Guitar Effects Processor Welcome
Congratulations on your purchase of the Roland GT-8. This TurboStart contains step-by-step instructions that will quickly introduce you to the GT-8s major features.

TurboStart

Selecting Patches
A patch is a group of selected effect combinations along with their individual settings. There are 140 user patches and 200 preset patches in the GT-8. Patches are organized in banks of four. The user banks contain patches U1-1 through U35-4. The preset banks contain patches P36-1 through P85-4. Use the following steps to select a patch: 1. Confirm youre in the main (play) menu by pressing EXIT a few times. 2. Press the BANK Up or BANK Down pedal to select the desired bank. 3. Press Pedals 1-4 individually to select patches within the bank. 4. You can also turn the PATCH/VALUE dial to scroll through the banks and patches.
Setting Up the GT-8s Outputs
For optimal sound, configure the GT-8s outputs for the device to which theyre connected to: 1. Press OUTPUT SELECT until Output Select appears in the display. 2. Turn the PATCH/VALUE dial to choose the desired option. Select: JC-120 SMALL AMP COMBO AMP STACK AMP JC-120 Return COMBO Return STACK Return LINE/PHONES 3. When youre connected to: a Roland JC-120 input. a small, or "practice," guitar amp input. a Combo Amp input. a Stack Amp input. the effects return jack of a Roland JC-120 amp. the effects return jack of a Combo Amp. the effects return jack of a stack amp. headphones, a mixer or recording device input.
Clearing a Patch (Initialization)
You can clear, or initialize, any user patch. This can be handy when you want to build a patch from scratch, starting from a clean slate. Use the following steps to initialize a user patch. Note: Initializing completely resets the parameters of the selected patch. If youve edited the current patch and want to keep your edits, be sure to write the patch to another user memory locationas described on the next pagebefore initializing. 1. 2. 3. 4. Turn the PATCH/VALUE dial or use the BANK Up/Down and 1-4 pedals to select the user patch youd like to initialize. Press the WRITE button. Press the PARAMETER button until Initialize appears in the display. To cancel the initialization process at this point, press EXIT. Press WRITE. The patch is now initialized.
Press EXIT when youre finished.

Tuning the Guitar

The GT-8 features a built-in chromatic tuner that allows you to tune your guitar quickly and easily. Heres how to use it: 1. Press the TUNER/BYPASS button so its lit. 2. Play your high open E string. The display shows the name of the note closest in the pitch to the string youve played. 3. Do a rough tuning so that E appears in the display. 4. Tune the string more precisely until appears in the center. If > appears at the left of the display, the pitch of the string is flat. If < appears at the right of the display, the pitch is sharp. 5. Repeat Steps 1-4 for the remaining strings.

TBS 232

2005 Roland Corporation U.S.

www.RolandUS.com

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Guitar Effects Processor Editing a Patch
Any patch in the GT-8 can be edited to your liking. Use the following steps to edit a patch. In this example, well turn on and the adjust the parameters of the delay, chorus and noise suppressor. 1. Select a patch to edit. 2. Press the DELAY button until Delay On appears in the display, and then use the PATCH VALUE dial and PARAMETER buttons to adjust the delay parameters as desired. 3. Press the CHORUS button until Chorus On appears in the display, and then use the PATCH VALUE dial and PARAMETER to adjust the chorus parameters. Tip: Press any effect button twice to toggle its effect on and off. 4. Press MASTER until Noise Suppressor appears in the display. If the noise suppressor is off, turn the PATCH/VALUE dial clockwise to select On. Use the PATCH/VALUE dial and PARAMETER to adjust the noise suppressor parameters as desired. When youre finished, press EXIT.

Manual Mode

Manual Mode lets you turn on or off selected affects in a patch using the GT-8s 1-4 and BANK pedals: 1. Select Patch 36-1 (HiGAIN STACK). 2. Press MANUAL so its lit. 3. Press PARAMETER once to view the effect controlled by each pedal. 4. Press the 1-4 and Bank pedals to turn effects on and off. Tip: You can use the PARAMETER buttons to move the cursor, and then turn the PATCH/VALUE dial to change the effect controlled by each pedal. 5. Press EXIT or MANUAL when youre finished.
The FX Chain (Effects Chain)
Changing the order of effects is done within the FX Chain of the GT-8. Positioning an effect before or after another can significantly change the character of a patch. Use the following steps to move an effect within the FX Chain: 1. Press the FX CHAIN button. 2. Press PARAMETER to place the stickfigure cursor at the location to which you want to move an effect. 3. Once youve chosen the desired position, press the button belonging to the effect you want to move. 4. Repeat Steps 2-3 for any other effects youd like to re-position. 5. When youre finished, press EXIT to return to the main (play) menu. If you want to save the changes youve made, follow the steps in Saving a Patch above.

Saving a Patch

Once youve edited a patch, you must write it to one of the 140 user locations to save your work. Follow these steps to write a patch: 1. When youre finished editing a patch, press the WRITE button. 2. Turn the PATCH/VALUE dial to select a user location from U1-1 to U35-4. 3. Press the WRITE button again.

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Guitar Effects Processor
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Forty-four effects categories are built into the GT-8. Up to 13 effect blocks can be used simultaneously to create complex textures and routings. All of your FX bases are covered compressors, reverbs, choruses, EQs, COSM-modeled wahs, and much more. There are 200 preset patches built into the GT-8, plus 140 user patches for storing your custom amp/effects creations. As a special bonus, theres a selection of synth waves onboard, plus sitar and an acoustic processor. From subtle to sizzling, where will you take your tone? ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Another area where the GT-8 stomps the competition is in its powerful effects routing. Internally, the 13 FX blocks can be configured in any order you desire (for example, you can freely assign an equalizer after a distortion effect or before it). And if youd care to take your tone outside the box and incorporate some external effects into the GT-8s signal path, you can do so with the Ext Loop send and return. Flexibility in routing is the name of the game. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The GT-8 is stocked with enough I/O options to satisfy even the most demanding pro. In addition to its stereo analog outs, it offers a 24-bit coaxial output for ultra-clean digital transfer, an Amp Control jack for switching between two amp channels on an external amp, an external expression/control pedal input, effects send and returns, MIDI in and out, and a headphone output.
BOSSs Flagship Multi-Effects Floor Processor
Double your power with BOSSs new GT-8 floor-based mega processor. Loaded with twin COSM modeling engines, it brings unprecedented performance and tonal control to the stage and studio. The Dual COSM amp section provides two discrete amp channels; you can layer and manipulate each engine independently to create wildly expressive sounds. Thanks to the Solo Switch function, lead sounds can be immediately activated perfect for ripping through the mix. BOSSs mega-popular GT-6 was a smash hit with guitarists, now the GT-8 is destined to become the go-to box for gigging and recording guitarists alike.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The GT-8 boasts the latest top-quality COSM amp models with complete dual channel configuration. Explore new sonic dimensions by combining two amp models, or by switching between them during performance. Select a high-gain amp such as Metal Stack and set it for deadly distortion. Then add clarity to the raw power by using the Smooth Drive model on the other channel. Prepare to be impressed as you tap into the expressive Dynamic mode, where two channels can be controlled based on picking strength. Transition smoothly from clean to mean by simply picking harder or softer.
Single Dual Mono Dual L/R Dynamic

Dual COSM Amps

Extreme Effects

Effects Chain

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Step into the spotlight with the new Solo Switch feature. Each of the 46 COSM amp models contains a specially programmed variation thats optimized for soloing. Simply click the Solo switch to activate the lead tone, and off you go its like having a separate solo channel on every COSM amp!

Solo Switch

Connectivity
*Product pictured is a prototype model. Actual product appearance may be subject to change.
BOSSs most powerful floor-based processor! Dual COSM Amp engine allows two different amp types to be assigned to the two channels Amp channels can be switched, layered, or panned in real-time; Dynamic mode allows channel switching by picking dynamics 200 stunning preset patches and 140 user patches; 44 effects categories, up to 13 simultaneous FX blocks

User configurable effect chain; any effect can be in any order in the signal path; independent External Effects loop section for inserting external effects anywhere in the signal patch Solo Switch on the COSM amp section for instant lead tone Amp Control jack for switching external guitar amp channels 24-bit converters and coaxial digital output for high-resolution recording applications

GT-8 Specifications

AD Conversion 24 bit + AF method DA Conversion 24 bit Sampling Frequency 44.1 kHz Program Memories 340: 140 (User) + 200 (Preset) Nominal Input Level INPUT: -10 dBu, RETURN: -10 dBu Input Impedance INPUT: 1 M , RETURN: 220 k Nominal Output Level OUTPUT: 0 dBu, SEND: -10 dBu Output Impedance OUTPUT: 2 k, SEND: 2 k Digital Output EIAJ CP1201, S/P DIF Dynamic Range 100 dB or greater (IHF-A) Display 16 characters, 2 lines (backlit LCD), 2 characters, 7 segment LED Connectors INPUT jack, OUTPUT jacks L (MONO)/R, PHONES jack, SEND jack, RETURN jack, DIGITAL OUT connector (coaxial), AMP CONTROL jack, SUB EXP PEDAL/SUB CTL PEDAL1,2 jack, MIDI connectors IN/OUT, AC Adaptor jack Power Supply AC 14 V; Supply AC adaptor (BOSS BRC series) Current Draw 650 mA Dimensions 515 (W) x 261 (D) x 75 (H) mm, 20-5/16 (W) x 10-5/16 (D) x 3 (H) inches Weight 4.8 kg/ 10 lbs 10 oz (excluding AC Adaptor) Accessories AC Adaptor (BRC series), Owners Manual Options Foot Switch: FS-5U, FS-5L, Expression Pedal: EV-5 (Roland), FV-300L + PCS-33 (Roland), Foot Switch Cable: PCS-31 (Roland), (1/4 inches Phone Plug (stereo) - 1/4 inches Phone Plug (mono) x 2) * 0 dBu = 0.775 Vrms * The specifications are subject to change without notice.