BOSS RC-500

The Boss RC-500 is a floor-based, dual-track stereo looper pedal in the long-running Loop Station family, announced in October 2020 alongside the single-track RC-5¹. It records two stereo tracks with independent controls, processes audio at 32-bit quality, and carries built-in rhythms, Loop FX, an XLR mic input with phantom power, MIDI and USB for WAV file import and export². Boss positions it for guitarists, singer-songwriters and multi-instrumentalists³.

It replaced the RC-30 in the lineup, and Guitar World's reviewer describes it as sitting above the RC-5 and the RC-1 in functionality and size, but not as fully featured as the RC-600⁴⁵.

What it is and what it does

The RC-500 records loops onto two stereo tracks, each with its own controls, so you can build structured arrangements rather than a single stacked phrase². By default the two tracks run in parallel mode: both loops play at the same time and can be brought in and out of the mix while performing⁹. MusicRadar's buying guide found it as easy to use as other Boss loopers despite the deeper functionality, noting "It behaves just as most other loopers do, and you won't need the manual to get up and running here"⁷.

The 32-bit processing is described by Boss as delivering studio-grade loop quality², and the unit holds 99 phrase memories for storing loops and setups².

Controls: footswitches, faders and display

The RC-500 gives you three customizable footswitches for hands-free control². Boss's own walkthrough of the pedal says the footswitches can be assigned to almost any parameter, with options including tap tempo, Loop FX per track, and drum grooves⁹. Track faders and a mic level knob provide direct access to volume control while performing¹.

The display is an LCD with a multi-color backlight that shows loop status and editing parameters, and the backlight color changes to indicate the current operation mode⁶¹.

Guitar World's review noted a change in feel from the older generation: "gone are the soft-touch footswitches, with the unit now resembling something much more robust," describing the enclosure as more bomb-proof with a pleasing heft⁴.

Loop FX and rhythms

The RC-500 comes loaded with 57 preset rhythms, each with A/B variations, and 16 different drum kits¹⁰¹¹. Boss's buying guide also lists 50 user rhythms you can create yourself³. Reverb is available for the rhythm and drum tracks, which Performer Mag's reviewer found adds depth and ambience¹⁰. Guitar World's spec listing summarizes the effects as Loop FX plus reverb on the rhythm parts¹².

The Loop FX themselves work on your recorded loops:

• Scatter: a beat-slicing effect that chops up loops and resequences them for a drastically different feel⁹
• Repeat: displaces the two loops by a specific measure to shake up the groove⁹
• Reverse: for ambient and ethereal loops; the RC-5 and RC-500 both feature reverse looping⁹¹³
• Vinyl Flick: ends a loop in style⁹

Power and connections

The RC-500 runs on four AA alkaline batteries or an optional AC adaptor, a combination Boss calls busker-friendly³⁶. Connections include stereo input and output, two 1/4" outputs (A/mono and B), an XLR mic input with phantom power for vocals or mic'd instruments, MIDI in/out for deep control of external gear, and USB Micro-B for WAV file import and export⁶⁷².

Firmware updates

Boss supports the RC-500 with system program updates over USB. To check which version a unit is running, hold down the MENU button and connect a plug to the OUTPUT A/MONO jack to turn it on; the display then indicates the current system version¹⁴. When an update finishes, the message "COMPLETE" appears on the display and the new system program runs at the next startup¹⁴.

The update process, from Boss's support instructions¹⁴:

1. Download the file named "rc500_sys_v110.zip" from the Boss support page.
2. Connect the RC-500 to a Windows or Mac computer with a USB cable (USB 2.0 compliant).
3. Hold down the MENU and EXIT buttons and connect a plug to the OUTPUT A/MONO jack; the display shows "RC-500 Updater CONNECTING...".
4. Follow the updater's steps; when complete, the display shows "COMPLETE" and the new system program runs at the next startup.

Boss warns never to apply RC-500 update data to any other product, as it may destroy that product's data or system program¹⁴. To check your current version, hold down the MENU button and connect a plug to the OUTPUT A/MONO jack to turn the unit on; the display indicates the system version¹⁴. The owner's manual is available from Boss's support pages¹⁵.

History: the successor to the RC-30

The RC-500 is the successor to the immensely popular and long-standing RC-30⁹. The RC-30 itself replaced the RC-20XL when it launched in 2011⁵¹⁶, and Boss's history of the Loop Station line describes the RC-30 giving way to the RC-500, which the company updated and upgraded in 2020¹⁷. Boss's history article says the RC-5 and RC-500 arrived in 2020 offering a massive thirteen hours of recording time¹⁸.

At launch, Premier Guitar reported the RC-500 would be available for $349.99 in October 2020¹, with MusicPlayers giving the same US price¹⁹ and Guitar World listing £265 in the UK²⁰. GuitarPlayer reported both the RC-5 and RC-500 available as of October 2020²¹.

What reviewers said

Guitar World's review concluded: "The Boss RC-500 is simple enough for a beginner to get up and running quickly, yet offers excellent advanced features"⁴. The same review lists its stereo looper engine with 13 hours of recording time, the LCD with multi-color backlight, and the 16 drum kits with 57 preset rhythms⁴.

Against the rest of the range, the RC-600 expands on the precedent set by the RC-500 with six stereo tracks, nine freely assignable footswitches, three pedal modes, deep MIDI control and input FX including chorus and delay²²²³. The RC-500 keeps two tracks, three footswitches and a simpler panel, which is what places it mid-range in the family⁴².

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