Boss RC-50 Loop Station

So yes... it gets complicated after 20 minutes, but that's only because there are a ton of options.

Look people, this is bottom line, the best looper on the market. Do you know how much money KT Tunstill has made off of "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree?" She used an Akai E2 Headrush which is a child compared to this monster...

Taking into account all the problems that everybody mentions here, I would probably give it a 6, BUT, and thats a big but... After learning how to use this machine, you'll know how to use all of Boss's pedals. Thats a pretty worthwhile skill to have, because most people starting out should be useing Boss pedals. There simply is no other option.


And 'whatever' to the manuel being too hard to read. The manual constantly repeats itself and you can't blame the manual for not having the skills to use the equiptment.

I use the reverse function all the time. The reverse starts after you've completed your loop, and normaly I would say 'Lame' but the fact that the audience can see you playing a solo, and the hit the pedal, and walk away from your gear as everything is played in reverse, makes up for this fact. If you don't get laid after playing this out live... you just simply need to stay home and practice more. My girfriend cost me 2 grand a month, while this thing only costs 500 bucks and a few cups of coffee.

Some on board effects would be nice. The guide is the worst guide I've ever heard. The samples are lame, the choices are lame, there are no options, and it took me 1 year to figure out how to get rid of the guide. You have to direct to an output that your not using. So if your playing live using your 2 main outputs, put the guide out to your suboutputs and the stupid thing will go away.

I read the manual everyweek, at least 3 times a week in the sauna before I work out. I kid you not, I just figured this out.

The first show that I had, it crashed. I was tried in vain to get it to work while my cheesy back up singer kept asking me what was going on. The bar owner started yelling at me and the crowd started to yell... 'Boo....'

I collected my gear, ran out through the kitchen, and thought I was going to get beat up. I'm not even kidding.

I'm still gigging with her, but that night was the worst performance night of my life. Total Technical Meldown. Thanks Boss. Thanks Roland.

But... alas.. I love my RC-50, and I would be crushed if she left me for good.

I work next to ROLANDs call center. Their employees eat at the same food court I eat at for lunch. I go to the salad line. They go to the greasy burger line. I order juice. They order chilli-cheese fries.

Customer Support for Roland is fat blonde women who drive Daewoo cars. Do you know who Daewoo is? Thats Korea's car company. They are undoubtably the worst car company in the world. Rolands support center is all fat, dumb blonde women lame enough to purchase the worst cars in the world.

The only reason why they get a three is because they have a lot of phone numbers. I know that the peole on the other end are all air-heads, but the illusion of customer support some how does it for me.

I'm a straight forward acoustic looper. This is the best product on the market for looping. If you want something better, then you have to use Ableton Live. Thats computer based, and I don't swing like that.

I've been playing for 10 years, and I only use Boss Gear, except for my vocals, which I use a Digitech Vocal Live 4. Dont' laugh at me you stupid techy's. If you tweak your Digi-tech gear, its easier on stage than your fancy TC Helicon Corvette vocal processors.

If my RC-50 were lost or stolen I would buy another one that night. I would post flyer around the neighborhood with her picture on it saying 'have you seen me' and I'd offer a reward of 1 thousand dollars.

I bet none of these lamo's who gave her bad reviews even realize that they can make loops on their computer, and then import the beats into her.

What do I love about her? Well, I like the way she looks at me across the dinner table. Sure, we fight sometimes, and sometimes she just can't stop repeating herself over and over again. I hate having to turn the power off to cool her down, but I love her.

I don't compare this to any product cause all the other loop products suck. The only thing that is better are computer based products. The industry is going that way, but for pro-audiophiles like myself.... RC-50 is the best.

Dending how familiar you are with gear of this nature (and manuals in general), It is fairly easy. You can miss minute cursory details if you go too quickly. s an example, I always edit loop;s at highest bitrate/sample rate to try and compensate for what I perceive to digital audio deficiencies. The RD50 only accepts 44.1khz/16 bit samples period. That cost me one day of headscratching, swearing, etc etc. Fortunately, the guys at tech support were unbelievably patient and competent in solving my boneheaded mistake. Kudos!!

As goes digital in 44.1khz/16bit, all you could expect.

Been great so far, have used GR33's for years. Reliability should be just as good....

see #1

Nothing out there is as complete a package. There are loopers with more features (The Oberheim/Gibson looper comes to mind as I had 1), but none as compact and powerful in this price range. Had an akai headrush and a jamman before, but this jusyt has too many bells and whistles for them to compete.

PETER'S REVIEW ADDENDUM:

I just returned this thing. it's really tiresome to use when playing with an actual drummer. it seems much happier when utilizing the internal loops. it's just such a pain to create perfect loops in a live setting. (my bassist had less of a problem with it, but he plays extremely repetitive parts that sound kinda like loops anyhow). also, whenever i hook it up to my pc(windows xp), it crashes it when i go to disconnect.

one thing to keep in mind is that your amp will start muddying things up pretty quickly- again, this wasn't an issue at practice volumes, but it quickly became a nightmare when looping various overdriven textures. i'd have the loops go out to second amp if i were seriously considering trying to use it live. again, because his bass tone is pretty clean, this was less of an issue for bass.

again, the issue is, can i rely on this thing to give me a proper loop without being stuck following its metronome?

the boomerang probably makes more sense for a guitar player in a live setting. it's much simpler and you can get at everything with your feet.

btw, i tried the jam-man just now, hoping it would be better. it's noisy and it eats tone. and it's even worse at doing loops in proper time without the metronome.

This thing had me cursing like a truck driver the first 20 minutes. I tried using the quick start section of the manual, but between the Rolandese explanations and my utter impatience, i found myself just kicking the poor thing. I jumped ahead to the meat of the manual, and things started coming together. It's actually really simple to operate and get great results from, once you get the hang of it. i'd love for the record button to record so long as i'm holding it down, and then stop when i lift my foot. it took a bit of time to get used to switching it on and then off, but i guess it'll become second nature. the loops are helpful and sound pretty good, too.

changing tempo on already recorded phrases gets hilarious results- i was hoping it would be useful in live situations, e.g., if the drummer slips off beat. even the minutest changes made everything sound pretty weird. hopefully they'll do a software revision.

it's getting a 6 because it's difficult to operate without the manual.

the sound quality is pristine until you start doing a bunch of overdubs. i started with an old tape echoplex, which provides for stacking. this is way cleaner than an echoplex, and the degeneration sounds pretty cool anyway. the built-in loops are pretty cheesy-sounding, as they should be. forces one to get off one's ass and make some good loops!

i got it to screw up. i was pressing all sorts of stuff just to see if i could crash the thing, and i succeeded. ah, digital.... i crached the line 6 delay during a store demo awhile back, and the damned thing wouldn't pass audio until it was reset- i passed up on it, not stageworthy. the rc-50 was more kindly, and didn't mess with the straight signal- only the loops died.

i'm not entering a reliability rating because i just purchased it. let's see what happens to it on the road- i'm already considering wrapping it in plastic so that an accidentally spilled drink won't fry it.

the fact that it's upgradeable via usb means there's already some decent customer support going on.

I play in a loud 3 piece- our new record's got lots of overdubs, so something like this became a necessity. I was looking at the Boomerang, but I didn't like the fact that it has no stored memory. I'm annoyed that the tempo function is basically useless, unless I want to go Sun Ra on everyone. I'm also disappointed that there's no provision for adding internal memory.

Other than the aforementioned grievances, this thing does what it's supposed to do, and it does it well.

Read the manual and try it many ways. It will prove itself worthy of the stage.

It is cd quality. I run multi instruments through a mixer and rack THEN send the processed and taylored signal, in stereo, to the looper. Sounds fantastic once you match the playback level with the input level. Seemless.

Never failed. Nor has any of my Roland/Boss gear. Some is early 80's and still pumping.

Rock. Good match for a three piece. Helps to know some music theory. at it 20+ years. would replace if lost/stolen.

I use this for a three piece band. I generally loop the simple riffs, add a little percussion...etc. Makes the drummer work harder to stay right in tempo. Watch for phase cancellation when using with a mic.

It takes some time to learn, but, once you learn its concepts and limitations, I found it easy to use.

Sound quality is very good...but bear in mind that all samples will be compressed somewhat...so it won't produce a mirror image of the original sample, but close enough for live performance, and not bad for recording either.

Have had no reliability issues. It seems well-built...mostly metal. I've been banging it around on a huge pedalboard for over a year...no problems.

Have not dealt with Roland tech support

I've read many of the reviews on this site, and felt the need to respond.

I use the Loop Station in a rock duo. I provide all the instrumental backing, using an Ovation acoustic/electric guitar through a Zoom multi-effects acoustic processor, the Loop Station, and a Boss Digital Delay. I use the Loop Station's drum accompaniment on 85% of the songs.

MANY, MANY of the comments here are due to user error...sorry, folks, but you haven't fully learned how this unit operates. Having two or three different samples of different lengths on the three pedals, all synced to the beat of the song? YES...it does that. 1/4 second dropout the first time it plays back the loop you've just recorded? Yes, it does that, but you can make it so it doesn't with the software update available on Roland's Web site. Play Phrase A continuously until you press Phrase B pedal at a random point WITHOUT the machine starting the Phrase B riff right away? Yes, it does that...IN BEAT...you just have to set the pedals correctly.

I do ALL of these things with NO PROBLEMS.

Here's what it does, and does well: you can record and loop up to three samples simultaneously. You can OVERDUB those samples with additional parts. The samples can be DIFFERENT LENGTHS (see below for limitations). It CAN determine the tempo FROM THE SAMPLES and then SYNC the sample to that tempo, so it loops ON BEAT. It will SYNC via MIDI to other devices (but it needs to be the MASTER). You can STOP all samples SIMULTANEOUSLY with the optional footswitch. You can turn the drums on and off (without stopping the samples from playing) with another optional footswitch. You can route the output of the drums to a different jack, so the samples come out of one jack and the drums come out of another. You can upload samples from your computer directly to the Loop Station, and also back up the Loop Station data to computer. You can erase and rerecord ON THE FLY, using your feet.

Here's what it DOESN'T DO:
- you can't record a sample, and then change the tempo and expect the Loop Station to adjust your sample accordingly. The manual says it CAN, but it sounds like ****, so basically it CAN'T.
- it TAKES A SECOND to replay your sample...when you record a sample, then hit the pedal to play it back IMMEDIATELY, there's a MUTE of a few milliseconds (NOT a DELAY, but a MUTE). So play OVER IT for half a beat and it's fine. The software upgrade available on Roland's site can remove this issue...if you play on beat.
- you CANNOT easily and quickly choose a different PATCH during a song...if you want to change drum beats, for instance, you have to hold down a pedal for two seconds, press another pedal to go to the next patch, then press it again. And the drums will stop while you do this. Not something you can do during a song....unless that delay is acceptable. You certainly can't do it on-beat.
- if you want to make samples of DIFFERENT LENGTHS, then you can't play them SIMULTANEOUSLY (actually you CAN, but it won't sound good - trust me). For example, if you record one sample that's 4 bars (like an intro), then a second sample that's 8 bars (like the verse), you'd want to play the intro first and the verse second, right? So that's the best way to use samples of different lengths. And the Loop Station can be configured to do this....you can start the Intro, then press the second pedal (Verse) any time before the Intro ends, and it will seamlessly play the Verse, in beat, when the Intro ends.

This device has REVOLUTIONIZED our live act - we sound like a full band when there's only two of us. We play over 100 gigs a year....

So, in conclusion, this is a VERY GOOD device, but you have to LEARN IT. And it would be REAL NICE if the reviewers took some of that responsibility, instead of blaming everything on Roland. We call that "User Error" in the PC world. LEARN HOW THE THING WORKS BEFORE YOU ASSUME THAT IT DOESN'T.

Wow,at the other reviews that are low for this,sounds like "I wanted a 2000 dollar recording machine for 500 bucks,so it gets a bad review.This machine is so easy to use it's almost just common sense.I haven't had any problems like the other people here.The manual is straight to the point.I have the upgraded version,so maybe that is why I'm not getting the glitches,a Boss tech told me any problems it may have had were adressed.This is a looping dream!

I use a DD3 and an MT2 for soaring leads,there is NO noise,the drum loops are above par compared to many devices with drum machines.The playback quality is just what the manual states,nice clean CD quality!The sound quality through my Mesa Mark III is everything I'd hoped for.

The band is using two of these live in small clubs,basically the band is me and a bass player right now,we loop rhythm/drum patches for each song.This thing is built well and hasn't given us a problem onstage in the small venues we play.

Excellent,every question answered,call back was prompt.

I play anything from blues funk to metal and have been playing for 3 years,I owna Mesa MarkIII,a JCM 800 412 cab loaded with 75's.There isn't much I don't like about it at the price I paid,I could have spent well over 1500 bucks on a recorder,drum machine and interfaces to get the same use from the RC50.I do wish it had a removeable flash card,this machine has made my playing jump to a new level.Don't listen to dire reviews,go try this one out,sit down and go through the manual.

It's tough to learn how to use but a couple of hours should get you going fine.

It has some major bugs. See my additional information.

There is a bug that makes it unusable in a live siutation. See my additional comments

I called Boss got them to confirm the problem but I don't xpect a solution any time soon. The unit is going back to the store.

I purchased this unit a week ago and noticed the same problem many others have discovered. When you first complete the recording of the second and third phrases playback can be warped. The RC-50 seems to be trying to match loop tempos even though tempo sync is turned off. If you stop playback and immediately start again it plays back the loop correctly. If you undo the phrase and re-record it will play back correctly as well. Unfortunately, this makes this thing impossible to perform with. I called Boss and worked with a tech guy for 30 minutes. He was able to re-produce the problem on his end. I was told they would try and find a work around and they will call me back. I don???t expect to hear form them. I've read all the user reviews on the major online store sites and one guy mentioned the same problem. He also confirmed the bug with Boss and was told it's being addressed. That was 3 months ago and the guy I talked with had no idea about it. So it looks like it may not get fixed for a while. There is definitely a bug in the software. Unfortunately I could not find a work around and the problem is unpredictable. There is no way I can do a performance with the RC-50 until the problem is worked out.

Users who are only using the guide beats to record loops against may not have run into this problem yet. With the tempo sync and guide enabled the unit handles loops correctly. If you turn off the guide, disable tempo sync for each phrases and have the phrase change mode set to loop end you will deal with this glitch. If you record ??? undo and re-record you may get to behave for a while. But eventually it will glitch again.

I don???t always want to play along with the guide. I want to have complete freedom from any tempo sync and record and playback the loops exactly as I play them. I???m very disappointed in device because of the software problems and I???m going to return it. If there is a fix released at some point then I will purchase it again but for now I???d rather have my $500.00 back while Boss figures out what the problem is.

Aside from the show stopping play back problem I feel this device is the coolest looper available. The guide beats are a nice addition and I can import any stereo loop form my computer to perform with. The output options are top notch. Being able to output the guide separately from the loops I record is an excellent feature.

I caution anyone thinking of buying the RC-50. It???s has some problems right now and it might be best to wait for a fix.

Firmware Version 101 (Latest download from Roland Site)
No issue with the complexity of use.. read the manual and spend some time with it.

Major issue... can't believe that no one has remarked on it thus far in any of the submissions below... I use this unit in a one shot mode (ala Boomerang) and the problem is that if I record in say a four bar guitar rhythm phrase, each time I try to restart that phrase so I can solo over it , it will not restart... to be precise it will restart the first time with the famed 1/4 second drop out described in previous reviews , I dont have a problem with that, however the next time I restart the phrase precisely at the end of the 4th bar(start of the 1st bar again) it wont restart!!... If I hit the rec/Play/overdub button before the phrase ends or after the phrase has finished it starts no problem... only when I want to start it precisely at the end of the last bar does it stall (and lets face it this is the very time you want the loop to start again ).. Roland have noted the bug (I say bug but this is more than a bug.. this is a major functional flaw.. the thing wont loop when I want it to...a bit of a set back for a loop er wouldn't you think!!!???) any way Roland will give no indication when this will be fixed...if ever!!!

No Issues.. sound fine for live work in any case.. SHAME I CAN'T USE IT FOR WHAT ITS MEANT TO DO THOUGH!!!!!

I use it live and although I don't have an issue with it reliability I do have A MAJOR one with it's functionality(bug!!!) ..see above.

Sucks to high heaven.. they admit that the unit has a serious flaw but will make no effort at all to have it prioritised...They plead that they are helpless to effect any prioritisation with their Japanese paretn company...Bulls**t... I am mad angry ...

Nice idea but the supreme functionality flaw means that I have to record slightly more than the required four bars so that I can restart the phrase precisely on the four bar interval.. totally hokey workaround.

I would welcome any comments to my email address above.

WARNING - DO NOT BUY THE RC-50 WITHOUT PERFORMING THE SIMPLE TEST DESCRIBED IN THE SOUND QUALITY SECTION.

There is a major problem with the Boss RC-50. Try this for yourself - before you buy. Record a simple single phrase from an instrument with no added effects - play this back then adjust the patch tempo and play it again at this new speed - just one beat per minute up or down from the original results in a completely unusable phrase with the sound broken up and stuttering. Add to this an intermittent problem which is that even when you return to the original tempo the phrase was recorded at you may find that part of the phrase has been corrupted. There are some reviews that give the unit full marks - all that can be deduced from this is that the reviewers have not used the functions that cause the problem. I have tried three RC-50 units - two of which were Roland/Boss in store demonstration units and they perform in the same way.

I have returned the unit to the shop for a full refund - I no longer have confidence in the product.