Boss RC-5 Loop Station

Despite its compact size, the Boss RC-5 Loop Station still remains clear and intuitive, and the user interface features a rotary encoder, four backlit buttons, and a backlit colour LC display that provides a status overview and allows the various parameters to be controlled. The footswitch performs several functions in the looping process, and two extra switches can be integrated as mentioned above. Unlike earlier models, the RC-5 allows loops to be stored and exchanged with a computer. The encoder can be used to adjust the volume balance between loop and input signal as well as a range of other parameters, and the looper's combination of 32-bit AD/DA converters and 32-bit floating-point processing ensures a high-quality sound. What is more, the RC-5 Loop Station offers up to 13 hours of total recording time (or 1.5 hours per phrase), which is more than a little impressive for a compact pedal that can be operated on battery power.

The Boss RC-5 Loop Station is primarily aimed at musicians looking to add a compact and intuitive looper to their arsenal that gives them more than just a tool for improvising. The RC-5's storage capabilities and MIDI compatibility additionally give users a professional-level companion that is also ideal for on-stage use, and alongside the aforementioned stereo mode, functions such as undo/redo, reverse playback, and impressively long recording times provide an extensive range of editing options. Songwriting and practising riffs and licks will in turn be made significantly easier thanks to the looper's onboard rhythm section, and the RC-5 can even be connected and synchronised to external devices via MIDI and entire playback tracks loaded to the pedal via the Boss Tone Studio software.