Boss RC-1chat_bubble_outlineFrom real comments

A large number of commenters struggled to understand the default recording order, the hidden mode-switching menu, and how to exit setting changes, repeatedly calling the included manual vague or inadequate compared to video tutorials.

@michatrieba8947

I think the modes are not too complicated. You switch between start, stop and display seettings by tapping once and moving from red to green to mixed red and green LEDs. In each mode you can toggle from the upper circle to the lower circle (and vice versa) with a quick double tab. The toggle changes the behavior of start options, stop options and display options. You have to play around and adapt the settings to your preferences. E.g. after recording either tap once and start dubbing OR tab once and start playing. Nice feature!launch

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June 15, 2024

@slicksalmon6948

This was about 1000x more useful than the manual. Thank you! The only thing you didn't mention was how long a loop can be and the best setting for the Level.launch

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September 22, 2023

@dong1872

Pedal was working earlier, but I must have double tapped or something, now I can't record or playback a loop. It just pops up the three lights if i try to playback or overdub. I wish there was just a factory reset button.\n\nI tried the mode selection stuff while watching this video, and also by following the manual directions, which are incredibly vague. They don't tell you when to exit all the clicks and double clicks. Tried 40 or 50 times, plugging, unplugging, pressing etc. Just insane. Same with your video. at what point do you exit? BTW, mine doesn't seem to behave the same as yours. perhaps it is just hooped.launch

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April 18, 2023

@wellwornpast

Thanks for this, you did a fantastic job of explaining... but I still HATE this pedal. I generally love BOSS pedals... but I hate this one. I just wanted to record a loop and practice over it. I inevitably end up overdubbing. And I am just not good enough to double-click in time with my foot. The features are impressive... but damn... I have to get the manual out every time I want to use it. I really wish I had not relied on the BOSS name and did a little more research before spending money on something that - for me - is essentially useless.launch

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April 11, 2023

Several users report that holding the pedal to erase a loop first plays back a couple seconds of the material being erased, which they found disruptive or embarrassing during live performance.

@jamesw.mcgowan1726

Woody, thank you for the helpful video. I see a problem with this pedal -- same as with my earlier version of this pedal and also my DItto looper. Here it is: When you have silenced the beast and then give the pedal a long hold to erase all, it plays a couple seconds of what you are trying to erase. It did this for you when you did this demo -- at the point where the screen said, \"Long press to erase loop\" at 7:47 in the video . This is bad. On stage, if I am trying to clear all in the middle of a piece, or just in the middle of a set . . . I get a dose of what I am trying to banish. Any ideas on how to get around this?launch

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August 26, 2025

@LowHertzLife

AWESOME. Section 8 (Described at ~7:10 to 8:10 and practically applied EXPERTLY at 12:50) is GOLD for performers - THANK YOU for the tip on HOW TO ERASE THE LOOP so you can have a clean transition to the next song in the performance WITHOUT the 'old' loop restarting . . . . I just picked this pedal up and that was going to be a deal-killer for sending it back until I got to your demo and tutorial, specifically this issue, so BOSS owes you one.launch

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June 3, 2024

@prestachuck2867

Whenever I press and hold to erase, it begins playback for a couple of beats before erasing! Is there a way to erase without it doing this? Also is there an easy way to skip the overdub step and go from record straight to playback? My idea was to use this for live performance, but now that I have it, operation is just too awkward for that.launch

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June 20, 2021

@torbincase8202

The reason you would want the additional pedal in order to stomp once to stop and silent erase feature, is definately easier in a live situation ,say your just using the pedal on a chorus and want to stop quickly in the middle of song much easier to stay in time with one stomp/ silent erase is helpful after song has ended the last thing you want is the track everyone just heard blareing back for 2 seconds you can manuelly turn the level down on the pedal while you erase but its a hassellaunch

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November 3, 2018

Several users found connecting the FS-5U/FS-7 footswitches or integrating the RC-1 into a larger pedalboard confusing, with unexpected behavior like the switch erasing loops instead of pausing them.

@axegrinder65

Hi, thanks for this cherry video, however, I want to do something not covered in the vid... I want to record a loop, and then, instead of having to press the rc-1 twice to stop recording and continue looping, I've seen someone use fs5u to stop recording and continue the loop... Do I need to switch polarity between NO/NC to achieve this please... It would just make things easier, as having to toe the rc-1 twice can be distracting, or sometimes I just plain forget, whichcan produce terrible results 😁🎸 💪launch

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December 14, 2022

@KyleClaeys

Hey Jerry, thanks so much for the video! It was incredibly helpful and easy to follow! I'm currently using the same setup as you have in the video but for some reason, my Boss FS5U is not pausing the loops when I click it, it's just erasing them after a few seconds. This is only from tapping it once, I'm not holding it down. Do you know why this might be? Not sure if there's a setup function that needs to be reset or something. Any info on this would help! Thanks again!launch

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May 22, 2022

@leafsfan1122

Hi, I recently bought this product, it's my first ever looper pedal. I'm struggling on how to connect it so that it works with my existing multi-FX pedal at the same time. Possible to help a beginner out???? I have more than enough patch cables I just don't know how to determine what to connect to the inputs and outputs.\n\nCurrently I'm able to connect either ONE of my pedals to the amp no problem - but how do I connect BOTH pedals to work on my amp at same time? Thank you!launch

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June 3, 2021

@iLoveASIANGirls2010

Hello, thanks for the informative video. It solved one of the problems I had with my RC-1. I took your advice and purchased a Boss FS-7 Dual Foot Switch. When you get a free moment, could you tell me how to properly connect the FS-7 to the RC-1? These settings are on the side: Polarity (I & II) and Mode (FS-5L (Latch) and FS-5U (Momentary). On the top of the FS-7 are 2 inputs A and B (A & B). Please tell me what settings are needed, and where the FS-7 connects to the RC-1. The FS-7 came with a cable. The Cable has a single male connector on one end. The other end has dual connectors on it (One female, one male). How does this get connected? Thank you in advance for your help.launch

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January 20, 2019

One buyer was annoyed that no AC adapter was included and had to purchase one separately, another wished battery life lasted longer, and a third noted the footswitch clicks louder without a 9V battery installed.

@kenschwer1112

Can we talk about how BOSS stopped including 9V power supplies with their brand new pedals? Just got the RC-1 and had to go back to the store and buy the cord to plug it in XD. Great pedal, but the last Boss product I'll buy. Store associate agreed it seems shady and noted that they don't even include them with keyboards anymore. Last I checked that new Fantom is $4k. With no power supply, though? LOL man, wow.launch

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June 10, 2021

@Patrick-es8jk

I noticed a thing about the RC1. When you got a 9v battery in it, the switch is smooth and not very noisy. With an external AC adaptor, and without 9v battery, the switch is noisy like in your video, making a \"clac\" because the metal enclosure touch the other side. Oddly my Boss NS2 in the same configuration doesn't make noise... thinking about making a dummy battery to use external ac without clac.launch

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August 29, 2020

@rhettdale7027

I love mine. I just wish the battery lasted a little longer. However you can buy an adapter, sometimes it comes with the pedal, and you really don’t have that to worry about. But if you don’t have an adapter you have a limited amount of play time with it. I do play a lot though. And I’m always using my RC-1 when playing acoustic. When you raise the effect knob on there it gives the most beautiful overlapping sound I’ve ever heard come out of a loop pedal. Props to BOSS for making such a high quality and tough as hell pedal.launch

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April 9, 2018

Several users, including ones using a microphone or synthesizer instead of guitar, reported small audible pauses or gaps between loop repeats, though one found a workaround by counting in before recording.

@nostocales9506

Hi, I use a looper pedal with my synthesizer. \nI start playing my synth and latch the key so there is a sound that „stays“. After that I start the looper. After a few seconds I stop it. \nUnfortunately there is always a little gap that you can hear. I is just at the beginning and it disturbs the recording. \nDo you happen to have a clue, how to avoid this?\nRegards\nNostolaunch

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February 5, 2024

@dmitriy72600

Hey, thank you for the video. You helped me a lot!\nThere a lot of boring videos (at least in Russian youtube segment) that contains \"press once to record, press twice to stop, press and hold to erase, blablablah\". And no one talks how to record properly.\nI just got my rc-1 a few days ago. I tried to play rhytmically but always had a 0.1-0.3 seconds pause after every loop. I tried your \"1-2-3-4\" trick and it works perfectly!\nThanks a lot!launch

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February 22, 2021

@felixkmgalanti9064

We just got our loop station, but are having a problem. When we record and go to playback, it has a pause between each loop. We are not using it with a guitar, but with a microphone. Also, we are not playing continuously, but are doing intermittent sounds. Could that have something to do with the pauses? I would appreciate any feedback or advice that you could offer. If I am not clear enough, please let me know and I will try and clarify my question.launch

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December 31, 2018

Some users found the loop played back too quietly compared to live playing even with the level knob maxed, or that mixing recorded and live signal was tricky, especially with distorted tones.

@blindlemonpye5706

Just a little tip ... When recording turn your guitar down a little bit ... Then when playing over the loop you can turn your volume up again ... Otherwise the backing and the solo will be the same volume and the solo won't stand out .launch

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May 15, 2026

@zanderdeximo8898

Ik this vid is 2 years old and i have no clue if this question will be answered but i was wondering if the pedal is supposed to act like this or its user error, when i play a loop and i proceed to just play over that loop (I dont' mess with over dubbing) the loop sounds extremely quiet compared to what i am playing i have my level knob on the pedal all the way up plz help if you can🙏launch

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April 25, 2024

@jonrudolph1470

So the amplifier I use has a built-in 2.5 second looper and it works fantastic on clean and dirty channels....\nI purchased the rc1 boss looper pedal recently and it works fantastic as well with clean sounds but when I go to the dirty channel and play heavier stuff it seems the loop itself and me playing over it the two together kind of cut each other out or drown each other out sounds messy....\nI've tried to mess around with the one knob on the boss pedal but so far haven't really got it figured out how to make the dirty channels be heard with one another and sound good.... Are these pedals more designed more for clean plane because everybody I see do demos on them isn't really plain hard rock or using a distorted sound ???\nis there something I'm missing do I just need to keep fooling around with the one knob to try to get the mix to come out to where it sounds good ???launch

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February 22, 2021

One user found the RC-1's converters and 16-bit recording marginal with audible high-end degradation and sibilance, preferring the RC-5, while another noted a tone difference between the direct guitar signal and the looper's playback.

@peteleoni9665

Here's the deal. Everything is great on the RC-1 *except* (and this is a big one!) The converters sound pretty marginal. That CD quality sure isn't hell isn't \"Donald Fagen CD quality. Combined with the 16bit limitation it's a game ender. You can hear the degraded high end pretty easy and it has sibulance issues for certain. I bought an RC-5 and it is perfect. A 24 bit version of the RC-1 would have been much better for me. Also, be aware that normally closed momentary switches are far from ideal. I solved these issues on mine by adding one more jack that parallels the pedal. That one is normally open which is ideal for many reasons. \nBoss? Are you listening?launch

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April 14, 2025

@8odycount

The features are really cool but I am hearing a difference in the sound coming directly from the guitar compared to the looper. It's the same for ditto loopers. At least the standard ditto. That's why I got the pigtronix infinity 2. The sound coming from this thing is perfect and sound exactly the same as the guitar. But I have problems with that too. The led's are not bright enough and I had weird tone coming from that pedal while performing live. The first one even was completely broken and I had to return. Seems like there's not the ultimate looper pedal out there yetlaunch

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July 22, 2022

Multiple users found that the pedal only removes the single most recent overdub layer rather than allowing them to step back through multiple layers to the original base loop, which they found restrictive.

@BushhBacardi

Nice short demo to the point... just a quick question, if I record 3 layers of overdubs on base loop, can I delete phrases or overdubs one by one to come to base loop, or you can only undo/redo previous most recent overdub ? If we can delete phrases one by one, how to achieve that ?launch

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January 18, 2023

@augustmurphy3875

So i just bought the boss rc-1 and have been playing with it for the last couple of days. I have been having the problem that the pedal will only remove the last overdub layer and not all of them. Not sure if this is the way its setup and i can change it but it’s very annoying because it prevents me from breaking it all the way back to the original loop. Thanks for the vid.launch

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April 7, 2021