Tested on:
✓ Firmware 1.0.2
✓ Katana-50 Combo
✓ Katana-100 Combo
✓ Katana Head
- Introduction
- Sneaky Amps liveset
- 3rd party software method
- Manually editing Tone Studios
.tslfiles - SysEx MIDI messages method
The Boss Katana amp contains 28 amp types, of which only 5 are made available by default. These 28 amps appear to be the same as the Boss GT-100 pre-amps.
There's a few ways to select what I like to call Sneaky Amps and use them in your patches.
One of these amps is the CUSTOM amp, which lets you change a number of extra parameters to change how the amp behaves. Right now the easiest way to use this is through 3rd party software.
Heads up! Different amp types have different output volumes, even with the same GAIN & VOLUME settings. Test out new settings at a lower MASTER volume to avoid sudden loud noises.
One approach to use the Sneaky Amps that does not require any special software tinkering is using the Sneaky Amps liveset. It's a combination of all Sneaky Amps and separate entries with their BRIGHT setting enabled. Which makes a total of 30.
Download here katana-dev/docs: SneakyAmpsBlank.zip
The "BR" prefix has the bright setting turned on.
The only Sneaky Amp that is excluded is the CUSTOM amp. This one is nice to try out when you have access to all the extra settings it comes with. If you want to test it, have a look at the 3rd party software.
Using the liveset
Unzip the liveset and import SneakyAmpsBlank.tsl in Boss Tone Studio.
The settings for each amp are the same and super boring. So either drag the amp you are interested in to a CH1-4 slot. Or click it to load the patch as a preview.
Do not use your AMP TYPE knob on the Katana or in Tone Studio. As this will change your amp to one of the default 5. Everything else is free game.
When you are done dialing in a tone you like, I would recommend using the buttons on the amp to save your tone to CH1-4. This is the most surefire way to save it. Sometimes Tone Studio forgets you are working with a Sneaky Amp and glitches out, but your Katana will not.
3rd party software is still in the works. But the first experimental software is out there. Submit an issue if you know of software doing this that isn't listed yet.
By Colin Willcocks ([email protected]).
The first application that allows setting all 27 Sneaky Amps since version 20170408.1.
Windows download is available here: https://sourceforge.net/projects/fxfloorboard/files/experimental/ Which also works on Linux with Wine 2.1.
Connect your KATANA
At the time of writing, the application does not detect devices after starting the application. So make sure your KATANA is on and connected.
Install and open the application
You should get a full floorboard like this when done installing.
Select MIDI channel
Go to Settings > Preferences (Ctrl + P).
You want to at least select Midi out here to be:
- For Windows use
KATANA(not the DAW CTRL or CTRL ones). - For Linux use
KATANA - KATANA 1(not 2 or 3).
(Setting Midi in to be the same one may become relevant in future versions)
Change the right amp!
On the floorboard, locate the correct Sneaky Amp stompbox.
⇐ The AMP pedal that has a green A on it.
There will also be a red B one, this isn't the one you want.
Lower master volume
This is where you want to lower the MASTER volume on your Katana if you haven't done so yet. Changing amp types will change the output volume. Test out new settings at a lower MASTER volume to avoid sudden loud noises.
Select a Sneaky Amp type
Click the type dropdown menu. As soon as you hover over a different amp type your Katana should switch to it right away. This will take around a second to do every time so try not to move too fast, or you could select the wrong amp.
For more info on each amp, check the Amp Type table.
Custom amp
The CUSTOM amp has additional parameters that lets you create your own kind of amp model based off of some templates. To do this press the right mouse button on the type selector.
Not every parameter works, such as T-COMP and GAIN SW. But the others do, allowing for very interesting CUSTOM amp settings.
After this
Once you've set the Sneaky Amp type you like, don't move the Amp type knob on your Katana or Tone Studio. This will of course change your amp type back to one of the defaults.
Saving your Sneaky Amp to a TONE SETTING (CH1-4) does work. And you can use Tone Studio to import/export your tone, including Sneaky Amp.
Experimental release
Keep in mind this is an experimental release. Changing other settings may not work as intended.
By condor from VGuitarForums. Available as a zip attachment there: http://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=20234.msg148529#msg148529 Look for "KatanaEditor9.zip" it's easy to overlook the download.
As of version 9, you can select Sneaky Amps directly from the app.
Installing
Extract the .apk file from the zip. Transfer this file to your Android and install it. For example by using a file manager app.
wikiHow has a guide to help with this step. http://www.wikihow.tech/Manually-Install-Android-Apps
Connecting
You will need a USB On-The-Go (OTG) cable. With that, connect your Android directly to the Katana's USB port.
Your phone will ask you, which app to open this USB device with. Select KatanaEditor and give it any required permissions when asked.
At first all settings may show up incorrect. This is a known issue with the current version. Try to move some knobs on your Katana as well as sliders on the app until the app syncs and accurately shows what your amp settings are.
Long press Amp
Long press the Amp button to get a dropdown for all Sneaky Amps.
You should hear the effect right away when you pick a different amp.
Custom amp
Being able to edit the custom amp will be added soon™.
The .tsl files are JSON formatted livesets you can in/export in Boss Tone Studio for Katana. By editing these files, you are able to choose any of the 27 amp types.
Export the Liveset you want to edit.
Note the position of the patch you want to edit. In our case it's the 3rd one.
Open the file in a text editor
Search for "preamp_a_type", it should have the same number of matches as there are patches in this liveset. Cycle through them until you find the one you want to edit. In our case the 3rd.
Replace the number using the table
Use the Amp Type table to find the Sneaky Amp you want to use.
For example, perhaps you want the DELUXE CRUNCH. In the table this is listed as:
| TSL | SysEx | GT-100 Name | Katana LED |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | 0x0C | DELUXE CRUNCH | Crunch |
The TSL number 12 is the one you want to use.
Save, import and drag
Importing your edited file will create a new entry in your librarian. The left one will be your edited version. Drag the edited patch "Patch Three" to any of your preset. For example CH3.
Now whenever you select CH3 it should load your patch with the DELUXE CRUNCH amp. And as the table indicates, the LED should light up at Crunch.
Validating
How do you know it's for real though?
Play some notes with your guitar on this setting. You will notice it's quite low-gain.
Now move the AMP TYPE knob to something else (CLEAN for example) and back to CRUNCH. This should revert the amp type back to the default (TWEED) which is much higher gain.
Switch between CH1 and CH3 so it loads your saved CH3. You will be back on the DELUXE CRUNCH.
This is a more advanced method, aimed at 3rd party software developers and knowledgeable hackers.
In this Reverse Engineered SysEx specification by Steven Hirsch you can find how to construct SysEx MIDI messages for the Katanas, along with python code that does so.
There are two addresses associated with the amp type you can write to over SysEx. Either address immediately switches the amp type of whichever TONE SETTING you are currently on (CH1-4 or PANEL).
This is what Tone Studio uses to write to and corresponds to the knob on your amp.
It's values are:
0x00 Acoustic
0x01 Clean
0x02 Crunch
0x03 Lead
0x04 Brown
This is the address that takes the GT-100's values for pre-amps.
It's values are between 0x00 and 0x1B.
You can find the full list in the SysEx column of the Amp Type table.