Summary
• Pros: The Boss RC-300 Loop Station is the complete package. Pros include three individually customizable and controllable tracks, ample memory, USB connectivity, built-in effects, and an expression pedal.
• Cons: There are a few irritating factory settings, but you can edit those. To be completely nit-picky, additional footswitches are still required for total hands-free operation.
• Overall: The Boss RC-300 Loop Station is a near-perfect looper pedal. It offers musicians a multitude of options and effects, plenty of rhythm support and useful tools.
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Full Review
The Boss RC-300 Loop Station is the flagship looper from Boss’s previous generation of looper pedals. The previous generation consisted of the RC-3, RC-30 and the RC-300, with the RC-300 being the largest of the bunch. Boss has since updated the RC-300 with the newer RC-600, though, in my opinion, the RC-300 is still superior in some regards.
Being hailed as the second coming before it was even released, the Boss RC-300 had a lot to live up to. Not only was it’s predecessor, Boss’s RC-50, loaded with features, Digitech’s competing looper pedal, the JamMan Delay, was similarly loaded. With such stiff competition, the RC-300 had to deliver something very special to stand out from the crowd.
Note: If you want to know when the Boss RC-300 was released relative to other Boss loopers, we’ve made a timeline here.
The Boss RC-300 Is Massive
While Boss brands almost all of its loopers with the name “Loop Station,” the RC-300 epitomizes that term. The first thing most people will notice about the RC-300 is its massive stature. The unit is just over 21 inches wide and over nine inches from front to back. Needless to say, you’ll need to budge your other pedals out of the way a bit to fit it in. The loop station has a rugged metal construction, houses a total of eight foot pedals, and has a built-in expression pedal to help you shape your sound.
More Features than You Can Shake a Stick At
The RC-300 Loop Station is stuffed with familiar looping features. These include one-shot, sample-like play, reverse playback, tempo-shifting functions, auxiliary inputs, different stop modes, rhythm tracks and undo/redo functionality. Like the Boss RC-50, the Boss RC-300 features different outputs for subs and guitar amps, meaning you can have your bass thumping out of a bass stack instead of your guitar amp. It also features the standard 99 internal memory locations, with three tracks stored in each.
Plenty of Onboard Memory
The RC-300 Loop Station’s internal memory offers enough space for 3 hours of recording. This improved on the RC-50 more than sevenfold. You can also connect the RC-300 to your computer via a USB cable. You can literally export your entire loop collection to your computer, infinitely increasing the amount of loops you can store. Essentially, you will never run out of memory because you can always add another external hard drive to your rig.
Other Improvements Over the Older Pedal
Although the Boss RC-50 offered 3 tracks, there was only one “Record/Play/Overdub” pedal, and three separate pedals to select a track. Switching tracks therefore required pressing the track pedal and then hitting record. The RC-300 Loop Station makes it easier to switch between tracks by giving each one a dedicated “Record/Play/Overdub” and “Stop” pedal. This means you can record on track one, then hit the pedal for track two and start recording straight away. Live musicians can use this to switch between song sections more easily. There is also a single pedal you can use to start and stop playback of all three tracks simultaneously.
Boss RC-300 Onboard Effects
One of the most notable features of the Boss RC-300 is its built-in effects. You can add flanger, phaser, pitch-bend, chorus, tremolo, distortion, delay and lo-fi effects to your recordings.
Additionally, the unit has a transpose function, allowing you to alter the pitch of recordings without changing the tempo. This is altered in half-steps, up to an octave in either direction. There is also a specific effect to turn your guitar into a bass, vital for one-man-band playing. Boss, well aware that looping is no longer the sole realm of guitarists, has also included a few vocal effects to make you sound more masculine, feminine or even robotic. You can further edit each of these effects to your liking. To see what you can do with just your voice and a loop station, check out the artist Dub FX.
Additionally, you can set up the effects on the RC-300 for use with any of the three available tracks. This means that if you want a delay on your vocals and not on the guitar, you can assign the effect to the vocal track. When you activate the effect, it will only be applied to the specified track. Depending on how you split up tracks for your songs, you can add wild pitch bends to a lead part without affecting the rhythm. You can also apply the effects to all tracks, if you prefer.
The Expression Pedal Is Great
The RC-300’s expression pedal makes altering the main value of your effects possible on the fly. For example, if you have delay activated, you can switch on the effect by pressing the expression pedal, and switch it off by bringing it up. So if you want one particular lick to echo and nothing else, you can do that. This not only means you can choose when the effect is active, you can also bring it in gradually.
Significantly, when Boss updated the RC-300 with the newer Boss RC-600, they removed the expression pedal in lieu of other features. You can still be an external expression pedal for the RC-600, but that pedal is already pretty darn expensive. The fact that it’s already included on the RC-300 is very cool.
Jamming with the Boss RC-300 Loop Station
The RC-300 Loop Station comes stocked with a full complement of rhythm backing tracks. To give you an idea of the variety, there are 23 available rhythmic backings available for 4/4 time, including rock, funk, swing, R & B and conga and maracas. Because 4/4 timing is so common, this is the largest selection. There are also 17 different time signatures, however, each with close to 10 rhythm backing tracks. Boss therefore caters to people wanting to record in unusual time signatures like 13/8 or 5/4. To include a rhythm backing, you have to tap out or select a tempo prior to recording, and set the time signature whenever you are diverting from a 4/4 rhythm. The range of different backing tracks means you always have several options, regardless of the time signature.
Synchronization Tools
The inclusion of 3 tracks on the Boss RC-300 prompted Boss to improve the already impressive time synchronization features. In addition to ensuring that your overdubs stay in time with the original recordings, the unit can also make sure that the 3 tracks fit together properly. The RC-300 arranges your 3 tracks so that they all start at the same time as the longest track, and ensures they all sync up properly. Anybody experienced in looping will know that keeping one track in time without assistance can be difficult, so having 3 independent tracks only compounds the issue. If you are an expert, or an experimental musical nutcase, you can turn this function off. You can even have it on for two tracks and off for the third, if you like.
Basic Looping Functionality Is Still There
Even with all the improvements over the RC-50, it’s still important to note the benefits of the RC-300’s basic functions. For example, the “Undo/Redo” function is a life-saver when you make a live mistake. You can also use it to bring new elements of a track in or take them out at will. The three stop modes (immediate, end of the current loop and fade) mean that you can choose how to finish your track. Reverse play is useful for anybody looking to create strange audio effects or trying to encode satanic messages into their tracks. There are honestly so many functions that they can’t all be discussed in detail in a review this long, but each one offers a unique benefit.
Play the Boss RC-300 Live, Hands-Free
For live use, you can operate the pedal largely hands-free. It is possible to create a 3 track loop with multiple overdubs on each only using the foot pedals. This is obviously a massive advantage. The ability to bring in and take out different tracks at will makes the Boss RC-300 suitable for complex, hands-free compositions. Furthermore, with a little setup beforehand, you can assign an effect to each track and bring it in with the expression pedal.
Despite the multitude of pedals on the unit, some things still require your fingers to operate. Setting an effect to a specific track requires using the track’s designated “Edit” function, and the faders for each can only be operated by hand (unless you have very nimble feet). Essentially, more complex tasks must be done by hand, such as selecting a specific rhythm track and setting time signature. Thankfully, the options that require you to stoop over and operate the control panel can all be set prior to a performance or between songs. Although this will result in some silence, at least it isn’t mid-track.
Factory Settings
Some minor problems still exist with the RC-300, but the spectacular array of features more than make up for them. Most players, for example, will have to edit the order of the “Record/Play/Overdub” pedal’s functions. From the factory, the first press will record, and the second goes straight to overdubbing. You can change this so it goes to playback before overdubbing, but it is a somewhat annoying default setting. Most players want to listen to the phrase back before adding overdubs. Likewise, there is an automatic fade in and out applied to the beginning and end of loops, which can clip some content right at the beginning and end of your recordings. Boss included this to reduce unwanted noise, but can be irritating in some cases.
Conclusion
Overall, the RC-300 Loop Station has everything a looper could really need. You can use it for complex compositions, seamless live performances, as a reliable practice tool, or to create your own distinctive brand of musical weirdness. The options for output mean that you can get a full band sound, and the huge memory means that you can store more than enough data on it at once. The unit certainly improves on the RC-50, and includes a more varied effects system than the JamMan Delay. Ultimately, this looper gives you a lot to play with and very little to complain about.
Where to Buy the Boss RC-300
• Amazon: Boss RC-300 Loop Station
• zZounds: Boss RC-300 Loop Station
Boss RC-300 Loop Station Product Clip
What about midi sync with drums machines?
Yep…midi sync with drums machines is a very important thing also…
How dos MIDI Works with drums machines?
If your drum machine has a MIDI out, you can connect it to the RC-300. Then, within the RC-300 control panel, you can set the drum machine to be the MIDI controller. See pages 23, 38 and 39 of the User Manual for specific instructions: http://cdn.roland.com/assets/media/pdf/RC-300_OM.pdf
You can set external MIDI devices to control the MIDI clock of the RC-300. It’s explained in the User Manual: http://cdn.roland.com/assets/media/pdf/RC-300_OM.pdf
Yes, whats about midi sync, the must important thing for musician ???
There is a bug on RC300 when the REVERSE function is selected. It appears to play the first fraction (maybe half a second) of the loop plays forwards before reversing the content. This is very irritating and looks like there may be some caching of the loop so that it can be instantly replayed. Maybe this is not being flushed when the loop is supposed to reverse. This was not a problem on RC50 or RC20.
Does anyone know if this is being addressed and will a firmware update be available soon?
All I really wanted was an RC50 with more time. RC-300 is great except there is no Fade In functionality – only fade out. How can I loop a string pad with out a hardware fade in. I was really looking forward to getting one of these. Hopefully a firmware fix.
Cheers
When I saw your name I thought I’d been here before for a moment. 🙂
Yes, I agree, fade in meant to me a helpful tool, that is not being included also in RC-300 as it was in its predecesor RC-50. Unforgivable, not all who using a looper clamp to the formula “shaker, dubba dubba voice / bass hiohoopper shukki shukki pop lyric / acoustic guitar” …. creative minds sometimes sailing the seas of the soundscapes, fades and subtle pads link a must.
@ steve Griffiths
Hey,… wow that’s crazy eh… why would they take it away from the rc300? I have the rc50 What the heck were they thinking on that…? Makes me re consider this thing. I use that fade in alot too on the rc50!! cheers
I am enjoying the new functions of the RC-300 but am frustrated by the fact that the ALL START/STOP pedal only stops all tracks immediately, rather than following the presets for the individual tracks (loop end, fade out…). Would really love a firmware fix for that one. How do I keep updated on the firmware improvements?
Also, I think the reviewer may be wrong on a couple points in PP 13 and 14. Those problems can be addressed in the presets, and I believe Targets can be set for individual track volume, etc., rather than having to do it by hand. I have already spent hours figuring out the preset options.
Thank you for thisNice Review
Once Question! Does it have Reverse Option just like RC50!?
REGARDS
Had this prior to xmas, one word.
AWESOME!!
BUY THE FS 6 SWITCHES TO INCREASE POTENTIAL TO DELIGHTFUL HEIGHTS.
The fellow doing the video on review mentioned buy two and u can sync them both. Id like to mention all u have to do is assign an up program and a down program, exaple:- patch o7 can be switched by loads of ways to up to next prog ( which is a copy) to 08. when on that patch u can simply have it switched down to 07 etc etc, MEANING!!! NO NEED FOR TWO MACHINES / SYNC ETC. U THEN HAVE 6 TRAX OR MORE..
3-6-9-12-15 etc can be used so creativly to have 3 pedals for a particular chorus or verse -ending or intros…using the above method. the extra FS6 footpedal is fab also as it opens the doors for even more creativity. cotrols mike on/ off drum changing/ in same prog/bank. effects changes also, way toooo much to mention. what a gadget.what a looper the RC 300 is…TOTALLY UNTOUCHABLE.
Big Thanks also to Mike from Montreal for the first video online…www.yahooclub.co.uk
Do you have a video of how to do this? I’m sort of confused… Please teach me how to configure things so that I can use more than 3 tracks on one machine. Thanks!!
Am I missing something? How do you control tempo with your foot? The RC-50 has a dedicated foot-pedal button for tempo, but I don’t see that on the RC-300. There’s a finger-button for tap tempo, but what if you want to make an adjustment to tempo while performing? The expression pedal cannot control tempo (which seems silly to me), but I would be happy with tapping the tempo on-the-fly with my foot, as long as I don’t need to stop playing and stoop over to use my hands. Again, am I missing something?
Tempo control: tap stop switch
You can also tap tempo by pressing the stop pedal multiple time on any given track.
Hi everybody!
First of all thanks a lot for the great review.
I owned the Boss RC-300 and I have to say that I got so disappointed when I relaized that there’s NO WAY to paly without time signature or a beat.
There’s always a default time signature (4/4) and it’s impossible let’s say to play any time signature does not appear on the pedal.
Did I miss something or you all find that as well?
It’s so annoying while playing to have to decide the tempo you’re gonna play… I would love to have a opinion sharing here 🙂
yes, this is very stupid concept, is no time display, like every cheap beat box, so if your loop have 32 beat, where are you. Another ting is the RC300 can be midi slave ? The old one was not midi slave. So the looper will be the master clock midi, problems in a band were the leader is a keyboard or drumer send you a master midi clock
The RC50 & 300 are master midi sync, but there is no any ” clic audio pattern, to send at your drummer, Also editing an existing pattern, is not possible. So you send to your drummer à cheap beat drum !!
The teams on this unit at Boss home, a gadget boys, not pro, for me its another bad design…It’s full of cheap beat box, with full displays, you see the beat, the bar tempo ect. ect, I put a little drum machine be side my looper Pigtronix to see where i am in the loop…..
The tempo is only used if you want to use the onboard rhythms, if you’re not doing that then it’s no matter. You can turn off tempo sync as well if you want loops of different lengths! I like to play in compound meters sometimes and that’s fantastic – the drum breaks in odd meters are far more interesting sounding than the 4/4 drum beats!
You can control the tempo with your feet by tapping the STOP pedal of any track that is already stopped or in playback mode. Basically you have three potential locations to tap tempo.
Adding a FS-6 or FS-5U is a no-brainer if you need to execute special functions. I have both both but like to use 2 FS-5U since they need to be set to unlatched mode and I don’t need the LED lights anyway.
I’m enjoying it a lot more than the RC-50. I think operation is much more streamlined but, as with the previous model, reading the manual thoroughly and keeping it handy is important.
I run my guitar FX into the Main Inputs which is a lot of fun but also have a KORG Kaossilator Pro going into the Aux Input with the Sub Output connected back to the Kaossilator’s Inputs to run back through its vocoder section. To avoid feedback I set Input Output to “Main” and then each track Output to “Sub” which allows me to bounce loops back and forth between each unit and utilize effects (delays,pitch,crazy stuff…) between both devices. I’m monitoring from the headphones and/or the main outs of the RC-300.
Hi!
I owned the Boss RC-300 and I have to say that I got so disappointed when I relaized that there’s NO WAY to paly without time signature or a beat.
There’s always a default time signature (4/4) and it’s impossible let’s say to play any time signature does not appear on the pedal.
Did I miss something or you all find that as well?
It’s so annoying while playing to have to decide the tempo you’re gonna play… I would love to have a opinion sharing here 🙂
Did you ever find the solution to this problem? I tested it out at guitar center and was trying not to use a tempo, just free form. And the loops were delayed at the start and then there was space at the end. Realy annoying and limits creativity. I didn’t have his problem with the rc-50. Any thoughts?
The tempo is only used if you want to use the onboard rhythms, if you’re not doing that then it’s no matter. You can turn off tempo sync as well if you want loops of different lengths! I like to play in compound meters sometimes and that’s fantastic – the drum breaks in odd meters are far more interesting sounding than the 4/4 drum beats! Pablo on July 11, 2016
Hi there
could you please answer my Silly question! i read BOSS website ,and there is nothing about the reverse Option which is important for me
does RC300 Really supports REVERSE PLAYBACK Option!?
i don’t see any button for it on the UNIT! if it is there how is possible to choose the reverse plackback Option!?
Please help me
thank you all
Only real concern so far, so far i’m finding is that if you record 3 tracks ,they all have to be as long as the longest? I want to record a short percussion track, say a 1 bar rhythmic pattern(etc), then record longer loops on the next 2…possible?
I’d really like to know why this aswell, I’m very frustrated that I can’t seem to record long loops over short ones, it makes the pedal almost useless for what I want to do. Please, does anyone know a way round this? Cheers!
Yes, you can do that. Here is an example, with an explanation of the necessary settings at about 5:00:
@tigerdance
There is reverse playback but it’s set under the edit options for each track (i.e. out of the box you need to set it up beforehand). There in no dedicated Reverse footswitch as per the RC50. Whether you can assign an external pedal or re-assign the FX pedal to give reverse functionality as per the RC50 I’m not sure.
So yes it does support reverse playback but whether it would fit with your way of working is more questionable
HTH
@loco
If you go into the edit mode then track measure setting for each track you can set how you want the loop to loop. Default is auto which will make all loops the same length. Try setting it to free. Make sure track sync setting is on and I’m using tempo sync set to off as I’m using it for live use not backing tracks. Think you’ll find this may give you want you want.
Worth reading the manual as some of the default settings may not be the best for what you want.
@tigerdance, you can assign reverse to an external pedal (or reassign a pedal on the unit), however you have to say which track it will reverse i.e if you wanted to reverse any 1 of the 3 tracks at will you would need 3 assigned pedals. Also as think other poster mentioned currently bit of a glitch with reverse in that it takes a second or two to kick in
Bought myself an rc300 yesterday so am still setting it up how I like. Eg currently set the expression pedal to boost volume for solos etc. so far have found it good and reasonably straightforward, although the reverb on it is a bit shit IMHO
HTH
Yes short loop on longest loop is possible, i use it all the time in free mode or pre-programmed lenght.
Warble in the bass/guitar effect….any fix?
Depending on the guitar some low notes won’t work so well. To improve tracking you can try to play as cleanly as possible (only one note at a time) and make sure to mute all the other strings than the one you’re playing. Even with all that I wasn’t too happy with the octaver on the RC-300, so I have an external effects chain for my guitar before it goes into the RC-300 which includes a Boss OC-3 octaver, which are magical.
Just got my RC300 a couple of days ago, but may have a problem I wonder if others have the same thing?
I’ve noticed that the pedals on track 2 are quite noisy, I hear an audible glitch when I try to tap tempo on track 2 stop pedal, also erasing track 2 (hold for 2 secs) seems to stop all playback, and pressing overdubb also on track to, gives me a bit of pedal noise.
All out of the headphone socket at the moment I need to try it out through an amp and see if it’s a real problem. But for the moment, while I am loving the pedal, having pedal scratch noise everytime I stop/change temp or try to overdub track 2 is a major problem.
A small follow up to my previous post..It seems these problems are only noticed when you are listening via the headphone jack..I just put the output into my mixer and listened to it then and all the above issues never manifested. So it must be a fault in the headphone outfit…not the worst problem as I seldom, if ever use the phones out, I only had it in as I was testing the features, once hooked up into my rig with proper output all was well.
Can anyone answer @Pedro gomes’s original question?
Can the RC-300 MIDI sync with an external clock (as a slave)?
Right now, it seems that the only looper supporting MIDI sync clock as a slave is the EHX 2880 (but it doesn’t offer many of the RC-300 features). This is really important for people wanting to integrate a looper with Ableton Live, for example or drum machine, etc..
Anyone?
Yes you can!
http://youtu.be/XpC7IcJDFOs
See vguitarforums.com – there is a RC300 section and one of the users there found that the unit can accept some external control. There’s a thread there about it.
Pigtronix infinte looper is midi slave, but like many stupid looper at $500-$700 concept, is no display ! So the pus said, ” You can record over one hrs of loop, great, but were are you in the loop ?? I have a cheap watch for $10, and is full display !!
@axel
I agree find the guitar to bass effect unusable for serious playing, seems to track ok in little sections but then just makes an unpleasant computer sounding warble in others. Am still using an external Boss pitch shifter for getting a bass sound. Shame as would be a really useful effect but not really workable as it currently is. Firmware fix possible Boss?
1. Does the sound get compressed on this thing at all once you have like 10 layers?
2. Can you send different layers out to different devices? LIke one layer is a drum beat that you send to the left speaker, and you layer another beat over it sent to the right speaker.
3. Like others here, I’m also still waiting for someone to answer how well it works midi-synced to other midi instruments, like a drum machine, arpeggiators on midi compatible synths, etc.. I heard the older version of this, the RC-50 had some major problems with this.
4. the fade-in out problem the writer mentions seems really annoying. Anyway around it at all by messing with the presets?
5. Why can’t someone come up with the PERFECT looping pedal? They just have to read these forums and they’ll figure out quickly what people want.
The EHX 2880 looks great to me, as it boasts great midi connectivity and cd quality sound. Though if I understand correctly it only stores ONE loop at a time, and you can’t store the layers separately, which seems plain stupid. That’s why I started looking into this one. I am currently using the Boss RC-20XL. I know it inside and out, and it’s just not good enough for what I want to do, as I need multiple tracks, and the fidelity is awful once you layer enough stuff.
Anyone try the Line 6 M-9? I think it’s a looping pedal.. I saw a musician I like using it
I just spoke with customer service at Boss. He said it syncs when the looping pedal is the master, not as a slave. It is CD quality. It has 2 outs. you can’t really assign left and right stereo to different tracks on the fly without first plugging stuff in and out– wouldn’t work live.
The EHX 2880 looks SO perfect for me but unless I am misunderstanding reviews it doesn’t really store anything.. you’re left to recreate everything live.
aleks
It was found at vguitarforums.com that the RC300 can act as a slave in some circumstances. See the thread there on this very topic.
hi everybody
very funny unit this rc300
so I bought me a second one to have a pretty intuitive recording set up
but the slave machine crash a lot
too busy on the display
and I can’sort it out why he sometimes don’t crash
some suggestions by people who sync them together or sync them with other loopers will be welcome
I sended a mail to roland yesterday
curieus what they will reply
thanks for any reply
emmanuel
I really like this pedal…having heaps of fun, however, the mic input has lots of hiss when I use my sm58. Any tips? Thanks 🙂 j
back again…the pro’s of this unit seem to outweigh those of the mighty Rang III(esp. studio), that being said, the Rang III’s fantastic function(sync play?) where you have 3 loops recorded and want to play one after the other(individually), say track 1 is playing and you hit track 2, track 2 will play immediately after track 1 is finished, and so on…Haven’t found out yet if the 300 can do this??? On that note, in the 300’s manual “single track play” looks like you are supposed to be able play them continuously from track 1…then 2, and so on…
sorry again for my noob-ness, and thanks
Hi,
Does the RC- 300 time stretch WAV files? If importing rhythm loops, can the speed be changed, the loop quantized against another imported loop, then the 3rd used for guitar for instance?
Is there good flexibility over the imported files?
Ed
@loco
Hi, you can get the same play different loop at end of current as on the rang iii. Put the scene mode into single track play, edit each track so that stop mode is at end of loop, but there is also a setting under the scene edit which also sets stop mode to end of loop. I missed this setting initially and couldn’t get it to do what you want, but once set as above all is peachy. HTH
Hi, thanks for this article. Very informative indeed, and what propelled my to buy the RC-300.
However, I have some important needs and am having trouble figuring out some things: the manual isn’t as detailed as it should be it seems. Any help would be appreciated!
1. Can I mute the input when changing instruments during live play? If so, how? Can it be done via the RC-300 alone via foot pedal or via an external pedal?
2. So if I’m playing back a loop I just recorded on Track 1, and I want to pre-arm the recording of Track 2 so that it begins recording once Track 1 restarts, is this possible? So far I have not been able to do this, which seems like such a natural thing for a loop pedal to do!
3. This can act as an audio interface, but can I record into my DAW TWO separate tracks at once? LIke guitar and voice?
4. Is it only 1 FX use per phrase memory or per track? If per track, does it only apply AFTER something is recorded to the track? Also, how does one exactly set different effects per track if possible? For instance, I would like to have a delay on Track 1 and a Distortion on Track 2.
5. Lastly, can I change the sensitivity of the “auto record” feature, maybe by input decibel?
Thanks- Roy
@roy
Hi, don’t think your point 2 is possible to do, might be possible in single track play but don’t know a way to do it in multitrack play. Happy to be corrected if someone knows otherwise, but if not afraid you’ll just have to get used to hitting the record pedal in the beat
4. The fx applies to the whole phrase memory. To record different fx on different tracks you would need to change the fx in between recording one track and the other. Not impossible but tricky to pull off as part of a continuous fluid live performance
The fx edit settings has a setting saying how you want the fx to apply. It’s the target setting and is explained at bottom of page 28 of the manual. If you want the effect to apply to non looped live play sounds set it to input
5. Yes you can it’s the system setting Auto Rec Trigger (page 33 of manual) its a 0 to 100 scale setting though rather than decibel rating
HTH
Im with the REVERSE function questions…. So far I LOVE everything about this pedal and can tell in 5 minutes it is an absolute upgrade for the RC 50 I. Quality…
BUT, if I can’t press on a pedal to make it go reverse, and then back forward, in any phrase, I will be VERY disappointed and have to return it.
My gosh, why can’t boss learn from Line 6 and top them by maki an ey reverse and also being able to slap into slow motion mode. Oh well…..
Or line 6 make a muti track looper?
I really really hope someone can tell me how to solve reverse prob;) thanks!
@cat
If you go into memory edit and keep hitting right till you get to pedal assignments you can assign an external pedal to reverse any given track (and unreverse on next tap). If you’re not using effects on your song you could use the loop fx pedal as the trigger pedal or you could use the built in expression pedal to do it. If you’re using all the pedals on the unit then you’ll need to get an external foot switch such as the fs-5u or better still the fs6. Note however there is a slight delay between pressing the pedal and reverse kicking in, it’s not much maybe a second or less but it is noticeable
HTH
Loving my RC-300 Loop Station but am a bit disappointed that there doesn’t seem to be a way to hard record the tempo onto a track along with a phrase or overdub. If I’m missing something please let me know how to do it. If it can’t be done I guess I’ll have to invest in a mic and just upload the audio from my amp to the computer that way.
BTW my setup is; guitar into effects pedals, then out to a RE-20 Space Echo, then mono input into the loop station and out to a Fender Mustang amp.
Thanks
Hey guys.
I use the Boss RC300 Loop Station and for me, it’s the best one out there at the moment.
Check out a few videos of me putting it into action here:
http://youtu.be/QGgMWY9DQAE
http://youtu.be/XQpW4GTeXR0
http://youtu.be/VuT4vY7N8YM
Hope you enjoy them!
Dawson
The Sub Output is not an “output for subs” it is a subsidiary output.
HI, I just began to work with this RC300 (I played on a RC20xl for 2 years). A lot of improvement! BUT ….
Is it possible to erase all 3 tracks with just one action? I didn’t find how… so I have to erase all 3 tracks individually (it’s too much time).
Thank you guys for answers! SSP
Hi SSP
Use an external control pedal such as boss fs5U (I think).
Plug it into CTL 1.
Assign CTL 1 to 3 different functions
1. Hit Memory Edit Button twice
2. Assign1 Switch – Use ‘Memory/Value’ knob and turn until it shows ‘On’
3. Press right arrow once
4. Assign1 Target – Use ‘Memory/Value’ knob and turn until you find ‘Track 1 Clear’
5. Then press right arrow 3 times
6. Assign 1 Source – Use ‘Memory/Value’ knob and turn until you find CTL1 Pedal
7. Hit Write twice until it writes new information.
Now
Go to Assign2 Switch – Use ‘Memory/Value’ knob and turn until it shows ‘On’
Press right arrow once
Assign2 Target – Use ‘Memory/Value’ knob and turn until you find ‘Track 2 Clear’
Then press right arrow 3 times
Assign2 Source – Use ‘Memory/Value’ knob and turn until you find CTL1 Pedal (MAKE SURE CTL1 IS SELECTED)
Repeat this again for target 3, ensuring you use CTL1 as Source for all targets.
This way uses CTL1 to delete all 3 tracks in one press.
If you don’t have a foot switch, you could use your onboard expression pedal as the source for that memory bank. by assigning source as exp1
This is the easiest way I could think to explain it.
These assigning functions will open up your looping experience.
Try things like using it fro ‘Play’ function for 2 tracks at a time, I.E, bring on track 2 and 3. or undo functions etc.
Cheers,
Clint
Does anyone know if the reverse functions (and other functions) can be triggered from an external MIDI controller pedal like the FCB1010?
Fastest way I’ve found is to clear all 3 tracks by going to another memory bank and then switching back to that original one; the original track will retain all the memory settings as they were last saved (e.g. which rhythm pattern, relative track levels, tempo if you’ve saved it, etc.). Would be a great feature for me too but this is my best workaround as I use each memory as a template (e.g. loop sync off, which FX is lined up, and which drum pattern I want – they all start off tempo agnostic and only set a tempo after I’ve played my first loop, which is handy!)
QUESTION:
Let’s say I recorded a loop on slot 1.
while the loop is being played, can I record a portion of it on slot number 2 or 3 (Like the Boomerang offers) ?
Thanks,
J
Hi, all!
I was super excited to get a looper pedal but after looking into a bunch of them, I’m not sure if any looper will function the way I want it to. The functionality I want seems like it should be a no-brainer, so I’m hoping I just haven’t found the right one yet, or that there is a workaround (perhaps with an additional footswitch?) Please help!
It seems that all of the pedals immediately play back the loop that was just recorded, with no option to do otherwise (at least right after the first loop is laid down.)
My question: Are there any loopers or workarounds that will let me end the recording of a loop without playing it back until a later time of my own choosing?
Let’s say I have a structure like this- intro, verse, chorus, verse, chorus, bridge, solo over chorus, verse, chorus… Standard stuff. Say I want to record the chorus chords the second time through, but not have it play back until I get to the solo section- after I play the bridge. Is that too much to ask?
The way these things seem to work, one can only do arrangements where one has to immediately repeat at least one of the sections just recorded. I don’t want to build up long ambient pieces or anything. I just want the freedom to play regular ol’ arrangements of regular ol’ songs without having to hire a rhythm guitarist just so I can play leads. For some songs, I would literally need only one loop.
Please…someone prove me wrong! I really want looping to be an option but I don’t want to be forced to alter arrangements just to accommodate the limitations of the pedal.
Thanks!
Aaron, I agree with you. I need a looper that can do three things.
1- Allow me to loop using standard song structure, Intro, Verse, Chorus, Bridge
2- Allow me to save my work
3- Sync accurately in slave mode
I can’t seem to find one that will do all three.
Thanks
Jim
Hey, guys, congratulations from Brazil for all the posts about to this great loop station. Thanks. I have one question, help me, please. Are there some tutorial video explaining step by step about to how to sync/use two or more loop station? For exemple, I have one boss rc-300 and I have one boss rc-50, so I’d like to use them both together. Thanks. Help me, please!
I’ll be here learning all tips about how to use them \o/ – (Excuse me for my bad English, ok?).
Hi everybody!
I have a big question, too! 🙂
Is it possible to play memphrases/presets continously with the RC-300, like with the RC-50?
I can’t find anything about is in the manual, so I’m afraid of it is impossible…
Please ask me, if you can!
Thanks!
I mean when I change presets I want to start the next one automatically.
Hi everybody!
Someone uses a RC-300 on the street with external power supply? Is it possible?
In the manual they write “Use only the included AC adaptor.Using any other adaptor may cause overheating and mallfunction.”
Yes Daniel
I have made enquiries re powering the Boss RC300 using the Volto 2 power pack from Big Music in NSW Australia, and the response was…NO PROBLEM USING THE VOLTO TO POWER THE BOSS RC300.
Hi I have a Boss RC300 and I have a problem with Track 1 that I can’t hear the sound doesn’t come out after recording but I can see a signal only. When I play the music samples Track 1 doesn’t sound either and I can see the signal only. The other 2 tracks are fine. Could someone help me please to sort out it?
many thanks
Hi guys, I’m just wondering whether you can use a microphone, guitar and midi (keyboard) input on this loop pedal simultaneously ie all at once! please help me out with this?
It would depend on what track you hit record first on. I have my bass out xlr from my bass amp and I have my line out on my Gr-55 going int the rc 300. I have audio out of my rc 300 going to pa and studio monitors.
Can I connect this with a Boss Roland VE-20 as well?
I have a question about the XLR cable. I’d like to be able to add another vocalist to the station because I want both of our voices to have a delay/pan affect. I only see one cable jack. Is there a way to work around this and add another mic?
Also, I can’t figure out how to have the expression pedal control only one thing. For example, I just want live (not pre set in a track) vocals to be panned/delayed, but when I hit the pedal, the fx apply to my guitar and any drum track I laid. That is a big problem. It sounds super weird. Is there a way to separate this? The only thing I’ve found that works, is plugging my guitar cable into a separate amp. This can get annoying when I’m at home with no amp, just playing using a headset.
Please help!
Thanks!
can you add in your own drum beet in to the rhythm section?
How many phrases can be recorded at a time on 1 channel?
how can record with the rc 300 the first frase without rythm and make the drum rythm start automatically once start the playback or overdub.? I know it can, because accidently I came to this, but I don’t remember exactlly the steps I did to set this. It’s so easy with the rc 20, There’s nothing explained on the manual.
First of all, thank you to the Admin and the community for such a great resource about the Pros and Cons of the top looper pedals on the market. The Admin’s reviews on this site and the user comments and questions have been very helpful to me as I have been deciding on which looper I should but.
Now my question: can i set up the RC-300 so that Track 1, 2 and 3 each have their own unique rhythm pattern and tempo, and I can set them up to play in Series/Consecutive mode vs. Parallel/All together at once?
Thanks!
I’m trying to figure out the best way to loop my vocals and my acoustic guitar during the same performance, yet have them be controlled separately. Is there any way to do that without just using two separate loopers? In other words, I don’t see a function on this unit (or any others I’ve looked at) where you could basically control/loop the mic input and instrument input separately.
Yes, you can do that with the RC-300 because it has three independent loops. You could also do it with the RC-30 which has two independent loops. You just record your guitar into loop 1, then record your vocals into loop 2. Each loop will record whatever instrument you’re currently playing, so if you press record on any loop and play guitar, it records guitar. If you press record on any loop and start singing, it records your voice.
Sorry, let me ask this a different way:
What if I’m singing and playing at the same time but only want to loop either the vocals or the guitar but not both? In other words, say I’m playing a song, with my mic and guitar plugged into the RC-300. If I want to loop the guitar part from Verse 1 in order to solo over it later, can I do that without also looping the vocal I’m singing on Verse 1? Or if I want to loop the vocal melody from Chorus 1 in order to play it back and harmonize with it on subsequent choruses, can I do that without also looping the guitar part I’m playing on the chorus?
In other other words, is there a way on a pedal like the RC-300 (or any other looping pedal) to specify that only the mic input goes to loop 1 and only the instrument input goes to loop 2 (for example)?
Hi, dunno if you have already solved this but if you want to be able to sing and record your guitar at the same time without recording your vocals or record vocals and play your guitar at the same time without recording your guitar then you will have to have two microphones on stage or in the studio with you. The setup would work like this on a live stage setup: 1 mic goes directly into the dound desk for main singing & one mic plugs into your loop station. Basically watch this video and you see what i mean: http://youtu.be/HJrehrlax8o
Does anyone know if the footswitch inputs are strictly limited to 2 buttons each. I am wanting to set three buttons to the undo/redo on a per channel basis and would rather not have to buy two seperate footswitches for this since single unit 3 button footswitches are available.
Whats My best looper For this situation
Boss RC 300 ?
Is it possible to import wave files (backing tracks ) and scroll through songs wav files stop start via the foot controllers ?
As well as use the live looping at same time on other 2 tracks ?
Application
Import 30 backing tracks and use live- it would be cool to be able to use the RC300 like a MP3 player via foot the controller?
Can songs WAV files be clearly named ?
What if I want to change key during the song in a live performance? Also, can I record more than 3 layers and switch through them? If I record 5 layers for instance, would I be able to go back and listen to the 1st layer alone?
Hi,
I am wondering if you can connect the boss rc 300 to boss fs-5l, and use the fs-5l to record, instead of one of the tracks. When I go to assign, you can choose almost anything, exept recording one of the differente tracks! Are there some other ways to make it possible?
I want to record one track with the hands, and the rest with my feet, so it would be really great if someone responded to my question! 🙂
I actually had this looper for a year and it was very hard to learn and use. Also wasn’t accurate and often had delays in recording. I am using a cello, not a guitar, so maybe it’s less good for that kind of input signals…
What about Boomerang 3? anyone here knows it? any good?
QUESTION: I have a BOSS RC 300 which i have used and understood fairly well since I have had it almost a year but just the last couple of times I have used it I have had no sound at all coming through the P.A… until after I have recorded a loop and hit play.. then the sound comes on… Have I messed up my settings somewhere? Or is this a fault?
Hey guys, I am trying to do some research before buying the RC-300, after reading a million of reviews I am unable to answer my self some pretty basic stuff…….
> Is it possible to play thru one track with MORE than one FX engaged? for example flanger AND delay on a electric guitar input……or it will be always limited to ONLY one FX per track.
> Will I be able to actually listen to my effect-laden-guitar lively then record it and loop it? ….or the FX can be only added post-record or something like that..
Thanks a lot for any help!!!!
I have had great difficulty using the effects on the 300. I can only get one effect to work at one time, and I can’t figure out how to assign different effects to each track. The manual is less than helpful.
Let me know if you hear otherwise.
All in all…I find the questions/answers/no answers re Boss RC300 totally off putting and would not go near this looper due to the likelihood of being struck down with heart attack/stroke a very definate possibility….terribly confusing.
The RC-300 is great, I use it synced to the RC-505 of the singer in the band, BUT there is one big flaw with all the BOSS loopers: they are NOT TRUE STEREO!
Yes surely on the output ( real detailed panning), but all the wonderful stereo fx you made your sound BEFORE you go into the RC-300/505 ( e.g. stereo delays Time line or stereo arpegiators fix of your synt) are back in the mono stew again. That is a pity, big time.
I come from the Pigtronix and the Ditto 2+ and they are true stereo..
How come nobody ever talked about this in any of the reviews I read?
The user manual does admit it. Too bad!
For looping with a couple of parts it is so essential to creat stereo signal, other wise you still sound as one instrument.
For the rest the RC’s are superb. Of course: with more possibilities comes more thinking and manual reading but I’m still amazed how the inventors at BOSS ( the mothers of all the loopers) made it relatively easy.
The automatic detection of the tempo make it also so easy.
I just hope they will fix this stereo thing, but I suppose it is too deep in their way of processing that they will not go that way (since nobody ever noticed anyway:)
I’m a little jealous by now on the 5 tracks of the looper of our singer, I have only 3. 🙁
So I am debating on whether or not to buy one of these, but my concern is simply this, is it possible to switch between tracks just by foot? And I don’t mean like how there’s three individual loops per loop or whatever I mean like entire songs or loop tracks, say I have one track as a song with the three parts, but I have like 50 songs on there can I switch from one to the next by foot?
Hi Anthony, yes, you can switch between phrase memories (i.e. entire songs) by using just your foot, but only if you buy and attach an external footswitch like the Boss FS-6. Otherwise, you have to use your hand and rotate the MEMORY/VALUE knob. Cheers