BOSS RC-50 LOOP STATION

BOSS RC-50 LOOP STATION, In the early days, bass players were trying to make progress, express their ideas by using gear that made for guitar players (mostly), keyboard players,s and even vocalists.

It’s not an ego but I’m proud and happy that bass guitar players are finally above everyone else; o)

Rc-50 allows you to control recording, playback, overdubbing, and the composition of ensemble tasks performed while recording (in real-time) or as you perform and give you flexibility controlling three phrases simultaneously.

It is not really a recording device but on the other side, it is more than an effect processor.

You are able to save up to 99 patches and each patch consists of three phrases. Approximately 49 minutes in mono or 24 in stereo mode can be stored. You can use Boss RC-50 for recording, for practice, or even complete songs, studio, or live performances.

RC-50 has three different types of stereo inputs. Input for the musical instrument (made for bass but can be used to plug in the guitar, keyboard, or any other instrument, just name it… that’s what I was talking about at the beginning ), input for phantom-powered microphones, and stereo input for CD players or any other external devices.

Panning phrases in playback. No problem at all. Next, one on the list is SUB OUT, which lets you output your choice of phrases or guide sounds.

One of the things that can be very helpful called “Center Cancel”. Just record from CD or any other sources and you are able to create “minus data”. Minus data mutes only sound at the center of the sound fields.

“Flat Amp Simulate” will adjust the tone of audio recorded from an external device or microphone and you can play these sounds through your guitar amp.

Recorded something and you are not happy, want to do it over again?

No Problem. RC-50 has an UNDO switch and in just two seconds your last recorded phrase will be out; o).  After that, you have changed your mind and decided that the deleted phrase was actually good. No problem again. There’s a switch called REDO and again, in just two second your deleted phrase is there; o)

In case you want to control, the tempo of your recorded phrases there is two options. You can tap the tempo or you can choose the tempo before you start recording. Externally connected expression pedals can be very helpful but I don’t’ have enough time to cover all possibilities that RC-50 is offering; o). Yes, you can synchronize phrases. Even those that been recorded at a different tempo and play them back at the same tempo.

You want to connect a recorder or any other MIDI device.

Boss RC-50 allows you to do that because there MIDI In and Out connectors. You can even synchronize RC-50 with any other external MIDI devices. Communication of other devices with RC-50 is now possible and that another thing. With any other device previously that was a nightmare; o).

 

Rhythm Guide  

RC-50 is offering the feature perfect to use during recording, instead of a metronome or even for live performance. The sound quality is fantastic and you can select from a variety of beats and patterns (RC-50 has installed just a few but the original package comes with a CD that has loops and patterns I have mentioned).

RC-50 connected to a computer.

You have recorded something and you do not have enough space to save it or you just want to make a backup of your recorded file. Just connect your RC-50 and your computer with a USB cable (provided) and simply copy files. Importing these files when you need them into RC-50 is so easy. Any wave file can be imported. The part that you recorded or just part of your favorite song.

Let’s have a look at the RC-50 Front Panel.

(I’ll just name and give a brief description of each part)

Display

Big enough to see the information’s that you using

Patch/Value Dial

Use to switch between patches or change value of settings

Parameter Button

 Press them to select parameters

Tap Tempo Button

Adjust the tempo by tapping this button several times 

Name/Patch Button

Use this button if you want to name or change settings of the patch

CTL/EXP Pedal Button

Use this one if you want to set the functions for the RC-50’s pedals and external pedals

System/USB Button

Press this button to change system settings and when using RC-50 connected to the computer

Exit Button

To cancel an operation

Write Button

Use this button when storing or deleting settings

Play Mode button

Use this one to switch between single and multi-mode. Loop Sync On/Off Button – Use this when changing the Loop Sync settings

Phrase Edit

Section with Level Knobs (to adjust the volume of Phrases 1, 2, and 3), Phrase 1/2/3 (press this to change phrase settings), Reverse Indicator (light to indicate that a phase 1, 2, or 3 is in reverse playback), One-shot Indicator (Light to indicate that a phase 1, 2 or 3 is to be played back only once

Guide

Section with Level knob (adjust the volume of your Guide sound-no sound played if the knob is turned all the way to the left), Select Button (to select the Guide sound), Start/Stop Button (use this if you want to start and stop the Guide manually)

Input Level

Section with AUX Level Knob (to adjust the level of the input from the AUX jack), MIC Level Knob (to adjust the level of the input from the Mic connector), INST Level Knob (to adjust the level of the input from INST jacks), PEAK Indicator (light when the input level exceeds the standard level)

Auto Rec On/Off Button

To switch auto recording on and off, Input Mode Button – Use this when setting the Center Cancel and Flat Amp Simulate function

Loop Quantize Indicator

Lights, when loop Quantize, is active

Overdub Mode

Overdub Mode Button to select overdubbing mode and Overdub Mode Indicator lights up when overdubbing mode selected

Master Level Knob

Adjust the volume of the output from the MAIN OUTPUT and PHONES jack.

Rec/Play/Overdub Pedal

To switch between recording, playback, and overdubbing for the selected phrase. With each press of the pedal, the next function in the sequence is active.

Rec/Play/Overdub Indicator

 Indicates the status of the phrase selected (red for recording, orange for overdubbing, and green for playback mode)

Stop Pedal

The pedal that stops recording, playback, or overdubbing

Tempo Pedal

Pressing this one you will be able to change the patch tempo. In addition, you can change the tempo by pressing this pedal several times.

UNDO/REDO Pedal

Pressing this one (and hold for about 2 sec) will delete recorded or overdubbed phrases (UNDO). Pressing this pedal again will bring back a phrase that you’ve deleted (REDO)

PHRASE 1/2/3 Pedals

Press these to select the phrase to be recorded or played back. Use these to record and arrange your song. On each Phrase, you can record as many layers as you want. For example use Phrase one for intro, Phrase two for Verse, and Phrase three for Chorus. So simple; o)

PHRASE 1/2/3 Indicators

The orange light (on the left side) indicates a currently selected phrase. The indicator flashes when that phrase is on hold as the next phrase to play. The right indicator shows the status of the currently selected phrase. For the start, if you remember that RED light is for Currently Recording, GREEN light for Playing Back, and ORANGE is for Overdubbing will be enough to make some serious stuff.

Input R (Mono) /L Jacks

Phantom (Phantom Power) ON/OFF Switch

Microphone Connector

AUX Jack

Main Output R (MONO)/ L Jacks

Phones Jack

Sub Out R (MONO) L Jacks

EXP/CTL 3,4 Pedal Jacks

CTL 1,2 Pedal Jacks

USB Connector

MIDI In/Out connectors

Power Switch

DC IN (AC Adaptor) Jack

Security Slot

I hope this was helpful