Boss JS-8 eBand Audio Player with Guitar Effects

No longer available at zZounds
The Boss JS-8 eBand is the ultimate practice and jamming tool. With COSM effects to help jam with your favorite MP3s, the Boss JS-8 eBand helps you rock.

For "bedroom guitarists" who love jamming along with their favorite songs, the ultimate musical companion has arrived. The Boss JS-8 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(R) 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.

Specifications

- 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 favorite songs from audio CD to eBand with included utility software (PC/Mac)

BOSS FX Onboard

The JS-8 eBand is loaded with high-quality BOSS effects read more 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 eBands 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 the Boss JS-8 eBand. The EZ TONE feature provides a quick, intuitive approach to tone creation based on graphic icons and a Tone Grid. Youll be programming at the speed of sound!

Memory-Card Compatibility

SDHC memory cards of up to 32GB can be plugged into the Boss JS-8 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. (The Boss JS-8 eBand comes with a 1GB SD card)

Phrase Trainer

Phrase Trainer is a feature packed function on the Boss JS-8 eBand convenient for practicing phrases from imported songs. Phrase Trainer includes functions to control pitch and tempo of imported songs, Center Cancel for minimizing the guitar or vocal parts from pre-recorded audio, and AB repeat. Now you can learn phrases without feeling any stress, with the help of the Boss JS-8 eBand.

The Boss JS-8 eBand Functions As a USB Audio Interface


The Boss JS-8 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, JS-8 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.
read less

Specifications
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 Included: AC adaptor (PSB-1U), SD card (1 GB), Owners 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 mm10-7/16 in.
- Depth: 166 mm6-9/16 in.
- Height: 201 mm7-15/16 in.

Weight: 1.7 kg3 lbs. 12 oz.

* Weight excluding AC adaptor
* 0 dBu = 0.775 Vrms
* AF (Adaptive Focus) method: Adaptive Focus is a unique Roland/BOSS technology that allows the signal noise (S/N) ratios of AD converter to be vastly improved.

For support or warranty questions, please contact the manufacturer:
Phone: 323-890-3700

Reviewers gave this product an overall rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars. (12 ratings)
Submitted January 5, 2011 by a customer from aol.com

"An excellent purchase if it does what you want it to"

Overall: 3.5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Verified Customer zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
I was hoping to retire my JS5, but I see the JS8 is an entirely different animal. It has much better stereo sound and is set up better for live performance, so I think I'll be doing my live shows and practice with the new box. I'll keep my JS5 and continue to use it as a rhythm machine for songwriting. So the JS8 meets 2/3 of my musical goals. I wish I had known everything I know now (and hopefully have laid out for others in this review) before I bought it, but I think I still would have decided to get it for the two functions it does perform well. The things I like most about it is that I can play high quality stereo MP3s (or even WAV) files as backup tracks for live shows or for jamming / learning with a minimum of setup time. The controls are well lit and can be seen on stage. I can rehearse or learn new songs with it and there are guitar effects so that I don't have to play uneffected guitar along with the tracks. I love the USB connectivity. What I like least is the attached speakers, and I really wish Roland would at least provide a library of drum and drum + bass patterns on their website so it could be also used as a minimal drum machine to assist in songwriting.

Sound
This box is basically a jam along guitar processor / recorder that plays back recorded clips or songs. The sound of the included clips is excellent, but suffers a great deal when using the built in speakers (similar to inexpensive computer speakers) rather read more than a high quality external system. The guitar processing is very diverse (pretty much everything you could think of) but isn't of spectacular quality even though studio monitors. I give it an 8 overall based on a 10 for the quality of the backing tracks, a 7 for the guitar processing, and a 5 for the integrated speakers. It has a pitch and speed changer (for learning / practicing difficult passages) and a center track remover (for voice or guitar karaoke) which are pretty poor sounding but can be tolerated long enough to learn the desired material.

Features
The JS-8 is very different from its predecessor, the JS-5 (which I also own). Many features have been added, many taken away; whether you like the JS8 depends on what you want to do with it. The JS8 lets you phrase train, jam along with recorded material (from the included clips, from MP3s, from ripped CDs, from downloaded material) either on convenient USB thumb drives or ported over from your computer. This box has loads of guitar friendly features such as a tuner, a metronome, effects, amp and speaker sims, effects, etc. You can use it as a poor man's USB mic/line/guitar interface (no XLR or phantom power) or even as a modest quality reamp device if you've ever wanted to try that. The JS8 is pretty cool for playing live shows with prerecorded backup tracks. The output is high quality stereo sound, you have a lit screen to easily scroll between songs on a dark stage, and you can use two foot pedals to control a variety of things including stop/start. Just bring a thumb drive with your mix minuses (e.g. bass and drums only) and play guitar and sing live. What the JS8 is NOT is a drum machine or rhythm box. You can't program songs on this as you could on the JS5, there is no MIDI. You have to port over all music from elsewhere, the machine does not produce drum beats or bass notes or chords it simply plays back pre-recorded audio. So, if you want to build songs from scratch, create them on your computer or record the instruments yourself first, then port them over to the JS8 - OR you can purchase backing tracks for many of your favorite songs and download them into the JS8.

Ease of Use
Not complicated at all to use. The front panel interface has play, stop, rew, etc buttons like a recorder, a scroll wheel lets you pick what song to play and guitar patches to use. You can organize your songs, you can save patches along with songs. You can play back songs from USB thumb drives by simply inserting the drive and scrolling through its contents. You can move MP3s or even rip CDs over to the JS8 using the provided sofware which is easy to install and simple to use. You can turn the integrated speakers off (and you should!) and listen through your stereo, studio monitors, earbuds, or headphones. Connection to your PC or Mac is straightforward. The user manual seems daunting until you realize you have the instructions in seven languages.

Quality
Everything works on mine, no problems. It looks nice, though I'd be happier with this unit minus the stereo speakers - I'd just use my earbuds for better quality. It is, after all, just plastic and electronics, so don't drop it or spill a beer in it!

Value
This was kind of expensive for what it is, but it's new. If you look at it as an elaborate phrase trainer, then it's pretty pricey. But if you look at it as a backing track box, maybe the price is not so high as you can have high quality sound playing as a duo and only pay your bassist and drummer for the larger shows.

Manufacturer Support
Roland has always had decent support. I've not had to contact them about this unit, other than to use their website which contains backups and updates for the OS and included sounds, as well as 7 more sets of sound files. The new sound files are pretty cool in that they sound great and have tab for the guitar parts (you get backing tracks with and without guitar for your jamming pleasure) but probably not of great interest to the average guitarist as they tend to be Roland "demo" type material, i.e. rock/fusion tunes. I'm hoping for additional free jam tracks to come.

The Wow Factor
It makes it a little quicker and more fun for me to improve my chops, learn new covers, practice for shows, and experiment with leads for my original stuff. I don't need my recording gear or my computer, just a thumb drive with the tracks I want to practice recorded on it. Just pop in the thumb drive, plug in my guitar, and jam - bedroom, hotel, or band van (with proper cigarette lighter adapter). Anything that makes it easier and quicker to practice or jam means more time spent practicing, and that's a good thing.

Musical Background:
Active Musician

Musical Style:
Singer Songwriter
read less
22 of 22 people (100%) people found this review helpful. Did you?
Thanks for your opinion!

No longer available at zZounds

In most cases, a product is unavailable because it has been discontinued by the manufacturer