BOSSCO Dr. Beat DB-88 User manual

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Owner's Manual

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Thank you for purchasing the BOSS DB-88 Dr.
Beat.
Before using this unit, carefully read the sections
entitled: "USING THE UNIT SAFELY" and "IM-
PORTANT NOTES" (p. 30; p. 3). These sections
provide important information concerning the
properoperationoftheunit.Additionally,inorder
to feel assured that you have gained a good grasp
of every feature provided by your new unit, this
manual should be read in its entirety. The manual
shouldbesavedandkeptonhandasaconvenient
reference.
Copyright © 1997 BOSS CORPORATION
Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthispublicationmay
be reproduced in any form without the written
permission of BOSS CORPORATION.
Contents
IMPORTANT NOTES ...................................... 3
FEATURES ...................................................... 5
PANEL DESCRIPTIONS................................... 6
CONNECTIONS ........................................... 10
OPERATION ................................................. 11
Using the Unit as a Metronome............... 11
Tempo Setting in the Tap Mode............... 14
Playback in the Loop Mode..................... 16
Tune Mode.............................................. 18
Back Up Function ......................................... 20
Battery Replacement ..................................... 20
Stand Installation .......................................... 21
Attaching the Drum Set................................. 22
Initialization (Restoring the data
preprogrammed at the factory) ................22
Setting Samples and Preset Memories ........... 23
Specifications................................................ 26
USING THE UNIT SAFELY............................ 30

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IMPORTANT NOTES
In addition to the items listed under "USING THE UNIT SAFELY" on page 30, please read and observe
the following:
Power Supply: Use of Batteries
• Donotusethisunitonthesamepowercircuitwithany
devicethatwillgeneratelinenoise(suchasanelectric
motor or variable lighting system).
• The AC adaptor will begin to generate heat after long
hours of consecutive use. This is normal, and is not a
cause for concern.
• TheuseofanACadaptorisrecommendedastheunit's
power consumption is relatively high. Should you
prefer to use batteries, please use the alkaline type.
• Wheninstalling or replacingbatteries,always turn off
the power on this unit and disconnect any other
devices you may have connected. This way, you can
prevent malfunction and/or damage to speakers or
other devices.
• Before connecting this unit to other devices, turn off
thepower to all units. Thiswill help preventmalfunc-
tions and/or damage to speakers or other devices.
Placement
• This device may interfere with radio and television
reception.Donotusethisdeviceinthevicinityofsuch
receivers.
• Donot expose theunitto direct sunlight,place it near
devices that radiate heat, leave it inside an enclosed
vehicle, or otherwise subject it to temperature ex-
tremes.Excessiveheatcandeformordiscolortheunit.
Maintenance
• For everyday cleaning wipe the unit with a soft, dry
cloth or one that has been slightly dampened with
water. To remove stubborn dirt, use a cloth impreg-
nated with a mild, non-abrasive detergent. After-
wards,be sure to wipethe unit thoroughlywitha soft,
dry cloth.
• Never use benzene, thinners, alcohol or solvents of
anykind, to avoid the possibility of discolorationand/
or deformation.

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Repairs and Data
• Please be aware that all data contained in the unit's
memory may be lost when the unit is sent for repairs.
Important data should always be written down on
paper (when possible). During repairs, due care is
taken to avoid the loss of data. However, in certain
cases (such as when circuitry related to memory itself
isout oforder),weregretthatit may notbepossibleto
restore the data, and Roland assumes no liability
concerning such loss of data.
Memory Backup
• Evenwhiletheunit'spowerisswitchedoff,thebattery
serves in maintaining the contents of memory. When
the battery becomes weak, there is a risk of losing the
contentsofmemory.Toavoidthis,replacethebattery
as soon as you notice it has weakened.
Additional Precautions
• Please be aware that the contents of memory can be
irretrievably lost as a result of a malfunction, or the
improper operation of the unit. To protect yourself
against the risk of loosing important data, we recom-
mend that you periodically save a backup copy of
important data you have stored in the unit's memory
Setting Memo.
• Unfortunately, it may be impossible to restore the
contents of data that was stored in the unit's memory
onceithasbeen lost. Roland Corporationassumesno
liability concerning such loss of data.
• Useareasonableamountofcarewhenusingtheunit's
buttons, sliders, or other controls; and when using its
jacks and connectors. Rough handling can lead to
malfunctions.
• Never strike or apply strong pressure to the display.
• Whenconnecting/disconnectingallcables,graspthe
connector itself—never pull on the cable. This way
youwillavoidcausingshorts,ordamagetothecable's
internal elements.
• To avoid disturbing your neighbors, try to keep the
unit's volume at reasonable levels. You may prefer to
use headphones, so you do not need to be concerned
about those around you (especially when it is late at
night).
• Whenyouneedto transport the unit,packageitinthe
box (including padding) that it came in, if possible.
Otherwise,youwillneedtouseequivalentpackaging
materials.

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FEATURES
• The DB-88 is a high-quality rhythm training
machine equipped with quartz-precision tim-
ing. It readily accommodates a wide range of
musical genres—from jazz or rock to classical.
• It digitally indicates the tempo, which can be
quickly and accurately changed with the dial.
• You can adjust the volume of each rhythm ( ,
, or
3
) independently and add accents
freely.
• Itallows youtousevoice aswellas twotypesof
click sounds for training.
• You can set a complex beat (as well as a simple
beat) by combining 1–8 beats.
• Itallows you towriteeight different Metronome
settings(Tempo,Beat,ToneandLevel)andeight
different reference notes into memory.
• ItfeaturesaLoopfunction,whichcanautomati-
cally play back a series of settings you have set
up,allowingyoutopracticeirregularrhythmsor
tempo changes in a song.
• It detects and indicates the tempo through Tap
Input, which allows you to see the tempo eas-
ily—simply by pressing the Tap button.
• Since reference notes can be played chromati-
cally, the unit can also be used for practicing
wind instruments.
• Featuresaninputjackthatallowsforconnecting
a guitar or bass. It can be used as a headphones
amplifier, so you can practice during the night
time.
Please note that although a battery was
installed in your DB-88 when it was shipped
from the factory, it has not been connected.
You will need to refer to the section "Battery
Replacement,"forinstructionsonconnecting
the battery.

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PANEL DESCRIPTIONS
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312
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7
11
9
8
13
15
16
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4
1

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1. Tempo Indicators
These LED's indicate the current tempo. The left
LED flashes at the first beat and the right LED
flashes at other beats.
2. Headphones Jacks
Connectheadphonestothesejacks(stereominior
stereo phone type).
* Connecting headphones will automatically mute the
internal speaker.
3. Accent Level Slider
Thisslider controlsthevolume ofthesoundthat is
heard on every first beat.
4. Rhythm Level Sliders
The level of each Rhythm can be adjusted with
these sliders.
5. Total Volume Slider
This adjusts the overall volume.
6. Dial
In the Metronome or Tap mode, use this to set the
tempo. In the Loop mode, the same dial can be
usedforsettingthenumberoftimestheProgramis
tobeplayed.IntheTunemode,useitforsettingthe
note name of the reference note.
7. Mode Buttons
Press one of these buttons to select among the
Metronome, Tap, Loop, and Tune modes.
8. Pause Button
(available in the Loop mode)
UsethisbuttontopausetheRhythmbeingplayed.
Press it to stop playing, and press it again to
continue.
9. Pitch Button
(available in the Tune mode)
Use this button to change the reference pitch.
Pressing the button will change the pitch in 1 Hz
steps, which is shown in the display. It is variable
from A4 = 438–445 Hz.

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10. Program -/+ Buttons
Use these buttons to edit the Program Number. In
theMetronomeorTapmode,eightdifferent num-
bers are available; and in the Tune mode, another
eight numbers are available. In the Loop mode,
you can select the Program Number to start with.
By pressing the - button and + button at the same
time, Program Number 1 is automatically se-
lected,whichmaybeusefulforstartingtherhythm
in the Loop mode.
Program
Number
(Metronome Mode)
11. Beat Buttons 1/2
(available in the Metronome or Tap Mode)
This sets the beat, given that is one beat. Each
press of the button changes the beat like this: 1, 2,
... 8, which is shown in the display.
Normally, you do not use Beat 2 so it can be
switched off. However, it can be effectively used
tocreateacomplexbeatbycombiningBeat 1and
Beat 2.
* Beat2canbeturnedoff(theindicatorgoesout).Ifyou
wish to use only Beat 1, turn Beat 2 off.
Beat 2 Beat 1
(Metronome Mode)

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12. Voice Button
(availableintheMetronomeandTapmodes)
Use this button to change Metronome Tones.
Pressingthebuttonswitchestheunitthroughthese
choices: 1 (Click 1), 2 (Click 2) and 3 (Voice),
which is shown in the display.
Voice
(Metronome Mode)
13. Write Button
Use this button to write the data into Program
Numbers (1–8).
14. Start/Stop, Tap Button
In the Metronome or Loop mode, this button can
start/stop the rhythm. In the Tap mode, the same
button can be used for entering the rhythm by
tappingitateachbeat.IntheTunemode,itcanbe
used for playing and muting the reference note.
15. AC Adaptor Jack
Connect an AC Adaptor (BOSS PSA-Series; op-
tional) to this jack.
16. Power Switch
Turns the unit on or off.
17. Input Jack
Connect an electric guitar or bass guitar to this
jack. This is provided for listening the rhythm and
the instrument sound at the same time through
headphones during the night time. Adjust the
volume of the instrument sound with the volume
control knob on the instrument.
* When using the DB-88’s speaker, inputting a high
level sound will distort the speaker sound causing
damage to the speaker. So, be sure that the volume is
turned down.

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CONNECTIONS
Electric Bass Guitar
Electric Guitar
AC adaptor (PSA-Series: Optional)
OUT DC 9V / 200mA
Headphones
* Topreventmalfunctionand/ordamagetospeakersor
otherdevices,alwaysturndownthevolume,andturn
off the power on all devices before making any
connections.
* If there are batteries in the unit while an AC adaptor
is being used, normal operation will continue should
the line voltage be interrupted (power blackout or
power cord disconnection).
* Always make sure to have the volume level turned
down before switching on power. Even with the
volume all the way down, you may still hear some
sound when the power is switched on, but this is
normal, and does not indicate a malfunction.

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OPERATION
Using the Unit as a Metronome
The following explains how to use the unit as a
metronome. Setting changes you make can be
stored at a Program Number (1–8).
76
3
251
4
1. Make sure that the unit is switched on,
thenpresstheMetronomeModebuttonto
get into the Metronome mode.
To use the Rhythm preprogrammed at a Pro-
gram Number, call up the relevant Program
NumberusingtheProgram-/+buttons,thengo
to step 6.
2. Set the Accent Level slider and Rhythm
Level sliders as shown in the picture.
If it happens to be a different setting from the
datapreviouslyprogrammed,thedisplayshows
“ED”markshowingthatitisnowbeingedited.
3. Set the tempo with the Dial.
* If you rotate the Dial while holding the Metro-
nome Mode button down, the tempo will be
automatically set to “120.” This can be used for
resetting or changing the tempo rapidly.

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4. Setthe beat withthe Beat 1 and2 buttons.
* Normally, if you wish to set the simple beat, use
only the Beat 1 button and turn off the Beat 2
button (it stays dark). To make a complex beat,
combine Beat 1 and Beat 2. For instance, if a 5
beatconsistsof3and2beats,setBeat1to“3”and
Beat 2 to “2.”
5. Select the tone you like with the Voice
button.
“1” is a common click sound.
“2” is a click sound ideal for drum training. If
you strike out an accurate rhythm, the sound
will synchronize, and the click will no longer
be heard.
“3” is a female voice. A number is spoken, so
you can clearly determine the current beat.
6. Press the Start/Stop button to start the
rhythm. Press it again to stop the rhythm.
7. Adjust the volume with the Total Volume
slider.
By using the Rhythm Level sliders at the same
time, you can create 16 beat or syncopation.

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Writing Programs in the Metronome
Mode
You can write the data you have set in the Metro-
nome mode into the Program Numbers (1–8).
1. Set the tempo, beat, rhythm level, and voice
you wish to have stored.
2. Press the Write button, and the Program
Number will flash.
3. Select the destination Program Number us-
ing the Program -/+ buttons.
4. Press the Write button. The “ED” mark will
disappear, showing that the data was written
in the Program Number you specified in step
3.
* IfyoupresstheWritebuttonwithouteditingthedata,
thedatacontainedintheProgramNumberselectedat
thattimecanbecopiedtoadifferentProgramNumber.
* IfyouwishtocanceltheWritingprocedure,pressthe
Metronome Mode button or other mode button.

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Tempo Setting in the Tap Mode
Press the Tap button to the tempo of the current
song, and the tempo will be shown in the display.
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1
2
5
1. Make sure that the unit is switched on,
thenpresstheTapModebuttontogetinto
the Tap mode.
2. Call the desired Program with the Pro-
gram -/+ buttons or set the beat you want
with the Beat buttons.
3. Set the Accent Level slider and Rhythm
Level sliders as shown in the picture.
* In the Tap mode, , or
3
sound is not
played.
4. Adjust the volume with the Total Volume
slider.
5. Press the Tap button to the beat, and the
tempo is shown in the display.
* If you set the tempo in the Tap mode then switch
to the Metronome mode by pressing the Metro-
nome Mode button, the last tempo shown in the
display can be used in the Metronome mode.

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* ERROR MESSAGES
In the Tap mode, the display shows the following
error messages.
When the tempo is quicker than 250:
When the tempo is 30–34:
Whenthetempoisslower than30, thelast tempo
will remain.

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Playback in the Loop Mode
You can play back the data you have written in
Program Numbers (1–8) in sequence.
5
1
2,4
2
1. Make sure that the unit is switched on,
then press the Loop Mode button to get
into the Loop mode.
2. Select the Program Number with the Pro-
gram -/+ buttons, then set the number of
playbacks (LOOP X) with the Dial.
Any number of playbacks from 1–255 times
canbeselected.IfthereisanyProgramNumber
you do not want to play back, set it to “OFF.”
If you rotate the Dial counterclockwise while
holdingtheLoopModebuttondown,itwillbe
set to 4 times. If you rotate the Dial clockwise
in the same way, it will be set to 100 times. As
you can see, this method is useful for making
quick settings.
3. Repeat step 2 for each Program Number.
4. Select the first Program Number to be
played using the Program -/+ buttons.
Pressing the - and + buttons at the same time
will automatically select Program Number 1.

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5. Press the Start/Stop button to start play-
ing. The display shows the counter for
playback.
Ifyou wish to pause playback, pressthePause
button. The Program Number currently se-
lectedwillstopplayingandtheplaybackcoun-
ter will return to 001.
* IntheLoopmode,youcannotchangetheRhythm
Level, Tempo, Beat, and Voice.

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Tune Mode
Allows a broad range (C2–B6) to be used for the
reference note. Since this mode allows you to
specify the reference pitch and the note name, it
can be used for practicing wind instruments as
well as for tuning.
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2
1
3
1. Make sure that the unit is switched on,
then press the Tune Mode button to get
into the Tune mode.
If you wish to use the note name previously
writteninaProgramNumber,calltherelevant
Program Number with the Program -/+ but-
tons, and go to step 4.
2. Setthenotename(NOTE)ofthereference
note with the Dial.
The note name can be set in the range of C2–
B6.
* If you rotate the Dial while holding the Tune
Mode button down, the note name “C4” will be
automatically selected. This function may be ef-
fectivelyused forresettingor quick changeofthe
note name.
* Ifthesettingisdifferentfromthepreprogrammed
data, the “ED” mark will appear in the display
showing that it is being edited.

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3. PressthePitchbuttontosetthereference
pitch.
The reference pitch can be set anywhere be-
tween438to445Hz(1Hzincrement)fornote
A4.
4. Press the Start/Stop button to play the
data. Pressing the Start/Stop again will
mute the sound.
5. Adjust the volume with the Total Volume
slider.
WritingintoMemoryintheTuneMode
You can write the data you have set in the Tune
mode into Program Numbers (1–8).
1. Set the note name and the reference pitch.
2. Press the Write button, and the Program
Number flashes.
3. Specify the destination Program Number us-
ing the Program -/+ buttons.
4. Press the Write button again. “ED”mark will
disappear and the data is written in the Pro-
gram Number you have selected in step 3.
* Ifyou press the Write button without editing thenote
name of reference pitch, the data of the Program
Number selected at that time will be copied into a
different Program Number.
* If you wish to cancel writing, press the Tune Mode
button or other mode button.

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Back Up Function
When the battery or AC Adaptor is connected to
the unit, the data written in the Program Numbers
will be retained even after it is switched off.
Battery Replacement
Whenthe battery is getting exhausted,thedisplay
will become dimmer, and no sound will be heard
from the unit. If this happens, replace the battery
with a new one. The power consumption of this
unit is large, so please use alkaline battery.
* If you wish to replace battery without losing the data
stored in the Program Numbers, do it while the AC
Adaptor is connected; or complete the battery re-
placement procedure in less than 5 minutes—before
the battery has completely worn out.
* To protect the contents of memory, make sure to
switch off the unit before replacing its battery.