Product Spotlight: Boss RC-10R Loop Station

When you think loop-station, you think Boss!

The guitar effects behemoth has recently released a new looper into the ever-growing stompbox market, and frankly it’s fantastic!

Here is what Boss themselves have to say about the RC-10R:

“This next-generation Loop Station is a real-time creation machine, enabling you to develop spontaneous music that moves and grooves with two unique song sections, intros/endings, and rhythm fills. Onboard controls and visual loop indicators provide easy, self-contained operation, while expanded control is possible with external switches and MIDI”.

“But what makes this pedal any different from the hundreds of pedals already out there?”
Well, I’m glad you asked, imaginary person, or this would be an incredibly short article. Let’s dive deeper into this band-in-a-box (please feel free to add your own ominous choral music).

Looping
Let’s start with the most obvious feature on this pedal, the looper. This part of the pedal functions much like the RC-1, and even dons the same ever-useful “Loop Indicator” screen, affording you more accuracy when capturing your loop. Unlike the RC-1, the RC-10R features onboard storage, allowing up to 99 phrase memories and 50 user rhythms, and also the stereo looper engine gives you up to six hours of recording time!

The RC-10R is a serial two-track looper, or maybe a better way of putting it, it’s a two-section Looper, allowing you to build two independent song parts perfect for creating a verse/chorus song structure!

Rhythm
If you’ve used a looper before, this probably won’t be anything new. Boss themselves already have a myriad of loopers on the market including the RC-1, RC-30, and RC-300. What really sets this pedal apart however, is the onboard rhythm feature and the way in which they can be controlled!

The built-in beats cover nearly every genre with over 280 preset rhythm styles that include two unique sections, intro/ending fills, and two transition fills. This allows your loops to have a more organic “live” feel, and helps to give your songs the energy of a live drummer (without the unavoidable risk of it getting drunk before the gig and playing the songs at twice the speed in 7/4).

To add a drum fill at any point in your song, simply tap the “rhythm” button (on the right) while it’s playing, and the RC-10R will drop a drum fill in, before carrying on with the current beat. To change section completely, then simply hold down the “rhythm” pedal and it will change from section A to section B. This is perfect for creating dynamics and throwing in a different feel for different sections. With a tempo control and feel control (allowing you to pick swing, bossa nova* etc) then you can really dial in exactly the groove you need for your song.

*Bossa Nova is the only rhythm you will ever need from this pedal. Hours of pointless fun to be had.

Sync the Pedals
One feature that is particularly useful is the ability to sync both pedals so that the drums and looping start simultaneously. This gives your performance a very polished feel, and eliminates the need to learn how to tap dance.

Some other features include support for expanded control via an external expression pedal or MIDI controller, full MIDI I/O is provided with space-saving mini TRS jacks (BMIDI-5-35 adaptor cable available separately) as well as Mac/Windows software for importing WAV loops and user rhythms in SMF format.

So those are my initial thoughts on this is a fantastic little pedal! I really think Boss has knocked it out of the park with this one, and we are really excited to have these in stock now! Pop into your local store and have a go, these are a must-have for practising, songwriting or gigging solo musicians!