Katana 100w head - how good is the internal 5w speaker

Started by davep2000, January 12, 2017, 04:07:09 PM

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davep2000

I'm considering buying the Katana 100w head
Small, lightweight and has a number of playing options for practice and gigging
I've posted about using my current GP-10 + GT-001 in the Katana set up as an idea
This for midi use of the effects with expression with MIDX-20, as the current Katana 100w head BTS doesn't appear have Assigns

Is this an option for an update from Boss in the future?

I do wonder why Assigns aren't in there

How good is the 5w internal speaker for practice volume?

And I'm considering using the Katana line out into Bose L1 for gigging, without external speaker cab
Probably never using a speaker cab
Mainly because the footprint is small for transport

Comments please...










Elantric

#1
best to follow the epic Katana thread here
https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/boss-katana-amplifiers.1744135/page-186


True - the Katana has Zero Control Assignments  - Typical for Roland / Boss  - I would not count on a Katana Firmware upgrade - they have a poor track record for releasing new firmware

https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?posts/23334855/

Robert, the "guru" at PrimovaSound is a member of VGuitarForums - ( a.k.a. CodeSmart) and has created a line of special products after listening to the needs of the VGuitar Community - ( wish other manufacturers would follow his example)
For reading, The evolution of the PrimovaSound MIDX-20 USB Host to 5 pin MIDI I/O boxes are detailed in threads here
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?board=176.0

Last summer a team comprised of Robert, (CodeSmart) and Steven Hirsch (SNHIRSCH) (a.k.a vtgearhead) cracked the code to provide 5 pin MIDI I/O to the Fender Mustang Amps to allow full access of all the effects and patch changes via 5 pin MIDI using the PromovaSound MIDX-20

Same team along with Gumtown is nearly done accomplishing the same for Katana Amps - as documented here

KATANA- MIDI over USB Sysex Reverse Engineering
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=19707.0

and here

https://github.com/snhirsch/katana-midi-bridge
https://github.com/snhirsch/katana-midi-bridge/blob/master/doc/katana_sysex.txt


Quote from: vtgearhead, post: 23333926, member: 180561Unlike Windows, the Linux kernel recognizes Roland/Boss products as MIDI devices (via a USB cable) without any special drivers.  You can use any Linux platform (RPi, Beaglebone, desktop, etc.) to function as a dumb USB to 5 pin MIDI bridge ( by adding  USB Class Compliant USB to 5 pin MIDI I/O cable) without writing a line of code.  There are recipes on VGuitar forums for doing this.
But if you are brave enough to run my MIDI bridge code on a small embedded computer, sky's the limit (including external access to the missing presence knob):

https://github.com/snhirsch/katana-midi-bridge

This is not plug-and-play, however.  Some hacking required.

For clarity, I inserted a few more details in vtgearhead's post above




and independent testing confirms all Katana amps support MIDI over USB
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=19575.msg140206#msg140206

Here are links  to Raspberry Pi development for musicians
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?board=216.0


and the faster Beaglebone Green Wireless ( $48)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01GFSDOTY/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1484195049&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=beaglebone+green+wireless&dpPl=1&dpID=41GmdLUnOHL&ref=plSrch
QuoteGoing to get a Beaglebone that looks like a fun device.
Despite the name - we are more interested in the FOUR reliable USB Host ports !


https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01GFSDOTY/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1484195049&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=beaglebone+green+wireless&dpPl=1&dpID=41GmdLUnOHL&ref=plSrch



in Conclusion - if you are handy with Linux and programming - you may be able to adapt SNHIRSCH's Katana MIDI Interpretor and run it on the BeagleBone Green Wireless board above with a USB cable to any Katana Amp and a Roland UM-ONE MKII USB <> 5 pin MIDI adapter cable and have full access to the Katana's FX via 5 pin MIDI  - to integrate Katana into a large modern guitar rig with a MIDI Floor controller ( FCB-1010, FC-300, etc)

But when Robert at PrimovoSound returns from vacation, his "plan" is to implement snhirsch's documented Katana MIDI Interpreter
https://github.com/snhirsch/katana-midi-bridge
https://github.com/snhirsch/katana-midi-bridge/blob/master/doc/katana_sysex.txt

into the PrimovaSound MIDX-20  for an "off the shelf" full MIDI Control solution for mortals that works with any Katana Amp -- might be late spring 2017

hotraman

I used it today with my guitar lessons.
I put the head on the ground of a large church auditorium,
At 50 watts there was enough volume and low end.
This little 5" speaker is amazing.