Brutally Honest Gear Review: BOSS ES-8 Pedal Switching System
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- Опубликовано: 17 окт 2024
- -Brutally Honest Gear Review: BOSS ES-8 Pedal Switching System
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Thanks!!!
Update: After my gig I hooked it up to get the editor software working. The program wouldn't recognize my ES-8 and yes the switcher is running the newest firmware. I was about to give up when I realized I haven't used my midi interface with my new computer yet...AH it needs a new driver. Downloaded the driver for the MOTU midi device and bam! Works now. Sadly I wasn't super blown away by the software. I mean it does it's job but even just moving banks around is odd. You highlight the excel-type row and if you drag it a little wrong all hell breaks loose. Be SURE to export your initial settings before you start messing around so you can always go back to baseline. Going to do more experimenting now, see ya.
Great video. I have been exactly where you are. Went modelling 5 years ago. Sold all my pedals and only kept the ES-8. Now my entire rig is an ES-8 and a HX stomp! All my patches (songs) and sounds (Snapshots) are in the HX Stomp and on the ES-8 I use only 1 bank to control the HX Stomp via MIDI for patch up/down, sounds for verse (snapshot 1), chorus (snapshot 2), solo (snapshot 3) and mute/tuner! Other sound changes could also be added. This setup never needs to change. Super easy and lightweight. Bonus is I like the foot switches on the ES-8 better due to more space between them (I have big feet) vs the switches on the HX Stomp.
Yep. I built many a rig for others and myself. Personally I went with the fractal FM9 and I’m done son with most pedals. I do have my H9 still which I run through fm9 effects loop
One of the best features of these is that you can give each switch 2 functions. One latching and one momentary. For example, you can create a latching patch for button one that can be a rhythm patch. Then you can create an entirely different lead patch for button one that only comes on while you are holding the button down. So when you’re playing you simply step on it for a solo and hold it down until you are done and then it’s immediately back to rhythm.
Using the ES-5 for quite a while now, and i can agree with most of your points. Especially the missing USB port is really frustrating. But apart from that, it really helps with everything else. It just takes away the limitations of a usual pedalboard, like chain order or number of effects simultaneously turned on and off. I also got some midi pedals on my board which makes it even more powerful. So all in all i can recommend it, every gig with it went pretty smooth and with no more tap dancing. I think pedal switchers in general are way underrated, total gamechanger.
Awesome review! When you hit that flanger and played Barracuda, made me smile so much, it just sounds so good!
Have a great show tomorrow! 🤘🏻🔥
My pedal switcher also solved all the problems in my life. When I plugged it in, even my father came back from going out for cigs in 1988.
Nice overview! I have used an ES8 for years and it has been fantastic, and I use MIDI to switch pedal presets, set clock tempo, and channel switch amp. The 2 mixers are really great to allow spillover of reverb/delay trails as well. You are probably aware that you can ‘assign’ multiple functions to single switches in ‘blue’ mode within the same patch so you could essentially select patch 1 and select all the sections for that Song in that patch but it is not the easiest to set up - and can get wonky - and I seldom use it and the neat way you are doing it is significantly simpler. The big advantage is you could have 8 songs in one bank.
If all else fails, read the instructions.
@suspicionofdeceit That's cheating!
No way, I like voiding warranties
I have the ES-5 and it's awesome. I love that I can use it to assign patches that would also switch the channels of the amp (Dual Rec) and also use MIDI to control the Line 6 M5 per patch. Solid as a rock too.
Congrats. Honestly shocked you hadn’t had a system like this up to now. “That Pedal Show” is your friend! I have this same BOSS system.
I've had this switcher for a while now.
I'm a simple guy that plays in his house. A Crunchy Frog with my GA-30RV is all I need for my Les Paul. I get lots of overdrive without turning up the amp and nothing falls off the shelves. Also works great on my Orange Crush 20RT. Enjoy your videos. You really helped me with pinch harmonics!
I have an es-8 on my big board and an es-5 on my smaller board. It might seem overkill and goofy but I play professionally so it makes sense for someone like me. I don’t regret either purchase at all, obviously (since I have two). I like being able to create parallel chains if necessary, switch orders and all of that obvious stuff. But the less obvious aspect is that it’s BOSS. First of all, the features are all intuitive and easy to navigate after a brief learning curve…the midi setup was nearly instantaneous for me. Secondly, they’re exceedingly reliable. Mine have been on airplanes, jostled around ad nauseam in transit, operated in all sorts of wacky New England weather and they’ve always performed. When you rely on your equipment, that peace of mind is even more valuable than “tone”, as crazy as it might sound to some people. The es-8 and the es-5 both have my vote 🤙
I have three Line 6 pedal systems to choose from, my first was a Floor pod, big pedal with expression pedal, multiple banks and multiple sounds, you know how it all works. I also have a pod II kidney pod with 2 different control pedals, one is just 4 switches, the other one has a display and 4 buttons and expression pedal to control the pod.
I do a solo classic rock show and I only need 2-3 banks set up with clean, dirty clean, crunch chords and solo. Then different banks may have chorus or reverb and delay added to suit the song I’m playing.
It obviously uses the Line 6 tones but it works for me and eliminates all the patch cable spaghetti and that worry!
The Boss seems like a good device if you have the pedals you love already
I use the EVH Phase 90 and the Dispatch Master too. I am contemplating buying one of these switchers . Thanks for the video, super helpful
That switcher looks pretty cool.
I have a Joyo PXL Pro. Its an 8 loop switcher with 4 amp channel switch ports. When I'm running one of my channel switching amps, this allows me to program the amp channel into the patches.
It's not a feature rich as the Boss, but it suits my needs.
I arrange my banks with clean w/ reverb, crunch, and lead. The 4th patch, I will usually put a clean w effects, crunch w effects, or a different lead aound in. I'm not overly concerned with nailing the sound of specific songs, so all the banks are not necessary for me and I change up the pedals on my board frequently enough that reprogramming would get annoying. I just follow a general rule that ceetaim types of pedals go to certain ports on the switcher and my presets remain relatively similar in terms of the type of sound I get, except maybe a flanger or phaser is subbed with a chorus or an OD with a fuzz or distortion, etc.
But it definitely takes the tap dancing down to a minimum
The Gigrig G3 is the answer to a lot of your problems. Bigger and better display and Bluetooth connecticity for editing (however the thing is huuuge).
Currently setting up my new pedal board with a Gigrig G3S, noisegate with 4 cable method, KHE amp/cab switcher for switching between 3 amps and 3 cabs including shared FX loop and shared attenuator... talk about major mindf*ck correctly cabling that thing...
I went with a LoopMaster about 10 years ago. I can't change the order or save patches, but it shortens my signal chain, provides easy access to all pedals and lets me place them where they FIT on the board rather than the order dictating the placement.
Amazed to hear the term "Spaghetti Junction" in an American vid! I thought it was purely a Brit term (named after a crazy road junction in Birmingham) and not universal. Back to more pressing matters I use the Quartermaster from Gig Rig and its awesome for switching needs.
So, I just purchased the GT1000 Core, the expression pedal, and the ES8.
I Want to use the GT1000 at a desktop situation, and use the ES8 to be my switching system.
Wish me luck😊
Just an FYI - Editor is really awesome and let's you update Firmware as well. Just know that the MIDI is finicky without the correct adapter. If you're trying to go MIDI to USB, I use the Roland UM-ONE-MK2 One in Two Out Midi CABLE - which works great.
I use the ES-5. One of the nice features of this unit is being able to either boost or cut the level of each preset. Handy if using a tube amp if you want to clean up a patch.
Being able to select the pedal order for each patch is a nice touch too. I just wish the ES-5 was able to switch both the pedals in front of the amp and the pedals in the effects loop at the same time like the ES-8 can.
Sweet, I didn't even know that. Will help out with a few parts in my set. Thanks.
Is that the SL3X DX? I can't find one in that color anywhere. I remember in an older vid of yours you mentioned how that particular model of yours is great. Could you remind me of the vid where you spoke about that?? Or what that exact model yours is?
Seems like you may benefit from the CNUM button in the "Assigns" menu. Instead of different patches with and without the flanger. You can assign the patch number that you are in, lets say button 1, to open and close a loop when you hit that button again. Make your first patch with or without the flanger, then program it to turn the flange off/on when you hit that same patch number again. It's a great way to save the other numbers for completely different patches.
The next step is going to be getting yourself some MIDI pedals, then you will really see what the ES8 can do.
Nice. I think that toggle idea could really come in handy. Thanks.
The most simple sollution for the USB problem is an extension cable. Plug it into the device and mount the other side somwhere on your board with easy accses and there is no mor fiddling
The best switcher I’ve used is musicom labs. Really advanced and flys under the radar.
Hey, you know what? Remember a couple videos ago when you mentioned being the only guy on stage for the benefit show with a half stack instead of a modeler? Could you maybe do us a short video on that? I understand what a modeling amp is, but I thought it was, you know, an amp, it just isn't using tubes. What were they doing? Were they running a modeling box into the house PA? Does nobody use amps anymore, it's just direct boxes with digital effects? That doesn't seem right, you can never count on house PAs, especially as a beginner chasing your first gigs. I think this would be a pretty important lesson, or at least a tip, maybe a good Short, unless you end up with a lot to say.
The modelers can do either thing.
I use a POD Go (a modeler in a small pedal board). You can run it to a speaker (FRFR speaker is best, but an amp is OK) and/or you can run a separate output to the PA.
The POD Go "main" output models the sound of the amp, cabinet, and mic.
The POD Go "amp" output sends the signal without cabinet and mic models.
My friend uses POD Go and runs straight to the PA and his only sound comes from a monitor.
I run mine through a Fender FR-12 speaker and then to the PA (no mic). The FR-12 let's you adjust your volume and some EQ without changing the signal going to the PA. The FR-12 is a full range flat response speaker like a PA, but it's in the shape of a guitar amp.
If you look at my channel you will see some videos of me playing and the signal chain is what I describe above.
This is no problem for me anymore, I just bought my own PA speaker and sub so now Im covered literally anywhere I go, and all together cost me about $1200 for massive low end at every studio and backyard Ive jammed in so far! My endgame rig is my Bugera Veyron Tube into two 10" PA speakers and a 15" PA sub
I also use the Boss ES-08, and have also tried manual programming, but with poor results.
Now I program via PC with the program ES-08 Editor and how easy it is.
It makes everything much easier :-)
I just use a quad cortex into a boss katana 100 head sent to a 2x12 with V30s. Has every tone needed and I can program one foot switch to toggle on multiple pedals, such as putting delay, chorus, and compression on my "SOLO" pedal.
My grandson uses a Quad Cortex pedal. It does everything with no other pedals but it can sample any input you want to duplicate the sound, download tones and effects to use. Incredible but cost $1,600.
Being able to create setlists is one of the the reasons I use my HeadRush for fx. I got tired of doing the dance. Add in a midi controller and the options become insane.
Pretty sure you can set the bank change to instant in the settings rather than press a patch button. I think it is in global settings and play option -> bank chg mode. If you change it to “immediate” it should work.
You can but that’s not what I need. I need to preview the name of the next banks without it switching over till I select it.
I'd just do a set list, and note what bank you need instead of constantly reprogramming the order. Hope that helps
Mike, please consider doing a video about Nirvana’s “Milk It”, and teach us how to count it, each part has such an odd timing, it’s difficult to understand it
Great review, have a good show!
I have one pedal; a Boss “Angry Driver.”
Take my advice playing live … keep it simple, one pedal is more than enough.
Trust me I’ve been doing this over 40 years.
Sure but when you’re in a tribute band and have to match tones and effects, it’s not possible with just an overdrive pedal.
@@TheArtofGuitar true .. my band is very “meat and potatoes,” … ac/dc type stuff.
From my experience, the Boss ES5 and ES8 are the only switcher that supports midi and also switching channels on a real amp. I use a ES5 and it works really well
I bought it because I trust BOSS and after going deep with it I'm realizing how powerful this thing really is. If it just had a better damn screen and an IEC power supply it would be perfect! ;)
@@TheArtofGuitar Yeah you just know Boss is gonna deliver every time! I have an IR200 on my board too.
Love your videos! Keep em coming.
This looks like a real pro tool, a second look at the manual might reveal a few tricks. I tend to dive right in and visit the reference manual when I get lost, Boss makes great stuff but it can be complicated.
"Dances with Buttons" is the story of my life 🤣🤘🍻 But I survive! Have a great show man! I gave up my Boss GT3 for this reason : Tedious .
Yes everyone use IEC plz!
This is why I’m so glad I went with a Helix. single pedals are expensive and are a whole ass mess to configure into a unified system
If you can, mount your pedals in a rack drawer with your amp, and run your switching board to the front of the stage.
I’m trying the line hx effects. You can also use it to do amp commands like channel switching.
I own 3: 1) main board, 2) home board, 3) backup.
Watch RUclips videos.
It's a great pedal and worth the pain it can be.
I hear you, im just learning to switch patches while playing. There's a song in my band where i have a brief solo now.
Edit: i should mention im just switching from my rhythm tone to my lead tone then back to rhythm on a boss gt-6
Second show i will have to play the solo in a couple weeks. Ive never had to do it so its a learning process lol
The more I played out over the years, the more I hated pedals. Say what you will about rack systems, but for me, the only elegant solution was getting everything off the floor and using a MIDI controller - I never seriously considered pedal switchers. The last iteration, I had three cables to the front of the stage (including out and back for my wah) and a dedicated button on my Ground Control Pro for each sound I would ever need. Now I'm using Fractal and have never looked back.
The Boss ES-8 is OK for the price I guess but they came up with that like almost 10 years ago and they haven't updated the line at all so it feels a bit obsolete at this point. There are better switching systems in the market currently, a bit more expensive yes but with more options, better screen, better SW, USB, etc. Check the Gigrig, Musicom Lab and RJM. Roland products in general are stuck with screens from like 20 years ago, see the TD17, TD27, TD50, Boss ME and even the flagship GT1000.
All valid points, but if you know my channel you know I rarely if ever review the newest, greatest stuff. I review things that I’ve battle tested so I really have a good read on them. The ES-8 is older, but hey, I will play tubes, cabs, and FX pedals so. 🤣
What solderless patch cable kit are you using?
Read the user manual and use the editor
I had one of those and my pedals, but to be honest, once I went Kemper Stage, I never turned back. I tried the Helix, but Kemper was really where I got the best tones for the least amount of stage footprint and physical work.
If you're mostly working with linear setups, there are far cheaper options that achieve the same results since this is not really on the lower cost side of things, not sure about the screen and the editors, but functionally speaking and even with midi controls. I think the main draw with this one is the order switching of the pedals. I can see though for someone doing alot of gigging there could be some blind spots.
Agreed that the pedal switching is awesome, but the other draws for me were the MIDI functionality, stereo options, extra Volume pedal loop, naming, and the mixers which allow spillover. And it is relatively easy to use which I haven’t always found with Boss techy products.
How hard is it to set up a pedal board.
Honestly, if I have to buy it again, I would probably not. This thing brings ground loops
My set up in 4CM
Directly straight from the guitar:
1- ISP HUM extractor + Decimanor (and also plugged on the ES-8 in the loop of the amp)
2- Whammy DX
On the ES-8
Plug on front of the amp
1 - mxr phaser ‘74 (loop 1)
2- Mxr Flanger (loop 2)
3- Dunlop echoplex preamp (loop 3)
4- Ibanez TS9 (loop 4)
Plug In the loop of the amp.
1- BOSS CE-2 WAZACRAFT (loop5)
2- BOSS 3D-T (loop 6)
3- Dunlop echoplex delay (loop 7)
4 - Strymon big Sky (loop 8)
Each pedal individually has no problem, the set up plug without the ES-8 no problem too.
If i bypass the parts which is connected to the loop of the amp => no ground loop.
If I use the set up as it means to be use => ground loops
i have to buy two lehle p-iso plugged between the send et the return on my amp and the send and return of the es-8 to get rid of the ground loop.
I precise I have several rigs with 4 pedalboards, furman powersupply, 18 amps with khe and ampete switcher and 3 powerstations and the problem appears only with the ES-8.
i read on several forum that i’m not the only one with this issue. So next time RJM Switcher, morningstar switcher or else but not this one
Interesting - and I believe you, but I have never had an issue with ground loops with my ES8 with a relatively sophisticated setup. That would be frustrating!
I've had a BOSS ME33 for tens of years and I still don't know how to use it right.
Will this work if I don't play Heart songs?
Naming banks in my Boss RC300 sux too.
I mean - this is an awesome marketing video for the Helix Stomp.
Perhaps but I have both and use them completely differently. As he stated though a switching system can get pricey!
Order some mogami cables and plugs and make your own cables. Heck I’ll make you some. Let me know the lengths and types ends. Straight or 90 degree.
Think you might be over thinking this a bit. When I was in a function band I used the scenes as a style. Bank one for me was rock/pop (eg switch one comp, second comp delay, 3 comp chorus etc) With you maybe do it by band and if any songs that don't fit then add that to another scene. This way you have maybe 2-6 scene to remember rather than a 3 hour set haha
The tone needs are pretty meticulous in this band or I would totally do that.
Would it not make sense to have a generic patch that works for most songs? Can't say I'm super familiar with Hearts' whole discography, but surely having a clean, rhythm and lead setting should cover a lot of ground, and you still have some patches left if you need to have a variation with a phaser or flanger etc. That's more or less what I do with my Helix - I have a generic patch for most songs, and then for certain songs where I want different effects will have their own patch.
That's a great idea but there are too many patch combos that I use in a three set Heart show.
Why not take a piece of paper and write down the songs.
Bank 1 = "song title"
Pedals > co>od>ph>lead
Bank 2 = "song title"
Pedals > (etc)
Cause my singer makes the list at the last minute. 🤣
@@TheArtofGuitartypical
You can use a short USB patch cord out to the side
Ordered a midi to usb adapter yesterday, just arrived. :)
Why not get a ME-90?
It still sounds like a Zoom, have you tried yet wi-fi connected to an Arcade?! I don't know. Namastè.
This is why i dumped all my pedals and got the GT-100 🤘✨️
Good luck with that pos. I've been thru 2 of them and they both burned the outputs. No response from Roland. I haven't even been able to get them to contact me back so i can send them in for repair. Get rid of it before it crashes and buy a GigRig G3.
Burned the outputs? How?
@@TheArtofGuitar don't know. Both left and right outputs are bad.
RJM has the solutions for so many things you mention there
Can this program my amp's 3-button footswitcher I use for clean/lead boost? I use the lead boost on every song so it would have to be compatible with the amp head.
I don't use it for that but people are saying it's possible.
You can have the wah in a loop and never have to step on the wah to turn it on again, pretty handy
I have a 95q which engages upon stepping on, otherwise yes, I would do that.
@@TheArtofGuitar you can have it always on
@@TheArtofGuitar but you would have to press twice if by any chance the wah wasn’t engaged
so you didn't update the firmware?
Afraid to. It’s working so well. Haha. I will after this upcoming show. Did they resolve the issues I mentioned?
I've tried a couple switching systems, but the problem I have is they kill the delay tails. Other than that they are extremely sweet
The ES-8 allows for delay tails. I just haven't figured out how yet.
@@TheArtofGuitar wait .. are you going to make me buy yet another one? 😂😂
@@TheArtofGuitarit’s what the mixers are used for. Once you figure out the easy way to assign them you won’t look back. You will love them. I don’t usually use parallel mode as I get too much phase cancellation but need to experiment more.
Ayyy plz make amp sim video i need it ❤
thx
You should definitely read the manual but the real thing I want to tell you is anybody who works on amps could change that power cord to exactly what you were explaining. The one that's on there is horrible but that's an easy fix any amp check can change that in no time
I don’t know if it would be easy. Would require drilling and routing the metal casing I believe.
@@TheArtofGuitar believe me it is easy. I'm not just saying that. Ask your amp check or guitar tech
never use solderless cable kits
Much love from the US
I use a Boss GT6 and it works great. Part of the fun is finding the tones I need for any given song. 35 banks of 4 tones gives me lots of options.
43 comments and no one said "Call them Spank Banks!" 😂
Nice review thanks 👍🇺🇸
I laughed and the on/off switch lol
Why not just use the AXE III with a midi controler? You would have tons more flexibility.
How is that better than my FM9? I’ll be making the modeler video soon. :)
@@TheArtofGuitar You were talking about the ES-8 pedal switching system. Why not use just the FX III with the FC12? I am just cofused about using the pedal switching system.
That's a modeler unit, I'll be doing a video soon about why I chose a pedal switcher instead.
That's a different philosophy, modeler vs amp with pedals. Also he has a FM9 (= axefx 3) And yes, it's a lot easier programming that.
Can we get a master of puppets solo on ukulele tutorial? Like this if ya agree!
Pretty please? 😢
first? maybe
Label your pedals with loop number
USB port on the side would be my suggestion. No spilling liquid inside it easily
Or a small little cover if it is on top. As long as it's not flimsy and breaks off haha
@@TheArtofGuitar I was also thinking that!
MIKE!!! just to let ya know, you said you had 4 MXR pedals on your board, you actually had 5, the wah pedal is made by Dunlop who makes MXR. Love your stuff man!
I love MXR.
I'd like something where you program it and just push one switch and it cycles through the different needed effect settings sequentially as you play the song instead of having to remember 2,now 3, now back to 1...
If that makes any sense
Seventeen finally eru
what model jackson is that?
ruclips.net/video/ljch6g73Lg0/видео.htmlsi=xyzdZO5JaP7I1oYT
SL3X “soloist”. ;)
@@TheArtofGuitar just watched the video. thank you :)
Nice but expensive...
No keep the screens simple like this. I hate when companies try to put HD big ass screens on guitar gear. It looks tacky and unappealing, keep it simple and clean. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it
I’ll compromise for a big enough screen to write the full song name on it. 🤣
@@TheArtofGuitar Ok fair enough 😭😂
Just get a processor with scenes/snapshots. This is all old tech.
I’m not a fan of modelers
nahh man i'm too cheap for that 💀
earlyyy
Day 7 asking art of guitar for my first guitar 🎸🎉
Give it to him 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
Get a job, save money, and buy your own shit. It’s not their responsibility to give you anything