Boss ES-8

113
DECEMBER 2015 GUITARIST
BOSS ES-8
patch can also store data to take care of a bunch of other
useful functions.
Besides MIDI connections on the ES-8 for sending
control and program-change messages and MIDI
Clock, there are a bunch of outputs to feed pedals
equipped to take expression and control input. Now,
these can be fed from external expression pedals or
footswitches plugged into two ES-8 inputs, but control
parameter values can also be stored with patches to, say,
call up a particular delay time.
The control outputs can also be used for channel-
switching duties for any amps that take footswitch
input. Incidentally, the ES-8 has two audio outputs, so
you can connect two amps, and it also has two inputs, so
you can have two instruments permanently connected
– both of these outputs and inputs being selectable
with patches. While many functions can be initiated
automatically with a patch change, the ES-8 also lets
you assign various functions to any footswitch, so you
Tech Spec
ORIGIN: Taiwan
TYPE: Effects switching
system
FEATURES: 800 patch
memories, switchable
input and output
buffers, flexible routings
and assignments, tap
tempo with subdivisions
CONTROLS: 8x edit
buttons, 8x numbered
footswitches, 2x bank
footswitch, memory/
manual footswitch,
mute footswitch
CONNECTIONS: See
image above and
manufacturer website
for further info
POWER: AC adaptor
(supplied)
DIMENSIONS: 439 (w)
x 137 (d) x 65mm (h)
OPTIONS: Footswitch:
Boss FS-5U, FS-6, FS-7;
Expression pedal: Boss
FV-500L, FV-500H,
Roland EV-5
Roland UK
01792 702701
www.roland.co.uk
could have one dedicated to amp switching, or one
assigned as a tap-tempo switch. A footswitch can be
assigned as latching or momentary, so you can trigger
an effect for as long as it is held down.
There really is an awful lot of functionality under the
hood, and with 800 patches in 100 banks (switched
with dedicated Bank Up and Bank Down footswitches),
you can exploit as much of it as you want.
Further ES-8 connections include a permanent
tuner output (there’s a mute footswitch so you can
tune silently) and an extra send and return loop that
can sit anywhere in the pedal chain. Intended for use
with a volume pedal, it can alternatively be used in
conjunction with your amp’s effects loop to facilitate
the four-cable method of having some effects in front
of the amp and some in the loop.
In use, the ES-8 offers a very clean signal path and
silent switching with no pops and clicks, plus the
practicality of switchable buffers at the input and
output to cater for different needs, and, while it can
encompass many complex functions, it is not difficult
to use. We would have liked a computer-based patch
editor as an alternative to the front-panel buttons, while
the comparable but pricier pro-grade G2 unit from
TheGigRig offers more intuitive ease of use.
Verdict
Guitarists with multi-effects pedals from Boss, Line 6
and others have been able to switch between individual
effects and patches and change the order of their effects
for some time, but have been limited to manufacturer-
supplied sounds. Essentially, then, the beauty of the
ES-8 is that it gives you all the switching and routing
flexibility of a floor-placed multi-effects, but applied to
your own favourite, carefully chosen stompboxes. In
short, the ES-8 will gloriously transform your whole
pedalboard experience.
8
PROS Massive control for your pedalboard. Well-priced
CONS A recipe for cable spaghetti; no software editor
GIT401.peds_boss.indd 113 29/10/2015 15:00