BOSS RC-30: Using Foot Switches

[@Kiwikoool]

I don't own any of this gear but you get a thumbs up for being so clear in your explanations. Good job, sir.

[@elkhornslough]

I watched this about 8 years ago when I first got my rc-30, and now watched it again today while getting back into looping. Thank you for this video. Just what I needed both then and now!

[@jimcabtv]

Oh my god! Thank you! A simple and to the point video clearly and concisely explaining how to use the pedals without rambling on forever! Awesome vid!

[@CellocasterPaul]

Thank you! The guy who waited on me at Guitar Center didn't know much about this loop station, so this is great!

[@jazzdogx5]

Thank you! I called a several online stores regarding the existence of a pedal like this and none of them knew anything! You should start your own store! :)

[@soundcheckfeedback]

You should do every tutorial. Jesus. So straight-forward.

[@AlRonberg]

You are a star!!! My music store sent me away with a mono-mono cable - I will go back tomorrow and sort out a TRS cable now! Thanks for making this most informative clip!

[@wilderorihuela8350]

muy útil. Gracias por el video muy explicativo en un tiempo corto. Lo recomendaré

[@daveevans9477]

i dont care about how good the guy is who is playing ...... I will give him a massive round of applause for just knowing what cables to put in the right place !!!!!!!!

[@cdg2g]

The FS-5L is a latching footswitch. The FS-5U is an unlatching or momentary footswitch. The RC-3/30 are designed to use the unlatching type of pedals such as the FS-5U or FS-6. If you use the latching type, you'll have to press it twice instead of just once for an unlatching pedal. Make sure you use an unlatching type of pedal.

[@nesrednaessal4683]

Dude, straight to the point, no bs. Thank you for this.

[@beninglis8097]

I use my RC 30 with one FS5U for switching the second track on\off and it makes it the perfect setup. Once you get your head around everything this unit does it becomes a great tool! Everything except the crap effects, they just seem like an after thought... Still they don't take away from the unit, they just don't add anything to it. This thing is ace!

[@zingerproductions4678]

How do you do it

[@cdg2g]

For me the BOSS loop stations hit the right combo of size and usability that's perfect for my needs. I know there's other good loopers on the market, but the new upgraded features of the RC-30 puts it on top for me. The lag time? If you are talking about when you change memories? You cannot seamlessly switch between the loops of two separate memories. There will be a gap in the sound when you change. I believe this is a result of the massive 3hrs storage space so there's no way around it.

[@dare2funk]

Nice. You answered my question on how to move up and down with the memory bank. thanks!

[@michelleclerc1833]

Hi! Just a little precision here. TRS cables were originaly telephone cables. T= tip R=ring and of course , S = sleave. Ring here = the telephone bell. So there is onely 1 ring. 😉 Thank you for this cristal clear tuto.

[@PatheticPony]

This was incredibly helpful. thank you so much

[@DominikFriedrich]

Is there any possibility to use the footswitch to have both channels selected so that I can start both at the same time???

[@edgarlee2802]

This video is really simple and informative. Thanks a lot.

[@sebbe91]

Great upload! Funny how this video is still completely relevant today :)

[@mythinktube]

Really nice presentation. Very useful info. Thanks for posting!

[@guitaroa47]

this guide is straight to the point!!! I appreciate

[@mattkarlgaard1310]

Thanks for the video. Good explanation. Only thing missing is the switch settings on the external switches. I'm assuming momentary. Polarity? Probably positive? Shouldn't be hard to figure out. Overall great video though. Thanks!

[@AnimeTube7Junior]

God bless you for this helpful video guide!

[@thorbenschulze9817]

man u are a god or something? needed that tutorial so damn badly ^^ much love goes out to u bud

[@lim_kkubi_7549]

Super helpful:) also easy for foreigners to understand

[@sk8rpunk16371]

Thanks for the help. Just had one of these fall into my lap lol. Definitely need more footswitches lol

[@edibran]

Hello there. Umm, I have a concern about the FS-5U and the FS-5L. Do they work for different purposes or they're the same thing? thanks and awesome video btw.

Perfect video, perfect explanation! Thank you so much!

[@Mr.Altavoz]

Great tip ,thanks was just thinking yesterday on this question.

[@Asgertj]

Hey...great video...I have a Line6 Firehawk...do you think it would work with that multi FX pedal somehow? It doesn't work with a normal one button looper.. tried that already🙈

[@jasonmcginnis6316]

Thanks for this vid brotha…simply spoken and informative 😝😝

[@cdg2g]

The mode switch selects whether the pedal on that side will operate like a momentary foot switch, or as a latching foot switch. The other switch is called a polarity switch. It's kind of hard to explain well in a short comment, but it reverses the positive and negative wiring of the pedal. When using the FS-6 with the RC-30, move the mode switch to the side that says FS-5U (momentary), and the polarity switch should go in the same direction.

[@marufukuro]

Awesome!It's really help me a lot, Could you share more tips and lessons about rc30?

[@edgarlee2802]

Fantastic! So straight forward and to the point. Just what I needed. Thank you.

[@RayMancha]

Cool tutorial, I have a question about the polarity switch on the back of the FS-5U in regards with the RC-30 Looper if your looking at it from the back which way should it be switched? Left or Right??? and why??? I appreciate your awesome tutorial, Thx...

[@stephenheath7823]

i looked everywhere for this information, thank you!

[@rjhcarpentryandjoinery]

This blew my mind... super helpful!!!

[@johnw6648]

we need to ask boss for a firmware update to make the second footswitch programmable by us so we can allocate it to anything. like stop all. many posters ask for this

[@lonehoot1566]

Can you move up and down the rhythm patterns at all? Great video btw

[@LucieJoy]

thank you ! straight to the point !

[@OWPhD]

Great, simple demonstration! Thank you!

[@GodInTheMachine]

Your videos are great because you know what you are talking about, and you get to the point. I'm sure you've been asked this before, but would you rather have the rc30 or the jamman stereo? and have you found a way to get around the 1/4 second lag time? Thanks a lot for the time and effort you've put into making these videos, they are greatly appreciated.

[@martypello7870]

Ah I need a TRS cable :) I wondered why only the "B" side was working ...... Thanks buddy! :D

[@RobDavisGuitar]

Marty Pello ME TOO! That was driving me crazy!

[@cdg2g]

Yes, the FS-5U will work with the RC-3 also. But I think you have to connect two of them to get the memory up/down function.

[@spoinewc]

Hey thanks for the great video, I am a bit confused about the definition of changing tracks. Will that change automatically stop the loop on one track and start another so I can do a and b sections of a song, or is that capability beyond the scope of this unit with or without foot switch(es)? Thanks.

[@cdg2g]

"Insert" cable. It's a type of "y" or split cable. It can be used with either FS-5U or FS-6. The last cable I describe is called a "TRS" cable. That stands for "tip, ring, sleeve" which are the names of the three metal contacts of the plug and it can only be used with the FS-6. Some people call this a "stereo" cable.

[@cdg2g]

On mine, it is moved closest to the 1/4" plug. However the switches direction shouldn't matter much when it comes to the RC-3 or RC-30. If for some reason something strange is going on with your unit, try flipping it the other direction.

[@My6stringer]

Great info Dude, kudos and many thanks !!

[@veronicabianqui]

Thank you for this. Been trying to figure out how exactly a footswitch works with the RC-30 before I go out and buy one...

[@cuteswimmr]

I have a question I hope you can help me with. When you connect the fs-6 to the rc-30 is it possible to start/stop saved phrases or loops remotely from the fs-6? In other words can you program the fs-6 to start/ stop the loops and even record and overdub new loops without having to touch the rc-30 at all? I ask because I have a kind of weird/ unique set up. I operate the rc-30 with my hands and I'm looking for a way to remotely start/stop my saved loops with my feet. I bought the fs-6 and have

[@theindieindian_]

Thanks for the tutorial. Is there any chance to toggle to the rhythm using the footswitches. Kindly advise. TIA

[@poockoo]

Hi, a question - if one switch is connected and I can change tracks with it, will the right pedal stop the loop on a single press? How about stopping both loops at the same time? Thanks for an answer.

[@yoursaxman]

Q: Does the RC30 auto-record when going to a blank track? iow- recording on the fly. I need a looper that can switch back n forth between newly recorded tracks w/o having to stop recording and hit the "store" button. I have a digitech jamman and it sucks in that regard. thanks for any light you can shine on this matter.

[@Xflect]

Can you alter what the foot switches do or do they only do what you've shown here?

[@zacharyclark2010]

Absolutely perfect tutorial! Thanks man!!

[@louwarner9258]

Thanks ! One question, is there a way to make the right pedal ( b) control the on / of of the rhythm ? ... so , having A control loop fx and (b) the rhythm ?? .. to make a nice pause from the percussion while adding a Loop effect ... to give a cool pause , than pressing both pedals at once and sending it all back in puuumm

[@IsabellaKerwin]

Do you have to have that specific type of cable to connect the Dual Footswitch ? does it matter if the cable only has one black ring on it instead of too ?

[@PhilJakes]

hanks for this....whats the quickest way to undo/redo a layer?? Thanks again.

[@RobDavisGuitar]

Phil Jakes Press and hold the left pedal for two seconds will UNDO what you last recorded. Doing it again will REDO it.

[@peggymann170]

When using the FS-U5 with my RC-30 I am having an issue. When I switch between track one and track two it works fine with one tap of the foot, but when I switched it from track one to track two and hold the pedal down it immediately goes back to the track one and starts going through the banks of numbers.🕹

[@goczangabor24]

i don't have my rc-30 here with me, so i'm not sure if it is so, but as far as i remember, if you switch memory slots while a loop is playing, it plays the whole phase and when it's done it stops. so theoretically if you have a loop on memory slot 1 and while it's playing you change to memory slot 2,(you've got to have the chorus prerecorded on slot 2)you just need to wait for slot 1 to stop and then step on the pedal and it will start playing the chorus,and vice versa.it's just and idea though

[@cdg2g]

They are different. One is called a Latching foot switch, and the other is a momentary (Unlatching) foot switch. The RC-30 is designed to work only with the momentary type. If you use a latching type then you'd have to press it twice to get the same function as one press of the momentary type.

[@MoritzSchmidt]

is there a possibility to stop the one track and start the other track at the same time?

[@cdg2g]

No. An external foot switch will stop the loop, but to record or play a loop you have to press the pedal built into the RC-30.

[@DHstrings15]

hey man thanks for the tutorial! very helpful. one question tho, would an fs-5l footswitch work the same as the fs-5u? if not, what are the differences? -Thanks

[@Daggoe]

Can i ask you another question? On the pedal, there are on both sides 2 slide buttons with polarity and mode on it. Where are these buttons for?

[@andrewmcfarlane6934]

Great video, very informative, thanks.

[@cdg2g]

If you want to perform a STOP function, use the built-in pedal. One press stops the current selected track, two rapid presses stops everything.

[@jesselorenzmusic]

after stopping everytbing, how to play everything at the same time ? without the external switch, i have to hold down right pedal for 4s twice to select both tracks then tap left pedal to play both tracks same time. Does the external switch help select both tracks faster?

[@DanSZiegler]

Another great video. Thank you!

[@DylansWorId]

Does having a single fs5u still change tracks even if it is on simple pedal mode?

[@aaronabercrombie4610]

Is there any way to program the footswitches for different operations? For example, I have the FS-6 and I'm really just trying to use the A and B switches to change the memory bank, and it's really annoying having to hold in the switches because I end up going past the desired bank. HELP PLEASE!!!

[@ZephyrNights]

Is there any way to delete loops as you play? If I want to whittle it back down to fewer layers, can I do that?

[@MadMadamba]

Does the FS-7 have the same function as the FS-6?

[@Jelleblanc]

simple and exactly what I needed, thanks!

[@stratboy2]

Thank you, clear and simple

[@pileef]

hey there, your videos really helped me. i have a question. i can't clear the second track even if it is stopped and the first one is playing... i have to stop both to clear track 2. can i change that with the footswitchs? and can i record a 1/1 tempo, record, let it play while i overdub a 2/2 tempo? i tried that and i cant because while i'm recording and playing the 2/2 tempo, it already plays the riff i started on 1/2 before i finish it. thanks!

[@Xflect]

Does it? I didn't think either of the pedals needed a power supply?

[@anajaen4604]

Good eavning Mr. Cdg. You are an angel for me. That video had the information that i was needing about the litle footswitch on the Boss RC-30. Thank you a lot. Do you think that it could be posible to do the same with the Boss DD-20 to forward and reward the Delay time?

[@lorenzomancini88]

hi! can i set it for a "stop all/start all" function?

[@renatogomes9476]

I

[@freekdevos]

You allready have that function when pressing the right pedal of the unit itself twice, right? Or do you still think that is too much of a hassle?

[@lorenzomancini88]

Yeah, i know, but the real problem is the "start all" function. Unfortunatly, even if the "stop all" is quite simple, i don't have much time to select both tracks, and then, press the star button. xD

[@replayreviews6339]

Was wondering this myself. You can use the one foot switch to select one track or the other. But it doesn't look like there's a way to select both tracks at once.

[@charlesbakerharris3625]

I'm a bit late but if all tracks are stopped, when you switch tracks, it will go from Track 1, to Track 2, then both and repeat.

[@joannabuchanan7059]

Awesome video! Is there any way to make a foot switch into an “all stop” switch instead of having to double tap on the RC30? That’s my biggest issue with it (aside from the shitty effects haha)

[@Londrer]

Hey, great explanation. I have only one question. Without the FS-6 you can't change from tracks 1 to 2 immediately, you have to double step Right and then step Left. Which is quite annoying to to while standing up. Does the FS-6 allow me to switch immediately? Like, if I record a Verse and Chorus, can I switch between them by only pressing the foot FS-6 Right?

[@cdg2g]

João Pedro Pinheiro So you want to stop everything, then play just the first track? The external foot switch will make this easier, but it's still not ideal because you still have three functions you need to perform separately: stop, track change, then play.

[@brettatton]

TRS just means 'Tip' 'Ring' 'Sleave'...it's a standard telecommunication patch cord format. These same jacks are used for stereo headphones using an unbalanced coax cable. In sensitive low noise applications the TRS only carries one signal between the Tip and Ring. The Sleave is connected to the shield of the coax cable. With the FS-5 and FS-6 foot switches noise obviously is not an issue.

[@cuteswimmr]

How do you program the fs-6 to stop the loop? I can't even get it to do that. Only scroll up and down the 99 channels.

[@mattj.b.1414]

Thank you dude this was helpful

[@cdg2g]

To stop a loop, use the built-in pedal on the right (it's labeled "STOP"), not an external FS.

[@JacksonCapps]

Can you use the foot switch to select which track you want to record?

[@cdg2g]

Yep.

[@husseinshaam6972]

could i make both channels play and stop at the same time using ext foot switches?

[@stevenaustin4591]

perfect! once I get a fs-6 footswitch I should be able to work on full length songs with more than 2 parts! :)

[@drumpounder778]

Does this mean i can use an fs 5u to change tracks on the boss rc 3 instead?

[@cdg2g]

Just re-read spoinewc's question and I don't think I answered it thoroughly. So to clarify: Changing Memories means changing the digital number in the display. Some people call this a "patch". When I use the term "Tracks" it refers to the two loops you can switch between in the same memory number. So to re-answer your question: You cannot switch quickly between the two tracks even if you connect foot switches. I suggest you use the method in my previous answer as a work-around.

[@cdg2g]

The undo or clear functions can only be done using the RC-30's built-in pedals. You cannot access those functions with external pedals like the FS-6 or FS-5U's.

[@danielt4353]

I new to the loop petal and am planing on getting one, do u have to have the FS-5U petal? And how to use mic with the loop station itself?

[@cdg2g]

You do not need a FS-5U or FS-6 footswitch to use the RC-30. It does make some functions easier to operate though. To use it with a microphone, just plug it in and set the gain with the "Mic Input Level" knob.

[@danielt4353]

ok cool, thanks

[@cdg2g]

If a loop is playing and you change to a different memory number that has a loop saved in it, then it que's that next loop up. In other words, when the currently playing loop gets to the end, it will automatically change to the new memory number you selected and play the loop you have saved there. Be aware there will be a short gap of silence as it switches memories so that may not be ideal for switching between an A and B section of a song.

[@cdg2g]

There's an UNDO function that will erase the most recent layer. However, you can't keep going and UNDO two or three layers for example, only the most recent layer is "undo-able".

[@marcelomayor6738]

Please could you indicate a PC audio editor program associated with Boss RC30? Thank you

[@nsc217]

When you change phrases (while playing a phrase), does the next phrase start or do you also have to stop the phrase and start again with the RC-30 pedal?

[@IndustriaChina]

thanks for your explanation! but i still want to know if there's any way i can set up the fs6 to e.g. change rhythms types.

[@cdg2g]

Unfortunately, the external foot switch commands are fixed and cannot be changed.

[@mitcharney1]

Can you use a FS-5L's.....what would be the difference in the 5U vs. the 5L? Thanks

[@ImranAli-uu4vj]

You have a nice voice for tv and comentaries I'm jealous

[@cdg2g]

Imran Ali Awe shucks! (*^▽^*)

[@LonnyFriedland]

So, to be clear, if I want to change from a verse to a chorus with no lag, can I record the two parts prior to my "live performance", then use the FS-6 to change from one track to another? Or, will I never accomplish this with the RC30?

[@cdg2g]

In this type of scenario, I'd put the verse part on one memory, and the chorus part on the next memory. You wouldn't be switching between tracks, you'd be switching between memory's.

[@LonnyFriedland]

cdg2g won't I still get a couple of seconds of lag from that?

[@tmelsayed]

Lonny Friedland If you press the footswitch during playback for 2 seconds, the newly selected phrase memory number will blink in the display, and the phrase memory will be changed when the currently playing phrase has ended. This means you need to plan ahead while playback by pressing down for 2 seconds while your current measure is playing in preparation for the until to switch automatically to the newly selected phrase once the next measure starts.

[@MeesterJoey]

Thanks for explaining, very clear.