Boss RC-300 Loop Station

Basehead · #1 09-26-2011, 12:59 PM

Looks nice...and BIG!

http://www.bossus.com/gear/productde...ProductId=1182

Discuss...

Kwesi · #2 09-26-2011, 01:13 PM

As cool as this looks I want to know why Boss is so keen on throwing effects in there but not making the memory removable

. Not a huge deal but I figure it'd be a much better use of space.

walker rosewood · #3 09-26-2011, 02:29 PM

hmm... so it's an RC-30 with an additional track, for an additional $250.

Basehead · #4 09-26-2011, 04:17 PM

...AND an Expression pedal as well as Midi capabilities. Just sayin'...

singlemalt · #5 11-09-2011, 11:30 AM

Somebody please go first and review this thing!

AlvarHanso · #6 11-09-2011, 12:09 PM

Wow, I liked it until I saw the price, $550!?! If it is simply the RC-30 with an extra track and MIDI and an EP, I'm not interested. Would much rather just get the RC-30, though I could be satisfied with upgrading from the RC-2 to the RC-3 just as easily.

ETA: I agree about wondering why they've included effects into the looper. I've got effects, and I'm happy with them, if I want to loop some lines with effects, I'll do that with effects bought specifically for that purpose.

singlemalt · #7 01-08-2012, 04:32 PM

There are a few more reviews and demos available at this point. Some of them sound pretty good and the effects seem to be usable.

One guy says you can midi control the RC 300 with a drum machine, others say you can't. The RC promo stuff basically says you can slave one RC-300 to another RC-300, if you have another $550 bucks and need six tracks.

One guy's main complaint was that the tempo was still done through tap tempo rather than just having a bpm setting, and an adjustment knob so you could dial things up or down a specific BPM. Seems silly not to be able to just dial BPM, and make accurate tempo shifts.

I'm going to download and print out the manual and give it a good read.

Right now, more retailers have them in stock but nobody has moved off the $550 price point. A 15% sale would trip my trigger. None to be found used.

One cool feature I hadn't noticed was the sub-out for running tracks with bass and drums to a lower eq amp. I planned on running it into a small PA mixer, pushing a Carvin HD1500 power amp into my fEarfuls. I also have it in mind to run all my inputs into the mixer before the looper, sending the monitor signals to the looper, and the looper outs back to the mixer and out to the mains. I don't know if that will fly.

Or I could run the sub to my bass head and other outs to the PA or a guitar amp.

I'd love it if somebody else jumped in first!

RickenBoogie · #8 01-08-2012, 04:47 PM

I don't know, I'm good with my RC20XL, and if I were to upgrade, that new Pigtronix looper looks delicious.

singlemalt · #9 01-08-2012, 08:22 PM

http://cms.rolandus.com/assets/media...ning_Guide.pdf

http://lib.roland.co.jp/support/en/m...-300_e02_W.pdf

Here's a good review I found, and he provided the links above.

Boss RC-300 Loop Station is here! « Jim Atwood in Japan Thanks to Jim Atwood!

Also some video YouTube stuff from Jim's page.

My printer is humming along on the 30 page manual.

Proton Lenny · #10 01-08-2012, 10:21 PM

I will be purchasing this big guy soon, and I'll throw my TB buds a review promptly. I can see why this is not that enticing for many, but for me, it will be a lifesaver. I use the RC-50 all the time live with my band, Mouth. I need midi clock compatibility. So the RC-50 or this new guy are my only options. Having dedicated stop buttons for each phrase, and a dedicated all stop button, is HUGE. That will save me many potential disasters live, and smooth out transitions. Having an expression pedal to fade in and out a phrase hands free will be quite useful. And the on board effects are nice for hinting at that DJ vibe of Low passing, bit crushing, etc. a recorded phrase during a build or breakdown. Yet again, might not excite everybody, but I've been waiting for those options for a while. Once I get the funds in order, I'll give you my two cents.

Proton

singlemalt · #11 01-08-2012, 11:36 PM

A shout out for Zzounds.com. I have used their return policy and it is straight up.

If you don't like it, send it back within 30 days, no questions.

singlemalt · #12 02-11-2012, 03:00 PM

I've been reading the manual and waiting for a sale.

Tempo can be set with the tap tempo button, by using one of the stop buttons as tap tempo, or more precisely by getting into the menu with the cursor keys and adjusting with the memory/value knob.

I'm still on the look out for more reviews and demo video.

Anybody have one of these yet?

Proton Lenny · #13 02-11-2012, 03:14 PM

Mine should be here on Tuesday. I'll report my findings...

Proton Lenny · #14 02-14-2012, 09:10 PM

So just got this bad boy in the mail. I'll do a more in depth review later. But for now...

First off, it really isn't that big. About the same depth as the RC-50, but 3-4 inches wider.

It is about what I expected. A slightly upgraded RC-50. Nothing crazy in relation to the 50. The interface is much more friendly to live use in my opinion though. This is the main reason I wanted to buy the thing. You can turn off/on anywhere from 1-3 tracks simultaneously or independently. Or all of them with the all start/stop switch. Which was a big pain on the RC-50 for me. I had to bend over to turn down tracks 2 and 3 if I wanted track one to continue. Now I can just press the two individual stop buttons.

The expression pedal is really nice. Can control a bunch of parameters from volume, to effects, etc. And speaking of the effects. They are what you'd expect. Pretty generic, but not bad. For me, and the way I loop, they are really pretty damn cool. I've always wanted to be able to filter, lo-fi, and chop my loops as a post effect like that. You can also choose if you want the effects to effect everything, just the dry signal, just the loops, etc. And the expression pedal controls things like the filter cutoff, amount of lo-fi, speed of tremolos, etc.

Anyway, that's all for now. Hit me with some questions if you have them.

Basehead · #15 02-14-2012, 09:21 PM

Thanks for the mini review Zach. I'm definitely interested in this thing. I've incorporated the RC-50 into my latest project. I may need to upgrade...

OmeDunk · #16 02-15-2012, 12:40 AM

Nice,
Thank you for sharing your first impressions.

singlemalt · #17 02-15-2012, 08:26 AM

Thanks for going first!

I'd love to hear about how you work this with your rig. Are you using the sub out? Has you rig evolved into a PA?

Would you mind telling us where you bought it and why you chose that particular retailer?

Do you keep up with the Boss looper contest news and videos?

What do you think of the beats that come with the 300?

Thanks again!

DiabolusInMusic · #18 02-15-2012, 08:31 AM

How are people ragging on this?? I would love the upgrade, I have the RC-20XL, and I would kill for more memory on it, 99 banks beats my 12. Granted an RC-30 would do that now, it cannot do multiple tracks.

Proton Lenny · #19 02-15-2012, 10:16 AM

@ Singlemalt

My setup is pretty simple. I just run mono out into the front of my amp, Thunderfunk 750a. I do play through two Bill Fitzmaurce designed Jack 12's though. They are kind of P.A. like.

I bought it at Pro Guitarshop because they have free shipping, 30-day trial period, and they had a coupon going for 15% off, saved me about $90.

Have never done the Boss looper contest videos. I have thought about it though.

The beats are one minor disappointment. They aren't bad, but they are the same ones from the RC-50. However I never use these live, just as practice references. So not really a big deal.

singlemalt · #20 02-15-2012, 11:32 AM

Hey, thanks! I'm in!

This will be the forth looper attempt. Akia head rush, boss RC 2, digitech Jamman. They all fell short in some way. I'm curious to see if I can midi this thing to a better drum machine and keys.

The looper contest has a yearly website with links to most of the top finishers video. I'm amazed at the level of creativity I've seen. I also like the "one design racing" approach. Everybody pretty much working with the same looper, bringing their ideas and skills. The range is huge, from a guy with one mike, to the multi instrument, multi person groups.

I've been listening to a lot of Squarepusher lately. And checking out local looper pros. Don't get me wrong, I love playing an bands, and working with people. But bands come and go, leaving bassists looking for the next gig. A good looper doesn't need to worry about the drummer getting a DUI or the singer going into a sulk, that kind of stuff. You can just play with yourself. That doesn't sound just right, but you guys get my drift, right?

Suffice it to say, when the singer fell over drunk at midnight at our new years gig, I needed a new deal. Something less people dependent! No more arguing about volume, tempo, pay....

I got motivated enough to call GC. They were willing to order it in to the nearest store (70 miles from me) and honor the 15% presidents day coupon. That saved me over $80, shipping and WA sales tax. I'll go into Portland and pick it up next week, on a regularly scheduled trip. I've never dealt with GC before, but I'm giving them a shot. After months of hunting I spotted my deal and pulled the trigger!

Here we go again!