Owner’s Manual
Main features
Pedalboard Integration Evolved
5 Integrated system with versatile built-in eects plus three loops for your favorite pedals.
5 Space-saving design enables you to create a compact pedalboard with sophisticated functionality.
5 Advanced control and expandability delivers innite creative possibilities.
Owner’s Manual (this document)
Read this rst. It explains the basic things you need to know in order to use the MS-3. For detailed information on
how to operate the MS-3, please download and refer to “Parameter Guide” (PDF le).
PDF Manual (download from the Web)
5 Parameter Guide
This explains all of the parameters of the MS-3.
It also contains a list of the sounds that are
built into the MS-3.
The Parameter Guide can also be viewed using
the dedicated software.
5 Application Guide
This explains example setups for the MS-3 and
how to make settings.
5 MIDI Implementation
This is detailed information about MIDI
messages.
To obtain the PDF manual
1. Enter the following URL on your
computer.
http://www.boss.info/manuals/
?
2. Choose “MS-3” as the product name.
Before using this unit, carefully read “USING THE UNIT SAFELY” and “IMPORTANT NOTES” (the leaet “USING THE
UNIT SAFELY” and the Owner’s Manual (p. 20)). After reading, keep the document(s) where it will be available for
immediate reference.
Copyright © 2017 ROLAND CORPORATION
Contents
Getting Ready . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Rear Panel
(Connecting Your Equipment) . . . . . . . . 3
Top Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Screen Structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Operation of the [1]–[3] Knobs . . . . . . . 7
Switching Pages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Turning On/O the Power . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Tuning the Guitar (TUNER) . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Playing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Patch Structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Switching Between Memory and
Manual Modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Switching Banks/Patches . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
About the Play Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Editing the Settings of a Patch . . . . . . . 11
Basic Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Changing the Eect Connection
Order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Changing the CTL/ASSIGN/MIDI
Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Saving a Patch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Exchanging Patches . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Initializing a Patch . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
System Settings (MENU) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Basic Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Adjusting the Display Contrast . . . . . . . 15
Enabling/Disabling the Auto-O
Function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Restoring the Factory Default Settings
(Factory Reset) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Using a Computer to Edit/Back up
Patches
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Installing the USB Driver . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Installing the Dedicated Software . . . . 17
Appendix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Error Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Attaching the Rubber Feet . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Block Diagram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Main Specications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
USING THE UNIT SAFELY . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
IMPORTANT NOTES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
The power to this unit will be turned o automatically after a predetermined amount of time has passed since it
was last used for playing music, or its buttons or controls were operated (Auto O function).
If you do not want the power to be turned o automatically, disengage the Auto O function (p. 16).
NOTE
5 Any settings that you are in the process of editing will be lost when the power is turned o. If you have any
settings that you want to keep, you should save them beforehand.
5 To restore power, turn the power on again (p. 8).
2
Getting Ready
Rear Panel (Connecting Your Equipment)
LOOPS jacks (L1–3 SEND, L1–3 RETURN)
These jacks provide eect loops. The MS-3 is equipped with three loops: L1–3.
Signals are sent from L1–3 SEND jacks to each eect unit, and the signals from each eect unit are received at the
L1–3 RETURN jacks.
Connect the L1–3 SEND jacks to the INPUT jack of each eect unit, and connect the OUTPUT jack of each eect unit
to the L1–3 RETURN jacks.
RETURN
SEND
INPUT jack
Connect your guitar or bass to
this jack.
To prevent malfunction and equipment
failure, always turn down the volume,
and turn o all the units before making
any connections.
RETURN
SEND
[POWER] switch
This turns the power on/o (p. 8).
DC IN jack
Connect the included AC
adaptor here.
OUTPUT jacks (R, L/MONO)
Connect these to your guitar
amp or mixer.
If using a mono connection,
use only the L/MONO jack.
3
Getting Ready
Rear Panel (Connecting Your Equipment)
CTL OUT jack (CTL 1/2)
You can connect this jack to the control jack of your
external device.
It can be used to control things such as switching
channels of an amp, turning reverb on/o, or setting
tap tempo.
By using a TRS plug with this jack, you can separately
control two targets (TIP: CTL 1, RING: CTL 2).
* If 1/4” plug cable is connected, only CTL 1 is available.
CTL 1 CTL 2
TIP RING
Pin assignment of CTL OUT
and CTL IN jacks
RETURN
SEND
CTL IN jacks
You can connect separately sold expression pedals or
footswitches to these jacks, and use the expression
pedals or footswitches to control a variety of functions.
To use these as EXP 1, 2 jacks
Connect an expression pedal (such as
the Roland EV-5).
MIDI OUT connector
You can connect this to a MIDI-compatible eect unit
and control it from the MS-3.
Clock out, program change, and control
change messages are supported.
For details, refer to the parameter guide
(PDF).
O (USB ) port
You can connect your computer via this port, and
use your computer to edit and manage patches
(p. 17).
Use only the specied expression pedal (FV-500H, FV500L, EV-30, and Roland EV-5; sold separately).
By connecting any other expression pedals, you risk
causing malfunction and/or damage to the unit.
To use these as CTL 1/2, 3/4 jacks
Connect a footswitch.
Mode/Polarity switch
FS-5U
FS-6
FS-7
4
FS-5U x 2
Stereo 1/4” phone type
.
/
1/4” phone type x 2
RINGTIP
CTL 3 CTL 4 CTL 3 CTL 4 CTL 3
FS-5U x 1
1/4” phone type
.
/
1/4” phone type
FS-6 FS-7
Stereo 1/4” phone type
.
/
Stereo 1/4” phone type
CTL 2 CTL 1CTL 1CTL 1 CTL 2
Stereo 1/4” phone type
.
/
Stereo 1/4” phone type
CTL 2
CTL 4
CTL 1
CTL 3
Top Panel
Getting Ready
1
3
Display
1
The MS-3 shows various information here.
[1]–[3] knobs
Use these to select or edit the
values of parameters shown in
2
the screen.
* Refer to “Operation of the [1]–[3] Knobs” (p. 7).
[1] [2] [3]
On/O indicators
Show the status of each eect.
On: lit, O: unlit
3
* In MUTE & TUNER mode, these indicators
operate as TUNER indicators.
[ON/OFF] button
When editing, press this to turn the selected
eect on/o.
Lock function
In the play screen, long-press the [ON/OFF]
button for two seconds or more to turn the lock
function on, so that all buttons and the [1]–[3]
knobs are disabled. This lets you prevent the
settings from being changed inadvertently.
4
Long-press the button once again to turn the lock
function o.
[MENU] button
Press this to make system settings.
[EDIT] ([< PAGE] button
Press this to make patch settings.
5 In screens that show page tabs, this operates
as the [< PAGE] button to switch pages.
2
6
4
5
[EXIT] button
Press this to cancel an operation, or to return to
the previous screen.
[ENTER] ([PAGE >])button
4
Press this to conrm an operation.
5 In screens that show page tabs, this operates
as the [PAGE >] button to switch pages.
5 In the play screen, use this to switch the
display.
[MEMORY/MANUAL] switch
Switches between memory mode (indicator lit
blue) and manual mode (lit red).
5
* Hold down the switch for two seconds or
longer to enter MUTE & TUNER mode.
Number switch [1]–[4]
In memory mode, use these to select patches. In
manual mode, use these to operate the assigned
function.
When pressed simultaneously in
memory mode
6
* This does nothing in manual mode.
5 If you press [1] and [2] simultaneously, the
bank number goes down each time you press
the switches. (Bank down)
5 If you press [3] and [4] simultaneously, the
bank number goes up each time you press the
switches. (Bank up)
5
Getting Ready
Screen Structure
WRITE UTILITY screen (p. 13)
Play screen (p. 10)
Memory mode
System settings (p. 15)
Use the [< PAGE] [PAGE >]
buttons to change pages
Use the [1]–[3] knobs to move
the cursor
MENU screen (p. 15)
Tuner screen (p. 8)
MEMORY/MANUAL
Manual mode
Patch edit (p. 11)
Eect chain screen (p. 12)
Use the [< PAGE] [PAGE >]
buttons to change pages
6
MUTE & TUNER
Hold for
two seconds
Use the [1]–[3] knobs to move
the cursor
CTL, ASSIGN & MIDI SETTING screen (p. 12)
Use the [< PAGE] [PAGE >]
buttons to change pages