BOSS RC-500 LOOP STATION has a SERIOUS PROBLEM

I've heard complaints in the boss rc-600 software but I keep having this problem with my boss rc-500 looper pedals... both of them. What I know... its not a midi issue, its not just one of the pedals (I own two with the same problem), and its not an update issue. Both are fully updated.

[@henqmusic]

I've been using the RC500 for several months now. Unfortunately, I'm also discovering more and more bugs: 1) The display sometimes changes without reason from my favorite "2 track" display to "status + track" display, sometimes in the middle of a song. 2) When I record the first loop of track 2 (while the loop of track 1 is already running), it often cracks at the first transition from rec to play. All other overdubs after that are smooth again and work without problems. 3) Sometimes the loop tracks I recorded are suddenly not in sync when playing, means the whole loop of track 2 plays slightly later than the loop of track 1. I've been using Boss Loop Stations for over 15 years, had the before RC20XL and the RC30...never had any problems with either unit, they have been absolutely reliable. I'm currently very conflicted about the RC500. On the one hand, it has exactly the functions that I need. If they worked reliably, it would be perfect. But because of the bugs, it's totally unreliable. Especially for professional live use :(

[@BoneZone]

Quick update. This vid was posted about 4 months ago. Alot of you have asked if I am still having problems. Unfortunately I am still losing loops. I was recording a loop for a song and I kept losing loops just like in this video. I will say that inspecting the comments, nobody has had this exact problem. Maybe not a common problem but what's wierd is that BOTH of my units have the same exact problem. I haven't figured it out.

[@BopKitBill]

Do you have clean power ? And how's your grounding?

[@alichamas63]

I lose loops too. I switched to the boss adaptor and it still happens. I also get playback jumps like it's just samples of the recording. Really unacceptable, I'm looking for alternatives to Boss, buggy crap with slow firmware updates. Perhaps the Boomerang Phase sampler.

[@JimmyLoopMusic]

Bro, get Loopy pro and discover a new world 🎉

[@starluxstudio619]

Did you get the RC-600? I got one a few days ago. It froze on me 3 times tonight just playing basic guitar loops. This is really unacceptable.

[@realrobarmus]

Yep! Also it doesn’t tempo sync via midi to apps on iPad, I sent it back!

[@harveysmusicschoollizaman2290]

I have had occasional issues using the RC 500 live but I honestly believe that it's not because of software glitches but because it has too much packed into it, for example the different functions that can be assigned to the switches. I think that every issue I had was actually caused by me operating it. One example, the machine doesn't like it when you press the start switch and accidentally tap the stop switch at the same time. This happened once and the looper went completely unresponsive and the only way to get it going again is to pull the output jack out.

[@PartRobotmusic]

@bonezonestudio I have had this problem occasionally too. Have you heard any news about it being fixed yet? I also pre-recorded some loops for a song last night and saved them and then this morning they were gone.

[@BoneZone]

I haven't heard of them fixing this. I don't even know how to contact them to make them aware of this problem.

[@insidethemani9852]

Me too Jacob. Pre-recorded loops just dissappear

[@insidethemani9852]

Jacob, what did you use to record the loops? Just found out today that if the instrument you use to lay down a pre-recorded loop isn't still connected to the pedal, the loop won't play. Now that is bizarre.

[@alichamas63]

I have this happen a lot. I record a loop, go straight into overdub, then play mode. It plays for maybe one complete loop then loses the overdub (sometimes, it's unreliable). For me i usually record chords first then basslines, and it means sometimes i lose my basslines! Not cool for live. Disappointing since its orherwise a great tool.

[@almcfly7407]

In single mode, i record a 16 bar loop then an 8 bar loop in the 2nd track. Verse + chorus. All goes well in the 1st transition. Then after transition back to track 1 ( verse again....) it starts half way thru the track... is this a bug to what you're showing here or is your bug only in multi mode?

[@DonFranko68]

It would be really cool by boss if the development engineers watch your video and get serious about it and give you feedback. you are without any doubt a gifted artist with a great talent and boss benefits from such people as you here at KZbin

[@alichamas63]

It's not the engineers, it's product and management not giving enough budget and time for fixing bugs

[@marionwilliams4244]

Their software is from the Jurassic age. I came across an open source parameter editor for the RC500. It's incredible that Boss don't provide this as standard - it's a no brainer! Come on Boss - get your act together! Another huge oversight seems to be is that there is no instrument input level. Surely there should be a knob as there is for the mic?

[@rayprevailer8454]

Full of bugs. I am returning mine. Yes it has the latest firmware. Settings keep changing back to the factory default settings. I have had it for a week. I was not expecting this from Boss. Many others are having the same issues. Just one example....I set Track 1 to come out of "A" and after a while it changes to ALL "A&B".

[@cristobalretamal7225]

Hello, could someone tell me if these problems were fixed with update 1.10?

[@kingcole3830]

@bonezonestudio did you fix the problem or find a solution? I was looking to buy this looper but now not sure.

[@_rkrd]

Do you have Loop. Sync on? That feature is absolutely broken. Loops randomly stop playing and playback again after a while.

[@m6h3r]

has anyone tried the electro harmonix line of loopers? the 95000 or 45000?

[@Batou_73]

Ty for making this video. I just thought I m going crazy but from such a big company i just thought i was the problem. This looper has so many weird bugs midi sync issues loop sync problems were loops start after the second third or suddenly go out of sync. Then the sudden studders when having a external midi source. You record stuff with say clk 120 bpm from the outside and even though you let the looper make a perfect 4 bar loop the sound studders and sounds broke ....sometimes and sometimes not. Oh and my first unit just died after 2 weeks and all my loops were lost.

[@MasterMercenaryMusic]

I have a completely different problem - when it's midi synced it will get a warble/modulation that seems to come and go at random - play the same loop long enough and you will hear it with and without the issue! It has ruined my whole day - not to mention the money I spent!

[@johnpatrickmatthewsmusic]

How about take things out and go back to basics. I found my FS6 switch with a bad stereo cable was my issue. Unplug the midi and see if you still lose over dubs

[@insidethemani9852]

Oh bollox! DON'T BUY ONE PEOPLE. I've had one of these for about 3 months, preparing for a first live performance. The glitchy behaviour has always been there but now it's getting worse with just 10 days before me and my mate's first gig using it. I haven't had your problem BoneZone Studio (live loops just disappearing) but I have had: 1. Pre-recorded loops just disappear 2. Rhythm tempo suddenly increases x 3 for no apparent reason. 3. Display mode randomly changes from BEAT + POSITION to just BEAT Now got no confidence in using it live and so will lose money and have wasted time. Anyone know of a reliable alternative? If I had to guess why these problems exist, it's because they tried to ram in too much for too cheap a price. My old RC-3 NEVER had issues. And why has this video only had 533 views whereas product reviews of it have had thousands??!!

[@MigzMigz35]

what state do you live in?

[@edkilpatrick]

Are you sure you don't have some midi signal going in that is changing your overdub from dub to replace?

[@LiuQingHai]

I have the rc 500 and was wondering if anyone has the same problem.... after making a loop on track 1, i'll switch over to track 2 and make a loop, but when I hit rec/play to loop track 2, it takes like a good 2-3 seconds before it ends the recording....

[@jonathancarrascomedina5696]

Same problem!!! 🙈😔

[@LiuQingHai]

@@jonathancarrascomedina5696 ugh, I'm guessing this is a common issue with no solution?

[@StephenWEwart]

It seems to randomly change the Track length. I’ve had it go on for 40 bars .

[@kevnote]

WTF? Did they (boss) address/fix these issues? Or is their reputation headed for, or in, the toilet?

[@tom-dahl1598]

After months of frustration with random crashes and functions changing randomly i sent my RC500 back for a refund. The search for a mid-price loop pedal continues.

[@BoneZone]

Yeah I understand that. It's gotta work flawlessly if you want to perform live. I've found a few random setting changing too. Good luck!

[@tom-dahl1598]

@@BoneZone one major issue i had is that i'm colour-blind so i had to have the LCD status reading 'play'/'dub' etc, rather than the coloured boxes with scrolling cursor that shows the position in the loop. I'd start to add loops on a 'base' loop, that i'd recorded and saved previously, and the LCD status would randomly change from displaying the words, to the boxes with position, and if it was a particularly complex piece i was playing, i couldn't tell whether i was in 'play' mode or 'dub mode' etc. Frankly, I'm glad to see the back of it. sadly, i've not seen another looper at that price point that does what i require and my budget is limited. I haven't got money to throw at gear in the hope that it'll work every time flawlessly. Boss should own up to the flaws in this unit but they constantly fob customers off.

[@BoneZone]

Wow. That is a weird problem! Especially for you. It's cool that they have the ability to show the mode in words, but if it doesn't work that sucks. I agree though, there aren't a whole lot of looping pedal options and I feel like if they fixed these problems then they would be the best around!

[@tom-dahl1598]

@@BoneZone '' I feel like if they fixed these problems then they would be the best around!'' yup, exactly that - the RC 500 is so near, yet so far. there is so much to love about this pedal but if it's not reliable and you don't have 100% faith in it, then it's only ever useful as a practice tool at home.

[@tumugibito]

僕の問題はLOOPが録音されない？もしくは再生されません！設定触りすぎた？工場出荷状態に戻してもなおりません！わからん！^_^

[@BopKitBill]

I must differ with BoneZone. MIDI is a deep and complex instruction set that has often thwarted many non-engineer musicians due to a less than full understanding of how it all works. (it's happened to me!) Bone Zone may be correct in this instance but he could easily be wrong... To publish such a statement is unfortunate and childish and it's easy to see he lacks much in depth experience with midi. Tantrum really? I was a fan. People have already sync'd two of these units with a DAW succesfully. I'm about to receive a second RC-500 in a week and I'll find out for myself and let you know how it goes.

[@BoneZone]

Just a quick update. I appreciate honesty but Ill have to defend my self here. Just this morning and once last week I lost some loops again. The difference from when I made this video is that I no longer have any type of midi hooked up at all, so it's not a midi issue. Problem still not fixed. I have updated the device as well.

[@BopKitBill]

@@BoneZone Hey thanks for the update! Question if I may... Do you still have two rc-500's? ...and do both machines do the same thing? I ask thinking maybe you have a faulty looper? Your calm and reasoned reply has reversed my opinion...Your alright man! I haven't lost any loops but so far my usage has been light. I'll after I get the second unit I'll come back and post my experience here!

[@MasterMercenaryMusic]

Lighten up, Bill! It's not childish to share your experience. This guy clearly knows what he's doing.