Boss’ industry-standard multitrack looper has gotten a significant update: the RC-505mkII Loop Station. The gear manufacturer says the device is “a dream machine for beatboxers, vocalists, multi-instrumentalists, and other fearless looping artists.”
Included in the new edition are five stereo phrase tracks, dedicated volume controls, faders, input FX and track FX. The expansive FX features include 49 Input and 53 Track sections, with new effects including Harmony and Electric FX. Two XLR inputs with phantom power are provided for microphones, as well as two stereo line input pairs for instruments and three stereo line outputs. External control jacks are also available for footswitches and expression pedals.
99 memory slots are included on the RC-505mkII, along with five phrase tracks. Users can also sync their loops with over 200 rhythm patterns and 16 drum kits. A USB port for data backup and importing and exporting phrases is available using Boss Tone Studio software. An additional feature that Boss calls “deep MIDI control” allows users to manipulate MIDI-ready instruments and software.
Boss is also celebrating the RC-505mkII’s release along with the debut of Swissbeatbox (SBX), the world’s largest beatbox platform. Contestants will use the first RC-505mkII Loop Station prototype as the main instrument in the SBX Kickback Battle. The worldwide competition will showcase beatboxers pushing the hardware to its limits in front of a wide audience.
The Boss RC-505mkII Loop Station will be available the end of 2021 at the price of $600. Find more information on the Boss RC-505mkII on the Boss website.
