BOSS RC-505MK2 Loop Station Hands-On Looper for Modern Performers
BOSS RC-505MK2 Overview
Boss has revamped their RC-505MK2 Loop Station to add impressive dynamic range to the mix as well as extended looping time and more rhythmic support from its onboard processors. Let's examine what the Loop Station is before we get into the updates: the RC-505MK2 is a live performance tool for loop artists, housed in a compact tabletop enclosure. It provides easy fingertip control of five stereo phrase tracks and various loop playback behaviors, while a choice of input and track effects deliver a wide range of real-time processing options.
Like the original, this unit provides independent record, overdub, play, and stop buttons for each track, to allow for capturing and controlling loop performances, mixing loop levels on the fly, storing up to 99 phrase memories, and more. Three notable improvements grace the RC-505MK2: First, recording time has been upped from 3 hours stereo to 1.5 hours per track, coming it at around 13 hours total. Second, Rhythmic support has gone from 85 types of percussion sound to over 200. Lastly—and this is quite exciting for guitar players who love dynamic range—the RC-505MK2 utilizes a 32-bit float signal path, which means dynamic range is preserved to a degree far greater than you'd get with original's 16-bit linear resolution. A power adapter is included.
- Tabletop Loop Station that can be operated with the hands—perfect for beatboxers, vocalists, and club performers
- Five simultaneous stereo phrase tracks with dedicated controls and independent volume faders
- Wide range of input FX and track FX for processing loops, including DJ and sampler-style effects
- Independent play mode and tempo sync settings enable a flexible combination of track behaviors and advanced performance options
- 99 phrase memories, each containing five phrase tracks, custom effects/playback settings, and more
- Over 200 onboard rhythm patterns
- External control via MIDI and optional footswitches or expression pedal
- XLR microphone inputs with phantom power, mono/stereo instrument inputs, and stereo auxiliary input
- 32-bit floating point signal path
- Up to 13 hours of recording