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Description

Unleash your creative prowess with the Boss SE-70 Super Effects Processor, a game-changer in the realm of music recording and production. This marvel of engineering is a rack-mounted modeling engine, designed to synergize flawlessly with a variety of foot controllers, particularly the Boss FC-50. Sculpt your sound like never before with the SE-70, a perfect blend of technology and musical artistry.

Key Features:

  • Rack-mounted modeling engine
  • Designed for seamless integration with various foot controllers, including Boss FC-50
  • Ideal for music recording and production
  • Enables unique sound sculpting capabilities

Product specs

Brand Boss
Model SE-70 Super Effects Processor
Finish Black
Year 2000s
Made In Japan
Categories Multi-Effects Pedals and Processors

FAQs

What types of effects are available in the Boss SE-70 Super Effects Processor?

The Boss SE-70 offers a wide range of effects including reverb, delay, chorus, flanger, pitch shifting, and distortion, making it versatile for various musical styles and recording applications.

Can the Boss SE-70 be used in both live and studio settings?

Yes, the Boss SE-70 is designed for both live performance and studio use, providing high-quality effects processing suitable for a variety of environments.

Is the Boss SE-70 compatible with both guitar and keyboard setups?

The Boss SE-70 is compatible with both guitar and keyboard setups, offering flexible input and output options to integrate seamlessly into different rig configurations.

Does the Boss SE-70 Super Effects Processor have MIDI capabilities?

Yes, the Boss SE-70 includes MIDI capabilities, allowing it to be controlled and synchronized with other MIDI-equipped devices for enhanced performance options.

What is the build quality of the Boss SE-70 like?

The Boss SE-70 is known for its robust build quality, featuring a durable black finish and reliable construction typical of Boss products, ensuring longevity in various settings.

Kick.S

Kick.S

BOSS SE-70 [ Multi Effects ]

Video thumbnail for BOSS SE-70 [ Multi Effects ] by Kick.S

BOSS SE-70 [ Multi Effects ]

Kick.S

Kick.S

Video thumbnail for The BEST 1/2 Rack Unit Ever? | BOSS SE-70 by Leon Todd

The BEST 1/2 Rack Unit Ever? | BOSS SE-70

Leon Todd

Leon Todd

Video thumbnail for The Boss SE70 - Digital Rack Gear - Vintage Edition. The H9 of the 90's? How does it sound? by Digital Rack Gear

The Boss SE70 - Digital Rack Gear - Vintage Edition. The H9 of the 90's? How does it sound?

Digital Rack Gear

Digital Rack Gear

Video thumbnail for Boss SE70 vintage 1993 -  Every boss pedal in one box? by UpStairs To The Right Music

Boss SE70 vintage 1993 - Every boss pedal in one box?

UpStairs To The Right Music

UpStairs To The Right Music

Video thumbnail for Boss SE-70 by U S.

Boss SE-70

U S.

U S.

Reviews

PROS

  • Combines multiple Boss modulation effects in one unit

  • Offers stereo inputs/outputs and Multi algorithms for chaining effects

  • Exceptional modulation quality (phasers, flangers, tremolos, delays)

  • Versatile usage for guitar, synth, and vocal processing

  • Allows external expression control for parameter adjustments

  • Features unique presets, including ones specifically for guitarists

  • Durable unit that has survived the test of time compared to other vintage gear

  • Phasers and choruses shine, with some keyboard multi-effects also noted

  • Some presets allow for creative parallel delays in stereo

  • Comparable sound quality to high-end processors, with unique grit and personality

CONS

  • Distortion/dirt effects considered the weakest link, sounding "muddy"

  • Complexity can be daunting for new users or those preferring plug-and-play

  • Requires a factory reset to access certain presets, which may deter experimentation

  • Multiple reports of units arriving damaged or defective, questioning shipping reliability

  • Dependency on specific power supply models, which may pose a challenge if damaged

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Boss SE-70 Super Effects Processor.

Features and functionality

  • The vocoder in the Boss SE-70 is noted for its unique qualities, and its analog distortion offers a superior sound compared to digital effects from the same era.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • The SE-70 is highlighted for its ability to recreate the 00s aggrotech sound with multi-voice pitch shifters creating dissonant intervals.

    Source
  • Used extensively in 90s techno, the SE-70's modulation effects provide a slightly distorted texture that enhances mix presence.

    Source

Comparisons

  • While budget-friendly, the SE-70's grainy 14-bit processing places it alongside higher-end models like the Lexicon PCM90 in professional settings for its unique sound character.

    Source
  • The Boss SE-50 is considered a great budget alternative, hinting that the SE-70 might offer even better performance.

    Source

User experience

  • Owners appreciate its "grabby" compression and grainy reverbs/delays for creative effects, despite its small display making hardware use challenging.

    Source
  • Older processors like the SE-70 are noted for their inherent noise, which some users find adds to their character.

    Source

Value and pricing

  • Buying secondhand multi-effects units like the SE-70 allows users to experiment with sounds affordably before investing in newer models.

    Source

Critic Reviews

The Black Magic Box (SOS Oct 93)

muzines.co.uk

Boss's SE-70 Super Effects Processor delivers a compelling mix of high-quality effects and innovative features, sure to please both guitarists and studio enthusiasts. The inclusion of enhanced vocoder options, guitar and bass synths, and unique effects like a ring modulator adds significant creative potential. Despite its higher price point compared to the SE-50, the SE-70's versatility and sound quality justify the investment for those seeking a compact, efficient multi-effects unit. While the crowded market dulls its uniqueness slightly, it's a powerful tool for those exploring creative soundscapes, making it a strong contender in its class.

positive
Add

4.5 out of 5

Based on 4 Reviews and 14 Ratings

5 star
4 star
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monophreak

Really fantastic sounds

The Boss SE-70 is a fantastic multi-effects unit packed with a great range of well executed effects. Among its standout features include the “Slow Gear” effect, which skillfully emulates a string-instrument-style volume swell—ideal for creating expressive, nuanced tones (and not so easy to find in plugin format).

Tonally, the SE-70 boasts undeniable mojo. It delivers character-rich sound shaping, making it a compelling option for producers exploring genres beyond traditional guitar applications, including EDM, where subtle dynamics (or not so subtle!) and layered textures are key.

MIDI implementation is decent, offering enough flexibility to integrate with modern DAW environments. Real-time automation and hands-on control is possible with the right set-up, opening up creative possibilities in both studio and live contexts.

🔊 Verdict A brilliantly designed effects unit that bridges the charm of analog with the convenience of digital MIDI integration. Highly recommended for electronic artists seeking to inject texture, movement, and vibe into their productions.

Preferred Settings + Usage:

For presets, I recommend my TOPD X-70 editor found here: https://monophreak.com/boss-se-70-ctrlr-vst-au-plugin/ It will make it a lot easier to get fantastic sounds out of the Boss SE-70.

parhelia_0000

Chorus effect sounds great, but touring reliability is questionable. Proceed with caution.

Back in 2019, I was delving into rack rigs for the first time, exploring various stereo effects using the line mixer to route my 100% wet effects in parallel. The SE-70 was one of the first few units I got back then, and still use to this day.

In fact I'd say that out of all the vintage gear I tried out, this is by far the ONLY unit that survived the test of time. Other vintage gear such as the Boss VF-1, SE-50, Eclipse, etc. would either arrive damaged, and/or not last for a long time. Just comes to show how much bad luck I've had with the vintage gear purchases.

So what's great about the Boss SE-70? The chorus algorithms sound very nice. The stereo chorus algorithms, for the money ($200-300 used on eBay), are really difficult to beat considering how all the other great-sounding rack chorus units would cost you at least $1600 if not more. Also, you can do cross-feedback delays, multi-tap delays and circular delays that can be programmed to the smallest ms.

But, I wouldn't call this unit reliable. I've had to deal with multiple SE-70 shipments that arrived either damaged upon arrival, or with defects. So far, I managed to salvage two SE-70's that are in working order and one BRB-120 power supply that's intact. The second BRB-120, however, is damaged, and will pose a serious electrical hazard very soon.

If you must go with vintage rack gear, consider the Boss SE-70's. However, back them up in multiples if you're planning to use them for heavy-duty gigs, and use shock-resistant rack cases. They are cheap to get on the used market, but if you do decide to go with the SE-70's, pray to god that yours do not arrive damaged/defective. If I were to rebuild my rack rig from the ground-up, I myself probably won't go back to these again, unless I had no other options.

Preferred Settings + Usage:

Bill Primo Chorus: Rate 32, 4-Stage mode, Rate 66, Pre-Delay 0.5 ms, Bass Neutral, Treble +2 dB, Direct Level 0 (killdry), Effect Level 40, Master Output 100

pkennethk

Is arriving damaged/non-op the same thing as being unreliable? Sounds like you're dealing more with shady sellers shipping you bad units than these being actually more problematic than similar units of the same vintage. Any piece of electronics this old is going to have issues, sure, but what you're describing sounds more like the fault of the sellers than indication that these units are unusually delicate. Boss stuff tends to be very robust, relative to other gear of the era, right?

parhelia_0000

@pkennethk Yes and no. Certain units like the Boss VF-1 are known to have defects. Spend 30 seconds on the Google search and you'll run into all sorts of defects that people point out, such as the Value knob being prone to damage.

With vintage gear you really have to scrutinize everything. And even if you do scrutinize everything, there's always a chance that sellers could potentially hide things away from you.

I've since deleted the eBay app on my mobile phone. I'm not taking any more chances with the used market.

pkennethk

@parhelia_0000 thanks for your reply. I think if you look at my equipboard, you'll see that I'm no stranger to vintage gear and the problems that one can encounter... but I think I've only ever gotten 1 or 2 pieces off eBay ever... for exactly the reasons you point out.

krash_koblanski

BILL PRIMO,

You should just give up on rack gear and "reviews" in general. The SE-70 is pretty bulletproof. The only issue with the unit is your user error or buying broken junk. In addition, if ANY unit arrives broken, how is that a "reliability" issue? Sounds like a shipping issue. I've been using SE-70's since they were new. I currently own 7 of these without issue. I have two that are still on their original batteries. A poor craftsman blames his tools.

parhelia_0000

@krash_koblanski Try dealing with Canada Post (or should I say Hodor Post!) that constantly manhandles expensive rack gear and you'll see my point. If you ever wanted to imagine the WORST customer service ever possible, then they would far and beyond surpass a special kind of delinquency.

Also, regarding "a poor craftsman blames his tools," actually I've managed to master some of Dream Theater songs such as On the Backs of Angels, Octavarium, Panic Attack, etc. so that just comes to show how ignorant you are. What prog metal songs can YOU play on guitar? I'd imagine almost none.

Furthermore, regarding "you should just give up on rack gear," you know what? I've already given up on vintage rack gear. And I highly suggest ANYONE with triple-digit IQ to do the same - STAY AWAY FROM VINTAGE RACKS! They are not roadworthy for live shows, and they will give you more grief than good.

fuzzys_dead_mouse

Better than many modern units.

I have three of these in my studio. They really shine on single effects - phasers and choruses especially, but the keyboard multi effects are really good as well. Definitely worth the couple hundred bucks they go for.

D

Power Supply

Does anybody know if the Boss BRC-120 power supply works with the Boss SE70?

Artist usage

Add artist
See how Billy Gibbons uses Boss SE-70 Super Effects Processor

Billy Gibbons

Guitarist

ZZ Top

...
Verified via YouTube

"In the effects loop this year I have…the Boss SE70 Modeling Effects unit that I'm using it for a flange. We use this multi purpose. I t has ring mods, slap-back echos, just anything utility type thing," says Billy Gibbons's guitar tech about the Boss SE-70 Super Effects Processor.

See how The Prodigy uses Boss SE-70 Super Effects Processor

The Prodigy

Music Producer

...
Verified via Theprodigy

"I love my Boss SE70s. (...) You can get awesome distortion sounds from the SE70. (...) I've got four SE70s, and I programme the hell out of them. I've really gone mad with them." - Liam Howlett interviewed by Sound To Sound

See how Liam Howlett uses Boss SE-70 Super Effects Processor

Liam Howlett

Music Producer

The Prodigy

...
Verified via Theprodigy

The SE-70 is a half rack size digital multi effect processor. It has some multi-effects setups for guitar/bass/keyboard/vocal, though they're processed in 32kHz mode. Available effects: Reverb, Gate Reverb, Ambience, Delay, Chorus, Pitch Shift, Phaser, Flanger, Ring Modulator, Noise Suppressor, Overdrive/Distortion, Rotary, Enhancer, Panning/Tremolo, Slow Gear, Compressor/Limiter, Auto Wah, Guitar Amp Simulator, Vibrato, Feedbacker, Bass Amp Simulator, De-esser, Equalizer, Vocoder, Guitar Synth, Bass Synth, Mixer, Hum Canceler, Vocal Canceler, Key Changer, 2 Second Digital Sampler, plus a Chromatic Tuner and Metronome.

Bass multi includes: Slow gear, comp/limit, auto wah, overdrive/distortion, eq, enhancer, bass amp simulator, noise suppressor, pitch shifter, vibrato, phaser, flanger, delay, chorus, panning/tremolo.

Single algorithms include interesting ones like: 21 band vocoder 12 voice pitch shifter 16 unit chorus, etc. Signal level is 0dB or -20dB in.

If you turn the reverb on heavily, with some wrong values, you get exciting distortion effects, which are one of the Prodigy's trademarks (at least on the FOTL-album, you can hear them on SMBU and Narayan, for example) Used:

Liam once said to an interviewer, asking him what advice he'd give to upcoming musicians: "I'd like to quote Keith here, who said 'You can never have enough SE-70's'... "

See how Doug Aldrich uses Boss SE-70 Super Effects Processor

Doug Aldrich

Guitarist

Whitesnake

...
Verified via Photo

On Guitar Geek, this rig diagram shows that Aldrich uses a Boss SE-70.

See how Merzbow uses Boss SE-70 Super Effects Processor

Merzbow

Composer, Music Producer

Kikuri

...
Verified via Roland Articles

Mentioned by Merzbow in a 2025 interview with Roland:

The BOSS SE-70 digital effects processor, on the other hand, was all over my work in the late ’90s. It had 35 different effects, each with its own EQ settings, so that I could push the distortion to extremes; it was really useful!

See how Scott Henderson uses Boss SE-70 Super Effects Processor

Scott Henderson

Guitarist

Chick Corea Elektric Band

...
Verified via Scotthenderson

Scott's website lists the SE-70 multi effects processor on the gear page.

See how Peter Christopherson uses Boss SE-70 Super Effects Processor

Peter Christopherson

Keyboardist, Music Producer

Coil

...
Verified via Brainwashed

"Our sound sources include quite a lot of original analog gear (OSCAR, Korg Poly-6, EMS synthi, Roland Juno60 - all midi-retro fitted BTW) plus the usual samplers (Emax, s1000, Samplecell II). These are controlled by sequencers including Studio Vision, Cubase and the "retro-style" Doepfer (originally made for Kraftwerk). The sounds are intially effected by various standard echoes and FX including a Roland SDX-330 Dimensional Expander (3D-ish) and a Boss SE70 (good vocoder presets!)."

See how Walter Becker uses Boss SE-70 Super Effects Processor

Walter Becker

Guitarist, Bassist

Steely Dan

...
Verified via Photo

According to a GuitarGeek rig diagram, Walter Becker of Steely Dan used two Boss SE-70 Super Effects Processors.

See how Ronald Jones uses Boss SE-70 Super Effects Processor

Ronald Jones

Guitarist

The Flaming Lips

...
Verified via Photo

Ronald's expansive rack setup included at least two Boss SE-70's as seen on the top row in this picture. Used for distortions, pitch shifters, delays and reverbs.

See how Tom Bromley uses Boss SE-70 Super Effects Processor

Tom Bromley

Guitarist

Los Campesinos!

...
Verified via EMusician

"When we recorded with David Newfeld, he swore by the Boss SE-70 multi-FX unit, and I ended up buying one myself afterwards. It’s great for combining a ton of effects, and is always useful for adding more random elements to sounds."

N

Norman Cook

Music Producer

Beats International

...
Verified via YouTube

In the video at 7:22, you can clearly see it in the rack.

See how Eric Persing uses Boss SE-70 Super Effects Processor

Eric Persing

Keyboardist, Composer

...
Verified via Oldschooldaw

Spectrasonics Studio List The equipment list for the Spectrasonics studio reads like a gear-head's dream. Favourites amongst Eric's sizeable synthesizer collection include the Access Virus, the Prophet VS, his collection of Waldorf synthesizers, and a 1976 Yamaha CS80. "It's my favourite axe to play, because of the awesome polyphonic aftertouch and that sensuous ribbon," explains Eric.

For effects processing Eric is a fan of the Roland SRV330 reverb, an item that "gets missed by most people, mainly because it doesn't say Lexicon on the front panel." For distortion tricks Eric often uses a rare Boss GL100 guitar preamp: "It's basically the history of Boss pedals in one rack space."

Mixing, until recently, was done on some "very odd, custom-made analogue mixers made by a guy named Mo West," reveals Eric. He recently purchased a Roland VM 7000-series mixer, however, taking him one step closer to an all-digital setup.

SAMPLERS • Roland S760 and S770 • Kurzweill K2000 • Bitheadz Unity DS1 (running on an Apple Macintosh G4)

SYNTHESIZERS/DRUM BOXES • Access Virus • Clavia Nord Lead • Doepfer modular synth • Emu modular synth • Moog Minimoog (modified by Studio Electronics) • Oberheim SEMs • Polyfusion modular synth • Roland JP8000 prototypes & production units • Roland JP8080 • Roland JD800/990 • Roland Jupiter 8 • Roland JV1080 and 2080 • Roland MKS50 Alpha Juno • Roland MKS80 Super Jupiter • Roland System 700 and 100m modular synths • Roland MC303 • Roland MC505 • Roland TB303 • Roland TR808 • Roland TR909 • Korg EX8000 • Korg M1R • Korg Mono/Poly • Sequential Circuits Prophet VS • Waldorf Wave, Microwave, Microwave XT • Yamaha CS80

SOFTWARE • Alchemy • Arboretum HyperEngine • Arboretum Hyperprism plug-in pack • Arboretum Ionizer • Arboretum Raygun noise-reduction plug-in • Antares Infinity • BIAS Peak audio editor • BIAS SFX machine effects • Emagic Logic Audio Platinum • Emagic Sound Diver synth editor/librarian • Fireball • GRM Tools plug-in pack • Metasynth • Opcode Vinyl, Vocode & Filter plug-ins • Propellerheadz Rebirth soft synth • Prosoniq SonicWorx Artist effects • Steinberg Magneto tape-saturation emulator • Steinberg ReCycle sample editor • Thonk soft synth • RAIFF • Region Munger • Transfer Station • Samplifier sample transfer software • Saturator • Sound Morph • Sound Hack audio editor • Unisyn synth editor • Waveboy Voder

SIGNAL PROCESSORS • AMS RMX reverb • API 5502 equaliser • Boss GL100 guitar driver • Boss SE70 multi-effects • Dimension beam controller • Euphonics mixing console • Eventide DSP4000 & H3500 harmonizers • GML stereo parametric EQ • Innovonics compressors • Langevin passive equalisers • Lexicon PCM70/80/480 reverbs • MXR Distortion Plus • Quest custom mixers • Roland Dimension D & C processors • Roland RSP550 multi-effects • Roland RSS10 3-dimensional effects • Roland SDE330 delay • Roland SDX330 chorus • Roland SRV330 reverb • Roland SVC330 vocoder • TC Electronics Fireworx multi-effects • Summit tube mic preamps

Album Usage

The Boss SE-70 Super Effects Processor has been featured on the following albums:

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Boss SE-70 Super Effects Processor, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

Community setups

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chase_h_xealot

chase_h_xealot

Gear IQ 145

3 alternative and related items for Boss SE-70 Super Effects Processor, curated by the Equipboard community.

Boss VF-1: Multiple Effects Processor

$105.00

Vintage or Discontinued newer similar sound

It is slightly later and shares many parallels with the Boss SE-70. Similar 1/2 rack format, even better midi implementation, higher bitrate for internal processing but different vibe and some differences to the effect algorithms. For example, the Boss VF-1 includes RSS technology. The midi implementation makes it work really well inside a DAW.

Boss MD-500 Modulation

$350.00 - $439.99

similar sound

While the MD-500 may not be able to handle true line level, the chorus algorithms on the MD-500 don't completely suck. In fact I'd say the chorus, dimension and detune algorithms are much more advanced than the SE-70's. While the SE-70's sound better than the MD-500 and can handle true line level, the MD-500 is more advanced to program, so you guys decide which route you want to go with.

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