the tone knobs can be used to further drive and color the power amp saturation, and 3. Of course, you can tweak those numbers to maintain the feel you want.īTW, it might also be worth experimenting with using Katanas more like a traditional amp (although I think this usage was unintended): with Gain at 0, crank both Volume and Master, add enough clean boost with the Send/Return trick or an EQ after the COSM amp to drive the physical power amp into as much saturation as you want, then increase the Gain knob if you want some additional COSM amp distortion in the front of the signal chain. For instance, if you're on 100W and you find yourself needing to turn the Master to below 50%, instead set Power Control to 50W and then find where *above* 50% Master should be. When playing, use Power Control to keep the Master between 12:00 (50%) and all the way (100%) while tweaking stage volume. If you inserted a clean boost in the step above, some of these other presets may also need a clean boost to match the loudness.ħ. Go through each of the other, louder presets and set their Volume knob so that their loudness matches the new loudness of the quietest one you just set above. If you didn't test a solo boost and feel like you want more power amp feel even with Volume at 100, try adding a clean boost after the COSM amp using the Send/Return trick or inserting an EQ.Ħ. Play again to test if the non-boosted version has *enough* power amp feel for what you want. Staying on that quietest preset, turn off any solo boost you may have just tested. the feel starts to feel too saggy), turn down the Volume until it sounds and feels the way you want it to.ĥ. If it seems like too much power amp saturation (i.e. Take your quietest preset, apply any solo boost you might add to it and play. Switching between presets, figure out which is your quietest one.Ĥ. At whichever Power Control level you want, set Master to 3:00 (~75%).ģ. Set up your presets using the Gain and tone controls to get as close to the sound you want and set all their Volumes to 100.Ģ. One potential approach to setting the knobs when following what I think is the Katana's regular, intended usage:ġ.
Recently saw this video with a good demonstration of the power amp *feel* I'm talking about (most relevant stuff is from 3:04-5:15): The two working together attempt to replicate the whole experience of playing the original/BOSS amp: sound and feel. the characteristic distortion/clipping of their preamp and power amp sections), and the Katana's physical analog power amp makes the *feel* of a tube amp's power section at different stages of being driven. Given my findings so far, my current theory is that the Katanas were designed to be used like this: COSM amp models make the *sound* of the original/BOSS-created amps at different stages of being driven (i.e. Scientific method FTW! Further edit: In fact, I just went back and deleted the whole thing! I'll revise and post again. Further testing showed I got some things wrong initially. BTW, I updated some of the information in my first reply.