New Product: BOSS RC-505 Loop Station
RC-505 Debuts at Musikmesse 2013
BOSS RC-505 Loop Station
BOSS has just introduced the RC-505 Loop Station, a new breed of looper that’s perfect for beatboxers, singers, club performers, and DJs. With its compact, tabletop design and powerful yet simple interface, the RC-505 gives you fingertip control of five simultaneous stereo loop tracks, a variety of recording and playback options, amazing real-time effects, and much more.
The RC-505: A New Concept in Loop Stations
Fueled by BOSS’ industry leading Loop Station products and annual Loop Station World Championship competitions, the live looping movement has exploded over the last few years. From the start, Loop Stations have been incredibly popular with guitarists, singer/songwriters, and multi-instrumentalists. But recently, increasing numbers of solo vocalists have been discovering the amazing potential of live looping as well. With just a microphone and a Loop Station, beatboxers and singers can perform in a highly creative and dynamic new way, using the incredible expressive range of the human voice to deliver jaw-dropping soundscapes, intense rhythmic onslaughts, and beyond.
Until now, Loop Stations have been designed mainly for floor use, so that instrumentalists and vocalists can operate them with their feet while performing. However, most vocal loopers prefer to use them at table height so they can manipulate the controls with their hands. The RC-505 is ideal for these modern performers, offering a powerful, dedicated device built for easy fingertip operation and maximum expression.
With its five simultaneous stereo loop tracks and up to three hours of recording time, the RC-505 is also well suited for DJs and club performers. Via USB, you can load up the RC-505’s tracks with WAV audio files consisting of everything from sound effects to entire songs, then trigger, mix, and manipulate them sampler-style with the front-panel controls and effects.
BOSS RC-505 Loop Station—front view
Effects, External Control, and More
Powerful INPUT FX and TRACK FX make it easy to enhance or mangle live sounds and loops as you perform, with quick-access buttons for effects selection and dedicated knobs for real-time tweaking. Multiple inputs (all available simultaneously) include an XLR mic jack with phantom power, mono/stereo instrument jacks, and a mini-jack for hooking up a smart phone or music player. 99 phrase memories allow you to save your loop creations instantly, including all five tracks plus effects and playback settings.
BOSS RC-505 Loop Station—rear panel
The RC-505 can be operated externally via optional foot switches, an expression pedal, or MIDI devices, providing extended control for vocal performers and instrumentalists. The RC-505 also functions as a USB audio/MIDI interface, so you can integrate with your favorite DAW for audio recording, MIDI sync, and more.
Learn more about the amazing RC-505 Loop Station at RolandConnect.com.
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Apr 06, 2013 @ 03:57:51
… I did not find the recording time – perhaps is way less than the RC300, that is is why it’s concealed
Apr 08, 2013 @ 09:49:04
Relax Saul, recording time is not concealed. Check out the spec sheet on our main web site: http://www.rolandus.com/products/details/1280/specs/
May 16, 2013 @ 13:15:18
I think the actual question would be how long can a loop be? 5 minutes,10, or is it just a short (a few bars) phrase sampler with 99 presets?
Jun 09, 2013 @ 10:17:22
can I have the metronome in the headphones without the loops? that’s essential in a pro situation
Jun 10, 2013 @ 14:38:56
Hi TK,
The metronome is part of the RHYTHM track and you can set the RHYTHM track to run out the main output or turn it off and only run through the headphones.
Sincerely.
Roland/BOSS Product Support
Jun 10, 2013 @ 15:40:29
Thanks so much for the reply OV Valle !!!
I guess my REAL question is: Can I turn off the loops in the headphones while still hearing them in the main outputs?
Removing the loops from the headphones so that only the rhythm is left, as per your description, is an essential feature for us pro loopers… not much to ask really. Can it be done?
Everything else looks splendid !!!!
thanks ; )
Jun 11, 2013 @ 16:43:26
Hi TK, I submitted your question to our help desk. Waiting on their reply, here’s the link should you need faster service. https://rolandus.zendesk.com
Jun 11, 2013 @ 12:37:13
I guess I asked the wrong question. Can I have the loop tracks playing through the main outs and NOT in the phones? I want the rhythm in the headphones alone… possible? I’m relaxed, by the way… hahaha
Jun 11, 2013 @ 17:22:45
Travis here…. You can assign the Rhythm Guide to come out of the phones output only if desired, however you can’t assign or specify the tracks (1-5) to come out of just the phones output. The tracks always play out of the main and phones outputs.
Hope that helps.
T.
Kind regards,
Roland Product Support
Talk us directly: https://rolandus.zendesk.com/
Jun 11, 2013 @ 17:41:50
Hi OV and Travis,
thanks for answering.
I hope there’s a future software update to address this shortcoming. It is simply not pragmatic to have the tracks playing through the headphones in some situations, like when you want to send the metronome to a drummer. We need control over at least the volume of the loops in the headphones relative to the metronome, so we can get the click loud enough for the drummer to follow… the way it is now I would have to boost the click way up and the loops get louder with it… no good see?
I’ve been using the RC-50 in an improv situation like this in NYC weekly for 7 years. I have a lot of experience with this problem. Everything else about this box seems so spot on, I hope this gets fixed asap!!
thanks!
Apr 08, 2013 @ 13:19:52
BPM metronome?
Apr 09, 2013 @ 10:10:34
Will it be possible to use a 10-pedal MIDI foot controller to control all five channels (one each for stop and record)? Also, does it carry over the Fade Out method of stopping from the RC 300?
Apr 22, 2013 @ 14:26:51
Is it possible to let the looppoints be quantized to say, incoming midiclock? So that the unit is always in sync with outboard gear? I need the RC505 to be slaved to midiclock… Hope the question make any sense.
May 11, 2013 @ 14:59:46
“USB for phrase import/export with computers; USB audio/MIDI functionality for integration with DAW software” – from the product webpage at Roland
yes your question makes sense – it seems like that would be a definite at the $600 price range. If it was <$400 I would be less inclined to believe it had any MIDI compatibility
May 11, 2013 @ 15:00:31
… I mean, it DOES have MIDI in/out, so…
Apr 27, 2013 @ 12:03:52
where I can buy it? I can not find info on where to buy it?
Apr 28, 2013 @ 10:49:25
where can i purchase a rc 505 and how much is this looper???
May 28, 2013 @ 16:14:02
$499 officially released in us in June 30.