Gearank

Gearank High Notes

• 2021.02: Highest Rated Tabletop Looper

Gearank Recommendation

This appeared on our recommended list for Tabletop Loopers from February 2021 until January 2022.

Overview

The Boss RC-505 takes their Loop Station technology up another step with five stereo phrase tracks, the most that you can find in Boss line up, all packed in a tabletop friendly form factor.

Each of the five stereo phrase tracks come with their own independent looping controls, complete with individual faders. This allows for even more complex live looping layers, the main difference though is that you press buttons with your hands instead of using your feet.

As expected, it gives you a lot of recording time, up to three hours, which you can organize into 99 phrase memories. It also comes with 85 onboard rhythms for instant live percussion when needed.

More importantly, each track has independent tempo sync and play mode, that allow for more flexible looping.

Like the RC-300, this one comes packed with effects which include Chorus, Flanger, Phaser, Vocoder, Delay, Granular Delay, Tape Echo, Reverb, Synth, Transpose, Octave and Vocal Distortion.

Other features include MIDI and USB compatibility, and it can even support phantom powered mics.

Despite all these features, we've seen reports from many musicians that say it's easier to use than other loopers with fewer features, including beat boxers, electronic musicians and DJs.

Specifications

• Total Loop Time: 3 Hours
• Simultaneous Loop Tracks: 5
• Loop Memory Slot: 99 Presets
• Audio Quality: 16-bit A/D/A - 44.1 kHz Sample Rate
• Input: 2 x 1/4" (Stereo), 1 x XLR (Mic), 1 x 1/8" (Aux)
• Output: 2 x 1/4" (Line), 1 x 1/4" (Headphones)
• USB: Type B
• Power: 9V DC Adapter
• Extra Feature: Built-in Effects, 85 Rhythm Patterns
• Dimensions: 16.56" x 2.69” x 8.31”
• Weight: 3.1 lbs.

Demo