Katana Man Pro - EatonPlan

EatonPlan

About this app

Manage your Boss Katana amplifier with ‘Katana Man’.

Main features:
- Easy navigation interface designed for studio / performance use. Amp settings can be adjusted and saved ‘on the fly’ making KatanaMan an ideal tool for the home guitarist, as well as for practice sessions, studio work, and on-stage performances.

- Supports both Series 1 and MkII amps

- Supports firmware version 4 features on Series 1 amps; firmware version 2 features on MkII amps

- Supports Bluetooth connection to the amp. (Supported adapters include : CME Uhost, and XSONIC Airstep Kat). See web site for details : https://eatonplan.tech/pages/how-to-connect-using-bluetooth

- Enable and configure all effects, delay types, reverb, boost types, EQ, system settings etc

- Use 25 different pre-amp models (included in the amp firmware, but not otherwise accessible)

- Pedal Fx support

- Solo, Contour, EQ2 etc on MkII Firmware Version2

- Bluetooth devices (eg foot switches) can be used to control the main features of the app (and thus the amp). See web site for details: https://eatonplan.tech/pages/how-can-i-use-a-bluetooth-controller

- Create, save and load tones ('patches') – in TSL format or EatonPlan proprietary (faster) – on your android device.

- Load and Save tones to physical amp channels (Tone Setting buttons)

- Unlock the full capabilities of the Series 1 amp by enabling Boost, Mod, Delay and Fx simultaneously using 'Advanced Mode' (normally the amp only allows one of Boost/Mod, and one of Delay/Fx to be active at one time).

- A connection status ‘led’ ensures that you know amp is still connected correctly. MkII Firmware Version 2 also has a Solo ‘led’ to show the Solo state.

- Set Lists of songs (pre-created outside KatanaMan) – are lists of songs in order of performance, with each song ‘linked’ to the associated patch. As each song title in the list is tapped the corresponding patch is loaded into the amp, ensuring that the correct patch is loaded for each song as you progress through your live performance. Great for live performances – especially for covers bands using different patches/tones for each song. SetLists can be created using a text editor or the KatanaSets app (recommended).

- Song Notes (created outside of KatanaMan using a text editor) can be used to display ‘memory joggers’ such as chord progression, lyrics etc.
- Suited to both the hobby/home guitarist and the performing musician.



Connection Details
KatanaMan connects to your Boss Katana guitar amplifier via a USB cable, or Bluetooth. See the web site for USB connection requirements / details:
https://eatonplan.tech/pages/how-to-connect-my-android-device

User Guide
A user guide / quick start guide is available (on-line and PDF download) from the EatonPlan web site at :
https://eatonplan.tech/support/support-katanaman-blog/katanaman-quick-start-guide

Related Apps
There are two apps which are designed to work with KatanaMan - KatanaSets for setlist management and KatanaSync for data back-up and restore.

Ratings and reviews

I am finding Katana Man Pro to be my first preference over Librarian and BTS. Its ease of use with its intuitive format (I have had only to research how to perform one task, the rest have been logical) and extra features are compelling. Access to the extra pre-amp settings broadens what is already a multitude of choice. I am looking forward to investigating the sister apps that are available. I don't often rate anything 5/5 but with nothing I've utilised in the app left wanting, I had to. Cheers

I had to many challenges trying to connect to my PC, so I gave up on that and gave this a go. It was easy to connect and navigate my way through, really glad I found this app because its given me access to everything the katana has to offer all on a phone or tablet. I would recomend this to everyone. Great Job to the devs! Thank you.

I like that this as an alternative to using a laptop. A cell phone is much easier to handle. The cell phone also has an alternate interface which is both advantageous and not advantageous. It is advantageous because it fits on the smaller screen of the phone. It is a disadvantage because the format is not a screen representation that is an exact match of the layout of the amplifier. This is not a big deal since it offers three layouts and all are pretty self explanatory. Still, I wish there was a pdf sheet on the sellers web page that would serve as an instruction manual. I think it would help sell the product. To be honest with you, this is no worse than what Boss provides with the Tone Studio. I don't remember any help files for the Tone Studio. Was the app easy to install? Yes. It requires a cable from your phone to the amplifier. I think I paid a few cents more for a cable adapter to enable the connection than I paid for the app. I haven't tested every feature, but all the ones that I have tried work. The seller provides a free version that can be used to test the cable. Should Roland / Boss have included this or a similar product with the amp? Yes. This app is better in some ways than the controls on the amp itself. The controls are not labeled as to what specific effect is selected. The phone app provides this information. This app helps beginner guitarists such as myself. You may like it too.

What’s new

Version 23.1 adds support for Android 14