has been shooting for since the 70s. None of the extra hardware etc. I just want some simple stuff like the organ and string sounds. Can't wait until they can add piano and other tones to this type of pedal.

[@UDLXXL]

Get the EHX B9 or Mel9... they are simple to use and sound great

[@StacXion]

The thing I noticed within 5 seconds of having this pedal, is if you're a metal player, using a Fortin amp Sim (or something) use channel 1 (lower gain); cause A LOT of the synthiness/harmonics will get lost in the high gain mode/channel. A clean(er) channel with a drive pedal (Hex Drive or whatever you're using) is where it's at :)

[@benjaminjentgen3596]

That sounds amazing, and it's not even a midi plug! Perfect!

[@steveintentionallyleftblan3398]

I honestly wouldn't mind if someone did a multi-sampled instrument of that synth lead in the beginning. So freakin' good.

[@jbh219]

Excellent demo. The sounds at 14.23 had me looking for my credit card

[@TheDombledorf]

After watching a dozen videos on this pedal, you just sold me on it! Thanks!

[@sawriter163]

you by far have the best sounds and chops playing the boss sy 1 great job and thank you

[@McRocklin]

Glad you like it :)

[@SimonJohnOwen]

This is an incredible pedal. If guitarists are going to do something different in the next decade, then it's going to be using pedals like this, making new sounds come out of the instrument. Yeah shredding is cool, but its been done, it's not original, there are loads of identikit shredders out there. This could be the way forward.

[@jamesprice6381]

Agree totally, ima gonna loop these sounds n play over as well

[@aladams684]

You hit the nail on the head with track ideas. I am in the middle of an instrumental Christmas album and can hear things that NEED to be on completed tracks. I just got one as a surprise early birthday gift from my brother in law and got lost for three hours. On a side not, it is great to see you busy. I remember you from the Vai video and your Bad For Good days. Your playing is as terrific as it was back then Great demo.

[@bobjones3415]

Mine should be here by tomorrow... can’t wait to see what I can do with my bass lines

[@SomeKindOfMadman]

I recently purchased an Sy-1( after watching this video, it convinced me to get it) I’m glad I did; I love it. I highly recommend it to any musician who can utilize its effects. I only wish I knew what exact dialed in settings “you, McRocklin,” used for that sweet lead tone and pad effect. If so, where can I find what settings (exact specs) you used for the video, and the Boss Demo video.

[@defnotmee5085]

Honest feedback, nice playing and quality audio/video. Thx for posting man! Def gotta get one

[@MrDrTheJniac]

So this is what it looks like to not suck at guitar.

[@littlefishy6316]

LOL, yes. that gentleman can play

[@yurimodin7333]

holy crap that intro was BladeRunner in a pedal :o

[@SynthoidSounds]

Quite impressive as a guitar synth, am inclined to try this with other instruments and audio sources. The price for this is quite reasonable . . . many thanks for posting.

[@LuisAmbrosioFerreira]

Awesome demo! Awesome playing! I'll insert this pedal on my set on day!

[@charliechrist7537]

I need it!! my band wants to hire a keyboard player I figured I could just add that with my bass and add keyboard sounds myself

[@chinmeysway]

charlie christ get someone who knows about actual synths / what synthesis is!! there’s so many great instruments out there that are not strung 😺

[@lauriebluesguy]

Best review of this pedal on the net. Thank you, one for my Xmas list :)

[@McRocklin]

👌🏻👌🏻 thanks!

[@nevillepark4068]

Incredibly versatile! And so much better sounding than earlier offerings!

[@N64Guy]

I just ordered this pedal yesterday at guitar center I got it brand new for 184 bucks flat it’s coming on Wednesday an I can’t wait

[@gat1gigs782]

Are we all gunna act like 13:50 wasent the sickest thing!?your rock dude,love your boss tone studio pacthes,thank you \m/

[@McRocklin]

👋🏻 thanks!

[@hypersmudge1]

Thanks! A *great* demo video of another *great* Boss product! They keep bringin’ it!

[@SurTaal369]

Finally I have received my product SY 1 Synthesizer today.. Yippe.😊

[@alphajames33]

Man, the tune you played around 10:38, was phaenomenal! It belongs to a Carpenter movie. Maybe in a parallel universe. I wish i had tabs for that.

[@McRocklin]

Will look back at it, can’t remember what I did not hehe

[@markdp1983]

Wow Thomas McRocklin! I remember reading about you in Guitar World/ or Player?! Being introduced as a child prodigy quite a few years ago! Great demo I like some of these sounds.... Just subbed...

[@McRocklin]

Thanks man!! 👍🏻

[@JessieThorne886]

Wonderful playing, really shows what this pedal can do!

[@McRocklin]

Cheers !

[@paulwhitwam4752]

By far and away the best demo of this product. Sold it to me in a heartbeat, helped by your awesome musicianship. I'm a bassist also, so really looking forward to experimenting with this gizmo. Like you say "Track Ideas

[@LuterofromTx]

The beginning kind of resembles a keytar which is super rad. My bf just got me one and i’m super hyped even though i haven’t quite learned how to use it well yet!

[@Guitar_Smasher]

Sounds wicked! I thought this was the oldest model. Come to find out it's the newest, and by far, the best!

[@chadbierman8058]

OOOH THAT INTRO! AND TONE!!! 😩😩😩😩👍🏼👍🏼👌🏼

[@NicholasGreenwood]

Incredible sounds, and great playing. My only criticism here is that I wish there wasn't so much delay and reverb so I could hear the pedal itself more.

[@McRocklin]

Gotcha. Thanks 👍🏻

[@bb-bryzontrap1525]

Finally I found a video where someone is shredding with this pedal; I thought I was not going to track well the shredding but I was wrong

[@McRocklin]

👋🏻

[@McRocklin]

Was there any doubt that I wasn't gonna absolutely LOVE the SY-1!!? Thoughts on the screw up lick at the end of the video haha!! :D

[@RokDAWG1]

I don't think that the pedal is something that I would use up front but could definitely see myself reaching for it using it to layer some tracks. It would offer some really great sonic variations.

[@LeviBulger]

This pedal is gonna sell like hotcakes. 200 bucks to kick your keyboardist off the band

[@LeviBulger]

@Escape The Matrix it was clearly a joke. But that said, drum machines vs synths is wayyyyy different. Drums are vital no matter what. 80s pop covers or whatever else can be keyboardist optional if the guitar player can simulate synths, however.

[@seanlanders4180]

@@LeviBulger you joke, but really you aren't wrong. This pedal is the ultimate for one-man-band, live session type stuff

[@SurTaal369]

It is nearly unavailable to the market.. I have ordered it in FoundSound.au Australia. But they are not sure that whether they could bring me that thing or not. Please help me where I can get it in Australia.

[@monkiss77]

9:30 mins in sounds like stranger things. Glad you did a full review of the pedal as was super intrigued after watching the boss demo vid. Sounds like a lot of fun to play, and will inspire and change the way you view playing

[@bryanjordan8876]

Haha, I thought the same thing and was about to post until I read your comment. Just like stranger things lol.

[@craftcrasher89]

I love how all the sounds remind me the 80's and 90's like wow it's Terminator jajajs

[@ibanezmaestro5630]

I agree!! For some reason I'm reminded of Moonbeam City. Lol. Or some badass 80's racing game in an old school arcade.

[@Danish-dx2bp]

Man you're awesome guitar skills really is a beast💪💪💪💪keep on the great work

[@SteveBlues]

A synth?.. more like an Inspiration-Generator ! Awesome pedal 👍

[@sendforacar9323]

After a month-and-a-half of waiting I finally received mine today. Straight Out of the box looks great. It's has a royal blue flake paint looks looks beautiful. First impressions tracking is incredible, tones are wonderful. Having said that it comes with the caveat. The tones alone are lacking focus. I watch many reviews where the person was always playing the patches with the guitar and the effect together and everyone would ask for the FX only. Now I see why guitar was always present. Without the guitar there is now true mid highs and top end even with the resonance sweep. Overall great gear!

[@SurTaal369]

I got it today after 4.5months of waiting.😂

[@jlmusic1469]

Excellent Demo! I am sold.. and to think I was about to purchase one of those other triple priced!! This is Beastly and seems simple to use!!!

[@klauswhitedreamer]

Finally now I am sure that I want this pedal, awesome sounds !

[@alejandrodelgado3798]

So much fun for retro videogame music 😍😍😍

[@moogdome2562]

Excellent. Cool guitar. Well done.

[@virtuosomaximoso1]

I love how the demo video has a track so sick you want to buy it to start a neo shred wave band.

[@McRocklin]

Haha thanks. Have you heard my band McRocklin & Hutch??

[@virtuosomaximoso1]

@@McRocklin no but if it sounds like this I'll love it.

[@Mujcanal]

killer sounds ! I can’t sleep now, trying to figure out how to sneak this bad boy in and blend it into other few.

[@liquid7315]

Really like 14:15 setting. Think I might get that pedal.

[@BigBossPapaPimp]

Imagine playing "Guile's Theme" but with this pedal?!

[@Alanphuphalee]

I found him. The guy from PMT Sounds live Newcastle. Local music store hero

[@TheDunateen77]

It does sound usable compared to a lot of guitar synths I have heard before but that tone you had when it was deactivated would be good enough for me!

[@damianrjames]

Cool demo! Lovely melodic interesting lines! Cheers!

[@McRocklin]

Thank you! : )

[@jsonslim]

Mesmerizing

[@DoubleDguitar]

I am really looking forward to exploring this pedal, I am really interested in some parallel tones via the ES8 with a nice lead guitar sound, a-la Prince. Glad I found your channel. Heads Up!

[@fusionfan6883]

At last I can score a whole episode of 70's Doctor Who with one pedal! :-)

[@lukegoffkat]

like someone said on another video, came for the Boss, stayed for the music!

[@McRocklin]

Thank you! : )

[@Slayer10000]

@McRocklin Awesome stuff! CAN you go on for hours? Because I can't stop watching this whole video enough. Time flys so fast, the video seems short even though it's almost 20 mins long lol. It's cause I just got mine and I can't get enough SY-1 videos but yours seems to be way more informative and way more fun than other SY-1 videos. And please include close-ups of the settings as yeah you found the settings but we can't seeee theeeem. Please and thank you McRocklin keeps rocking the world with SY-1 videos \m/

[@stuartdutton6846]

Great demo - what an brilliant pedal, could have a lot of fun with this one. Question: Some of the sounds had a delay everb - was that all coming out of the pedal? 😊👍👾

[@McRocklin]

Thanks! No the Rev and delay is added on top. The SY-1 doesn’t have those kind of effects built into it.

[@sharktroubles]

@@McRocklin Thanks.

[@NesterRuzi]

10:03 jedi powers confirmed

[@richardhighsmith]

Great job on the Launch Video, it sounds really good.

[@McRocklin]

Thanks! : )

[@sidhree]

Best demo thus far! Cheers for that!!

[@McRocklin]

🥳 cheers!!

[@mrz80]

Yeah, he's havin' WAY too much fun with the gizmo :D

[@ohmygreen]

I am a keyboard player but I also play guitar. The ultimate way to use the SY-1 is to use an expression pedal to open and close the filter. This will sound more organic and allows the sound to breathe. Also , the sound will dictate the way to play idiomatically. “Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.”

[@chiefmegadeth]

Just bought this Pedal... You made it sound incredible!

[@McRocklin]

Enjoy!!’ Thanks 👊🏻

[@chrisisbliss2938]

I wish I could play what you did for the promo! I sometimes listen to it just because it’s so good!

[@theelusive9625]

Gotta say, incredible sound quality on this video--and I'm listening on earbuds for Godsakes. So much for me getting a Synth9. LOL

[@chrisbunchofflowersmusic]

Excellent performance... Thanks a lot. Many thanks and regards from Chris Bunch of flowers music

[@meuconsagrado]

3:29 the dying cat... definitely my favorite 😭😭 AWESOME. EDIT: sorry I don't know any more this boss is unbelievable

[@BrianBower]

High quality video, awesome pedal and fun to watch!

[@PDXguitarfreak]

Hey McRocklin, I have a question for you. First, I have to say that of all the demos I have watched, yours is the by far the best (due to your playing style, for sure). I have one of these pedals on back-order, and am curious where you placed it in the chain. Apparently BOSS recommends putting it before the amp (and not in an effects loop). What is your approach? I'm thinking it will sound better in the loop (but before delay/reverb/chorus) so the synth effect is added to the already distorted guitar tone.. in other words, opposite of what I hear BOSS recommends.

[@LochNessAnthony]

PDX Guitar Freak Hey, Don’t know if you ever got your answer. But, he has direct into his recording interface with post reverb/ delay. Nothing else is added.

[@vix144]

Nice work !! So what you using to split your tones from Sy to guitar and what you playing through ? 🤘

[@gscgold]

Wow that's awesome, almost a Soaring through a dream sound Al di meola

[@MartinScheuerJr]

I'm a drummer and somehow ended up here after watching drum videos...not let down! Very cool

[@McRocklin]

Haha thanks man. Appreciate it 👊🏻

[@JTCGuitar]

BOSS and McRocklin, just need a jam doughnut and you're not far off perfection!

[@McRocklin]

Haha, don’t forget the tea 😎

[@illavitar]

Wow who would've thought boss could make something as good as the memory man

[@Vienzbow]

oh....so it actually is a cool pedal...thank you for the demo man!

[@McRocklin]

No worries, cheers!

[@chrisangela]

The pedal is on order...this is going to be fun:-)

[@omegasunn]

2.24 I love how excited you get ! Just discovered your channel and loved the review - subbed !!

[@DuncanPerryOfficial]

Your official Boss demo bought me here and I'm not disappointed! 👌🏻

[@McRocklin]

Thanks for stopping by man.

[@davidsummerville351]

Great demo. Thanks

[@McRocklin]

Thanks for checking it out.

[@SHEP_Music1]

Playing some songs by Carpenter Brut and other Synthwave artists with this pedal will make it so much better sounding! Also, at 9:32, it sounds like you're playing the Stranger Things theme lol. Don't know if you meant to do that or not, but it sounds perfect

[@JPMonstie]

This was indeed the best demo of this pedal I’ve seen. I could see you doing a 2 hour long one. Subscribed! Alas, I tried to subscribe to your website newsletter and it doesn’t recognise my email address.

[@McRocklin]

Ah. I’ve changed sites since this video I’ll check that out thank you.

[@guitarbrew6391]

At some point this year I will pull the plug in this! Awesome video :)

[@tel5690]

Just bought the pedal and excited to do my jazz fusion stuff. Thomas did a awesome job here

[@etiennemiemczyk7081]

Get those Pat Metheney lol

[@Daniel-623]

I love it. Thanks mcrock!

[@AwesomeZeuh]

This is like... The most beautiful guitar I've ever seen 0-0

[@FreneticZetetic]

This is exactly the type of playing example I was looking for to help decide on this pedal. S O L D (and subbed)! Thank you, my friend!

[@McRocklin]

Thank you! : )

[@ElliottsMusicSchool]

Bloody hell you can play!! 💪😁 Fantastic!! Can’t wait to plug mine in!!

[@gowaitinthetruck7614]

Always love your videos! ❤️🤗

[@Xochiyolotl]

Pretty cool if you wanna experiment with laying synthish backing tracks down and you can’t play keyboard. All kinds of interesting applications. I wonder how much the damn thing is.

[@wakjob961]

This will be the new fad pedal in certain circles. It'll be everywhere and on everything for the next few years.

[@richardpollard7893]

Im looking at this pedal for bass, even though we have a very good keyboard player. I love your playing and your tone! Just incredible! Thanks for the great video!!!

[@McRocklin]

Thanks Richard!

[@BrianAuer]

Just purchased mine today. You didn’t happen to film the settings you used or take a pic did you? Curious to see what you are adjusting. Sounds great man. You were a good choice to demonstrate. Subbed.

[@Pinkmilka]

Thats what i was hoping for :(