BOSS KATANA-50 MkII Guitar Amplifier Owner’s Manual

BOSS KATANA-50 MkII Guitar Amplifier

This Owner’s Manual applies to the KATANA-50 MkII, KATANA-50 MkII EX, KATANA-100 MkII, KATANA-100/212 MkII, KATANA-HEAD MkII, KATANA-Artist MkII, and KATANA-Artist MkII HEAD.
Explanations for specific models are distinguished by an icon (example: 100/212, HEAD only ).

KATANA-50 MkII
KTN-50 2
50 W output, 30 cm (12 inch) speaker

KATANA-50 MkII EX
KTN50 2EX
50 W output, 30 cm (12 inch) speaker

KATANA-100 MkII
KTN-100 2
100 W output, 30 cm (12 inch) speaker

KATANA-100/212 MkII
KTN-212 2
100 W output, 30 cm (12 inch) speaker x 2

KATANA-HEAD MkII
KTN-HEAD 2
100 W output, 12 cm (5 inch) speaker

KATANA-Artist MkII
KTN-ART 2
100 W output, 30 cm (12 inch) speaker

KATANA-Artist MkII HEAD
KTN-ART2HD
100 W output

USING THE UNIT SAFELYUSING THE UNIT SAFELY

Before using this unit, carefully read “IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS” (inside front cover), “USING THE UNIT SAFELY” (p. 2), and “IMPORTANT NOTES” (p. 3). After reading, keep the document(s) where it will be available for immediate reference.
© 2022 Roland Corporation

About WARNING and CAUTION Notices

WARNING| Used for instructions intended to alert the user to the risk of death or severe injury should the unit be used improperly.
---|---
CAUTION

| Used for instructions intended to alert the user to the risk of injury or material damage should the unit be used improperly.

• Material damage refers to damage or other adverse effects caused with respect to the home and all its furnishings, as well to domestic animals or pets.

About the Symbols

| The symbol alerts the user to important instructions or warnings. The specific meaning of the symbol is determined by the design contained within the triangle. In the case of the symbol at left, it is used for general cautions, warnings, or alerts to danger.
---|---
| The  symbol alerts the user to items that must never be carried out (are forbidden). The specific thing that must not be done is indicate.

ALWAYS OBSERVE THE FOLLOWING

WARNING
Make sure that the power cord is grounded
Connect mains plug of this model to a mains socket outlet with a protective earthing connection.

To completely turn off power to the unit, pull out the plug from the outlet.
Even with the power switch turned off, this unit is not completely separated from its main source of power. When the power needs to be completely turned off, turn off the power switch on the unit, then pull out the plug from the outlet. For this reason, the outlet into which you choose to connect the power cord’s plug should be one that is within easy reach and readily accessible.
Secure a sufficient amount of space at the setup location Since this unit normally emits a slight amount of heat, make sure to secure sufficient space around it, as shown below.

Do not disassemble or modify by yourself
Do not carry out anything unless you are instructed to do so in the owner’s manual. Otherwise, you risk causing malfunction.

Do not repair or replace parts by yourself
Be sure to contact your dealer, a Roland service center, or an official Roland dealer. For a list of Roland service centers and official Roland dealers, refer to the Roland website.

WARNING
Do not use or store in the following types of locations

• Subject to temperature extremes (e.g., direct sunlight in an enclosed vehicle, near a heating duct, on top of heat-generating equipment); or are
• Damp (e.g., baths, washrooms, on wet floors); or are
• Exposed to steam or smoke; or are
• Subject to salt exposure; or are
• Exposed to rain; or are
• Dusty or sandy; or are
• Subject to high levels of vibration and shakiness;  or are
• Placed in a poorly ventilated location.

Do not place in an unstable location
Otherwise, you risk injury as the result of the unit toppling over or dropping down.

Connect the power cord to an outlet of the correct voltage
The unit should be connected to a power supply only of the type described as marked on the rear side of unit.

Use only the supplied power cord
Use only the attached power cord. Also, the supplied power cord must not be used with any other device.

Do not bend the power cord or place heavy objects on it
Otherwise, fire or electric shock may result.

Avoid extended use at high volume
Use of the unit at high volume for extended periods of time may cause hearing loss. If you ever experience any hearing loss or ringing in the ears, you should immediately stop using the unit and consult a specialized physician.

Do not allow foreign objects or liquids to enter unit; never place containers with liquid on unit Do not place containers containing liquid (e.g., flower vases) on this product. Never allow foreign objects (e.g., flammable objects, coins, wires) or liquids (e.g., water or juice) to enter this product. Doing so may cause short circuits, faulty operation, or other malfunctions.

Turn off the unit if an abnormality or malfunction occurs
In the following cases, immediately turn off the power, remove the power cord from the outlet, and contact your dealer, a
Roland service center, or an official Roland dealer for service.

• The power cord has been damaged; or
• If smoke or unusual odor occurs; or
• Objects have fallen into, or liquid has been spilled onto the unit; or
• The unit has been exposed to rain (or otherwise has  become wet); or
• The unit does not appear to operate normally or exhibits a marked change in performance.

For a list of Roland service centers and official Roland dealers, refer to the Roland website.

Be cautious to protect children from injury
Always make sure that an adult is on hand to provide supervision and guidance when using the unit in places where children are present, or when a child will be using the unit.

Do not drop or subject to strong impact
Otherwise, you risk causing damage or malfunction.

Do not share an outlet with an unreasonable number of other devices
Otherwise, you risk overheating or fire.

Do not use overseas
Before using the unit in overseas, consult with your retailer, the nearest Roland service center, or an authorized Roland distributor.
For a list of Roland service centers and official Roland dealers, refer to the Roland website.

Don’t block ventilation openings
Don’t allow the unit’s ventilation openings to be blocked by a newspaper, tablecloth, curtains, or similar objects.

Don’t place burning objects on the unit
Don’t place any burning object (such as a candle) on the unit.

Be aware of weather conditions
Use the apparatus in moderate climates.

CAUTION
When disconnecting the power cord, grasp it by the plug
To prevent conductor damage, always grasp the power cord by its plug when disconnecting it.

Periodically clean the power plug
An accumulation of dust or foreign objects between the power plug and the power outlet can lead to fire or electric shock. At regular intervals, be sure to pull out the power plug, and using a dry cloth, wipe away any dust or foreign objects that may have accumulated.

Disconnect the power plug whenever the unit will not be used for an extended period of time
Fire may result in the unlikely event that a breakdown occurs.

Route all power cords and cables in such a way as to prevent them from getting entangled
Injury could result if someone were to trip on a cable and cause the unit to fall or topple.

Avoid climbing on top of the unit, or placing heavy objects on it
Otherwise, you risk injury as the result of the unit toppling over or dropping down.

Never connect/disconnect a power plug if your hands are wet
Otherwise, you could receive an electric shock.

Disconnect all cords/cables before moving the unit
Before moving the unit, disconnect the power plug from the outlet, and pull out all cords from external devices.

Before cleaning the unit, disconnect the power plug from the outlet
If the power plug is not removed from the outlet, you risk receiving an electric shock.

Whenever there is a threat of lightning, disconnect the power plug from the outlet
If the power plug is not removed from the outlet, you risk causing malfunction or receiving an electric shock.

KATANA-50 MkII EX
Do not remove the speaker grille and speaker
Do not remove the speaker grille and speaker by any means. Speaker is not user replaceable. Shock hazardous voltages and currents are present inside the enclosure.

IMPORTANT NOTES

Power Supply
Do not connect this unit to same electrical outlet that is being used by an electrical appliance that is controlled by an inverter or a motor (such as a refrigerator, washing machine, microwave oven, or air conditioner). Depending on the way in which the electrical appliance is used, power supply noise may cause this unit to malfunction or may produce audible noise. If it is not practical to use a separate electrical outlet, connect a power supply noise filter between this unit and the electrical outlet.

Placement

• Using the unit near power amplifiers (or other equipment containing large power transformers) may induce hum. To alleviate the problem, change the orientation of this unit; or move it farther away from the source of interference.
• This unit may interfere with radio and television reception. Do not use this unit in the vicinity of such receivers.
• Noise may be produced if wireless communications devices, such as cell phones, are operated in the vicinity of this unit. Such noise could occur when receiving or initiating a call, or while conversing. Should you experience such problems, you should relocate such wireless devices so they are at a greater distance from this unit, or switch them off.
• When moved from one location to another where the temperature and/or humidity is very different, water droplets (condensation) may form inside the unit. Damage or malfunction may result if you attempt to use the unit in this condition. Therefore, before using the unit, you must allow it to stand for several hours, until the condensation has completely evaporated.
• Depending on the material and temperature of the surface on which you place the unit, its rubber feet may discolor or mar the surface.
• Do not place containers or anything else containing liquid on top of this unit. Also, whenever any liquid has been spilled on the surface of this unit, be sure to promptly wipe it away using a soft, dry cloth.

Maintenance
Never use benzine, thinners, alcohol or solvents of any kind, to avoid the possibility of discoloration and/or deformation.

Repairs and Data
Before sending the unit away for repairs, be sure to make a backup of the data stored within it; or you may prefer to write down the needed information. Although we will do our utmost to preserve the data stored in your unit when we carry out repairs, in some cases, such as when the memory section is physically damaged, restoration of the stored content may be impossible. Roland assumes no liability concerning the restoration of any stored content that has been lost.

Additional Precautions

• Any data stored within the unit can be lost as the result of equipment failure, incorrect operation, etc. To protect yourself against the irretrievable loss of data, try to make a habit of creating regular backups of the data you’ve stored in the unit.
• Roland assumes no liability concerning the restoration of any stored content that has been lost.
• Use a reasonable amount of care when using the unit’s buttons, sliders, or other controls; and when using its jacks and connectors. Rough handling can lead to malfunctions.
• When disconnecting all cables, grasp the connector itself—never pull on the cable. This way you will avoid causing shorts, or damage to the cable’s internal elements.
• A small amount of heat will radiate from the unit during normal operation.
• To avoid disturbing others nearby, try to keep the unit’s volume at reasonable levels.
• When disposing of the packing carton or cushioning material in which this unit was packed, you must observe the waste disposal regulations that apply to your locality.
• Do not use connection cables that contain a built-in resistor.

Intellectual Property Right

• ASIO is a trademark and software of Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH.
• This product contains eParts integrated software platform of eSOL Co.,Ltd. eParts is a trademark of eSOL Co., Ltd. in Japan.
• Roland and BOSS are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Roland Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.
• Company names and product names appearing in this document are registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective owners.

Panel Descriptions

Top Panel/Front Panel

KATANA-50 MkII, KATANA-50 MkII EX, KATANA-100 MkII, KATANA-100/212 MkII, KATANA-HEAD MkII

• The illustration shows the KATANA-HEAD MkII.
• KATANA-50 MkII/KATANA-50 MkII EX does not have a [PRESENCE] knob, [CAB RESONANCE] switch, nor does it have TONE SETTING buttons [CH3] and [CH4].
• KATANA-100 MkII does not have a [CAB RESONANCE] switch.

KATANA-Artist MkII, KATANA-Artist MkII HEAD

1. INPUT jack
   Connect your electric guitar here.

2. AMPLIFIER
   [AMP TYPE] knob
   Selects the amp type. All provided amp types are original. Type| Explanation
   ---|---
   BROWN| A lead sound with an edge inherited from the BOSS WAZA brown sound.
   LEAD| Different gain settings allow this sound to cover a wide range from crunch to high-gain.
   CRUNCH| A fat crunch sound that faithfully responds to the nuances of your picking.
   CLEAN| A clean and natural sound. In conjunction with BOOSTER, it can be used for solo or lead.
   ACOUSTIC| A dedicated acoustic guitar amp that supports connection of an acoustic guitar.
   [VARIATION] button
   Switches the AMP TYPE variation.
   [GAIN] knob
   Adjusts the gain (amount of distortion).
   [VOLUME] knob
   Adjusts the volume.

3. EQUALIZER
   [BASS] knob
   Adjusts the sound level of the low-frequency range.
   [MIDDLE] knob
   Adjusts the sound level of middle-frequency range.
   [TREBLE] knob
   Adjusts the sound level of the high-frequency range.

4. EFFECTS
   Here you can make settings for the built-in effects. For details on the effect types and settings for each knob, refer to “Using the Effects” (p. 11).
   [BOOSTER] button/knob
   Controls distortion-type effects.
   [MOD] button/knob
   Controls modulation effects.
   [FX] button/knob
   Controls effects such as wah, tremolo, and octave.
   [DELAY] button/knob
   Controls delay effect.
   [TAP] button
   Sets the delay time. When you press this button two or more times, the delay time is set to the interval between presses.
   [REVERB] button/knob
   Controls the reverb.

5. [PRESENCE] knob 100, 100/212, HEAD, Artist, Artist HEAD only
   Adds lustrous outline to the mid- and high-frequency range. This is effective when you want to improve the definition of the sound.

6. [MASTER] knob
   Adjusts the overall volume.

7. [POWER CONTROL] switch
   Lets you switch the output level of the power amp according to your location or needs. By selecting “STANDBY” you can mute the sound while leaving the unit powered-on.
   This lets you mute the amp without changing the volume or other settings when you leave the stage, such as between sets of your live performance.

8. TONE SETTING
   Here you can store or recall sounds that you’ve set up on the panel.
   50, 50 EX
   You can store a total of four sounds. BANK A| CH1, CH2
   ---|---
   BANK B| CH1, CH2

• With the KATANA-50 MkII EX, you can use CH3 and CH4 by connecting a GA-FC/GA-FC EX (sold separately).
  100, 100/212, HEAD, Artist, Artist HEAD
  You can store a total of eight sounds.

MEMO
To switch between BANK A and BANK B, hold down the [PANEL] button for approximately one second when any one of the [CH1]–[CH4] buttons are selected.
The selected [CH1]–[CH4] button blinks, and the bank switches between BANK A and BANK B. When BANK B is selected, the [PANEL] button blinks slowly.

• You can’t switch banks while PANEL is selected.
  [BANK] button Artist, Artist HEAD only
  Switches between BANK A and BANK B.
  When BANK B is selected, the [BANK] button is lit.
  [CH1]–[CH4] buttons
  The [CH1]–[CH4] buttons ( 50, 50 EX [CH1] [CH2] buttons) on
  the remember the settings of all top panel knobs (except for the
  [MASTER] knob) and buttons.
  When you press and hold a button for one second, the panel settings are stored.

• You can make the settings back to the factory state by turning the power on while holding down the [PANEL] button.
  [PANEL] button
  Makes the unit sound using the current settings of the panel knobs.

  9. [CAB RESONANCE] switch
     100/212, HEAD, Artist, Artist HEAD only
     Modifies the resonance of the speaker cabinet. Value| Explanation
     ---|---
     VINTAGE| The warm and sweet sound of a vintage cabinet.
     MODERN| A modern cabinet sound notable for a tight low-end.
     DEEP| Sound with powerful low-end as well as a distinctive edge.

  10. [POWER] switch
      Turns the power on/off.

  11. SOLO Artist, Artist HEAD only
      [SOLO] knob
      Adjusts the volume when solo is on.
      [SOLO] button
      Turns solo on/off.

  12. TONE SHAPE Artist, Artist HEAD only
      [GLOBAL EQ] button
      Turns the global equalizer on/off.
      You can also switch between three types of equalizer settings (green, red, orange).
      MEMO
      The three types of global equalizer settings can be edited using dedicated software (p. 11).
      These settings cannot be edited from the unit itself.
      [CONTOUR] switch
      Switches the contour characteristics of the sound.
      In addition to “OFF”, you can choose from the three types “1, 2, 3”.

Rear Panel

KATANA-50 MkII, KATANA-50 MkII EX

• The illustration shows the KATANA-50 MkII EX. The KATANA-50 MkII does not have LINE OUT jack and GA-FC jack.

KATANA-100 MkII, KATANA-100/212 MkII KATANA-HEAD MkII

• The illustration shows the KATANA-HEAD MkII. The KATANA-100 MkII and KATANA-100/212 MkII do not have MIDI IN jack and SPEAKER OUT jacks.

KATANA-Artist MkII, KATANA-Artist MkII HEAD

• The illustration shows the KATANA-Artist MkII HEAD. The KATANA-Artist MkII does not have AIR FEEL [TYPE] switch and [CUSTOM SETTING] switch.

  13. AC IN jack
      Connect the included power cord.

• Use only the power cord that was included with the unit. 14. SPEAKER OUT jack HEAD, Artist, Artist HEAD only
  Connect a speaker box. Only use speaker cable to connect the speaker. Do not use any shielded cable designed for use with guitars.
  When connecting an external speaker
  HEAD

  * If a plug is inserted in this jack, no sound will be output from the KATANA MkII’s own speaker.
  * You must use a speaker box that has an input impedance of 8Ω or higher.  

  Artist, Artist HEAD

  * When the unit is shipped from the factory, the internal speaker is connected to the 8Ω jack. If a plug is connected to the 8Ω jack, sound is not output from the 16Ω (A/B) jacks. If you want to use an external speaker, disconnect the internal speaker’s plug from the 8Ω jack.
  * If you use the 8Ω jack, you must use a speaker box whose input impedance is 8Ω or higher.
  * If you use the 16Ω (A/B) jacks, you must use speaker boxes whose input impedance is 16Ω or higher.

  15. EFFECT LOOP SEND/RETURN jacks
      100, 100/212, HEAD, Artist, Artist HEAD only
      Connect an external effect device (mono).
      Connect the SEND jack to the input of your external effect device, and connect the output of your external effect device to the RETURN jack.

  16. [STEREO EXPAND] switch 100, 100/212, HEAD only
      Two KATANA MkII units can be connected for stereo output. Stereo connection method
      

      • From the LINE OUT jack of the amp 1 to which your guitar is connected, connect to the POWER AMP IN jack of the amp 2.
      • Turn “ON” the [STEREO EXPAND] switch of both amps.

• The controls of the amp 2 other than the [MASTER] knob and the [POWER CONTROL] switch do not function. 17. LINE OUT jack 50 EX, 100, 100/212, HEAD, Artist, Artist HEAD only
  Connect this to your PA system or recorder. You can obtain powerful guitar amp sound just as if you were playing through the speaker.
  
  You can use this in conjunction with an external PA system, or to record your performance via direct line while monitoring the sound from the KATANA MkII’s speaker.
  Adjust the output level using the [VOLUME] knob.
  Since the [MASTER] knob does not affect the output, you can turn down the [MASTER] knob so that sound is output to a connected device without any sound being produced from the amp itself.

• To prevent malfunction and equipment failure, always turn down the volume, and turn off all the units before making any connections. 18. POWER AMP IN jack
  This jack directly inputs a signal to the power amp without passing it through the preamp of the KATANA MkII. You can use it to input sound that’s been shaped by an external preamp or by a multi-effect unit equipped with an amp simulator. If you’re using the POWER AMP IN jack, the [PANEL] button is lit green.

  * Sound that is input to this jack is not affected by controls other than the [MASTER] knob and the [POWER CONTROL] switch.
  * Unless you are using two KATANA MkII units connected in stereo, leave the [STEREO EXPAND] switch or [EXPAND] switch turned “OFF”.
  * The POWER AMP IN jack and the INPUT jack cannot be used simultaneously. If cables are connected to both, the INPUT jack has priority.

  19. MIDI IN jack HEAD, Artist, Artist HEAD only You can control this unit from a multi-effect unit or a MIDI foot controller.
      How the MIDI receive channel is specified Receive channel| Operation
      ---|---
      CH1| Hold down the [CH1] button while turning the power on.
      CH2| Hold down the [CH2] button while turning the power on.
      CH3| Hold down the [CH3] button while turning the power on.
      CH4| Hold down the [CH4] button while turning the power on.
      • Receive channel is set to CH1 when shipped from the factory.
        RECOGNIZED RECEIVE DATA RX CH| 1-4
        ---|---
        OMNI| OFF (fixed)

        ---

PC

| 1 (00H): BANK A CH1
2 (01H): BANK A CH2
3 (02H): BANK A CH3
4 (03H): BANK A CH4
5 (04H): PANEL
6 (05H): BANK B CH1
7 (06H): BANK B CH2
8 (07H): BANK B CH3
9 (08H): BANK B CH4

CC

| #16| BOOSTER SW| ****

0–63: OFF

64–127: ON

#17| MOD SW
#18| FX SW
#19| DELAY SW
#20| REVERB SW
#21| EFFECT LOOP SW
#80| GA-FC EXP PEDAL 1 (FX)| ****

0–127

#81| GA-FC EXP PEDAL 2 (VOLUME)
#82| EXP PEDAL
#83| GA-FC (FS1)| 0–63: OFF

64–127: ON

#84| GA-FC (FS1)

• When you operate the knobs in the EFFECTS section, the settings of the knobs become effective and the above on/off setting will be discarded.

20. USB O port
    You can use a commercially available USB 2.0 cable to record the sound of the KATANA MkII into your computer. You can also use dedicated software to edit the settings of the internal effects (p. 11).

    • Do not use a USB cable that is designed only for charging a device. Charge-only cables cannot transmit data.
      You must install the USB driver when connecting the unit to your computer.
      
      Download the USB driver from the Roland website. For details, refer to Readme.htm which is included in the download.
      https://www.boss.info/support/

21. AUX IN jack
    Here you can connect a CD player, audio player, electronic musical instrument, or similar audio source, and listen to it while you play your guitar.

22. FOOT CONTROL
    SEL CH1 CH2/EXP PEDAL jack
    If you connect a footswitch (sold separately: FS-6, FS-7, or FS-5L), you can use your foot to switch between BANK A and BANK B and CH1 and CH2. If you connect an expression pedal (sold separately: Roland EV-5, BOSS EV-30, FV- 500L, FV-500H), you can use your foot to vary the volume.
    GA-FC jack 50 EX, 100, 100/212, HEAD, Artist, Artist HEAD only
    You can connect the separately sold GA-FC/GA-FC EX to switch channels and turn effects on/off.
    Artist, Artist HEAD
    You can also connect a footswitch (separately sold: FS-5L) as the SOLO jack, and use it to switch solo on/off.

23. PHONES/REC OUT jack
    Connect headphones here. You can obtain powerful guitar sounds just as if you were playing through the speaker. To adjust the volume, use the [VOLUME] knob along with the [MASTER] knob.

    • If a plug is inserted in this jack, no sound will be output from the KATANA MkII’s own speaker. This is convenient if you don’t want loud sound to be produced from the speaker, such as when you’re practicing at night.

24. [EXPAND] switch Artist, Artist HEAD only
    Switch| Explanation
    ---|---
    OFF| Use one KATANA MkII unit by itself.

STEREO

| Connect two KATANA MkII units for stereo output.

For details on connections, refer to “Stereo connection method” (p. 6).

DUAL LINK| Connect two KATANA MkII units and use them as dual amps.

You can connect two KATANA MkII units and use them for stereo output or as dual amps.
Dual amp connections

  *  From the POWER AMP IN jack of the amp 1 to which your guitar is connected, connect to the INPUT jack of the amp 2.
  * Set both amp’s [EXPAND] switch to “STEREO” or “DUAL LINK”.  

GA-FC/GA-FC EX connection
If you connect the GA-FC/GA-FC EX when using a dual amp setup, you can control the two units simultaneously.

25. AIR FEEL Artist HEAD only
    [TYPE] switch Switch| Explanation
    ---|---
    REC| A distantly-miked sound for recording.
    LIVE| A close-miked sound for live.
    BLEND| A sound providing a good blend of closed-miked and distantlymiked sound that can be broadly used for live or recording.
    [CUSTOM SETTING] switch Switch| Explanation
    ---|---
    OFF| Enables the function you set using the [TYPE] switch.
    M1| Select either the M1 or M2 that you configured on the dedicated software (p. 11) to use.
    M2

About the STEREO EXPAND mode on the KATANA-50 MkII EX
You can connect two KATANA-50 MkII EX units for stereo output (STEREO EXPAND mode).

1. While holding down the [CH2] and [PANEL] buttons,  turn on both amp 1 and 2.

Stereo connection method

1. From the LINE OUT jack of the amp 1 to which your  guitar is connected, connect to the POWER AMP IN jack of the amp 2.

2. You can use a KATANA-50 MkII (Ver. 2.0 or later) for amp 2.

3. Amp 2 operations
   When using STEREO EXPAND mode, the [PANEL] button lights up red, and you can only operate the [MASTER] knob and the [POWER CONTROL] switch.

4. To return to normal LINE output, turn off the power, and then turn it on again while pressing the [CH2] and [PANEL] buttons.

Connecting a Footswitch

Connecting a footswitch (sold separately: BOSS FS-6, FS-7, or FS-5L)

• The KATANA MkII is compatible with latch-type footswitches (FS-6, FS- 7, FS-5L). If you’re using an FS-6 or FS-7, set the mode of A and B to FS-5L (LATCH). Momentary-type footswitches (e.g., FS-5U) cannot be used.

Connecting the GA-FC/GA-FC EX
50 EX, 100, 100/212, HEAD, Artist, Artist HEAD only
Connect a stereo cable to the GA-FC jack.

• Always use a stereo cable.
• Use cables that do not contain resistors.

Using the GA-FC/GA-FC EX
You can switch TONE SELECT (CH1–CH4, PANEL). You can also switch EFFECTS (BOOSTER, MOD, FX, DELAY, REVERB) on/off.

Artist, Artist HEAD
You can long-press the selected [CH1]–[CH4] or [PANEL] switch to switch solo on/off (the indicator slowly blinks green when solo is on).
If you long-press the [EFFECTS] switch (the indicator blinks), you can then use the [DELAY] switch to tap-input the delay 1 time, and use the [REVERB] switch to tap-input the delay 2 time.

Using the expression pedals
If you connect an expression pedal (sold separately: Roland EV-5, BOSS EV-30, FV-500L, FV-500H), you can use the pedal to vary the volume or control an effect such as WAH.

• You can use dedicated software (p. 11) to assign a function of your choice to an expression pedal connected to the VOLUME or EXP jack.

Setting MINIMUM VOLUME of an expression pedal With the [MINIMUM VOLUME] knob of an
expression pedal, you can set the value for when the pedal is lifted up all the way (lowest value).

• Use only the specified expression pedal. By connecting any other expression pedals, you risk causing malfunction and/or damage to the unit.

Using the footswitches
If a footswitch (sold separately: FS-6, FS-7, or FS-5U) is connected, you can use it to switch between the TONE SETTING’s BANK A/B, or to set the delay time (TAP).

the delay time is set to the interval between presses.

• You can use dedicated software (p. 11) to assign a function of your choice to a footswitch connected to the FS1 or FS2 jack.

Using the GA-FC/GA-FC EX to switch the BANK
With one of the channels [CH1]–[CH4] selected, hold down the [PANEL] switch for approximately one second.
The selected [CH1]–[CH4] switch blinks, and the bank switches between BANK A and BANK B. When BANK B is selected, the [PANEL] button blinks slowly.

You can’t switch banks while PANEL is selected.

Turning the Power On/Off

Once everything is properly connected (p. 4–p. 7), be sure to follow the procedure below to turn on their power. If you turn on equipment in the wrong order, you risk causing malfunction or equipment failure.
Before turning the unit on/off, always be sure to turn the volume down. Even with the volume turned down, you might hear some sound when switching the unit on/off. However, this is normal and does not indicate a malfunction.

1. Make sure that the KATANA MkII’s [MASTER] knob and the volume of the devices connected to the KATANA MkII are set to 0.

2. Before connecting your instrument to the KATANA MkII’s INPUT jack, set the [MASTER] knob to the minimum setting (far left).

3. Turn on the KATANA MkII.

4. Turn on the power of the devices connected to the LINE OUT jack and PHONES/REC OUT jack.

5. Adjust the volume levels for the devices.

Before switching off the power, lower the volume on each of the devices in your system and then TURN OFF the devices in the reverse order to which they were switched on.
If you need to turn off the power completely, first turn off the unit, then unplug the power cord from the power outlet.
Refer to “To completely turn off power to the unit, pull out the plug from the outlet” (p. 2).

Restoring the Factory Settings

Here’s how the settings stored in the KATANA MkII can be returned to their factory-set condition (factory reset).

1. While holding down the [PANEL] button, turn the power  on.
   Each of the EFFECTS buttons continues blinking consecutively from the left. When the blinking stops, all of the KATANA MkII’s settings return to the factory-set state.

It takes approximately 30 seconds for the factory reset to be completed. Don’t turn off the power while the factory reset is in progress.

Using the Effects

On the KATANA MkII amp, you can use five types of effect simultaneously.

Effects assigned to each knob when the unit is shipped

| ****

Green

| BANK A| BLUES DRIVE| CHORUS
BANK B| CLEAN BOOST| DC-30

Red

| BANK A| OVERDRIVE| PHASER 90E
BANK B| MID BOOST| COMP

Orange

| BANK A| DISTORTION| FLANGER 117E
BANK B| TREBLE BOOST| LIMITER
Knob| Color of the button| FX| DELAY
---|---|---|---
|

Green

| BANK A| TREMOLO| DIGITAL DELAY
BANK B| PHASER 90E| SDE-3000

Red

| BANK A| T.WAH| ANALOG DELAY
BANK B| FLANGER 117E| DIGITAL DELAY

Orange

| BANK A| HEAVY OCTAVE| TAPE ECHO
BANK B| PITCH SHIFTER| MODULATE
Knob| Color of the button| REVERB
---|---|---
|

Green

| BANK A| PLATE REVERB
BANK B| PLATE REVERB

Red

| BANK A| SPRING REVERB
BANK B| PLATE REVERB

Orange

| BANK A| HALL REVERB
BANK B| HALL REVERB

1. Press the [BOOSTER], [MOD], [DELAY], [FX], or [REVERB]  button to select the effect that you want to use. Each time you press the button, its color changes.
   

2. Turn the knob to adjust the depth of the effect.

Making use of the KATANA MkII’s dedicated software
You can connect the amp via USB to your computer, and use it with dedicated software. Using the dedicated software allows you to do the following:

• Easily download dedicated effects from Boss Tone Central (http://bosstonecentral.com) download site into the amp.
• Edit the effect settings.
• Back up effects and other internal settings, or restore settings from a backup.

You can easily download the dedicated software from our BOSS TONE CENTRAL (http://bosstonecentral.com/) website. For details on how to use the software, refer to the Readme.htm file that comes with the download.

Block Diagram

KATANA-50 MkII, KATANA-50 MkII EX

KATANA-100 MkII, KATANA-100/212 MkII, KATANA-HEAD MkII, KATANA-Artist MkII, KATANA-Artist MkII HEAD

Main Specifications

This document explains the specifications of the product at the time that the document was issued. For the latest information, refer to the Roland website.

KATANA-50 MkII

AUX IN: -10 dBu (20 kΩ)
Speaker| 30 cm (12 inches) x 1

Controls

| [POWER] switch [MASTER] knob [POWER CONTROL] switch: STANDBY, 0.5 W, 25 W, 50 W