Boss RC-505 Loop Station

Boss’s new RC-505 is equipped with five phrase tracks that can play simultaneously, the most yet in a BOSS Loop Station. Independent record/overdub/play and stop buttons for each track let users capture loop performances with easy fingertip control. Dedicated volume faders allow for quick level adjustment of track playback, while the ALL START/STOP button controls all five loop phrases with a single command. Up to three hours of stereo recording is possible in a single track.

A large selection of built-in effects allows loopers to enhance their sounds as they perform. INPUT FX such as ROBOT and VOCODER offer unique textures while recording loops, while TRACK FX like VINYL FLICK and BEAT REPEAT provide real-time post-processing for dynamic DJ and sampler effects.

99 phrase memories provide storage for phrase track data, playback and effects settings, and more. 85 different onboard rhythms can be used as backing for loop recording, with a large selection of odd-measure beats for advanced performing. The rhythm part can be routed to the rear-panel PHONES jack only, giving users a dedicated click track for monitoring purposes.

Inputs include an XLR microphone jack with phantom power, mono/stereo instrument inputs, and an AUX mini-jack for connecting a music player, smart phone, or other stereo device. All inputs can be used simultaneously to capture a variety of different sources into loops. 

The USB port allows users to connect to a computer and import/export WAV audio phrases. This provides backup for RC-505 loop recordings, as well as the ability to load up RC-505 phrases with pre-made tracks for on-the-fly, sampler-style performing. The RC-505’s USB port also provides USB-Audio and USB-MIDI functionality, letting users interface with their favorite DAW software for audio recording and MIDI synchronization. Retail price: $799.