Boss PX-1 Plugout FX: Sixteen classic Boss pedals in one Stompbox!
The original DS-1, CE-2, and more, all in one pedal!
3,5 / 5,0 | 
The Plugout series from Roland, Boss’s parent company, has been well-known in the synth world for quite some time. Now, with the Boss PX-1 Plugout FX, this concept is coming to the pedal world. It contains sixteen virtual pedals, all classics from the Boss roster.
Boss PX-1 Packs 16 Boss Legends Into One Pedal
We just saw Boss release software versions of several of their pedal classics in May, and now, the plug-out version is available: The Boss PX-1. The pedal comes with eight factory-set effects, eight more can be loaded directly in the companion app (available for iOS and Android).
Boss calls the PX-1 a hardware platform. This means that you can load a whole range of virtual Boss effects and use them individually. These 16 legends can be loaded:
- OD-1 Over Drive (pre-installed)
- SP-1 Spectrum (pre-installed)
- PH-1 Phaser (pre-installed)
- SG-1 Slow Gear (pre-installed)
- CS-1 Compression Sustainer (pre-installed)
- TW-1 T Wah (pre-installed)
- SD-1 Super OverDrive (pre-installed)
- DS-1 Distortion (pre-installed)
- CE-2 Chorus
- BF-2 Flanger
- PN-2 Tremolo/Pan
- OC-2 Octave
- PS-2 Digital Pitch Shifter/Delay
- VB-2 Vibrato
- DD-2 Digital Delay
- DF-2 SUPER Feedbacker & Distortion
Note that a subscription to Roland Cloud is not a requirement for the Boss PX-1 to be used, not for adding the eight additional emulations. It’s an addition you need if you want to use the VST versions.
Workflow and Extensions
Through the BOSS EFFECT LOADER app and the pedal’s USB-C port you manage and load effects on the Boss PX-1. In addition, you can also switch between pedal emulations via Bluetooth. The integrated LCD screen always displays the currently active effect. Plus, there are three knobs that control the relevant parameters of the loaded effect.
The Bluetooth interface can be activated in the PX-1’s menu, just as you can switch between the loaded effects. You can also using an expression pedal to switch between two predefined effects.
Boss first announced the availability of VST plugins of eight of their effects in May. Today, the eight additional effects added with PX-1 are also available to subscribers through Roland Cloud. In addition, new Boss effects modeled using Boss’s newly developed emulation technology will be added on an ongoing basis starting in January 2026. These can then be purchased for a one-time fee and loaded onto the PX-1. In terms of connections, the pedal features a stereo input and output, an input for expression pedals, and a MIDI input for synchronizing the tempo.
PX-1 vs. Roland Cloud
Oh well, the world of Roland and Boss. On the hardware side, they’ve built absolute legends, with synths and pedals in their range that have been among the most influential devices in music history. And on the software side… There is Roland Cloud. I’ll try to be as neutral as possible: in this realm, they are still nowhere near as advanced as they are with their hardware.
Sticking with the rather unpopular subscription model, forums filled of problem reports about crashes and activation issues, and all of that for years! And now Boss effects and the Boss PX-1 are being added to this ecosystem? Admittedly, I’m very taken with the idea of having so many Boss pedals to choose from. But I’m also hesitant because of its connection to Roland Cloud. Again, you don’t need a subscription to use the pedal. But why not make the VST versions free for pedal owners and not make them subscribe to use these in a DAW?
Boss and Roland really wouldn’t have to change much to make so many people happy! What do you think?
How much does the Boss PX-1 Plugout FX cost?
You can get the Boss PX-1 Plugout FX at Thomann* for $263 / £237 / €269. This includes an optional six-month subscription to Roland Cloud Ultimate.
More on the new Pedal from Boss
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8 responses to “Boss PX-1 Plugout FX: Sixteen classic Boss pedals in one Stompbox!”
They have the same business model now as Apple. Shame, all those great instruments tha they’ve made.
I don’t see what you mean by comparing Boss to the ‘Apple business model’?
I bought Logic Pro many years ago for a one-off fee and have never had to pay anything for updates ever since.
At that price point, you’ll be better off with Line 6’s HX One: https://www.thomann.de/intl/line6_hx_one.htm?offid=1&affid=84
It features MIDI In and Out (5-pin DIN), stereo In and Out (which can be repurposed as mono In and Out plus effects send and return), and supports an external expression pedal or two switches. If that’s not enough, it also works as a class-compliant USB-C audio interface, allowing connection to a phone, iPad, or computer.
Unless Boss/Roland change their approach, I don’t expect the PX-2 to become a reality; the PX-1 is likely the end of the line.
wouldn’t touch it with a barge pole if you need a subscription to download the other FX. unless you can use the one that comes with it, download the FX then make sure you cancel before it needs renewing and they’ll still work.
Just to make sure, in case might have not come across in the article: you do NOT need a subscription to use the pedal, any of the eight installed emulations or any of the eight additional emulations via the app. The only connection to Roland Cloud is the VST plugin versions of the Boss effects. For them, you do need a subscription. Boss also says that when they start adding effects come January that these will all be one-time purchases.
I don’t really understand why you would want to switch between radically different single effect emulations in the same pedal.
Various different overdrive/distortion effects, or different modulation effects, sure. But is anyone really going to switch it from being an OD-1 to a PN-2 to a CS-1 during a gig? Surely they’ll just use a multi/fx?
I’m obviously missing something!
Similar to the Line 6 HX Stomp, one common use case for this type of pedal is for touring musicians. You might have a song that requires a unique or unusual effect, and you only use that effect for that one song — sometimes even just for a specific part of the song.
Now imagine you have several songs like that in your setlist; this is where pedals like this become especially useful.
Another similar use case is for session musicians. You may already have a pedalboard that covers everything you typically need, but there’s always that one song, artist, or producer who wants “something different.” Having a pedal like this on your board lets you quickly find the right sound for those special situations.
So you get the initial 16 effects. Then for any more you have to pay?
I absolutely will not be buying one of these with that business model.
What happens if you want to sell the pedal or gift it when it has the “premium DLC” on it? Will you new user still be able to use it?
Modern Roland sucks.
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