In this article, we'll discuss how you can connect and sync two RC-500 loopers together, to allow for 4 Tracks of MIDI time synced looping. Each RC-500 allows for 2 Track loops, therefore by MIDI time syncing two RC-500 units, the user will be able to have 4 Track loops, play in time together. One RC-500 will be assigned as MIDI Master and the other RC-500 unit will follow the other as the MIDI replicant device.
What You'll need:
- 2 x RC-500 units, updated to the latest firmware.
- 1 x 3.5mm or 1/8" TRS Stereo, male to male end, mini cable, for MIDI TRS communication between two units. For example cabling: use our BOSS BCC-1-3535 TRS mini MIDI cable.
- 2 x PSA power supplies, one for each RC-500 unit, or alternate power supply option:
8 x brand-new dry alkaline AA batteries, 4 for each unit.
- 1/4" TS mono unbalanced guitar instrument cables or patch cables.
For example our BIC BOSS Lifetime cables, BOSS Patch cables, or BOSS BCK cables.
- Optional: One or two, BOSS LS-2 Line Selectors for connecting to the Input/Output/Both Input and Output of both RC-500 units. For audio effect chain input/output.
- Connect a power supply to both RC-500 units, and connect the output cable to power ON both RC-500 units.
- Connect using the 3.5mm TRS mini-cable, from the RC-500(A) MIDI OUT jack to the RC-500(B) MIDI IN jack.
See "Connecting Two RC-500 Units" section of the Owner's Manual diagram for visual reference: - The RC-500(A) using the MIDI OUT connection will set this unit as the MIDI MASTER, with the MIDI IN unit being the MIDI REPLICANT.
- In the RC-500(A) unit, press [MENU] button, navigate to MIDI using the MEMORY/VALUE knob, in the MIDI menu use the MEMORY/VALUE knob again to set the SYNC CLOCK: to INTERNAL = MASTER, once set press [EXIT] a couple of times to return to the normal Memory location display.
- In the RC-500(B) unit, press [MENU] button, navigate to MIDI using the MEMORY/VALUE knob, in the MIDI menu use the MEMORY/VALUE knob again to set the SYNC CLOCK: to AUTO = REPLICANT/slave, once set press [EXIT] button a couple of times to return to the normal Memory location display.
- Now when recording a loop, the MIDI REPLICANT RC-500 will start in sync and follow the RC-500 MIDI MASTER once a Track is recorded and playing on either device.
To check if the RC-500(B) unit is correctly synced, simply press the [TEMPO] button, if synced properly it will display MIDI instead of a BPM numeric value.
*Note: On the REPLICANT RC-500(B) unit, tracks that have TEMPO.S/ TEMPO SYNC, set to ON will play at the MEMORY BPM Tempo of the RC-500(A) MIDI MASTER unit.
**Note: Tracks that have LOOP.S/LOOP SYNC set to ON will loop according to the first recorded Track phrase on the RC-500(A) MIDI MASTER unit.
- For further additional customized user functionality, each switch maybe user customized and altered using the ASSIGN parameters found on pages 9-11 in the RC-500 Parameter Guide.
If you want to set the RC-500(A) MASTER unit to define the BPM Tempo, and the RC-500(B) REPLICANT unit to record your tracks, the ASSIGNMENTS below are an example of a functional working setup.
RC-500(A) MASTER:
Use two Assigns from the MASTER unit to control the REC/PLAY of the REPLICANT unit:
Assign 1 CC#1 value min value 0, maximum value 0 in toggle mode
Assign 2 CC#1 value min value 127, maximum value 127 in toggle mode.
RC-500(B) REPLICANT:
On the REPLICANT unit CC#1 should be assigned to control CUR track REC/PLY.
Loop sync OFF and Tempo Sync OFF.
Tip: Make sure to WRITE/save your settings to the Memory location, before you record a Track, in order to save a "Memory template patch" set up.
You may then WRITE/save the same "template Memory patch" with blank loop tracks, to multiple other Memory locations in a range, to have the same Memory template already programmed and ready for performance.