The Boss MICRO BR is the ultimate palmtop guitar companion and recording studio.

Only slightly larger than an iPod, it offers four simultaneous playback tracks plus 32 virtual tracks, as well as MP3 compatibility, effects, rhythm patterns, a tuner, USB port, microphone, an SD card slot, and more.

Only 5-3/8"W x 3-3/16"H x 7/8"D, it gives you over a dozen front panel controls.

The included 128MB SD card allows over an hour of mono recording.

Four tracks and more At its core, the MICRO BR is a four-track studio with four simultaneous playback tracks and two simultaneous record/input tracks.

Each of the four main playback tracks also has eight companion V-Tracks (for a total of 32), so you can record take after take after take, then pick your best material for final mixdown.

Drum machine and effects onboard Given the MICRO BR's small size and low price, you might be surprised to find two big features onboard.

First it has almost 300 drum patterns.

Use them for play-along inspiration or even as song foundations.

The rhythms don't consume any of the four playback tracks-they play back independently.

The second is a quality multi-effects processor including a time-stretch algorithm for changing the tempo of your audio tracks without changing pitch-a great tool for both audio editing and phrase training.

The Time Stretch feature can also be used with MP3 data; the MICRO BR's Center Cancel feature can be applied to MP3 data as well.

MP3 compatibility The MICRO BR is capable of loading and playing MP3 files.

Load up your favorite guitar hero song via USB, slow down the tempo with no pitch change, and learn all of your favorite licks.

You can even use the MICRO BR as a standard MP3 player.

All of your data is stored on convenient SD (Secure Digital) media found in common electronics shops.

The included 128MB card, for example, can record approximately 65 minutes of audio when one mono track is selected.

For greater portable protection check out the BA-MBR-S Silicone Rubber Case (703129) made by Roland specifically for the Micro BR.