BOSS has just announced the release of two new polyphonic pitch-shifting products: the XS-100 Poly Shifter and the XS-1 Poly Shifter. These advanced effects are set to redefine the landscape of real-time pitch manipulation, offering a stunningly natural and musical experience for guitarists, bassists, and other instrumentalists.
While the iconic Digitech Whammy pedal has long been the gold standard for dramatic pitch-bending effects, BOSS’s new XS series aims to push the boundaries of polyphonic shifting.
The Whammy, beloved for its dramatic, often warbling, pitch shifts, is primarily a monophonic device, which can lead to artifacts and sonic glitches when processing chords. The new BOSS XS series, however, boasts meticulously crafted algorithms and a custom DSP platform designed to preserve tonal integrity, even with complex chords and sustained notes.
The XS-100: A Pitch-Shifting Workstation
The flagship XS-100 is a true expression machine, offering an unparalleled level of control. It features a massive eight-octave range and an integrated expression pedal for linear control of four octaves up or down.
A key innovation is the ability to set independent pitch-change speeds for each pedal direction, enabling creative effects like motor-revving tones.
“The XS-100 is designed to transform how musicians perform with pitch,” said a BOSS spokesperson. “We’ve focused on creating a seamless and musical experience, free from the common tonal artifacts that have plagued conventional pitch shifters.”
MIDI and more
The XS-100 also features an integrated toe switch for momentary pitch jumps, two footswitches for quick retuning across eight octaves, and 30 onboard memories for instant recall during live performances.
With MIDI I/O and external control options, the XS-100 is a powerful hub for even the most sophisticated guitar rigs.
The XS-1: Compact Power for Your Pedalboard
For musicians who need powerful pitch-shifting in a pedalboard-friendly format, the XS-1 Poly Shifter distills the core features of its larger sibling into the classic BOSS compact pedal.
This pedal offers a range of +/- seven semitones and three octaves up or down, making it perfect for instant drop tunings, capo simulations, and octave effects.
Balance
Unlike the Whammy, which often has a distinct effect on tone, the XS-1 features a dedicated Balance knob to blend the dry and effect signals.
This allows for everything from full retuning to subtle 12-string effects and parallel sounds. A new Detune mode further enhances the pedal’s versatility, creating rich, high-definition doubling effects.
A New Era of Pitch Shifting
While the Digitech Whammy is celebrated for its unique character and iconic sound, the BOSS XS series represents a significant leap forward in technology and performance.
Where the Whammy excels at dramatic, almost-synth-like pitch effects, the BOSS XS series focuses on providing transparent, natural-sounding polyphonic shifts. This makes the new BOSS pedals a compelling choice for players who require precise pitch changes without compromising the integrity of their chords or tone.
The BOSS XS-100 and XS-1 Poly Shifters are a bold statement from a company that has long been at the forefront of effects technology. They are poised to become indispensable tools for modern guitarists and bassists, offering a level of control and clarity that may just make the old-school pitch shifters a thing of the past.
Price & Availability
The XS-100 costs $349.99/£299 and the XS-1 costs $199.99/£194.99
More Information
#BOSS XS-1 Poly Shifters #BOSS XS-100
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