Boss Slicer SL-2

From the SL-20 to the SL-2: The Slicer Spirit, Pedalboard Version

The SL-2 takes up the cult concept at BOSS: "slicing" the signal into rhythmic slices to create an instant pulse, as if your guitar, synth, or loop became a groove instrument in its own right. Designed as a modern evolution of the SL-20, it retains the Slicer DNA while adopting a compact BOSS format, easier to integrate on a pedalboard and faster to use on stage.

Thanks to current digital processing, the SL-2 offers single or dual Slicer paths, enriched with internal filters and effects. The result: more lively, denser, and more varied patterns, with a real sense of movement, especially spectacular when switching to stereo.

A Pedal for Groove Creators: Guitar, Keyboards, Loops, DJs, and Beatmaking

The BOSS SL-2 is aimed at anyone who wants to add a rhythmic dimension to their sound without programming for hours. For a guitarist, it's an idea accelerator: chopped riffs in electro-rock style, syncopated arpeggios, pulsed ambient textures, or tremolo perfectly locked to the tempo. For a keyboardist, it transforms pads and chords into percussive sequences, ideal for pop, synthwave, techno, house, or soundtrack music.

In the studio, it serves both to generate precise patterns and to create controlled accidents (Random modes and stereo processing) to thicken an arrangement. Live, the Tap Tempo and memories allow quick switching between patterns, with reliable sync to a drum machine or MIDI setup.

Controls, Memories, Stereo, and Sync: An SL-2 Designed to Play, Not Just Program

The SL-2's ergonomics are designed to sculpt the pattern in real time. The Attack and Duty settings are at the heart of the feel: Attack adjusts the attack of each "slice" (from very sharp to softer), while Duty sets the slice length (short, percussive pulses or longer, musical blocks). The Tempo control allows locking the pulse, and the footswitch gives access to Tap Tempo for ear synchronization on the fly.

Navigation via TYPE and VARIATION provides access to pattern families and their variations, while Balance manages the blend between dry and effect sound. The overall effect level has a range of +/-12 dB, handy for maintaining consistent volume when switching from a dry sound to a heavily sliced pattern. For further customization, the USB connection to BOSS Tone Studio lets you listen to, load, and organize additional patterns, and optimize your memories per song.

Regarding integration, the SL-2 supports mono or stereo configurations, with stereo output modes ranging from simple double-mono (Fixed) to animated panning (Ping-Pong, Auto) and spatial treatments (3D Cross, 3D Rotation). It also features a MIDI IN stereo mini-jack (TRS) input for clock sync and Control Change reception, and a CTL/EXP jack to add two footswitches or an expression pedal depending on your playing style.

Sound

The SL-2 does not "color" your sound like an overdrive or fuzz: it structures it. The result strongly depends on your attack, playing dynamics, and the Attack/Duty settings. With a guitar on clean tones, you get sharp, punchy, and precise grooves, perfect for modern rhythms. With distorted sounds, the slices become thicker and more aggressive, ideal for mechanical riffs or industrial atmospheres.

In stereo, the pedal takes on another dimension: the sensation of space and movement becomes part of the groove as much as an effect. Random and 3D modes bring a "living" and surprising impression, while EFX/Direct is excellent for separating a dry sound from a processed one (for example, sending to two amps or two interface inputs) and keeping a clear mix.

Technical specifications

Effects	Tremolo	Type	sector
Technology	Digital	Use	electric guitar
Format	Pedal	Color	Green

Sampling rate	48 kHz	Recommended load impedance (OUTPUT A (MONO), OUTPUT B)	10 kohm or higher
A/D conversion	24 bits + AF method (Adaptive Focus method)	Reference	0 dBu \= 0.775 Vrms
D/A conversion	32 bits	Bypass	buffered
Number of models	88	Knobs / controls	TYPE, VARIATION, ATTACK, DUTY, TEMPO, BALANCE
Overall effect level	+/-12 dB	Footswitch	yes
Stereo output modes	Fixed, EFX/Direct, Random, Ping-Pong, Auto, 3D Cross, 3D Rotation	CHECK indicator	tempo and battery check
Nominal input level (INPUT A (MONO), INPUT B)	-20 dBu	Inputs	INPUT A (MONO), INPUT B via 6.35 mm jack
Maximum input level (INPUT A (MONO), INPUT B)	+7 dBu	Outputs	OUTPUT A (MONO), OUTPUT B via 6.35 mm jack
Input impedance (INPUT A (MONO), INPUT B)	1 Mohm	CTL/EXP	6.35 mm TRS jack
Nominal output level (OUTPUT A (MONO), OUTPUT B)	-20 dBu	Power connector	DC IN
Maximum output level (OUTPUT A (MONO), OUTPUT B)	+7 dBu	MIDI IN	stereo mini-jack (TRS)
Output impedance (OUTPUT A (MONO), OUTPUT B)	1 kohm	USB	USB B