Boss MS-3 Switcher

The Boss MS-3 is a Multi Effects Switcher: a floor unit that combines a multi-effects engine with a switching system for your own pedals. It gives you three external audio loops for connecting effects devices, each switchable on and off individually, while an internal effects engine runs up to six effects at once¹. Boss announced it in 2017 as part of the "The Future. Redefined." series of releases²³⁴.

The idea is that the MS-3 becomes the brain of a pedalboard. It can switch your amp channels, adjust external effects and integrate with MIDI-equipped pedals⁵, and it packs all of that into a floor controller about the size of four compact pedals placed side-by-side, housed in a sturdy, pro-quality steel chassis⁶.

What the MS-3 does: three pedal loops plus built-in effects

The core of the MS-3 is the combination of loops and internal effects. Via its audio loops you can connect three different effects devices to the system, and each loop can be turned on or off on its own¹. In a Sweetwater demo, Mitch Gallagher explained how the two halves work together:

Sweetwater's Mitch Gallagher⁷

So a board can hold, say, an overdrive, a fuzz and an analog delay in the loops, with the MS-3 supplying reverb, chorus and more from its own engine, and every one of those blocks switchable from the same footswitches. Premier Guitar's press announcement described the concept as running "up to six internal pedal effects at once while seamlessly integrating three of the user's favorite external pedals"⁹.

Guitar World's reviewer framed the MS-3's role in a modern rig this way¹⁰:

Guitar World¹⁰

Expression pedals can be connected for volume, wah, pitch shift and more¹, with two rear control inputs accepting expression pedals or controller switches⁶.

The internal effects: 112 types, six at once

The MS-3's internal multi-effects section provides 112 24-bit effects, up to six of which (one per effects category) can be used simultaneously in a patch⁶. Sweetwater's demo put it plainly: "it has 112 onboard effects and you can run six of those effects simultaneously"⁷. MusicRadar's news story called them "GT-series-worthy effects," comparing them to Boss's flagship multi-effects line¹¹.

The effects are organized into categories. FX1 and FX2 contain many different types, from overdrives and distortions to compressors, pitch shifters and Slow Gear. Mod1 and Mod2 offer the Boss chorus and vibrato effects, plus tremolo, flanger, phaser and more¹. Gallagher's demo listed the spread: "reverb delay chorus flanger distortion overdrive compressor noise gate eq's there's tons and tons of effects built into" the unit⁷. There is also a dedicated noise suppressor and a built-in tuner².

MusicRadar's review described the palette as "rammed with pristine modulations, all the essential delay and reverb types, as well as a load of Boss specials" such as Tera Echo and Slicer⁵. Premier Guitar's reviewer's verdict on the modulations was simply: "Very good modulation tones."⁸

Footswitches, display and modes

There are five footswitches for moving through the various banks of presets, plus three knobs to control different effects parameters⁸. Boss describes them as heavy-duty footswitches that provide easy command of the entire system⁹. A backlit LCD clearly shows patch and bank numbers and parameters, with quick-access knobs for editing and status indicators for all loops and effects¹.

The unit works in two modes¹:

• Memory mode: the footswitches select patches and banks. Patch mode offers banks of four patches, and users can create their own patches³.
• Manual mode: the footswitches switch loops and effects on and off, and control multiple effects parameters in real time¹. In MusicRadar's demo video, the reviewers showed this mode in use: "we're in the manual mode now"³.

With 200 patch locations, there is ample memory for storing effects and control setups for instant recall¹.

Amp channel switching and MIDI control

Beyond loops and effects, the MS-3 handles rig control. Guitar World's review noted that "It can even control external MIDI equipment and perform amp channel-switching functions"⁶. The MIDI connection sends tempo, PC (program change) and CC (control change) information to MIDI-enabled pedals, whether they are connected to the loops or not¹. MIDI and expression control are both catered for³.

For players comparing switching systems, the MS-3's three loops sit alongside dedicated MIDI control, which distinguishes it from simpler loop switchers: it is both the audio router and the control center³⁵¹.

Connections, outputs and the rear panel

The MS-3's rear panel features 12 1/4-inch jacks arranged in a straight line to keep cables tidy⁶. There is a mono input jack and two control inputs for expression pedals or controller switches⁶. The two audio outputs can be set for full stereo or selectable mono operation per patch¹. Gallagher noted in his demo that the stereo outputs can also serve a two-amp setup: "I'm using the left and right outputs on the MS 3 is actually two mono outputs"⁷.

A USB port allows users to connect the MS-3 to a computer for editing and saving patches⁶.

Editor software and drivers

Boss provides an MS-3 Editor / Librarian, which requires system software version 1.01 or later¹². For Windows connections, the current driver is Ver.1.0.2 for Windows 10/11¹³. On Windows 10 and 11 the driver downloads automatically from the Internet when the product is connected to the computer, so manual download and installation is not necessary; under normal conditions installation completes in several minutes, though it may take about 10 minutes depending on Internet connectivity or other driver installations¹³.

Where it came from and what it cost

Boss announced the MS-3 Multi Effects Switcher in June 2017, describing it as "a new-concept pedalboard solution that maximizes creative options for guitarists and bassists"⁹. It arrived as part of Boss and Roland's releases under the "The Future. Redefined." banner⁴. At launch, MusicRadar reported it available soon at £439/$559¹¹, and MusicRadar's demo video quoted the same £439/$559 price³. By February 2018, Guitar World listed a street price of $399.99⁶, and an August 2021 Premier Guitar review listed street at $399⁸. A 2026 Guitar World review lists the price as $449/£439/€450¹⁰.

What reviewers said

Reviewers focused on the MS-3's usefulness as a rig hub. MusicRadar's review summed up its control role: "The MS-3 can switch your amp channels, adjust external effects and integrate with MIDI-equipped pedals."⁵ Premier Guitar's 2021 review called it "a multi-effects unit that sports three independent loops" and praised its "very good modulation tones"⁸. Guitar World's 2026 review highlighted the same combination of MIDI brain, analog loops and built-in effects engine¹⁰.

In Sweetwater's demo video, Mitch Gallagher walked through the unit's loops, effects, tuner and dual mono outputs, showing how the internal effects and external pedals combine in one switchable system⁷.

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Premier Guitar's coverage described the MS-3 as a multi-effects unit with three independent loops, praising its "very good modulation tones" and noting a street price of $399⁸.

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