BOSS RPS-10 DIGITAL PITCH SHIFTER / DELAY : overview and demonstration

The BOSS RPS-10 Digital Pitch Shifter / Delay is one of the most fascinating effect units I’ve ever used. It’s relatively low price ( $80 - $110 currently on eBay ) and it’s extreme potential for weirdness ( fast forward to 17:59 ) make this one of my favorite recent purchases.
Now, does it really warrant a 20 minute exploration? Probably not, honestly, but I really wanted to include at least a little bit about each mode and, at the expense of entertainment, make something that could potentially be useful to someone considering buying one of these.
I think this unit really shines in the studio, especially for anyone interested in production and glitchy / abstract sounds.
What do you think : interesting and unique or unusable noise? Do you have effects that you love but that other people thank are too weird? Let me know in the comments and thanks for watching!
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Hey, I'm updated this description a few days after posting to add this link to a free download of drum samples that I processed through the RPS-10. I used many of the techniques towards the latter end of the video to make these. I also included an Ableton Live file with a drum rack I built from the samples! Let me know if you end up using this on anything!
www.dropbox.co...
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Produced by Nick Maynard, Exploring Audio is a KZbin channel dedicated to making videos that educate others on the production of electronic music through interviews, demonstrations, and tutorials.
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[@Dazz1806]

Dude thank you for posting this 8 years ago. What a wondrous box. I remember seeing this series in the music shop when they came out. I was too young to really understand how to use them, let alone buy them. I agree with you though, this is a hidden gem.

[@khairunnaim2969]

this thing is a gem! experimental geeks will understand :)

[@KR-ze6oh]

lol what about the guys who where doing this in the 90s making rave music in all its glorious forms! Before millenials started to make generic edm. they will also understand lollll

[@ollieroks]

awsome demo, most people only show case a fraction and never let the real sounds come out.

[@LeeCzere]

I saw a used one, decided to buy it, THEN saw this video. Thanks for taking the time. Just the shot in the arm my setup needs.

[@LionelBijaoui]

It's amazing holy shit ! "Vocals modulated by Vocals" -> my head exploded !

[@exploringaudio1999]

+Lionel Bijaoui yeah that's my favorite part for sure.

[@dickheadrecs]

dude. you should get a cut from ebay sales, just snagged one. subbed.

[@peteytwofinger]

thanks for going the extra mile , this is the best rps video out ... i got my rps-10 in the mid 90s it was quite a quest to obtain it . i use it for reverse guitar for many years . i recently rehoused it in a mini half rack i made , to top off a stereo mini tube amp head i hacked from a reel to reel . but i have to say i never tried the keyboard input , i was very aware of it , including that chart from the manual , i just was saving this for a rainy day i guess / never got around to it . i am leaving mine stock . i have modded rack rds and modded digitech 20/20 and a pds 1002 so i am leaving this one stock . i have a few echo boxs here , but i have to admit , my all time favorite is the rps-10 . . . man the reverse mode is just right for me . although i have yet to try the danelctro waqsabi / back talk but .... something abut 700 - 900 ms of reverse 100 percent wet fits the tempos of most pieces i write at . i also think 1.6 seconds is a nice range if you want longer phrasing before it flips or runs out . . . thanks again for this great video .

[@ComputingSound]

I love the drum-processing. Sounds really interesting.

[@JoePacheco]

Damn! I had one of these when I was in high school. No idea where it ended up! I loved it back then!

[@elmosexwhistle]

Loved your ever so slight, “shit I’ve got to play something in G#!” pause. This half rack is great it’s on my want list.

[@sampleexamplemusic]

basically the original echophone! love it!

[@quietringaudio]

Thank you I REALLY appreciate your depth and interest in the unusual which is what I seek as well. Excellent work.

[@CurtBlakeslee]

Wow, that sound at 10:25 is amazing!

[@exploringaudio1999]

+Curt Blakeslee very angelic

[@VSPhotfries]

Made me think 'Squarepusher'

[@javiceres]

TheRev He used the Eventide H3000 a lot AFAIK which was the first unit todo this effect

[@stealthbopper]

Excellent demo - thanks. And what fabulous sounds!

[@Iamveryconfusedabout]

this is a wonderful video, I wish you still made stuff, this is probably the best music production content I've seen

[@XiaNingTian]

I happened to get one for free some years ago. We were cleaning out some stuff and my boss handed me a suit case. He said I can keep whatever I wanted in it. Trash everything else. This unit was in it. I kept that and I use it for a rockabilly set up.

[@waltwhitman7545]

i can see how someone like Fennesz or Bradford Cox would love a unit like this

[@HitmanJenkins1]

I saw this unit in a local guitar shop about two years ago, I wish there was a demo this in depth out there at the time, because I would've snapped it up in an instant!

[@jamontoast_music]

Really awesome! Especially on vocals!

[@exploringaudio1999]

+Jam Nawaz i agree! i'm definitely gonna be using that on future songs.

[@ExperimentIV]

FINALLY got one of these! your video sold me on it ages ago, and one actually came up for a fair price locally.

[@rosspalumbo]

Thank you for all your hard work on this review! Really appreciate how in depth you got.

[@christdolphin69]

incredible

[@swgstrpby]

Just got one for 5 euros at the flea market, I didn't expect it to work and be this good for that price

[@TarbyRocks]

Real talk, i prefer longer gear vids, stuff that really gets into the nitty gritty details of the gear and/or what it can do. Definitely picking one of these up soon, now time to dig through the rest of your vids. Insta-subbed/liked

[@KR-ze6oh]

Yeah prefer vids where they dont spend 5 minutes talking about the knobs on the front, i mean come on, most of us just glance the front panel and already know what the knobs are going to do. Just want to hear the hardware get pushed to its limits with a myriad of different sounds.

[@chrisneary8538]

the most vaporware effect box ever

[@BobRossa]

I've had one of these for 30ish years. I've done things like arppegiated singing with it but I haven't really tried putting random stuff in the keyboard control thing. Thanks for the cool video

[@RyanHemming]

I bought one brand new when they came out! I always have one in my archives! Great unit

[@simon_wotton]

Fantastic review! Great job, well done!

[@EuroDJ]

Nice machine ..... .cool character of revers reverb.... remind me character of Sony DPS-55

[@VetoBendover]

Holy crap, I want this

[@exploringaudio1999]

+Veto Bendover they're really a good price considering all the stuff they can do.

[@raistaparta]

Great demo

[@kylewarner7817]

Excellent Video and Explanation. Much Appreciated, Mate. 💯🤙

[@monomakes]

Thanks for uploading this. What a mental little box! I'm looking for one now. Greetings from Barcelona.

[@StephenMcLeod]

I seriously love the look of this thing. Tough to find in the UK though.

[@UnsoundAmerica]

Cray. Thanks for the in-depth look.

[@exploringaudio1999]

+Unsound America no problem!

[@CabelCabelCabel]

Very good video. Especially the camera angles!!

[@nntblst]

fascinating.... i think the whole effects set could be a great add for production...

[@lundsweden]

I hear a lot of guitarist say the are afraid of buying a MXR Carbon Copy delay, because everyone has got one, but challenge- do you DARE buy one of these weird babys?

[@TheRetroGamingKid]

Its basically a Boss PS2 on speed! Love it! I got a Boss PS2 and its a really cool pedal! Would like to get one of these!

[@ElectronicazMusic]

Just got mine today! Thx for the inspiration.

[@middle_pickup]

Amazing. It's like a PS-2 pitch delay on steroids.

[@xisotopex]

roland/boss used to make some really cools stuff, sometimes with real creativity and imagination behind some of their features or products.

[@chrispratoriusgomez2442]

Awesome demo...gotta get one now!

[@Zeal808]

So great! Thank you for sharing

[@snoopdoggdankkush9285]

this actually came out in 1986 wow!!

[@OneRoomStudios]

Thanks! I've been looking for this exact kinda thing.

[@buscrates412]

This thing is amazing! Must have one!

[@robertsyrett1992]

I was going to sell this, but now I think I need to use it instead! Great video.

[@elmosexwhistle]

I just bought one of these!

[@masklayer_garbage]

That sounds amazing!

[@ikki9229]

very good experiment.

[@AleLoy]

I thought I would need to watch several videos before to find an half decent review of an old effect like this one but I was so wrong

[@johangroen3570]

crazy metallic glitcesssss

[@HiGlowie]

Hey, were you using an expression pedal as the foot switch?

[@sonofdirt]

Some of this reminds me of the Digitech Space Station. For some reason they are selling for upwards of $300+ but i got mine off craigslist for $75..!

[@exploringaudio1999]

definitely! i've got a space station too ( probably gonna be my next pedal video! ) and there's a few very similar presets!

[@sonofdirt]

+EXPLORING AUDIO yea presets 18 & 19 are my favorite with the rocker all the way back for the fast pitch bend envelope. 26 on the heel is nice as well.

[@aspectcarl]

Just bought myself a used one of these for experiments:)

[@ericgelber]

Thank you for the video. They have definitely gone up in price😂Can you please share the name brand model of the foot switch you used and tell me which input you put it in? Thank you!

[@orincat10]

nice wallpaper

[@kustommaid3]

Effect / remote input?

[@middle_pickup]

You should do a comparison with thr Chase Bliss Mood.

[@audiodood]

Great value Eventide h910 all the way

[@GlinntOfLight]

Is that little riff you keep playing at the beginning from La Dispute - Objects in Space? Great video! I need one of these!

[@ironguy6482]

My dad has one. It's a little broken, but I wanna try and get it to make some Brian May harmonies

[@TRAUMATIZE]

How do You plug this into a Computer program like Logic Pro X or MPC?

[@ANTIschoolYEAR]

I seem to get a lot of (unwanted) noise is this thing better used as a pre-amp? It seems that noise problem is solved with the metal zone.

[@boric4165]

The high notes at 4:28

[@JimmyJammy97]

Greetings friend, curious what do you think the compatibility for the external footswitch would be?

[@middle_pickup]

Is there a plugin that does the pitch control thing?

[@CaptainRaab]

What foot pedal are you using for the hold function?

[@SwissMilk0]

wonder how good it will work with breaks?

[@yanneckgaensebluemchen1107]

My unit did not have colored knobs. Do you know if these knobs where colored by default? I never used the hold input. Can I also use a gate-signal instead of this Pedal?

[@antichristian74]

it seems some were released with grey face plate and coloured knobs, then some released with white knobs and a black face plate. not sure why but i see them on eBay all the time. could be different markets or time/place of production maybe.

[@ExperimentIV]

yeah I think some just have colour knobs and some done. Mine does, but I bet it's just about cost reduction back then

[@thomasbosveld3549]

omg this thing is amazing hahaha

[@Schnarflix]

Woah, is that a Sabrepulse poster?

[@exploringaudio1999]

haha yeah, i set up a show for him in rochester, which he ended up having to cancel on. now i have all these posters made up that never got to be given out.

[@paulcrawley5792]

I have an old Yamaha RY30 drum machine. Do you know if I'd be able to use this pedal with it? It has a standard jack out put. Great video btw!

[@exploringaudio1999]

+Paul Crawley yeah you could plug anything into this.

[@levijessegonzalez3629]

Is the noise coming crom this unit or something else?

[@maxmatson1578]

I wonder if bands "skinny puppy" or "Front Line Assembly" use this¿?.... BrAp oN!!¡!🎹🎸🎧💫😵👌👍✌

[@robertmailloux3720]

...Of Tanz Victims uses it.

[@Eurotool]

Anyone still listening to this

[@devolucionario]

what model of footswitch is that? 2:05

[@sailor5225]

do you need special power/converter box for these?

[@exploringaudio1999]

nope, regular 9v. same power cord as any boss pedal!

[@sailor5225]

@@exploringaudio1999 i saw one of these for sale from japan and the guy stressed the power difference, maybe he be mistaken? or maybe the individual power supply was what he was worried about. either way thanks for the reply

[@skinnykarlos710]

I thought it sounded really interesting and I came here just looking for a pedal/unit that I can use to get some bass tones to put in my looper with my drum track to jam to. I wasn't looking for anything flashy and this unit might not be the thing that would work for what I want but it certainly is a real gem for that studio musician who wants some crazy tones. ps Any ideas on a pedal that might work for what I want with bass tones in a looper??

[@sampleexamplemusic]

rainbow machine!

[@MrEvan1932]

This is so cheesy, but it could be quite versatile

[@lloydpopp13]

Is this analog?

[@javiceres]

No.

[@BManTyler]

Too much feedback

[@jonaprado3368]

omg

[@ericportillo8277]

Plus if someone asks if you use rack fx you can say, pshh no..but i do use a micro rack. lol

[@DAODAmusic]

Glad I stumbled upon this. Very great tutorial. Subbed. Check out my stuff if you're into indie / dream pop / post-punk sort of music. Peace.

[@miger38]

not compare to middle claas synt, at all, hehehe...maybe for bass it works better.

[@elmosexwhistle]

Now I’ve finished the video, I can see you’re a total sample mangler. Shoot me up a PM some time and we can chat, I like doing this stuff too.

[@zip7806]

Your Videos Sound Better when you have a Beard.

[@TATAR1]

it's not the same guy

[@nuegonah886]

It's a useless trash! And I want it badly (especially after use in guitar sound in "Blood Pressures" by The Kills)

[@robertmailloux3720]

If only they made it in a pedal format.

[@hervetammaro798]

J'avais cette chambre d'écho pendant 15 ans l'orage me l'a grillé j'aimerais bien on trouvé une d occasion

[@Braulios_Penesecou]

Boss PS-3 does exactly the same

[@lovecraftmusic8717]

nice demo but bad product

[@exploringaudio1999]

thanks! what don't you like about it

[@lovecraftmusic8717]

it sounds too weird and metallic...definitely not a standard pristine delay...and the pitch shifter is also not useable for my likes ( I use harmonizer for distorted solos)

[@exploringaudio1999]

very metallic, i agree with that. if you want to make really weird sounds, it works very well but if you want a clean delay that sounds good, there's definitely other options. that being said, i got this for 30 bucks. def worth it!