Boss eBand JS-8
The eBand JS-8 is an amazing new tool for guitarists who like to jam along to their favourite songs. It is a music player that will play all of your MP3 and WAV files, but as well as this, it's a mini guitar amp, complete with high quality Boss effects all in one unit.
Jamming is aided by the ability to pitch shift your music files, minimise the centre channel, record your jams, and a built in tuner and metronome and several ready-made backing tracks mean that the JS-8 is a great practice tool too!
Reviews
- "The eBand sits nicely on a table top, with the front face angled so the speakers are pointing directly at your ears. All the controls are clearly laid-out and easily accessible, plus there's a large blue backlit display which lets you see exactly what's going on."
- "On its own, without a computer, the eBand is a fine practice aid for playing along to pre-recorded tracks or recording your own chord sequence to solo over, but the USB connection greatly increases versatility."
- "Knowing Boss, it's no surprise that this innovative company has delivered something that's both an excellent practice aid and a fine recording tool, as well as being a whole lot of fun. Too bad Christmas has come and gone - few guitarists would be unhappy with this as a present."
- "Pros: Compact and easy to use. Works without a computer. Useful backing tracks. Practical guitar tones. Different routings for computer recording. Cons: Some menus are quite deep."
Trevor Curwen - Read the full review in the February 2010 Issue
Here's what Boss say about the JS8
For "bedroom guitarists" who love jamming along with their favourite songs, the ultimate musical companion has arrived. eBand is a portable all-in-one audio player that's packed with big features. WAV and MP3 files can be loaded and played by eBand, and the tempo and pitch can be changed. Plug in your guitar and jam along using the powerful onboard COSM preamp and BOSS effects. You can minimize the pre-recorded vocals or guitar parts with the Center Cancel feature for minus-one play, and record and save your jams. There's even a library of backing tracks and rhythms onboard, plus a built-in tuner and metronome.
- Imports and plays audio files (WAV and MP3)
- Pitch and tempo control of imported songs
- Guitar/Mic input with dedicated input control; headphone output
- Custom-tuned speakers for powerful playback
- COSM Preamp and 100+ effects derived from BOSS GT-10
- EZ Tone function provides the ultimate easy-to-use, intuitive approach to sound creation based on graphic icons
- 300 audio-loop phrases onboard for backing tracks and rhythms (some include companion guitar effects pre-programmed to match the loops)
- Tuner and metronome built in
- Records and saves your guitar performances
- USB audio interface for direct link to and from PCs
- Play songs from USB memory stick
- Import your favourite songs from audio CD to eBand with included utility software (PC/Mac)
BOSS FX Onboard
eBand is loaded with high-quality BOSS effects derived from the GT-10, including over 100 powerful guitar sounds that span a variety of genres. It also features the famous COSM preamp from the GT-10. Using eBand's Guitar/Mic input, you can apply the internal processing to your guitar or voice.
EZ TONE Sound Wizard
Creating your own sounds is simple with eBand. The EZ TONE feature provides a quick, intuitive approach to tone creation based on graphic icons and a Tone Grid. You'll be programming at the speed of sound!
Memory-Card Compatibility
SDHC memory cards of up to 32GB can be plugged into eBand, letting you store thousands of WAV/MP3-format songs per card. eBand also lets you play WAV/MP3 files directly from USB memory stick, expanding your data storage and file-management options. (eBand comes with a 1GB SD card)
Convenient Phrase Trainer
Phrase Trainer is a feature packed function convenient for practicing phrases from imported songs. Phrase Trainer includes functions to control pitch and tempo of imported songs, Center Cancel for minimising the guitar or vocal parts from pre-recorded audio, and AB repeat. Now you can learn phrases without feeling any stress!
USB Audio Interface
eBand can be used as a USB audio interface, allowing the audio signals from eBand (audio-player sound + live guitar/vocal sound) to be transferred to PC via USB. As a result, eBand audio can be recorded into DAW software on your PC. Furthermore, audio from PC can be played back on eBand. This means eBand can function as USB speakers for your PC.
Cool Extras
There are many other notable features packed into eBand, including an internal recorder for capturing your guitar performances as you play along with songs or backing tracks. And speaking of backing tracks, 300 audio-loop phrases are onboard for jam-along inspiration. Of course eBand is also equipped with the essential built-in tuner and metronome.
Specification
- Memory Capacity: Depends on the SD/SDHC Card (128 MB - 32 GB)
- Data Type: JS-8 Songs (Recording/Playback), MP3 (Bit rate: 64 kbps - 320 kbps, Playback only), WAV (Quantization Bit Rate: 8/16/24-bit, Playback only)
- External Memory: USB Memory
- AD Conversion: 24-bit + AF method* (GUITAR/MIC IN), 24-bit (LINE IN)
- DA Conversion: 24-bit
- Sampling Frequency: 44.1 kHz
- Effect Patch Memories: Preset: 130, User: 100
- Effect Types: AMP (Amp Modeling), FX (OD/DS, WAH, COMP, LIMITER, OCTAVE, AC.PROCESSOR, PHASER, FLANGER, TREMOLO, ROTARY, UNI-V, PAN), EQ (Equalizer), NS (Noise Suppressor), Delay, Chorus, Reverb
- Recording Time: JS-8 Songs: 250 min. (1GB), 8,060 min. (32GB)
- WAV/16-bit/Stereo: 90 min. (1GB), 3,020 min. (32GB)
- MP3/128 kbps/Stereo: 1,040 min. (1GB), 33,330 min. (32GB)
* The above-listed capacities are approximate. Times may be slightly shorter depending on the number of songs that were created.
- Nominal Input Level: GUITAR/MIC IN: -20 dBu (INPUT GAIN=GUITAR), -32 dBu (INPUT GAIN=MIC), AUX IN: -15 dBu
- Input Impedance: GUITAR/MIC IN: 1 M ohm, AUX IN: 22 k ohms
- Nominal Output Level: PHONES: -10 dBu, LINE OUT: -10 dBu
- Output Impedance: PHONES: 44 ohms, LINE OUT: 1 k ohm
- Internal Speaker: Stereo
- Display: 132 x 64 dots graphic LCD (with backlit)
- USB: Supports file transfer (mass storage class) and audio
- Connectors: GUITAR/MIC IN (1/4 inch phone type), AUX IN (Stereo miniature phone type), PHONES (Stereo miniature phone type), LINE OUT (RCA phono type), EXP PEDAL/CTL 1,2 (1/4 inch TRS phone type), USB Memory (USB A）, USB (USB B), DC IN
- Current Draw: 400 mA
- Accessories: AC adaptor (PSB-1U), SD card (1 GB), Owner's Manual, Roland Service (Information Sheet)
- Options: Footswitch (FS-5U), Dual Footswitch (FS-6), Expression Pedal (FV-500L, FV-500H, Roland EV-5), Footswitch Cable (Roland PCS-31L)
Size and Weight
- Width: 264 mm (10-7/16 inches)
- Depth: 166 mm (6-9/16 inches)
- Height: 201 mm (7-15/16 inches)
- Weight: 1.7 kg (3 lbs. 12 oz.)
