The complete guide to the Boss RC5 - A video Manual/Review

[@goldcoins9311]

I got the Boss RC5 . Really good pedal. Since I've had it, I have been playing guitar for longer. The Samba 2 drum track is my favourite.

[@EEEAYKE]

so often these kinds of reviews/tutorial videos are just ads. this is so honest and informative. it’s a blessing, thank you!!!

[@davidyoung8875]

Before the loop is the best setting because you can jam with the drum pattern until your ready. This pedal is brilliant.

[@Tobi-wf5kj]

I have this looper since yesterday and I love it, and this video is just great: we'll made, informative and honest. Thanks so much for the effort you put into these.

[@dynamicmast]

How to Separate Drums & Guitar. I found a workaround to send drums to PA & guitar to amp separately. you have to preload a drum track to one of the 99 memory slots panned fully to one side. i prefer right side as it keeps my cable configuration as similar as possible to “normal use”. once you’ve loaded drums panned full right, you need a cable from the left/mono/A output to the guitar amp and a cable from the right/B out to the PA. for inputs, guitar goes into the A/mono/left input and for B/right input i used a dummy plug (a 1/4 inch trs headphone adapter. any 1/4 plug will work). If you don’t put something in input B, the pedal will treat the input as mono and you’ll get guitar in the PA as well. I didn’t try it, but you could also put vocals into input B if you wanted to loop those.

[@cesarcarreno_]

I gotta try it…thanks for posting

[@barrydrennan]

I'll give it a try... as I was totally put off, after finding out that the drums couldn't be sent to their own output!

[@dimesciple1652]

Very cool !! Thanks for posting this.. this also works on other Boss stereo pedals.. DD-8 and Chorus Ensemble for sending all wet signal without any dry for example

[@mjrisinsd6836]

This thing is a dream looper in the fx loop of a Katana. It’s worth it just to get a metronome that is amplified to a level consistent with the guitar. It is an indispensable practice tool for me.

[@7376282]

First ever comment on your stuff. Re Power Supplies: Insure that the power supply output voltage is the correct voltage, wired with the correct polarity, and is rated to provide at least as many amps as the box requires (box's min. input amperage rating). If the power supply provides voltage that is too high or too low, sparks will fly and stuff will break. If the power supply does not provide enough current, heat will build, fires can break out and badness ensues. Boss does not want to be liable or get a bad reputation (think Hoverboard battery chargers and/or Galaxy 5 fires) because some knucklehead hooked up an unsafe or incorrectly chosen power supply to save a buck. Great video!

[@withaloudnoise7872]

I have no words to describe how much i love your videos. Thanks for the laughs, great reviews and being you brother!

[@rajatchats]

I spent hours of time researching and contemplating between this, ditto plus and EHX720. Well, the tap timing of EHX720, though not flawed, deviates from generic practise. So despite of separate stop controller (a big draw), I went for RC-5. Thanks for the video and lucky to have stumbled upon it - and learn more about the pedal. Really grateful.

[@JeremyMcCant]

Those drum beats are DOPE! I had the RC3 and played the HECK out of that thing! Such an AWESOME unit! But I ordered a boss RC5 and now I hear the same drum patterns that once inspired me and some new ones. I’m SUPER excited to get it and I’ll make a video using it! Thanks for the awesome video Henning!

[@TheBLSCamo]

Are the drumsbeats-sound crap on 3 and 5? I'm wondering about buying a 5 or 10.

[@adamscastle6222]

Great video. Just got this pedal. Love it but one glaring problem is that you can't clear a track silently.

[@LosTroopos]

Yes please. Almost every guitar player with pedals knows that almost everyone uses the same 9V-DC connector in center negative configuration. I'll just want a sticker confirming if it's center positive or negative, required voltage and the power consumption somewhere easy to find in the manual. I need to know if that digital delay pedal consumes 60mA or 140mA and in some cases i had to deep dive on the internet to research that, when it should be on the first page of the manual with all the other information...

[@enriqueducassi4595]

Seriously I have chargers but don’t know the polarity of the pedal and it’s not in all of the paperwork that came with it. I don’t want to fry this new pedal. If you found out anything could you please let me know?

[@jamieholmes6087]

The standard of guitar pedal power being center negative was actually standardised by Boss.

[@enriqueducassi4595]

Thanks guys it is indeed center negative.

[@Chris-cf2kp]

I think they advertise to only use their DC in so that people don't use the wrong polarity power supply, which can totally fry the pedal. They've simply written the polarity next to the dc input on their previous pedals amongst which I have some but I don't think people often understand that you can't mismatch polarities so they just cut the guess work and tell you to use theirs which is the correct way since it's an expensive pedal. Reduces the number of returns and component failures. If you know what you're doing though then yeah any power supply will work.

[@lemmy546]

Probably true, but just partly a piece of the puzzle. In the old days, when Boss also used another but unregulated power transformer for analogue equipment, called ACA (Not PSA) specified to 9V, but gave a Voltage of 14-15 without load. When in use, it was more probably down to 9V, or just there above. When the digital stuff came about it was necessary to get a new stabilized version out, and that was the PSA, regulated to 9V as specified to not burn out the new circuits. Then it was indeed crucial to use the correct transformer of the two for the pedal in question. I think the PSA marking is a remnant from that time, AND a piece of marketing too.. :)

[@IamMusicNerd]

The Ditto+ has far fewer features, but seems much easier to use than the Boss loopers. Can’t decide if I want those extra features for the added complexity or not.

[@timbaker1320]

True. I bought a Boss Loop Station RC-2 used for $99. It has a lot compaired to the ditto. I like the drums on it but the ditto is easier to use. I just need to practice more.

[@timbaker1320]

A lot of people want to pack a lot on there pedal board for portability so the footprint of the pedals are smaller. Therefore multi functioning knobs and buttons. Good Idea but you have to remember a lot to use them. Not as user friendly but powerful for the size.

[@christianwasmer9933]

Hi, just got it and was really pissed off when I realized that you cannot "pan" anything between the A & B channels ! As you mentioned it, the drums in a guitar amp won't be cool. I finally found a way through this : 1) make the system believe you are in stereo by inserting a shorted jack in input B, and use input A for your guitar. 2) set the rhythm level quite low (20 or so), and loop level much higher Now you have the drums only on output A, be it somehow attenuated, that you can reap in a PA or whatever, and guitar on output B, be it with some not too loud rhythm , for your super crunchy and colored guitar amp ! Not ideal but much better ; until BOSS makes a new firmware with output panoramic setting for the different channels. Hope it may help ....

[@davidgriffith3938]

I am looking for a sample player. I just want to send the device a MIDI PC to load a sample, and then when I press the pedal it plays it 1 shot. It looks like this will do it, with 99 programs and plenty of play time per program. Thanks!

[@nilskastner2981]

Moin Henning, First of all, thanks for this video. Do you have any advice for me? I have tried for hours now to make the RC5 Running with Midi, with my Morningstar MC8. I put play/stop on CC 81, have sent value 127 first and then 0 as you did. Nothing happens. Also, the other functions do not work. I have already changed the cable, but no success.

[@rodolphep0nthus555]

So you really cannot route the Drum track part on one output, and the guitar track on the other?! Wow what an omission! I'm out, and that's too bad, all the the rest was fine. I just don't understand how they can miss such an essential option. Who wants too hear the drum tracks on his guitar amp,? These days most of us have little PA class D systems in our studio. And how about in a live situation? Are you serious Boss?

[@Tommygunn9256]

My opinion is it’s not very user friendly, fairly complex but, still useful if you want to spend the time to try to figure it out. I do agree though, you did a good job explaining the functions.

[@Djangoat68]

what's the point of having all these new drum sounds if it's not possible to output them to a mixer or pa?- They will sound like crap through a guitar amp... so basically the drum parts are not usable in a live setting ..or am i missing something?

[@erstwhilerambler]

You can split it actually. It’s late so I’m not going to type the instructions right now. But you can. I do it all the time. There’s another commenter on here that explains it.

[@tommyqueenband]

Can you use a midi foot controller to play a memory with the push of ONE button (using a burst of multiple commands). So, one bottom to load the memory and begin playback. So, 3 buttons = 3 tracks ready to go at the touch of one of the 3 foot switches.

[@raxeon]

I'm gonna cry, I just wanted a simple how to video, this is the 4th video I clicked on and 90% philosophy again.

[@EytschPi42]

what’s missing? Don’t I explain EVERYTHING?

[@Knome-Ansland]

I like how Gordo showed up in your video!

[@perryadams3159]

I had one of the older Boss loopers, and it allowed reversing, removing vocals as well as changing the tempo afterwards. It was incredibly useful for learning songs, even though it also changed the pitch slightly (and could be used as a live karaoke machine). This is I think 16 bit, though, so the sound quality was horrible. It's a fun device, though.

[@jamieholmes6087]

Although you can't add memory specific changes globally, you can copy a memory and save it wherever you like.

[@ThorForShort]

It's a really cool upgrade for the RC3 but be careful if you want to MIDI sync it to a drum machine or any device that sends MIDI clock. Unlike the RC500, currently, you can't turn tempo sync (TEMPO.S) off which means your loops will playback with fluctuations whenever the SYNC CLOCK option is set to MIDI.

[@bhager9364]

I was wondering about that. Good to know. Already bought it but I may upgrade to the 500 for the two tracks and mic input.

[@ThorForShort]

@@bhager9364 Really hoping boss fixes it in a future firmware update, I sent them a support enquiry so fingers crossed. I got 2 RC5s so I could mix and match the two tracks more freely instead of having them both tied to the same memory bank like on the 500. If they don't fix it guess I'll have to cough up for a 2nd 500 😭😅

[@ThorForShort]

I got a reply from Roland/Boss saying they'd pass my message on to the dev team so there's some hope after all haha

[@bhager9364]

@@ThorForShort Nice! Maybe it will get a software update.

[@Joldrath]

Thank you for showing me the basics. Time to do the basics.

[@CP-mb2ge]

Dude, you are awesome. Thanks so much for the informative and fun tutorial.

[@alankozak2063]

fantastic, highly entertaining tutorial. just got my rc5 so this is very useful info.

[@captaingreer]

How do you set up the RC-5 so that you can turn the loop on and off while the drums keep playing?

[@jorgelucero4231]

I've had MANY loopers, three this year alone..... boss my favorite. I've purchased two RC-5 about a year apart. This second one seems to have a volume issue with the drum tracks being excessivly LOUD! since I never experienced the problem with the first RC-5 ..... I'm gluessing the second one might be damaged? I have tried finding a global volume control with no avail. I ran a factory reset twice, with no change. I hate to sell it and pass on the problem to someone else, I also hate to take a $175 dollar loss! Any thoughts?

[@bolocanalberto]

Can you use two Guitars at the same time in the A & B inputs? Or an Acoustic Guitar and... let's say a Mandolin or a Charango, which can stay plugged in all the time?

[@tomcaron9113]

Don’t set 1stop before recording. After a shutdown and startup your recorded track will have a wobble or roto-sound to it. Took me forever to figure that out. Set 1stop after recording the track and you are fine.

[@dantelinden986]

HOW DO U SAVE A MEMORY ON THIS THING

[@sperl42]

Everytime I watch Hennings videos: That's what color TV was being invented for! ("Farpfärnsehn") 👍🏻

[@LDACG]

I've been watching your recent series of rants on reviews. I appreciate them, and now going back to this video I am glad I listened to your review before I purchased the RC-5. I do have a question for you. where on a pedal board would you prefer to place the RC-5? I am assuming at the end of the chain. However, I have been wrong so many times int eh past. Thanks, Love your rants, they are enlightening Cheers

[@EytschPi42]

yes, end of the chain!

[@LDACG]

Thanks! Cheers to one of my favorite tubers.

[@davroshalfbeard8368]

They don't like low impedance cables took me 3 pedals to figure it out great range of pedals though love me blues driver waza lol. Got an rc5 today see how long I keep it probably to complicated for me😂

[@gorandesnica]

At around 18 min, video showed that time signature can be changed from 4/4 to 5/8 6/8 etc... I can not do it, anybody else having the same problem, any advice? Thank you....

[@johniresearchist7263]

"yes its relatively small", she said ..... NEVER! LOL

[@spiritzweispirit1st638]

This Gentlemen Could Explain a Coffee Pod , And Make It a Memorable Experience!☕🖖

[@danjack-son4871]

Hello Henning. Thanks for your consistent and candid top quality reviews and information on all guitar gear related products. Even though this video is two years old, I hope you can answer a question for me. I own two Eventide H90's and would like to use their looping functions. But to really get the best out of the looper i need a three button Aux switch. What would you personally prefer to use a dedicated looper pedal or save space and use the H90's? If a dedicated looper is preferred, which would you choose the RC-5 or the RC-10R? Thank you in advance.

[@christinepratt4656]

Thanks for the video! How can I get the full manual for the RC5? All obvious Internet roads lead only to the single page of very basic instructions.

[@kirkgray6949]

Didnt show how to set volume…the one thing i needed

[@TruongGuitar]

Thank you Sir! Please show me, how can i adjusted up and down volume of rhythm (Drum) on RC5 pedal. I feel the sound of Drum is too loud for the guitar volume. I want down volume of Drum, while keeping the guitar volume, i hope you can help me. Thank a lot!

[@stevefoster707]

Hello Thanks for the video, the midi bit is the bit I was interested in as I am using it to trigger samples. I wonder if you can help as Boss don’t seem to be able. I have the boss lead and the midi sync and the pc commands work well, I am using the es8 as the master. However the cc messages are not working apart from trk/ply/stop how did you get the other functions to work. I have to 2 assigns 127 and 0 but this only seems to work for this one function Steve

[@primordialhumandwarf]

Is there a way to stop the loop. Without the loop restarting? Using as back track recorder

[@EytschPi42]

Double tap

[@DrPepperZZZ]

I just want to know: can you play multiple recorded loops in a single performance (hands free, say verse, chorus, bridge) if you have a controller like the FS-6? Also can the drum beats be output separately to a mixer? Can both of these be done at the same time? Thanks if anyone can help.

[@ansonbiller]

He explains in the video that with the RC-5, you are unable to separate out the drum beats. You're able to do so with, at least, the RC-10R. Uncertain about the RC-500.

[@DrPepperZZZ]

@@ansonbiller thanks for letting me know. I didnt have an hour to burn on this video.

[@ansonbiller]

@@DrPepperZZZ Highly recommend 2x the speed via settings on any educational video. BOSS' old RC-50 can do what you're after with the having separate verse, chorus, bridge sections. ~$245-275 used at the moment.

[@DrPepperZZZ]

@@ansonbiller good idea on 2x speed. I'll have to remember that. I ended up ordering a digitech trio+ with the 3 button remote switch. I think that's going to do what I want. If not I'll have fun trying it out and flipping it for something else.

[@chemaleon7882]

Hello, I am thinking of buying it this Boss RC-5 compact pedal and I wanted to know if someone has tried to use it to record loop as a ableton midi clock slave and if it works correctly as the ininity looper or others. I read some not good opinions about the RC-5 and Ableton toguether. Thanks for your help.

[@homeless_snowboarder8225]

I plugged my Moog grandmother into the midi in and when I hit the keys it plays the drums which is cool but I want to know how to turn it off.

[@W4RD1N8ER]

I just got this opened the box tried to power it up! Bloody thing does not work either power supply or battery always my luck to get a broken one! Man I’m pissed! But all my other boss pedals work! No issues this is my first issue with one ever and the store I get my gear from are good peeps so I just dropped in here to see if it was user error? Nope it just does not work. I was so excited to use it today too Bummer!

[@timleghorn157]

hey Henning, it would be great to have your guidance on using this with the ES-8. Thanks!

[@jazzcat1056]

Thinking of upgrading from my RC1

[@richmartin3485]

I can’t hear the input during loop playback. I can hear it fine when recording, though. I’ve looked through all the settings and found nothing for input, just loop level. Can anybody help?

[@ZeginMakesMusic]

Can I send the drums to a separate channel on my pa so they don't get any revurb or delay?

[@EytschPi42]

No, not with this one

[@USAJ31]

I bought some from amazon, not boss brand. And they worked with my RC10 into my SY200. Works for the tempo send to the synth arpeggiator.

[@Explorer766]

So loops are just good for A parts? what about a B part? seems useful for practicing but any attempt to compose a song would meet its limitations almost immediately.

[@nami6584]

Love your outfit!!!!! and thank you very much for sharing your informed opinions on the equipment!😊

[@stevendegoodmojosmet4034]

Voila perfect review, Thanks sir ! Greatings from Daithi Rua his neighbour, Good MoJo .

[@astrogerard2022]

I believe you have to play into a clean channel on your amp for this device to function correctly, yes?

[@jorgeuribera]

Thank you for this video! I have a question, can you change the tempo while your backing track is playing? What happens to the sound, does it warp in the same scale, or does it change its pitch? I mean, in the case that you have the RC5 as tempo slave and you change the tempo with another device. Have you tried this? Thank you again!

[@loulitalou4327]

Hola! A ver si alguien me puede ayudar, ¿saben como no perder las grabaciones del looper al apagarlo?? es necesario pasarlo al PC para no perderlo? tengo un looper RC-5. GRACIAS

[@theblondelions9894]

I can´t import or export any back tracking. These functions do not activate to let me do it. It let me in the past but now it is not possible despite I have updated it. Any Idea about it?

[@originalaldente]

Does the RC-5 quantize the loop to tap-tempo? I really need quantization for live performances.

[@jonewah]

What's that midi controller you're using on the RC-5? I'm a midi noob, just starting to realize the potential.

[@EytschPi42]

Xsonic Airstep

[@Eyesofthasouth]

So quick and dirty- I’ve watched the video already but can you run the rc-5 thru a pa and not thru amp for the drum track? Thanks

[@DJMoneybeats]

Here's an idea for next time, show us how the pedal works!

[@EytschPi42]

I do

[@gaylepayne6225]

I agree Boss really do need to access how they format the device in terms of usable access to settings and straight forward usage of settings. Also I hate the tap function which changes the tempo a bastard of an idea. Why.

[@jaspern7]

Can you loop two separate instruments through this? say guitar / keys. One in each input/output?

[@finjaguar]

Thanks for your video! Is it also possible to adjust the volume of the two Inputs individually? My guitar is louder than the microfon, so that you only hear the guitar. Greetings from Germany☺️

[@angrym0nkeysh0w]

Is there a way to set this pedal to play a track and after a determined number fo loops switch to another track? Say for example that I'm playing "track 1", which is the beginning of a song, and I need the pedal to play that loop four times. After that fourth time, can I set the pedal to switch to "track 2" without me manually turning the knob? If I can't do that with the pedal itself, is there an external foot switch that could help me do that?

[@dereksmith1159]

@EytschPi42 Are the rhythm sounds (though there are less kits overall on RC5) identical to the RC500? I have an RC500 but was actually toying with the idea of downsizing if they have the same kit sounds. But if the samples themselves are lower quality I'll probably stick with the 500. Thanks!!

[@doomcrusher3]

You're the best at this that's why boss pays you!

[@konstantinosstefanou600]

Thank you for your Great video and information.i want to ask you about the drums..when i take out the midi file to my computer i don't take the drums..! with the guitars...can you help? Thank you

[@Superperc]

Hi there! Is there also an in-depth review/tutorial by you about the RC-50?

[@JIMISTONED]

For the drums... if you use output A for drums, but loop the guitar with input/output B, would that work?

[@hawk4366]

I found the RC5 way to difficult to manage on the fly. Forever fidling with settings and menus

[@hemantsharma4351]

I have the rc2. And often use it with muted guitar strings to set a drum tempo for live performance. Can this be done on rc5? How?

[@TheMaxdalby]

Hi Henning, I'm hoping that you can help me. I configured "memory inc" and "memory dec" on midi CC 80 and 81. My idea is to have a verse loop on say memory #1 and chorus on memory #2, so that I can switch between them with my midi controller footswitch (a m-vave chocolate). All works fine (thanks to your great tip about sending CC 127 followed by CC 0). Unfortunately, when switching between the 2 memory slots (from verse to chorus), there is a lag, so when it is supposed to be playing the chorus (memory slot #2), it plays about 1 beat from the beginning of memory slot #1 (verse) before continuing, so you get this horrible overlap between the 2 memory slots. Is there anything that I could do to fix this? Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

[@micdim1]

Can you make a video on how to use it with Tone Studio? No Manual or directions?

[@avix298]

Anyone know if it's possible on the rc5 to overdub longer trek on top of the first loop i have recorded ?

[@jacobbaranowski]

nice pj's Billy Corgen

[@RaxFx]

lets make a MIDI specification which says you can even use a CE64 Amp as a connector

[@davidyoung8875]

although this guy is quite irritating he knows his stuff and explains it very well.

[@TRLgoodvibesdotcom]

I like him. He seems like he doesn’t care what people think of him

[@zevik84]

He is great. We love him as he is. Henning, keep it up.

[@rolandmengedoth2191]

I send my RC5 back to Thoman today, because the UNDO and REDO function are not work correctly. Why ? I dont know ! It will be replaced by another one ! My impression at the Moment is that it needs a Software update to fix some problems. Even in this Video not everything seems to be working correct !!

[@davidweden1413]

What I really want to know is where did you buy that cool sweat shirt?

[@EytschPi42]

Link is under the video

[@AIC68]

Thank you for your work. Does the Boss RC5 have metal drum rythems? Thank you

[@TruongGuitar]

You are very well! Please show me, how can i turn off power rc5. Thank!

[@EytschPi42]

pull the power plug

[@erstwhilerambler]

Do not just pull the power plug. 🤦🏻‍♂️ pull the 1/4” jack from output A (it says power), which will turn it off. If you pull the power cable out and leave the jack in, you’ll be draining the battery.

[@ryanh4975]

Here for the RC-5. Not all the other ones you are showing.

[@Schaffenator]

where did you get that shirt? it’s awesome, i want one

[@billdelaney4222]

Four minutes in and your are quite entertaining great work man

[@uneel061]

Hi, i have an issue here, When i stop the loop with a double tap, then i clear the track holding the pedal down. At this moment, the loop plays for sec and then only gets cleared. I suppose it should not sound or start the loop at the proccess of clearing the track, is this the pedal fault or is it just me? Is there a fix to this please because this is very annoying.

[@02hunter64]

Review that Macmull FFS!!!! I've just ordered one in aztec gold, and your analysis is superb

[@EytschPi42]

Video is coming!

[@MrSimhacker]

I just got an RC-5 myself, so I am in learning mode. I hope it will help me to record a song without having the luxury of a band.

[@SirNandoSiri]

What it is the Midi Out Function? Pleeeeaasseee

[@william7108]

I was wondering what happened to Buckethead least he's got some buckets to beat on

[@Warmarshal]

Say suppose I pre record a loop. Can I set it to play for suppose 4 measures, and then it automatically stops? Contemplating on getting this one. Thankz for ze epicz explanationz...

[@EytschPi42]

yes, that is possible

[@dimmutrisss]

So this is not working with "1 spot 9V power supply"??

[@EytschPi42]

yes it is

[@aaron9142]

Can you separate the drum tracks/redirect them? Meaning, send them to an Alesis Strike speaker while the guitar loops continue to be sent to/through amp/cab?

[@EytschPi42]

not with this one

[@malcolmkenworthy]

How many overdubs can be done on one track? Could I use it like David Garrett does in Viva La Vida, where he plays 6 or 7 loops and then uses them as backing for his main track?

[@EytschPi42]

you can do 7 overdubs, but you can’t play them individually anymore