• Registered: 2011-07-17
  • Posts: 12

Topic: Competetion gets Thick - NEW BOSS RC-300

Hey VC community,

Any loopers out there? Was looking at the new release from Boss and was thinking. "Crap!" I'm super loyal once I go with a brand that I like. So based off the press release, how & what can be improved on newer loop/vocal effects units from TC Helicon? I'm really liking the storage of loops & overall recording time of the RC-300, but there's plenty more features too... Let's keep the fire of competition burning with the continuous evolution of looping devices. TC Helicon guys, hope you're taking notes and already 6 moves ahead of those Boss guys wink We'll be waiting... The Voicelive 2 needs more Looping Options or possibly a separate unit that takes the best of VLT, the Voicelive 2 & RC-300 and mutates them together into a mega loop unit wink Or a sleek fully featured unit... LOVIN MY VLTouch though smile Keep em coming guys, can't wait to see your answer to the RC-300 wink

Here's the official press release from Roland:

"Boss is pleased to introduce the RC-300 Loop Station, the new flagship model in its industry-leading lineup of real-time phrase loopers. Equipped with multitrack loop phrases, three hours of stereo recording time, built-in effects, enhanced real-time control options, USB, and much more, the RC-300 is a dream machine for the growing legions of instrumentalists and vocalists who incorporate live looping in their musical performances.

"The RC-300 replaces the popular RC-50, improving on its powerful predecessor in nearly every way. Like the RC-50, it's housed in an ultra-durable metal chassis that's built to last, and offers 99 different memory locations, each with three independent stereo or mono loop phrases.

"But, the RC-300 ups the ante big time with three hours of recording and loop storage: more than seven times the amount available in the RC-50. The RC-300 also provides newly enhanced options for controlling loop phrases, including dedicated rec/dub/play and stop footswitches for each phrase, an all start/stop footswitch, and an expression pedal for real-time effects control.

"The RC-300's interface is simple to navigate, with a comprehensive display and many dedicated knobs, buttons, and status indicators. In addition, three faders provide for quick mixing of loop phrases.

"Onboard effects allow users to process their audio sources and loops with cool sounds such as slicer, filter, transpose, and many more. Effects are optimised for looping and can automatically sync to the tempo track. There's even a handy effect for getting a bass sound with a regular guitar, as well as a host of modern vocal effects.

"Users have an array of options for connecting various audio devices via the RC-300's well-stocked rear panel (click to view). Inputs include an XLR microphone jack with phantom power, mono or stereo instrument jacks, and an aux jack for hooking up an external music player or other stereo device.

"All the inputs can be used simultaneously, giving performers the ability to record loops instantly with any connected sound source. Stereo outputs include independent main and sub jacks, and a headphone jack for practice or stage monitoring.

"USB allows for connecting to a computer to import/export WAV loop phrases. MIDI I/O is included as well. Rounding out the rear panel are jacks for connecting optional Boss footswitches (up to four) and/or expression pedals (up to two), providing additional real-time control options for looping power users.

  • Registered: 2010-11-22
  • Posts: 151

Re: Competetion gets Thick - NEW BOSS RC-300

I'd like to rip the looper out of my unit to get more useful features like fx.

  • Registered: 2011-08-30
  • Posts: 40

Re: Competetion gets Thick - NEW BOSS RC-300

Yeah Pipeous the looper is pretty much useless to me. The VL2 is awesome and the poor looper doesn't add any value, particularly as its "erase" function always produces unwanted noise. What I'd really like is an update that lets us send out effected vocals and guitar to separate outs so the desk can do its own mix.

  • From: Victoria, BC
  • Registered: 2011-07-25
  • Posts: 2,092

Re: Competetion gets Thick - NEW BOSS RC-300

Father John,

That's an unfortunate side-effect of any one button looper. If you use the Switch3 or any other multi switch box to control the looping, the small blast of audio on erase goes away.

Cheers,
Craig

Craig @ TC-Helicon's Website

  • Registered: 2011-08-30
  • Posts: 40

Re: Competetion gets Thick - NEW BOSS RC-300

Honestly Craig it hasn't been an issue for me. As someone pointed out on another thread, every device has features that are useful for some and not for others. I guess I do wonder if anyone finds this looper useful on stage, but in the end its presence doesn't hurt me so it's not a big issue here. smile

  • Registered: 2011-03-08
  • Posts: 4

Re: Competetion gets Thick - NEW BOSS RC-300

The history of looping has been mostly that of guitarist loopers (starting mainly with Fripp) and back in the early 90s, I know there were very few folks performing as vocalist loopers. I'm one of them, and I could scream for the amount of units out there that simply can't be the ONE to get the job done.
Every looper has been designed for guitarists, and only recently vocal duties have been added as an afterthought (i.e.  XLR in).
If the VLT were to be designed truly for the vocalist with regards to performance and composition looping, here's my dream machine.
1. KNOBS
If you are singing and your hands are free, you shouldn't need a foot pedal. However, since the interface lacks any tactile feedback, it is a huge exercise in frustration to make sure not to accidently swipe a parameter during a moment.
I want to look at the audience...not down to make sure I am arming my loop.
2. SEPARATE LOOPS--not just versions of the same loop. I can deal with two. Just enough for a chord change.
3.KISS--keep it simple, stupid
I don't need a looper to make me breakfast. If I need 200+ presets, I may just suck as a vocalist. The most important parameters are good old reverb, delay, eq and pan. If the interface looked more like a mini mixer than an Ipad, I'd be in heaven. Again..knobs.

Thank you for the VLT. Many good things to say about it. Maybe this looks very old school, but just like piano and guitarists with their keys and strings...we want to PLAY.