Boss VE-22 Vocal Performer | Review

Boss VE-22 Vocal Performer | Review

MSRP: (UK) £309 / (US) $349

Designed to elevate live vocal performances, the Boss VE-22 offers vocalists easy access to professional-grade effects. Combining harmonies, reverb, delay, and EQ, it brings studio-quality polish to the stage. With intuitive controls and an onboard looper, it allows real-time layering and customisation, making the VE-22 essential for singers aiming to enhance their sound effortlessly. Here's Nick Jennison to tell us more.

I always find it interesting how many guitarists are also singers. Interesting, but not surprising. I don't know if it's because we inherently crave the spotlight or because ours is the instrument it's most acceptable to have two people playing in a band (unless you're covering Big Bottom). Either way, we can "do a BB" and alternate between singing and soloing (I have literally just described my job), but it's a phenomenon that's very noticeable.

Of course, we as guitarists also possess the forbidden knowledge of using brightly coloured little boxes we can stomp on to make ourselves sound better—so why not do the same for our vocals?

Part of their well-regarded "Vocal Performer" range, the Boss VE-22 is a simple yet powerful multi-effects unit offering three of the most essential vocal effects at the tap of a footswitch: harmony, modulation, and reverb/delay. Now, you might scoff at how simple this is compared to your go-to guitar modeller with its nine virtual JCM800s, but when it comes to the human voice (and live mics on stage), subtlety is key.

Let's start with the most common live vocal effects: reverb and delay. This block lets you dial in one of four beautiful-sounding reverbs (ambience, room, hall, and plate), along with a well-tuned echo that ranges from Elvis-style slapback to Halford half-note delays. It's also incredibly easy to use, so it's hard to mess up your sound. At its highest setting, the ambience algorithm can sound a bit trashy, but for someone in a NWOBHM band like me, that's not necessarily a bad thing.

Next, the modulation and other effects. The "effect" block includes a chorus that ranges from pop shimmer to "the full Ozzy," along with phasers and flangers for psychedelic moments (Itchycoo Park, anyone?). It also features drive and lo-fi effects—some of my personal favourites. For rock singers, adding a little (or a lot of) drive can bring an edge to an otherwise clean vocal line, and the ability to recreate radio-style effects from the album is a nice touch. There's even a pitch correction algorithm for those who need a little help with intonation—or who want to channel Cher in the 2000s. No judgement!

The last effects block is harmony, which generates up to two very convincing harmony voices based on what you're singing. Unfortunately, there's no way to use MIDI or your guitar's signal to control these harmonies—if that's what you're after, the VE-500 is the better choice. That said, I found myself enjoying the doubling and tripling features more than the harmonies. These are perfect for making a chorus vocal "pop," especially when used in stereo.

On top of all this, the VE-22 includes EQ, compression, de-essing, and an "enhancer" working under the hood. You can tweak these settings easily, but I found the factory defaults worked beautifully with the SM58 we used for testing. The unit also includes a fully-featured looper. While I struggle to use loopers with my guitar, let alone my voice, this feature is ideal for those who can. (Be sure to check the video review for a laugh at my failed attempts!)

The Boss VE-22 is a flexible, easy-to-use pedal that will help you sound your best at your next gig, rehearsal, or open mic. It's powered via a standard 9V power supply (as long as you have sufficient current) or AA batteries. It even provides phantom power for a condenser mic. If you're a singer-guitarist who's giving more attention to your guitar tone than your vocal sound, it's time to check this out pronto.

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