Boss Katana:Go

Boss’ Katana:Go has been overhauled, and is now more compact, sleek and portable than the original. It plugs into your guitar or bass jack output, and can not only deliver a virtual amped guitar/bass sound to your headphones, but also has a USB port that allows it to act as a computer audio interface. There’s Bluetooth connectivity too, to allow playback of backing tracks and communication with the Boss Tone Studio app for iOS and Android.

The unit has an internal rechargeable battery but can be powered directly over USB. The provided USB‑C to USB‑A cable is long enough that you can sit by a computer and record but, as with most USB cables, not long enough that you have the freedom to move around with your instrument. Normally, then, you’ll want to make sure the Katana:Go is charged, and an LED that indicates various power‑related things helpfully alerts you when the remaining battery life is 30 minutes or less. Another reason to run off the internal battery is to avoid noise, which proved a problem when connecting over USB to my MacBook Pro when the computer’s mains adaptor was also connected. Disconnecting either the USB cable (which of course prevents recording) or the computer’s power supply side‑stepped that issue.

The jack’s hinged joint... makes it easy to move the device into the optimum position for operating the controls or viewing the screen.

The headphone output is a TRS stereo mini‑jack and I had plenty of level through my various headphones. At the other end, a quarter‑inch jack plug fits directly into your guitar’s jack socket. The jack’s hinged joint makes it easy to connect the Katana:Go to pretty much any guitar and allows the device to swivel with the headphone cable when you move, preventing undue strain. It also makes it easy to move the device into the optimum position for operating the controls or viewing the screen. Speaking of which, the screen is bright and easily viewed, and while the handful of user controls is ‘hidden’ on the side panels, you soon develop an instinct for where they are.

Though they’re not easily visible when plugged into a guitar, you soon develop a feel for which controls are where.

On one side,...