Boss RC-1 Loop Station

BOSS expands their looper pedal lineup with a new standard-sized entry-level stompbox, the RC-1 Loop Station.

Boss RC-1 Loop Station

Related Feature:
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This full pledged looper takes the familiar form and shape of regular-sized Boss pedals, with straightforward control and an interesting interface.

This stompbox–style looper looks similar to the RC-2, but this one offers an even more streamlined approach to looping. According to the press release, this new compact looper pedal “makes it easier than ever for guitarists, bassists, and other musicians to incorporate the fun of looping into their live performances and practice sessions”.

There are currently five Loop Station products that are available from the company, each one tailor suited for musicians of different levels and playing styles. They have also integrated looping functions into their multi-effects units, which shows their experience with the looper effect. The new RC-1 gets the same looper function but without the extra features that their other units offer, ideal for musicians that prefer simple and straightforward tools for making music.

Boss was able to incorporate essential looper functions with a simple one footswitch pedal control format, this includes controls for Record, overdub, play/stop, undo/redo, and clear. There is only a single knob on the front face of the pedal, provided for controlling the loop level. Should you choose to, you can connect an optional external pedal to the RC-1 for added real-time foot control. The Boss FS-7 Dual Footswitch is said to be an ideal companion, offering control of the looper’s stop, clear, and undo/redo functions without being bulky. The FS-7 includes status LEDs, and comes with a DC splitter cable to allow a single PSA adapter to provide power to both the RC-1 and FS-7.

A cool and distinct feature of the RC-1 is the unique circular loop indicator beside the level knob. It features 24 multi-colored LEDs, providing instant feedback on the operation mode and cycle status of the current loop.

This humble looper pedal packs quite the punch, with up to 12 full minutes of stereo recording time. It comes with a built-in memory that will store the last loop session even when the power is turned off. This means that you can preserve your performances for the next practice session or gig. The pedal can be powered with an optional PSA-series AC adapter or a single 9-volt battery that will power the pedal for up to 4.5 hours. This convenient battery operation will give you more than enough juice for busking, street performing, open-mic nights, and other mobile playing situations.

Contrasting its lack of extra features, BOSS equipped the RC-1 with dual inputs and outputs for easy integration even with sophisticated true stereo setups. Using just one input and output will default the pedal to mono operation.

The new RC-1 Loop Station pedal is currently available for preorder, priced at around $130. Head over to Boss for further details.

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