Boss AC-22LX

The Boss AC-22LX connects to a computer over USB, and on macOS it needs a dedicated driver: Boss's owner's manual notes that "To use the AC driver, select the dedicated USB driver (Vendor) mode on the AC-22LX"¹². Getting into that mode is a small power-on ritual rather than a menu setting: turn off the power, set the [AIR FEEL] knob to [DRY], then turn on the power while holding the [MEMORY] button¹. The English owner's manual covering these procedures is available as a PDF from Boss³.

USB driver (Vendor) mode

The AC-22LX connects over USB, and on macOS it needs Boss's dedicated AC driver to work. Boss's support article states: "To use the AC driver, select the dedicated USB driver (Vendor) mode on the AC-22LX"¹.

Entering that mode is a three-step power-on procedure, which Boss gives as¹:

Turn off the power.
Set the [AIR FEEL] knob to [DRY].
Turn on the power while holding the [MEMORY] button.

The [AIR FEEL] knob and [MEMORY] button are the controls used to enter USB driver (Vendor) mode. If USB audio is not recognized on a Mac, the pedal is likely still in its normal mode rather than Vendor mode¹.

Boss repeats the same procedure in its second support article for the product, so the two documents agree on the steps².

Documentation

Boss publishes an English owner's manual for the AC-22LX as a PDF on its support pages, under the title "[English] AC-22LX Owner's Manual [PDF]"³. That manual is the reference for the amp's full control set and specifications.

Where it sits in an acoustic rig

The AC-22LX is an amp rather than a pedal, so it replaces rather than joins a pedalboard. Players who prefer to keep a pedalboard in front of a separate amp or PA can find the individual building blocks, from EQ and DI to reverb and looping, on the Acoustic Pedals and Looping Pedals pages.

Videos

**BOSS AC-22LX Acoustic Amplifier | A Full-Immersion Acoustic Experience**
BOSSchannel

**Boss Ac-22lx Acoustic Amp: What You Need To Know This Before You Buy**
Emily McVicker

**Boss New Acoustic Amp AC-22LX**
The Loop Academy - JohnPaul Music UK

Questions

How do I put the AC-22LX into USB driver (Vendor) mode?

Turn off the power, set the [AIR FEEL] knob to [DRY], then turn the power on while holding the [MEMORY] button. Boss documents this procedure for players who need to use the dedicated AC driver over USB, which is required for USB connectivity on macOS.

Does the AC-22LX need a special USB driver?

Yes. Boss states that to use the AC driver you must first select the dedicated USB driver (Vendor) mode on the AC-22LX itself, using the power-on procedure above. The driver and instructions are available on Boss's support pages for the product.

Sources (3)