Boss RC-10R

The Boss RC-10R Rhythm Loop Station is a looper pedal with a built-in stereo drum machine, made by Boss. It combines a loop engine that records up to 6 hours in stereo on two tracks with over 280 onboard rhythm styles, so a player can build songs with drum backing entirely from one floor unit¹²³. Boss positions it as a tool for singer-songwriters, live performers, and guitarists who want rhythm accompaniment with looping⁴.

The loop and rhythm engines can work together or independently. You can build two independent loops with no rhythmic backing at all, or use the RC-10R purely as a foot-operated drum machine with real-time control over song sections and fills⁴⁵. The two-track loop engine works in a serial fashion and stays synced to the rhythm, letting you capture independent song sections, each with its own rhythmic backing⁴⁶.

A looper and drum machine in one pedal

The RC-10R records up to 6 hours of audio, in stereo, across two tracks¹. Boss's buying guide describes it as best suited to singer-songwriters, live performers and guitarists at an intermediate skill level². Its loop recording engine uses 32-bit AD/DA conversion and 32-bit floating-point processing⁶.

A Micro B USB port connects the pedal to a computer, and Boss provides PC/Mac software for importing your own WAV loops and user rhythms¹. Full MIDI I/O is provided on space-saving mini TRS jacks, opening up direct-access functions and sync options with other MIDI devices⁶.

Rhythm styles and kits

The rhythm section carries over 280 onboard rhythm styles, which Boss says cover rock, pop, acoustic, Latin, jazz, electronica and beyond, all with what it describes as natural, organic grooves⁶⁵. There are 16 drum kits for changing the sonic flavor of a groove. Guitar.com reported at launch that these can be used to transform a groove "from heavy rock to light percussion and everything in-between"⁸.

You can store your own rhythms in 50 user locations⁶, and the PC/Mac software lets you import user rhythms as well as WAV loops¹.

The controls

The RC-10R features interactive displays and multi-function controls for standalone operation, meaning it can be driven from the pedal itself without a computer or app⁵. Boss's buying guide highlights footswitches for loop and rhythm switching, plus a volume control for loops and drum tracks⁹.

There is also a CTL 1, 2/EXP jack for connecting up to two footswitches or an expression pedal, providing extended control of stop, undo/redo, loop volume and other functions⁷¹⁰. At the top panel are dual mono inputs and outputs¹.

Firmware updates

The latest RC-10R system program is Ver.1.20, released in January 2025¹¹. To update:

1. Hold down the EXIT button and connect the AC adaptor to turn on the power in updater mode¹¹.
2. Press the VALUE knob to start the update process¹¹.

The firmware version is displayed on the LCD screen when the pedal powers on¹¹.

What reviewers said

Guitar World's reviewer, Trevor Curwen, called the RC-10R a genuinely useful creative tool¹²:

The reviewer's overall verdict was that the RC-10R is intuitive and user-friendly, and that it is hard to think of a tool better suited to practice drills or filling out a live performance for a solo guitarist³.

Guitar World also noted the true stereo in/out operation, with the option to send loops and rhythms through the L and R outputs to separate destinations¹². MusicRadar's reviewer, Juliana Viera, highlighted the external control options, noting you can attach an external expression pedal or footswitch for more control over loops and rhythms, and that the R output can send the rhythm to the PA instead of the guitar amp¹⁰.

In MusicRadar's best looper pedals guide, the writing staff found the pedal quick to learn³:

The same guide called it hard to beat as a tool for practice drills or for filling out a live performance as a solo guitarist³.

How it fits in the Boss Loop Station line

Boss describes its Loop Station products as the leading loopers in the world, and the RC-10R sits in a range that also includes the compact BOSS RC-5, the two-track BOSS RC-500, and the tabletop Boss RC-505 Loop Station⁶. What separates the RC-10R is the integrated stereo drum machine: the RC-500 offers two tracks but no rhythm section, while the RC-10R pairs its two synced tracks with the full rhythm engine⁶².

Videos

Click to load

Click to load

Click to load

Questions