BOSS RC-500 Dual-Track Loop Station – Advanced two-track looper with premium sound quality, Loop FX, 99 phrase memories, 57 rhythms, and MIDI control support

Product Information

The LC display has a coloured backlight switching colours in accordance with the current mode of the device. A stereo looper engine is combined with 13 hours of recording time, while a multi-colour backlit LCD allows you to view your loop status and edit parameters.

The fact that there are better options for live looping musicians shouldn’t distract from what the pedal can do. While Boss is looking to maintain the impressive level of functionality of the RC-30, they’re obviously focusing more on user-friendliness. While this was a welcome feature at the time, the drum tracks got old and did not exactly inspire creativity. I’d also suggest, for live performance, you might be better looking towards the larger Boss RC-600 which offers more in the way of inputs and connectivity but will come with a steeper learning curve.

The intuitive LCD backlight changes colour to clearly show the current operation mode, while tactile track faders and a mic level knob provide direct access to volume control as you loop. Andertons Music Company acts as a credit broker and not a lender and only offers credit products from Secure Trust Bank PLC trading as V12 Retail Finance.

Additional effects processors can be added to the audio chain to further enhance the recorded loops. Featuring class leading 32-bit AD/DA and 32-bit floating-point processing, the RC-500 captures your personal sound with full fidelity and keeps loops crystal clear, even with multiple overdubs. Also, if Tempo Sync is disabled, the recorded loop plays at random intervals, when the unit feels like it.Boss's advice is to disable Tempo Sync feature, which defeats the purpose of having a MIDI In, Clock Sync port. And class-leading sound quality ensures that you not only hear your music back, but hear it in crystal-clear detail, too. Each of the 57 preset rhythms include A/B variations, while 16 different drum kits provide sounds to match any musical style.

So, this device offers you a very high degree of customisability on many levels but especially in interaction with external foot switches and MIDI devices, which we will get to in a moment. Next to the display, there are two sliders on the top side of the RC-500 to adjust the volume of the two tracks. If it is deemed that the repair is required due to any of the areas covered, Rimmers Music will pay for the expert and the subsequent repair or replacement. As always BOSS makes quality gear that is fairly easy to use once you understand how BOSS lays its pedals out.

And with WAV import via BOSS 'Tone Studio', the RC-500 becomes a central playback hub for lesson material, jam tracks, or backing music for your next gig. Musicians can become a one-person band using a looper, showcasing the whole process from the small fragment of the initial idea all the way up to the full presentation; the audience can hear and appreciate all the layers that go into creating a soundscape. it just does everything besides the drum beat (if you have a beat coming from the pedal, if not that too). In my case, I've tried multiple devices as MIDI clock sources but the Boss RC 500 does not play along as a slave device. The RC-500’s colour LCD screen displays the status of the main parameters, which can then be easily adjusted.