Boss RC-5 Loop Station Pedal | No Limit Guitar Co, Idaho Falls
The Boss RC-5 Loop Station pushes well beyond traditional looper territory and into something closer to full song management — 13 hours of pristine 32-bit/44.1kHz stereo record time across 99 phrase memories, each storing not just your loops and overdubs but also tempo, rhythm selection, and reverb assignments for whichever of the 114 built-in drum patterns and seven drum kits you've chosen. An animated RGB backlit LCD keeps you informed of measure, beat, and loop status in real time, USB import/export makes backing up and swapping loops effortless, and TRS-MIDI in/out plus a flexible expression/footswitch port open up advanced external control and drum machine sync. Whether you're capturing scratch ideas for bandmates, building live solo accompaniment, or archiving studio-worthy loop arrangements, the RC-5 does it all while remaining fast to learn, easy to use, and genuinely fun to play.
Product Overview
The RC-5's 32-bit/44.1kHz recording quality is the technical foundation that makes it a genuinely professional looping tool. Loops and overdubs are captured in flawless 32-bit depth — preserving the full dynamics of a performance without introducing noise, compression artifacts, or the tonal degradation that lower-quality looper circuits can add over multiple overdub passes. A single track can record up to 1.5 hours of continuous material, and the total memory accommodates up to 13 hours across all 99 phrase memories — enough to store an entire performance setlist's worth of loop material with room to spare.
The 99 phrase memories go significantly further than simple loop storage. Each memory slot retains not just the recorded audio but also the tempo, drum kit selection, rhythm pattern choice, and reverb setting assigned during creation — meaning the full context of a loop arrangement is stored and instantly recalled together, rather than requiring manual reconfiguration each time a different phrase is loaded. When 99 slots fill up (and with a looper this capable, they will), USB import/export via a standard Type B connection makes swapping loops as simple as drag-and-drop file management — WAV format audio can be backed up, archived, and reloaded without complicated conversion or proprietary software beyond the included BOSS Tone Studio app.
The 114 built-in drum patterns — 57 distinct rhythms each with A/B variations — cover a wide range of groove styles and tempos across seven selectable drum kits. Tapping in a tempo directly on the RC-5 as a loop is created links the rhythm section naturally to the recording, and the onboard digital reverb can be applied specifically to rhythm tracks for added depth and dimensionality — with reverb settings saved per phrase memory for consistent playback recall. The animated RGB LCD screen provides real-time visual feedback on beat, measure, and status — red for record, green for playback — giving players the kind of at-a-glance loop management information that traditional blank-display loopers simply cannot offer.
Advanced connectivity rounds out the RC-5's professional capability. TRS-MIDI in/out jacks enable remote control from a pedalboard MIDI switcher or beat sync with external drum machines and DAWs — integrating the RC-5 into complex live or studio setups without requiring a dedicated computer. The flexible TRS expression/footswitch port supports a wide range of BOSS-compatible pedals and footswitches (FS-5U, FS-6, FS-7, FV-500H, FV-500L, EV-30, EV-5), assignable to loop record start/stop, wet/dry mix, and other major RC-5 functions for extended hands-free control. Power is flexible — up to two hours of runtime from a 9V alkaline battery for cable-free setups, or standard 9V center-negative DC supply for permanent pedalboard installation.
Ideal For
- Solo performers who want a comprehensive loop station for building live accompaniment with drum patterns, basslines, chords, and melodies
- Songwriters and home studio musicians who want to quickly capture loop-based song sketches with real-time drum accompaniment for sharing with bandmates
- Gigging musicians who need 99 phrase memories with complete loop arrangement recall for setlist management across an entire performance
- Advanced looper users who need TRS-MIDI sync with drum machines, external footswitch control, and USB loop backup capability
- Guitarists in Idaho Falls looking for a compact, feature-rich loop station that goes well beyond basic looping into complete loop arrangement and song management territory
Key Features
13 Hours of 32-Bit/44.1kHz Stereo Recording
Pristine 32-bit depth recording captures the full dynamics of every performance without noise or degradation across multiple overdub passes — up to 1.5 hours per single track and 13 hours of total memory across all 99 phrase memories.
99 Phrase Memories with Complete Arrangement Storage
Each of the 99 phrase memories stores not just recorded audio but also tempo, drum kit selection, rhythm pattern, and reverb assignment — recalling the complete loop arrangement context instantly without manual reconfiguration.
114 Built-In Drum Patterns with Assignable Reverb
57 rhythm tracks with A/B variations across seven drum kits provide wide groove coverage, with tap-tempo-linked playback and assignable reverb on rhythm parts — with all settings saved per phrase memory.
Animated RGB LCD Display
A real-time animated LCD shows beat, measure, and loop status with red for record and green for playback — providing the visual loop management reference that blank-display loopers cannot offer.
USB Import/Export with BOSS Tone Studio
USB Type B connectivity supports drag-and-drop WAV file backup, import, and export for seamless loop archiving and management through BOSS Tone Studio software.
TRS-MIDI In/Out for Sync and Remote Control
TRS-MIDI in/out jacks enable beat sync with external drum machines and DAWs, and remote control from a pedalboard MIDI switcher — integrating the RC-5 into complex live and studio environments.
Flexible Expression/Footswitch Port
A TRS expression/footswitch port is assignable to RC-5 major functions — record start/stop, wet/dry mix, and more — supporting a wide range of BOSS-compatible footswitches and expression pedals for extended hands-free control.
Battery or DC Power
Up to two hours of runtime on a 9V alkaline battery for cable-free setups, or standard 9V center-negative DC supply for permanent pedalboard use (sold separately).
What's Included
- Boss RC-5 Loop Station Pedal
- Free standard shipping
Note: 9V DC power supply, battery, footswitches, and expression pedals sold separately.
Technical Specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Model | RC-5 |
| Pedal Type | Looper |
| Recording Quality | 32-bit / 44.1kHz |
| Max Single Track Length | 1.5 Hours |
| Total Memory | 13 Hours |
| Phrase Memories | 99 |
| Drum Patterns | 114 (57 × 2 A/B Variations) |
| Drum Kits | 7 |
| Reverb | Yes (Rhythm Parts, Saved Per Memory) |
| Display | Animated RGB LCD |
| MIDI | 2× 1/8" TRS (In, Out) |
| USB | 1× Type B |
| Storage Format | WAV File Audio |
| Software | BOSS Tone Studio |
| Inputs | 2× 1/4" (A/Mono, B) |
| Outputs | 2× 1/4" (A/Mono, B) |
| Other I/O | 1× 1/4" TRS (Expression/Footswitch) |
| Bypass | Buffered |
| Power | 9V DC (sold separately) or 9V Battery (up to 2 hours) |
| Weight | 0.93 lbs. (excluding battery) |
| Compatible Footswitches | FS-5U, FS-6, FS-7, FV-500H, FV-500L, EV-30, EV-5 |
| Manufacturer Part # | RC-5 |
Get Your Hands on This Loop Station Today
The Boss RC-5 Loop Station is available now at No Limit Guitar Co in Idaho Falls. Stop in to experience the 99 phrase memories, animated LCD, and drum accompaniment firsthand, or reach out online to order yours — a loop station that manages your musical ideas as well as it records them.
