Boss RC-505chat_bubble_outlineFrom real comments

Multiple users call the removal of the dedicated input/mic level knob in MKII a major and baffling oversight, since live performers need immediate gain control without digging through menus.

@OldManTri

Got my MK2 today and tried to find a solution to the mic gain issue. One thing that worked really well was to do an ASSIGN of the TR FX KNOB to MIC 1 LEVEL. This gives a really fast way to adjust the mic gain but you loose the TR FX KNOB function. A longer term solution is for BOSS to modify the way the knobs work in the mixer. I don't know why they require turning the knob 100 times to reduce the level to zero. A 180 degree sweep of the knob should cover the entire range. For finer resolution you could push the knob in. This would be an easy mod for BOSS to do.launch

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January 1, 2022

@MrWobbles

After watching this video, it almost seems like they missed their audience of loopstation beatboxers and are focusing more on musicians like myself who use instruments/etc...\nThe input knob alone is such an important way to mix live, incredibly weird they decided to take that out. I can control the input of stuff on my instruments or through a DAW but for people who try to just use the loop station alone that's such a freakish oversight.\nThey've also decreased the audio quality of alot of the software vsts their using in the mkii it seems, step rate/phaser/robot all are so bad. All while making them way more difficult and not as user friendly. It's super unfortunate and I'm hoping they update it with the people who made this loopstation as popular as it is in mind...launch

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December 30, 2021

@heathbrady8510

Your disappointment is palpable, Brez. \nIt’s obviously exciting to have one in your hands and I have no doubt some of the new fx are gamechangers. Extremely valid critique, because some of the fuckups are also gamechangers , but in the wrong way!\n1. No Input level 2. No defined assignable step rates 3. Bugs , errors, lacking evidence of pro looper consultation . Ouch. Christmas Capitalism at its finest. Boss, pick up your act. \nI’m sure your new material will rely on other tools at your disposal , just as a new set of limitations will push your creativity and mastery in a new way…\nI kind of just want to give you a hug, bro.launch

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December 27, 2021

@crazy-4-cooking

I would just try to circuit bend it and add a mic input level pot. there might be some space on the area it used to be. Imho a MKII should have all the MKI has, plus new stuff, overhauls, better user friendlyness. NEVER minus old stuff. If you take away stuff, then change the model name or release another \"edition\" like mini/stage/composer/whatever, but NOT a Mark 2, which stands for the SAME thing, but 2nd, improved and revised batch. A MKII also has to be 100% downwards compatible with a MKI in all cases, so if there is memory exchange on whatever MKI it should sound the same, if transfered to MKII (plus more modifications if wanted).launch

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December 26, 2021

Several owners report system error freezes requiring power cycling, with saved loops lost even after repeated saves, plus MIDI slave issues and faders locking at max volume via the headphone jack.

@grzzl

hey, thanks for the vid!\nmay i ask if your rc505 mk2 also constantly freezes (\"system error lc 2762, 1320 etc) and can''t handle to be a midi-slave? i'm unsure if my unit is defective, but ATM it is almost impossible to work with. even if I save/write (and execute) loops/projekts, the rc crashes, i need to restat the unit by unpluggin the power supply - then reload the same projekt - but nothing is saved - even if the prject was written more then two or 3 times (this \"unit freezes and you need to restart and all saved loops are gone\" happens so often - i save actually all the time and i am always unsure if it will be saved after the next crash. yeah and this midi-thing is unbelievable.launch

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February 20, 2022

@Appleloucious

Bonjour Bredda BreZ : D\n\ndid you or anybody of your BBX collegaue encounter a bug with the MKii Firmware 1.04 where using the 'PHONES' port disabled all five faders and just puts every track on maximum volume? This is fecking foolery what Roland are providing!\n\nFactory reset did not solve the problem!\n\nPlease spread the info! \n\nWe have to put as much public preassure as possible on Roland/BOSS on all channels available to make them release an UPDATE ASAP!!!\n\nPLEASE PLEASE PLEASE DEAREST BBX COMMUNITY UNITE ONCE AGAIN!!!\n\nOne Love!\n\nAlways forward, never ever backward!!\n\n<3launch

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February 12, 2022

@heathbrady8510

Your disappointment is palpable, Brez. \nIt’s obviously exciting to have one in your hands and I have no doubt some of the new fx are gamechangers. Extremely valid critique, because some of the fuckups are also gamechangers , but in the wrong way!\n1. No Input level 2. No defined assignable step rates 3. Bugs , errors, lacking evidence of pro looper consultation . Ouch. Christmas Capitalism at its finest. Boss, pick up your act. \nI’m sure your new material will rely on other tools at your disposal , just as a new set of limitations will push your creativity and mastery in a new way…\nI kind of just want to give you a hug, bro.launch

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December 27, 2021

@nipponbashi-uk3385

Got mine felt the same WHY THE BOSS DID YOU DO THAT ! the software for transfering files is terrible it has to connect to AWS you can't just take a Wav and drop into a track folder like before. i can't use the USB on mine cause theres no drivers for macOS high sierra 10.13\nThe only thing that has stopped me sending it back is new features and the hope that if enough \npeople make some noise they might update things. like you say they didn't listen, it's real shame\nwhen companies do this, just make you wonder how much they understand their own product.\nAnyway lets hope they sort it out. yeah and DO NOT SELL your MK 1.launch

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December 19, 2021

Changed step rate and FX behavior make old patterns hard to replicate and require significant relearning, which multiple commenters say hurts live usability where speed matters.

@MrWobbles

After watching this video, it almost seems like they missed their audience of loopstation beatboxers and are focusing more on musicians like myself who use instruments/etc...\nThe input knob alone is such an important way to mix live, incredibly weird they decided to take that out. I can control the input of stuff on my instruments or through a DAW but for people who try to just use the loop station alone that's such a freakish oversight.\nThey've also decreased the audio quality of alot of the software vsts their using in the mkii it seems, step rate/phaser/robot all are so bad. All while making them way more difficult and not as user friendly. It's super unfortunate and I'm hoping they update it with the people who made this loopstation as popular as it is in mind...launch

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December 30, 2021

@evanbelcher

Yeah this is crazy. Especially for a *live* looping machine, you can't make changes that make tasks take longer. Like for the step rate, I think the developers were probably thinking \"you can achieve the same sounds on the mkii that you could on the original\" but that's not good enough. Everything is time-sensitivelaunch

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December 25, 2021

@Andrew17B

for the step rate thing, i like that they added advanced settings to it to allow you to better personalize your effects. BUT i do agree with Brez here, in that its not user friendly at all unless youve been doing audio engineering for a while. i think that they (in a future update) should add in a basic step rate option, that you can toggle to override the advanced option. that way the people who loop MK1 can still do their tracks and add on, and by extention new loopers can actually learn wtf theyre doing. but also now that you have that toggle, the people who will nerd out over every little detail (i sort of fall into this category myself) have that option as well to do so.launch

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December 15, 2021

@nox__bbx

Damn I have no clue if I should buy the mk2 now… I won’t have the problem of not finding effects I used before, since I never had a loopstation, so I will probably get used to it. But u said it isn’t really userfriendly in some cases, so I don’t know what to do. Any tips from anyone?launch

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December 15, 2021

Users report failed firmware updates (including no Mac support in some cases) and a cumbersome new AWS-based file transfer system replacing simple drag-and-drop WAV loading.

@lrufianenlared

I received mine a few days ago from Amazon Spain. My sad surprise was that at least using a Mac I can't update the firmware... Tomorrow I will try to erase the folder and other possible Mac archives and try with a Windows OS computer, but I'm so sad with the experience with MKII by the moment. \n\nDoes someone had troubles with the update too?launch

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December 20, 2021

@nipponbashi-uk3385

Got mine felt the same WHY THE BOSS DID YOU DO THAT ! the software for transfering files is terrible it has to connect to AWS you can't just take a Wav and drop into a track folder like before. i can't use the USB on mine cause theres no drivers for macOS high sierra 10.13\nThe only thing that has stopped me sending it back is new features and the hope that if enough \npeople make some noise they might update things. like you say they didn't listen, it's real shame\nwhen companies do this, just make you wonder how much they understand their own product.\nAnyway lets hope they sort it out. yeah and DO NOT SELL your MK 1.launch

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December 19, 2021

@Knylz

Oh boi, im looking forward to this video. \n\nMy issue(s) is/are: i cant even update the mk-ii. The version ist still 1.02 and if i try to update it to 1.04 it says „no-file“ on the updating screen. \n\nSome fx works differently, for example the roll effect doesnt work how it used to be on the mk 1 and i have the feeling that many fx‘s have some bug issues 🤔\n\nIm not really happy with the mk 2 yet, but we‘ll seelaunch

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December 15, 2021

Effects like ROBOT and tape echo sound different or are missing in MKII, making previously created tracks hard or impossible to reproduce exactly, with no confirmed import path for old presets.

@wadeva69

Appreciate the videos Ben....I have a question. Can I import my files and preset settings from the MK1 and import them into the MK2? I've spent a few years now with the original and have 40+ songs with tempos, samples etc all dialed into the MK1 but am considering upgrading but would rather not have to do all of that work again if possible.launch

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May 17, 2023

@MrWobbles

After watching this video, it almost seems like they missed their audience of loopstation beatboxers and are focusing more on musicians like myself who use instruments/etc...\nThe input knob alone is such an important way to mix live, incredibly weird they decided to take that out. I can control the input of stuff on my instruments or through a DAW but for people who try to just use the loop station alone that's such a freakish oversight.\nThey've also decreased the audio quality of alot of the software vsts their using in the mkii it seems, step rate/phaser/robot all are so bad. All while making them way more difficult and not as user friendly. It's super unfortunate and I'm hoping they update it with the people who made this loopstation as popular as it is in mind...launch

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December 30, 2021

@KBAMusic

We told BOSS a lot of these things, that if they wanted to release this product that serious changes needed to be made. Is it an upgrade? yes, but we're talking about a device made back in 2013 compared to 2021, of course it should be better.\n\nAs for not being able to play your songs, I had the exact same issue for a lot of mine, I wanted to bring my GBB and KBB wildcard for GBB, but I could not make them sound the way they're meant to sound on mkii (RIP TAPE ECHO). With a new device they're gonna update a lot of features and that means they might change effects that we've been accustomed to. My only suggestion unfortunately is to stick to Mk1 for tracks you've made, and Mk2 for new tracks, unless you wanna change how the track sounds.launch

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December 15, 2021

Some users find the audio quality grainy or harsh/shrill, possibly due to 16-bit resolution, and compare it unfavorably to 24-bit competitors.

@martybyrnemusic

I have the RC-505 MK1, it does feel a bit toy like at times, in terms of the fx and the slightly grainy nature of the loop quality. I love that I can set loop lengths, time signatures, count in times, sync to MIDI etc. All great features that old school loopers were missing (hence making them hard to incorporate in a live band context). I am liking all these new features, especially the multiple ins outs and routing potential. It's just a lot of money to splurge on an upgrade. I don't suppose Boss fancy doing an upgrade option where we can trade in our Mk1s? lollaunch

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November 17, 2021

@GaryLucasMusic

Thanks for this review! I've had mine for a week now and love the functionality! My only problem is the overall sound quality seems harsh and shrill. Might this be due to the 16 bit audio vs 24 or 32? Or some other reason? I wish I could get past this issue but all I hear are irritating frequencies as I'm recording in and hearing back.launch

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July 28, 2021

@stuffnuns

I was looking everywhere for the mounting plate for my camera, until I looked on my camera...yup, it was on the camera. But, it made me clean my place, too. \nNot bending over to the floor to adjust your looper is a plus, too. The audience just loves seeing the top of your head for 30 seconds at a time. \nThe best thing about the 505? The user interface. TC Helicon makes a better sounding looper(24bit vs 16bit on the 505), with great vox preamps, but that Boss interface was the keeper for me. My wish for the LoopStation? Metal body and better quality faders.\nBlessings.launch

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June 13, 2020

Some commenters note the cost is a lot to spend on an upgrade from MK1, with one wishing for a trade-in option, and another calling the MK2 bigger, bulkier and more expensive with no wanted improvements.

@aurixkorban6639

As soon as i saw this machines details, just from the discription/photos, i knew i wasnt going to like it. And your video just proved that. I LOVE the mk1, my problem with it was the 99 patch slot limit. So I have 3 of them. To me the mk2 has no improvments that i wanted. And its bigger and bulkier, harder to use, and more expensive.launch

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March 24, 2022

@martybyrnemusic

I have the RC-505 MK1, it does feel a bit toy like at times, in terms of the fx and the slightly grainy nature of the loop quality. I love that I can set loop lengths, time signatures, count in times, sync to MIDI etc. All great features that old school loopers were missing (hence making them hard to incorporate in a live band context). I am liking all these new features, especially the multiple ins outs and routing potential. It's just a lot of money to splurge on an upgrade. I don't suppose Boss fancy doing an upgrade option where we can trade in our Mk1s? lollaunch

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November 17, 2021

Stopping a track completely cuts off reverb or other effect tails, which one user says makes the unit nearly unusable for their needs.

@natanmandala

Hey Ben, I know you don't answer comments too often, but please, do you know if there is an update or a way around getting the reverb tails to keep playing after the track is stopped. When I stop any track, it completely cuts off any reverb or effects that I have on my track. I won't lie, this is a very big problem on Boss's part. It almost makes the unit unusable to me. I can't find anyway around it. Do you or any other user's have any suggestions?...SBN RESONATElaunch

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April 10, 2021