Super Newbie Here...I have lots of questions, LOL!

[jgabra62]

Hey all, I finally got my Boss GM-800 and my GK-5 pickup...and I have so many questions, lol!
I've installed the pickup and done the firmware update...so I think I should be ready to start using this thing.
I've watched a lot of the YouTube videos and none of them really explain much about what I am asking about in my questions below...any help would be hugely appreciated!
I've also gone through a lot of the threads in here, but there is SO MUCH that it is hard to find the specific information I am trying to find.


1. Do I really need that special guitar cable (BGK-15 or 30?)...or will my GM-800 not work at all if I just use a nice high-end guitar cable?

2. I've installed all the drivers and software onto my computer, but still can't get any sound to come out of my computer speakers. I'm not sure what to do. Is it because I don't have that special BGK cable...or is there some sort of setup on my pedal that I need to do in order for it to work with my computer?

3. How would I use it if I wanted to include it on my pedalboard with all of my other effects pedals? Would I need to run the cable out of the GK-5 pickup into the GM-800 and another cable out of my guitar input jack into my pedalboard? I would like to have the option to switch from the GM-800 to my other pedals in the middle of a song, so what exactly is the setup for that? Where do all the cables go (in and out) if I have the GM-800 at the beginning of the signal chain of my pedalboard?

4. The Boss manual is so difficult to understand, can someone let me know what essential settings I need to sort out so I can start using this damn thing??

[IMH1234]

Hey all, I finally got my Boss GM-800 and my GK-5 pickup...and I have so many questions, lol!
I've installed the pickup and done the firmware update...so I think I should be ready to start using this thing.
I've watched a lot of the YouTube videos and none of them really explain much about what I am asking about in my questions below...any help would be hugely appreciated!
I've also gone through a lot of the threads in here, but there is SO MUCH that it is hard to find the specific information I am trying to find.

1. Do I really need that special guitar cable (BGK-15 or 30?)...or will my GM-800 not work at all if I just use a nice high-end guitar cable?

2. I've installed all the drivers and software onto my computer, but still can't get any sound to come out of my computer speakers. I'm not sure what to do. Is it because I don't have that special BGK cable...or is there some sort of setup on my pedal that I need to do in order for it to work with my computer?

3. How would I use it if I wanted to include it on my pedalboard with all of my other effects pedals? Would I need to run the cable out of the GK-5 pickup into the GM-800 and another cable out of my guitar input jack into my pedalboard? I would like to have the option to switch from the GM-800 to my other pedals in the middle of a song, so what exactly is the setup for that? Where do all the cables go (in and out) if I have the GM-800 at the beginning of the signal chain of my pedalboard?

4. The Boss manual is so difficult to understand, can someone let me know what essential settings I need to sort out so I can start using this damn thing??

Q1,2 and 4) Simple answer is you need the BGK cable. Other users have had success with different cables of the correct spec but a standard guitar cable will not work. Unless you are confident in sourcing esoteric spec cables or making your own I would just stick with the Boss option. Once you have this it should be possible to start using the default patches at switch on without having to dig deep into the manual.

Q3) Depends what you mean - if you want to add pedals to the synth sounds of the GM800 then the simplest way would be to add these after the output of the unit. If what you want is to switch between  GM800 sounds and your normal guitar sound then you will need to run a separate guitar lead (or wireless connection) to your pedalboard and then set up something to switch between them - a volume pedal on each of the guitar and synth signals is probably the simplest solution but check out the users rigs page for inspiration of the different ways to do this.

[Brak(E)man]

What IMH1234 said and
Q2
connect the monitors to the gms output and use gm as a usb sound card.
( + be sure to set the output to line/phones )

[xogmusic]

Connect headphones to the L/Phones output first to see if you get any output.
I first started using the GK-5/GM-800 with a normal short stereo cable and that worked and I replaced it with the shorter Boss cable a week later.

I use the GM-800 on it's own and also as a guitar to midi "hub" to control many of the synths/samples I use. I've created presets to have guitar to midi with a bend +/- 2 option and without. Also to have different tunings like B standard or an octave lower to use for bass.

[gumbo]

".....will my GM-800 not work at all if I just use a nice high-end guitar cable? "

Welcome to the Forum.

If you are describing a 'normal' MONO guitar cable, then NO...
...at very least, you have to realise that the connection requires a stereo cable with TRS plugs.

This is required to allow the electronics of the GK5 to be powered from the GM-800, while at the same time transmitting its six separate string signals back down to the GM-800 for processing.

Much has been written on the Forum about the pros and cons of using the BOSS cable vs a high-end STEREO cable (and some users have been able to make this work to a degree) but there are potential drawbacks in terms of general performance issues, let alone the fact that the BOSS cable is specifically designed to minimise the amount of emitted electronic interference that could affect other nearby equipment.

While appreciating the volume of threads and posts that talk about the GM-800/GK5 combination that exist on this Forum, it IS possible using the search function to find answers to your questions, and probably even more that you will be progressively be faced with as you explore this equipment.

And yes, Roland/BOSS documentation can be confusing, even on a good day....so by all means ask for help to negotiate the minefield if you get stuck.

Hope this helps you in your quest, and once again, welcome to the Forum!

Cheers,
Peter

[Elantric]

I use the secret tactic of reading the owners manual