Boss Katana is a digital modeler, no analog preamp

[generic202]

Just enjoy your Katana. None of this stuff really matters anyway.

But if you want the nitty gritty... some people think Katana is a solid-state amp like JC120. It's not.

Boss Katanas (50, 100, Go, etc) get their amp models (clean, crunch, lead, etc) digitally. We don't even need to go into effects. There is no solid-state analog preamp for amp models like Quilter or BluGuitar.

(With the only exception being Katana Mini which is all analog SS from input jack to the speaker except the delay effect)

Here is a service manual of Katana 50 MKII:

Block Diagram - Roland BOSS KATANA-50 Mk II Service Notes [Page 16]

Roland BOSS KATANA-50 Mk II Manual Online: Block Diagram. fig.block-50.eps@L 16...

www.manualslib.com

If you care to look at it (p16-17), this is the entire guitar signal chain internally:
Input jack --> input buffer --> signal splits into low and high --> both to ADC --> ESC2 DSP chip --> DAC --> Aux-In/Phone Out circuit --> attenuation circuit --> SS power amp chip --> speaker (and feedback to power amp).

Through out the entire signal chain, there is no analog solid-state preamp circuit for amp models. All amp selection and its sounds are generated in the digital realm.

Yes, Katana has a solid-state power amplifier to drive the speaker. But that's all it does. They work similar to Fender Tonemaster amps. Katana's SS power amp may impart a small sonic footprint but it's mostly there to cleanly amplify what's coming in.

I don't mind being corrected when I'm wrong... but that service manual is pretty clear.

BTW, Katana MKII patches can be used on the new Katana Go because they all use the same digital amp models.

 

[Trenchant63]

Was this a debate or something? I assumed Katana was digital.

 

[Frodebro]

Yes, the Katanas use the same COSM engine found in the GT-100. That’s where the sneaky amps came from- BOSS lifted the firmware straight out of the GT-100 and “hid” the additional amps.

 

[telekaster1999]

I have the 50 and it sounds great. Idc what it is.

 

[fakeocaster]

I’m old .I remember when solid state meant no valves.

 

[tery]

I thought it was SS if it had no tubes too.

 

[generic202]

Was this a debate or something? I assumed Katana was digital.

It shouldn't be. But some insists Katana is SS analog preamp with digital effects. I won't name who.

I’m old .I remember when solid state meant no valves.

I thought it was SS if it had no tubes too.

Right. But there is a difference in tech. There are SS amps with analog preamps and there are SS amps with digital modeling. This is about that difference.

 

[fakeocaster]

It shouldn't be. But some insists Katana is SS analog preamp with digital effects. I won't name who.



Right. But there is a difference in tech. There are SS amps with analog preamps and there are SS amps with digital modeling. This is about that difference.

It doesn’t really matter that much. If you like it play it

 

[generic202]

It doesn’t really matter that much. If you like it play it

I know. That's the first thing I said.

 

[JDB2]

IMO Katana is a solid state guitar amplifier because it has no tubes. It has a solid state power amplifier fed signal by a digital molder. That doesn't somehow mean it isn't solid state.

Some solid state amps have digital modeling (Katana, Kemper, Fender Mustang, many others) and others don't (Quilter, Bluguitar, DV Mark, Roland JC). They are all solid state guitar amplifiers, because they don't have tubes.

It's really all semantics.

 

[generic202]

IMO Katana is a solid state guitar amplifier because it has no tubes. It has a solid state power amplifier fed signal by a digital molder. That doesn't somehow mean it isn't solid state.

Some solid state amps have digital modeling (Katana, Kemper, Fender Mustang, many others) and others don't (Quilter, Bluguitar, DV Mark, Roland JC). They are all solid state guitar amplifiers, because they don't have tubes.

It's really all semantics.

I agree and perhaps the title wasn't clear. I know it was TL;DR, but I was distinguishing between the SS analog preamp and digital modeling.

 

[JDB2]

I agree and perhaps the title wasn't clear. I know it was TL;DR, but I was distinguishing between the SS analog preamp and digital modeling.

That is a very important distinction alright.

 

[generic202]

That is a very important distinction alright.

Edited the title. Hopefully it's less confusing

 

[Trenchant63]

It shouldn't be. But some insists Katana is SS analog preamp with digital effects. I won't name who.



Right. But there is a difference in tech. There are SS amps with analog preamps and there are SS amps with digital modeling. This is about that difference.

Ok - got it.

 

[pippoman]

I have a couple of Quilters, a 200 watt tone block and a 100 watt micro pro. They are both analog amps and have their own distinct sounds. The micro pro has a variable switch that allows me to choose different pre-sets, but it isn’t modeling other amps; it just gets close to their tonal landscapes. Quilter just made it easy to try the different eq settings so you don’t have to fidget with it to get those particular tones.

Katanas digitally mimic other sounds, similar to stand-alone modelers like Helix. I don’t know how modelers work, but to me they sound great and users love them because once they get past the learning curve they have so much to work with and they don’t hiss like my pedals do. It’s 21st century tech, so we may as well adapt. I miss tubes, but the young generation coming up who may never experience them will get this modeling down to a science and leave us stubborn old dudes in their dust.

If I had a 100 watt Katana I think I’d be happy. I’ve enjoyed my tube days, but the ones I enjoyed most are very heavy and my 71 year old back can’t tug ‘em along anymore.

 

[Blrfl]

It shouldn't be. But some insists Katana is SS analog preamp with digital effects. I won't name who.

Same with the Blues Cubes and probably the Nextones.

I'm going to put my flag in the sand and insist that the Katana is a corned beef sandwich on rye bread with deli mustard. And if that makes you hungry... well... sorry.

 

[Frodebro]

IMO Katana is a solid state guitar amplifier because it has no tubes. It has a solid state power amplifier fed signal by a digital molder. That doesn't somehow mean it isn't solid state.

Some solid state amps have digital modeling (Katana, Kemper, Fender Mustang, many others) and others don't (Quilter, Bluguitar, DV Mark, Roland JC). They are all solid state guitar amplifiers, because they don't have tubes.

It's really all semantics.

This is correct, though up until about thirty or so years ago, solid state pretty much meant transistors and analog circuits. Now you have digital solid state and analog solid state, which technically are both SS but are not alike in any other way.

Then you have the power amps, also represented by analog circuits and digital ones. Katanas have digital preamps with analog power amps, Quilter runs analog preamps in front of digital power amps.

 

[generic202]

Then you have the power amps, also represented by analog circuits and digital ones. Katanas have digital preamps with analog power amps, Quilter runs analog preamps in front of digital power amps.

"Digital" power amp... this could be another discussion altogether.

But to clarify, they are all analog amps. Popular class-D amps (as used by Quilter) are not actually "digital." The "D" was because that amp technology came after "C."

However, they are "digital-like" because of the way class-D amps work. They are constantly switching back and forth in rectangular waves which is similar to how analog signal is represented in a digital signal after AD conversion.

So no, class-D amps are not digital. Also, there is no such thing as digital power amp. If you can hear it with your ears, then it's not digital.

 

[edvard]

This is correct, though up until about thirty or so years ago, solid state pretty much meant transistors and analog circuits. Now you have digital solid state and analog solid state, which technically are both SS but are not alike in any other way.

Agree. I wish there was a better way to separate the two categories' nomenclature.

Then you have the power amps, also represented by analog circuits and digital ones. Katanas have digital preamps with analog power amps, Quilter runs analog preamps in front of digital power amps.

I may be kicking a hornet's nest, but I have to say that the "D" in "Class D" (the type of power amp in a Quilter, and others) does not mean "Digital". Yes, it uses modulated square waves as part of it's operation, but that doesn't make it digital. In fact it works in pretty much the same way that an FM radio transmitter works in the output, just with modulated square waves as the output into a speaker load instead of modulated sine waves into an antenna.

(whoops, I see @generic202 beat me to it)

 

[Frodebro]

"Digital" power amp... this could be another discussion altogether.

But to clarify, they are all analog amps. Popular class-D amps (as used by Quilter) are not actually "digital." The "D" was because that amp technology came after "C."

However, they are "digital-like" because of the way class-D amps work. They are constantly switching back and forth in rectangular waves which is similar to how analog signal is represented in a digital signal after AD conversion.

So no, class-D amps are not digital. Also, there is no such thing as digital power amp. If you can hear it with your ears, then it's not digital.

Agree. I wish there was a better way to separate the two categories' nomenclature.

I may be kicking a hornet's nest, but I have to say that the "D" in "Class D" (the type of power amp in a Quilter, and others) does not mean "Digital". Yes, it uses modulated square waves as part of it's operation, but that doesn't make it digital. In fact it works in pretty much the same way that an FM radio transmitter works in the output, just with modulated square waves as the output into a speaker load instead of modulated sine waves into an antenna.

(whoops, I see @generic202 beat me to it)

I stand corrected!