BOSS U.S.

The New Industry-Leading Looper

More Info

Loop, Layer, Rock!
Ready to blow your audience away? With a single RC-50, a guitarist, bassist, keyboardist, or vocalist can create a perfectly synced wall of sound live onstage. There are three simultaneous stereo phrase channels on the RC-50, each with a dedicated footswitch. Each channel can contain dozens of loops/phrases that you stack one by one, so you can imagine how massive your arrangements or solos can become!

In Sync
The RC-50 speaks sync. For bands that incorporate digital audio tracks, sequences, drum machines, and/or video elements into their live gigs, sync is not a luxury — it’s a necessity. For scenarios such as these, the RC-50 can be locked to an external MIDI clock source, ensuring that its loop performances are absolutely locked to the rest of the show. Internally, the RC-50 offers Loop Quantize for easy loop recording, plus Loop Sync (which enables all phrases to start in sync), and Tempo Sync (which matches the tempo of multiple phrases during playback).

Rhythm Guide
To make recording as fun and inspiring as possible, the RC-50 provides a total of 379 play-along Rhythm Guide Patterns using real sampled drums in a wide variety of time signatures. Why record to a stale click track when you can jam with rockin’ grooves instead?

Impressive I/O
The RC-50’s rear panel is well stocked with connectors, offering a variety of inputs (stereo Inst ins, XLR input with 48V phantom power, mini-jack aux), outputs (1/4” stereo, 1/4” sub stereo outs, headphone out), and USB for importing WAV files from computers. MIDI in and out jacks are provided, as are 1/4” TRS inputs for accommodating an optional Expression pedal and footswitches; up to four footswitches can be used simultaneously.

Bonus Features
The RC-50 has plenty of other noteworthy features on offer, for example: Phrases can be played forward or backward. Phrases can be retriggered in “free time” or on a time-aligned grid. Errors can be corrected on the fly with the Undo/Redo switch.

The New Industry-Leading Looper

Specs

AD Conversion

24 bit

DA Conversion

24 bit

Sampling Frequency

44.1kHz

Program Memories

99

Nominal Input Level

INST: -10 dBu
MIC: -50 dBu
AUX: -16 dBu

Input Impedance

INST: 1 M Ω
MIC: 1 kΩ
AUX: 100 kΩ

Nominal Output Level

MAIN OUTPUT: -10 dBu
SUB OUTPUT: -10 dBu

Output Impedance

MAIN OUTPUT: 2 kΩ
SUB OUTPUT: 2 kΩ
PHONES: 47 Ω

Available Recording Time*

STEREO: Approx. 24 minutes
MONO: Approx. 49 minutes

Control

Front Panel

REC/PLAY/OVERDUB pedal
STOP pedal
TEMPO pedal
UNDO/REDO pedal
PHRASE 1 pedal
PHRASE 2 pedal
PHRASE 3 pedal
PATCH/VALUE dial
PARAMETER buttons
TAP TEMPO button
NAME/PATCH button
CTL/EXP PEDAL button
SYSTEM/USB button
EXIT button
WRITE button
PLAY MODE button
LOOP SYNC button
AUTO REC button
INPUT MODE button
OVERDUB MODE button
LOOP QUANTIZE indicator
OVERDUB MODE indicators
(OVERDUB, REPLACE, MOMENTARY PUNCH-IN)

PHRASE EDIT

PHRASE LEVEL knobs (PHRASE 1, 2, 3)
PHRASE buttons (PHRASE 1, 2, 3)
REVERSE indicators (PHRASE 1, 2, 3)
ONE SHOT indicators (PHRASE 1, 2, 3)

GUIDE

LEVEL knob
SELECT button
START/STOP button

INPUT LEVEL

AUX knob
MIC knob
INST knob
PEAK indicator

MASTER

LEVEL knob

Rear Panel

PHANTOM switch
POWER switch

Others

Display

16 characters, 2 lines (backlit LCD)
2 characters, 7 segment LED

Connectors

INST jacks R (MONO)/L (1/4 inch phone type)
MIC connector (XLR type; supports use of phantom power)
AUX jack (Stereo miniature phone type)
MAIN OUTPUT jacks R (MONO)/L (1/4 inch phone type)
PHONES jack (Stereo 1/4 inch phone type)
SUB OUTPUT jacks R (MONO)/L (1/4 inch phone type)
EXP/CTL 3, 4 PEDAL jack (TRS 1/4 inch phone type)
CTL 1, 2 PEDAL jack (TRS 1/4 inch phone type)
USB connector
MIDI connectors (IN/OUT)
DC IN (AC adaptor) jack

Power Supply

DC 9 V: Supply AC adaptor (Roland ACI or ACB series)

Current Draw

450 mA

Accessories

AC adaptor (Roland ACI or ACB series)
USB cable
Owner's Manual
Roland Service (information sheet)
Sound Library for RC-50 (Sample Phrase CD)

Options

Foot Switch: FS-5U
Dual Foot SwitcH: FS-6
Expression Pedal: EV-5 (Roland), FV-500L/H (Roland)
Foot Switch Cable: PCS-31 (Roland)
(Stereo 1/4 inch phone plug-1/4 inch phone plug x 2)

Size and Weight

Width

472 mm

18-5/8 inches

Depth

198 mm

7-13/16 inches

Height

64 mm

2-9/16 inches

Weight

2.9 kg

6 lbs. 7 oz.

excluding AC adaptor

* The times listed above take into account the amount of memory needed for the actual recording combined with the memory required for the RC-50's operations (e.g., Undo/Redo).* 0 dBu = 0.775 Vrms

*The specifications are subject to change without notice.

Downloads & Updates

Downloads & Updates

RC-50 Paul Hanson Custom Loops

This download contains 15 stereo WAV files that you can load into your RC-50 and use as phrase loops. The files are organized into five folders, with each folder containing three WAV files. The files are named so that they will load into Patches 90-94 in the RC-50.

RC-50 System Update Version 1.01

This is the latest operating system for the RC-50. This update adds the ability to change the Playback-start Operation. Please refer to the "RC50 Update ReadMe.pdf" for the update procedure. Please refer to the "RC-50AdditionsOM.pdf" for this version's additions to the Owner's Manual.

NOTE:The update files that you download and save to your computer from the link above are enclosed in a compressed zip file. These files will need to be extracted from the zip file before you can burn them to a CD.

You can do this by using the WinZip application on your PC running Windows XP, or by using Stuffit Expander on your Macintosh (needed for OS 10.2.x or below). If you're using Mac OS X 10.3.x or above, then you will not need Stuffit Expander.

When you double-click on the downloaded file that you saved to your computer, WinZip or Stuffit Expander should startup automatically. If you do not have WinZip (PC) or Stuffit Expander (Mac) installed, then you must download it, install it, and extract/unzip the update files folder before you can complete the update procedure.

You can get WinZip from here.

You can get Stuffit Expander from here.

Support

If you have questions about operating your BOSS product, please check our Knowledge Base for answers to the most common questions.

You can also contact our Product Support department by phone or email.

In addition, we have a library of Support Documents that you can download and reference. If Support Documents are available for this product, they will be listed below.

Support Documents

RC-50 Workshop 01: Using Single Mode

The RC-50's Single mode is used for recording and playing loops in sequential order, making it great for creating separate song sections on-the-fly during a live performance. In this booklet, we cover Single mode essentials, including pedal operations and important patch settings.

RC-50 Workshop 02: Using Multi Mode

When the RC-50's in Multi mode, it becomes a looping multitracker with the ability to play up to three phrases at once. This booklet covers Multi mode in detail.

RC-50 Workshop 03: Patches

In this booklet, you'll learn how to edit and store patches, so that you can configure the RC-50 just the way you like for any looping adventure.

RC-50 Workshop 04: Audio Inputs and Outputs

With three different types of audio inputs, the RC-50 provides the right connections for your guitar, bass, keyboard, microphone, or MP3/CD player. Once you're connected, multiple outputs give you plenty of options for monitoring and processing your sound after it leaves the RC-50. This booklet gives you the lowdown on using the inputs and outputs.

RC-50 Workshop 05: The Guide and Loop Quantize

The RC-50's built-in guide provides a rhythmic backing you can play along with when recording phrases, while the Loop Quantize feature helps you keep your phrases in perfect sync with the guide and each other. This booklet covers both of these features in detail.

RC-50 Workshop 06: Tempos and Tempo Sync

In this booklet, you'll learn all about the tempo settings that are at the heart of many RC-50 functions. You'll also learn how to use the Tempo Sync feature, which synchronizes phrases to the patch tempo without changing their pitch.

RC-50 TurboStart

BOSS Product Catalog 2008

Forging the Future - Innovation for Creative Inspiration
BOSS forges into 2008 with an awe-inspiring lineup of effects, digital studios, and accessories.

RC-50 Brochure