BOSS Rc-505 Loop Station

Product Information

For users that like to use Rhythms to support their performances, the RC-505MKII has an all-new Rhythm Section. You’ll find 200 patterns, each with A/B/C/D variations and 16 brand new drum kit sounds covering a wide range of musical genres. But that being said, if you’re hands are your primary looping apparatus, then we’d say you can’t really go wrong with the Boss RC 505 MK2. Reason being that, when you look at it, all Roland have really done is make the winning formula even better!! So much so that if you’re in the market for a looper, you’ll struggle to find anything that offers as much functionality for the price. And yes, it’s not perfect. It’s slightly heavier than the MK1 and boast the same in terms of phase memory. However, that doesn’t stop it from being the best tabletop loop station you can get your hands on. Consider that the MK1 was pretty much the market leader in this segment anyway, and yep – the MK2 has (if you ask us) stolen the crown. However, notice we said the best ‘tabletop’ looper. Boss has also expanded the Effects Section, meaning you can add character to your performances and stand out from the crowd. Find out how global superstar Ariana Grande uses the BOSS RC-505 in her new Vevo video series and learn about her looping history. Read more… Loop Station

When writing with the RC-505, the possibilities are virtually endless. Learn how to wield the Loop Station to supercharge your songcraft. Read more… The Definitive Guide to Tabletop Loopers You can easily run vocals, a guitar, a bass, a keyboard and use another mic for experimentation, at the same time. Plus, to further optimise each instrument connected to the Loop Station can be adjusted with the Input EQ. The RC-505MKII can handle it all! In comparison to the MK1, the RC 505 MK2 comes with a whole host more input and output effects. The MK2 gives you A-D for both in & out, while the MK1 gave you just A-C. You can also specify on which inputs these effects are added too. Another nice touch!The Boss RC-505 Loop Station is designed from the ground up with the vocalist in mind. The Boss RC Loopstations have been really popular with beatboxers and singers but they wanted to control it with their hands not their feet.

From the start, the BOSS RC series blazed the looping trail. Learn how the RC-505mkII Loop Station is blowing sonic possibilities wide open. Read more… Shooting From the Lip: A Brief History of Beatboxing With all this additional control and assignability, you may worry that it’d be hard to use, but you couldn’t be more wrong. A slightly more controversial difference here. With the MK1, there was an SD card slot, allowing you to expand the level of storage. Whereas with the MK2, this has been rather cleverly gotten rid of. A slight disappointment considering the severe jump in overall recording time.

The Boss of tabletop loopers receives an upgrade after eight years at the top. We explore the latest station

However, with the launch of the MK2, we’d be tempted to sway the other way. Now don’t get us wrong, the original 505 is an absolutely stellar looper. For most (especially beginners) it will ‘suffice’ in majority of situations. But you see that’s the thing. Where the MK1 will suffice, the MK2 excels, giving you more in the way of, well – virtually everything! New targets for external foot control, ideal for musicians who play guitar, keyboards, and other instruments A total of 16 user Assignments are offered. The sources include the panel buttons, plus pedals or incoming MIDI CCs. Assignments can be a bit daunting to set up (and to remember), but the workflow rewards are worth the effort. Some user configuration is possible for the encoders, too: for instance, you can allocate duties such as memory selection, switching display modes, controlling the rhythm variation and level, and so on. For optimal performance, stay up to date with the current RC-505mkII system software and BOSS Tone Studio

The Boss RC 505 MKII features a whopping 99 phase memories, which are all accessible via USB. This means that you can record specific loops to certain slots and then with a simple USB connection, import these into your DAW, independently or as one. Nice flexibility to have! The RC-505 can be moulded to suit your performing style, rather than the other way round. The real-time controls can be customised to suit the way you like to loop. You can specify up to eight different functions and operate them in a variety of ways—with front-panel controls, an external expression pedal or foot switches, and/or various MIDI Control Change messages—extending your command of looping and many other operations. The eight control assignments are handily stored with phrase memories, allowing you to create and recall custom setups for different songs and performing situations. While the first model featured two ‘proper knobs’ for microphone and instrument levels, these functions are now found in menus and under encoder control. It’s not an ideal swap but is understandable, given there are now a total of six inputs — two for XLR microphones (with phantom power), plus two pairs of inputs for synths, mixer sends, and so on. On stage these might even eliminate the need for a mixer. In general, the I/O really delivers — joining the main stereo and phones outputs are two assignable stereo subs. EQ is provided for inputs and outputs, with a compressor available to each microphone. If that isn’t enough, an optional final glue in the form of a master reverb and compressor can be assigned to the main or either sub output. Yes – the Boss RC 505 looper also functions as an audio interface, as well as a looperboard! All of which means it’s super easy to integrate with your laptop or PC. To show you just how easy this is, here’s a step by step guide of what to do…

Rating

It’s a loop station that (we think) improves on a winning formula. Call it the rightful successor to the original, which when it was released over 8 years ago, made the art of looping so much more accessible. In which case, with the RC 505 now receiving its long awaited facelift – what’s changed? As well as the above effects, you can use functions like Half-speed and Double speed. These functions are separated from the FX sections! Get your hands on an RC 505 MK2 and you’ll also find that it comes with real-time time-stretch. A feature that allows you to change the tempo of the audio (in real-time) without changing its pitch. Very clever! The RC-505 can be moulded to suit your performing style, rather than the other way round. The real-time controls can be customised to suit the way you like to loop. You can specify up to eight different functions and operate them in a variety of ways-with front-panel controls, an external expression pedal or foot switches, and/or various MIDI Control Change messages-extending your command of looping and many other operations. The eight control assignments are handily stored with phrase memories, allowing you to create and recall custom setups for different songs and performing situations. Assign functions have been increased from 8 to 16, providing expanded performance control via the front panel, external footswitches, expression pedal, and MIDI