Brutally Honest Gear Review: BOSS ES-8 Pedal Switching System

-Brutally Honest Gear Review: BOSS ES-8 Pedal Switching System
Thanks!!!

[TheArtofGuitar]

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.

[sadmachinesaudio]

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.

[HannahCope]

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! 🤘🏻🔥

[bills]

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.

[trebleboost]

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.

[jokertlr]

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.

[wawuschl]

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.

[YZW]

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!

[ThanhNguyenTN]

Such a great review! Packed with info and examples of ways you really use it. Cheers

[manifestgtr]

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 🤙

[testinguk_Admin]

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.

[thisdyingsoul]

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

[adamkrauss]

I agree with all the shortcomings you highlight. And yes, that power cord is super flimsy and sticks out too much. I’ve had mine inadvertently bent a couple of times, including taking it in and out of my large pedalboard soft case.

[ArneMDahl]

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.

[PooPee-to]

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

[bobsbarnworkshop]

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

[RsSquier]

If all else fails, read the instructions.

[asbjrnandersen]

A thing I love to do us having a Line6 multifx (with only one fx st a time) being controlled with MIDI and then out wherever I need it in the chain. That is WILD!

[basiliobastardo]

2nd to the final solution of Banking a multiple Analog stomp box to effects chain….
Last will be the auto-rotating pots or sliding meter of the Analog Stomp box… hope there will be in the future

[Beyond_Breach]

"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!