Boss VF-1 Effect Processor

Hi!
I am new to the list, this is Hector from Barcelona, Spain.
I just got a VF1 and bought a midi single pedal to increase patches. 

I found something quite annoying: in certain patches, in the 
beginning the sound is lower than usual (few seconds), so it makes a 
bit weird to use different programs in one song. But, as I said, I 
am new to this unit, so maybe there's something I'm not doing well.

Another question: I find it difficult to get a good distorted guitar 
sound. I finally gave up going directly into the mixer (a bit 
frustrating: I got better sounds with my tiny PX1 Pandora!) and I am 
trying it into a good valve amp now. In general, do you think this 
is a good guitar-oriented unit? I like the clean sounds and the fact 
that is perfectly transparent when bypassed, but.. well, any 
recommendations with the distortions?

Héctor

Hi Hector.

"I found something quite annoying: in certain patches, in the
beginning the sound is lower than usual (few seconds), so it makes a
bit weird to use different programs in one song..."

Don't know about this. Are you saying the patch starts out low and then goes
up in volume? Which patches are doing it?

"Another question: I find it difficult to get a good distorted guitar
sound. I finally gave up going directly into the mixer..."

First: Press the "UTILITY" button, then select the speaker symbol (Global
Sound Settings). Using the "PARAMETER" buttons, select "OUTPUT SELECT" and
set it to "LINE".

Second: Go to the patch you are using and press the right PARAMETER button.
Select "AMP" (PREAMP/SP.SIM) and again, press the right PARAMETER button.
Keep pressing the right PARAMETER button until you get to "MIC LEVEL". Set
it to 100. Pres the right PARAMETER button once more and you should be at
"DIRECT LEVEL". Set it to 0.

Let me know if it sounds any better. You will still probably need to tweak
the other preamp settings (see the manual if you have one), but the 2 steps
above are absolutely essential for direct inputs.

Tim