BOSS announces the XS-100 and XS-1 Poly Shifter products, two advanced pitch-shifting effects for guitar, bass, and other instruments. The XS-100 is a pitch-shifting workstation with a massive eight-octave range, real-time pitch control via an onboard pedal and footswitches, and versatile connectivity to interface with other gear. The XS-1 distills the core XS-100 features into the famous BOSS compact pedal format, providing instant drop tunings, capo simulations, octave effects, and linear pitch control with an optional expression pedal.

In developing the XS series, BOSS engineers pioneered new methods to advance real-time pitch shifting and eliminate the tonal artifacts common in conventional designs. Powered by finely tuned algorithms and a specially selected DSP platform, the XS series provides balanced polyphonic performance that feels natural and musical across all playing styles, pickup positions, and pedal setups. The attack and tonal character are fully preserved, and even complex chords and sustained lead tones—typically a challenge for pitch shifters—are reproduced with stunning clarity.