This is the story of a modern art form, from the trailblazers of the NY beat battles to the BOSS RC-505mkII Loop Station. Explore beatboxing. Read more… Looping Positions: Ariana Grande and the BOSS RC-505 The RC-505MKII is the most sophisticated and advanced hand-operated looper in Boss’ illustrious RC range. This is perfect for advanced loop pedal users, beatboxers, vocalists, multi-instrumentalists or any creative-minded performers. Patch/pedal cable—right-angle 1/4-inch connectors, 1 ft./30 cm length. Also available in 3 ft./1 m (BIC-3AA) length. Both the RC 505 Mk2 & the RC 600 have the same internal brain. The easiest way to think of them is like 2 separate controllers which make use of the same looping and effects engine.

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. I have always wanted to incorporate a looping device into my synthesizer setup; but, did not know where to turn to until I started listening to Reinhardt Buhr in Cape Town, South Africa. He is an absolute virtuoso at looping compositions using guitar, synth, electric cello, drum pads, didgeridoo, and a shofar in his compositions performing live which is known as "busking". It is amazing what he can do with these instruments and his voice using the Boss RC-505 MK2 and a looping pedal. He is on Bandcamp at https://reinhardtbuhr.bandcamp.com/. The MK2 gives you a larger LCD screen than you got with the MK1, yet again allowing you to have more control over your sound + making it easier to select effects/ loops & navigate the device at speed. Sign up to the Boss UK monthly newsletter and look forward to the latest gear news, artist-related features, how-to guides and much more in your inbox. YouTube Channel Straight 1/4-inch connectors, 5 ft./1.5 m length. Also available in 10 ft./3 m (BIC-10), 15 ft./4.5 m (BIC-15), and 20 ft./6 m (BIC-20) lengths.

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 Capturing Your Creativity The 505 MK2 has 10 assignable buttons that come with 2 banks each. So that’s a whopping 20 effects that you can have at your disposal at any given moment. We’d always suggest putting any commonly effects on these buttons, although in terms of preparing for a live performance, they can work wonders too. Program the buttons before you perform & your whole performance should be (A) a lot smoother and (B) a lot faster. When it comes to functionality at your fingertips, the RC 505 takes the crown. The RC 600 is essentially just 9 foot-switches and a screen, whereas the RC 505 gives you access to over 30 buttons. All of which makes it the fastest & most user friendly of the two. What you need in terms of being able to loop with the Boss RC 505, really all depends on what type of looper you are. If you’re a beat-boxer then chances are that all you’ll require is a mic and the 505. Perhaps an external audio interface at a stretch, but nothing too extreme. Take a look at the LCD screens & you’ll soon see that they’re pretty similar too. In fact, the RC 505 MK2 & the RC 600 share the same menu structure & navigation. The systemwide settings are identical, as are the audio routing options.

The RC-505 lets you set up customized real-time controls, extending your command of looping and many other operations. With the Version 2.0 update, you can specify up to 16 different functions and access them in a variety of ways—with front-panel controls, an external expression pedal or footswitches, and/or various MIDI CC messages. Many newly added target functions are tailor-made for foot control, perfect for looping musicians who have their hands occupied with a guitar, keyboard, and other instrument. The 16 control assignments are stored with phrase memories, allowing you to create and recall custom setups for different songs and performing situations. Nominal Input Level INPUT MIC (variable): -40 dBu (typ.), -10 dBu (max) Straight 1/4-inch connectors, 10 ft./3 m. Also available in 5 ft./1.5 m length (BIC-5), 15 ft./4.5 m (BIC-15), and 20 ft./6 m (BIC-20), 25 ft./7.5 m (BIC-25) lengths.This channel provides information of the BOSS's best quality electronic musical instruments. Provides an overview of key features, functions and operational tips. Worldwide Social Network 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…

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?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 The MK2 gives you 99 phase memories – the same as you got with the original 505. So considering the 8 year wait for the MK2, an increase here would have been nice. The RC-505 MkII may exude a jolly Christmas tree vibe but it is a formidable powerhouse of looping and layering with enough functionality and flexibility to grow with dedicated users. It can be used for a large range of performance, composition and experimentation tasks and benefits from an easy to use control set that draws users in. This is a professional tool that can inspire creativity as easily as it can capture it. There is a lot on offer for the kind of sensible price one expects from Boss. I bought the rc-505 before the rc-600 came out so you should see which best fits your needs. Being a guitar player, I needed a hands-free solution. Since the RC-505 speaks MIDI it has worked well for me. I originally set it up with a Behringer FCB1010, but later switched to the Nektar Pacer for its added functionality.

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. I must admit I never use the rhythm section of my RC‑505, but it’s undeniably convenient if you don’t have a drum machine around, or to the performer who values simplicity. You can route the rhythm’s output to headphones or one of the sub outputs, if necessary. In terms of weight, the 505 MK2 is a bit more obese. While its predecessor weighed in a 1.4kg, the MK2 comes in at 1.8kg.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! Explore in-depth articles on BOSS pedals and get inspiring knowledge to help spark your creativity. Amps