Boss ES-8 - Expression Control w/o Expression Pedal

[@bohansen640]

Thanks for your great guides. Is it possible, to use an expression pedal with toe switch?

[@johnmatta2061]

thanks man!

[@chewbacca9188]

Thanks for all your ES-8 related videos - they have helped me through this aweful Boss manual. I’m wondering if you could also just send a MIDI CC 100 to the Strymon Timeline to do the same thing via midi instead of having to use the additional TRS cable - it should be equivalent to using a real expressionpedal through the exp input jack. I found that in the manual after watching this video - so I don’t know if it works yet.

[@ManBunMetalHead]

You could definitely do that with a CC, but I don't think you can do a momentary switch via assign.

[@Darkitectband]

Hey sorry in advance for what I'm about to ask being off topic and all but you're the most knowledgeable dude I've seen regarding the ES8 so figured I'd see if you've heard of this before but yeah, after owning the ES8 for like 7 months, I finally got my actual pedalboard and power supply and built my dream board. Well, that's when I noticed that not only do loops 7 & 8 not work, they mute the sound when engaged, even with nothing hooked to them? My dude at Sweetwater had never heard of this issue but said it was still under warranty, which would entail me shipping it back to them so they could repair it, which sucks cause I bought it new and it never even got put in the floor, stayed on my coffee table with just loops 1-3 being used for those first 7 months. I've done the firmware update and have successfully used the desktop editor to create patches but I have a shitload of pedals so not having those two loops (stereo ones no less) not working is a total buzzkill. Don't wanna live without my ES8 indefinitely while it gets repaired so I still haven't shipped it back. Ever heard anything like this before? Thanks in advance for any info you may have.

[@ManBunMetalHead]

First of all, I'd use the ES-8 editor, that might make issues obvious. I'd try making sure you're using only the left/mono input for each loop, definitely not the right if you're in mono mode for the loops. Try switching between mono and stereo modes for the loops (in the preference menus) to see if anything changes. If you've tried those things, and nothing is working, time to troubleshoot. Here's how it would approach it. 1. Test output - connect guitar to ES-8, connect output of either loop (7 or 8) to input of guitar amp (make sure to enable loop). Check if you have a signal. If you do, the loop output works. 2. Test inputs - connect patch cable from loop output to loop input (L or R). Connect ES-8 output to amp input. Check for signal. If you don't have a signal, move patch cable to the other output. From there, I'm not sure what the issue could be. You might want to try a factory reset before you send it out for repair. Good luck.

[@Darkitectband]

Yeah the first thing I did was a factory reset but I haven't tried the rest of what you said to do so I'll try that and hope for the best. Thanks for the reply, dude!

[@calebader6695]

Do you know if I can use a trs insert cable from an exp out on the es8 to one of the loops to use like a volume pedal? Does the exp out pass through signal like a regular expression pedal would? I use a volume pedal after my first gain stage, and would like to be able to switch the level per patch.

[@Neurospicy1987]

Hi there, love the ES-8 videos! I've been trying without success to apply this principle to the Boss RT-20 rotary simulator, to toggle between fast and slow rotor speed. I did check in with Roland support, and they said that because RT-20 only responds to CV commands, the ES-8 can't control it. Is this true? Curious to hear you input on this. Thank you in advance!

[@Wickedsensations2001]

Cool

[@joaomiguelramos18]

Hi, great video! It is possible to use this with other pedals? Can i Control a expression imput of a pedal with a switch of es8 ? For exemple ehx pitch fork?

[@ManBunMetalHead]

Thanks! Should work with any pedal that has expression control.

[@Kevngodfrey]

Just curious but can you program the exp to control one of the ctrl out to work other pedals that do expression?

[@anthonyharris9485]

Can I use a expression pedal to control the volume on the es 8

[@ManBunMetalHead]

As far as I can tell, no. You'd need to have another pedal with volume expression capability to do so. I've thought about trying the BOSS FV-500 because it is a volume and expression pedal, but haven't gotten my hands on one.