RC505 or RC300 for live looping?

The Lounge Other Gear
#1

Just wondering if anyone has experience with both/either?

I’m being asked to do some live improvised music to film and guitar looping might be one way forward.

The RC300 would be good in that mode, but also like the idea of the desktop RC505, for more DJ style looping.

RC505 also has more looped tracks.

Syncing Elektron units as slaves, might also be a good setup.

I do have an OT, but using that for guitar looping, which would require floor-switch triggering, doesn’t seem like the right way to do things.

Any thoughts and opinions?

Thanks!

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#2

I think OT with a foot switch is totally the “right way” to do things!

It’d save you some money, too… buying a foot switch over another looper.

…just my 2 cents.

You’ll still have to use a hand to start the 505, but maybe you could hit those big looper buttons with the headstock

#3

Beware the RC-300’s notorious midi sync issues. (Google it). The 505’s sync is ROCK solid.

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#4

Curious how synth players use a looper. I mean, since it only loops audio, you can’t manipulate the synth’s parameters after you’ve finished the loop, like you can in, say, Ableton when you loop a vst synth. With a looper you’re stuck with what you input into it. Do people mainly use it for things like bass lines?

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#5

You could run it through an effects peddle after the looper to shape the sound.

#6

It would mainly be for guitar in my case, but yeah bass-lines (probably using my HD500X’s octaver with guitar), percussion from Wavedrum etc. Source loop material would be static, but phasers, or other LFO driven effects would add modulation.

The reason I probably wouldn’t use the Octatrack, is that I’d be wanting to set up quite long loops of sound-scape with guitar and then improvising over the top. I could slow the OT’s tempo, but would potentially also want to sync a drum machine or use OT for percussion too.

#7

RC505 lets you use a footswitch for looping.

#8

Hi Purushua,

I own and am happy with both. It’s true that the OT + pedal + some settings can somewhat replace a looper, but the one reason I will likely never part with my 505 is that it’s the perfect tool to come up with new compositions (for any genre). Its immediacy and simple layout let’s you focus 100% of your resources on what matters: creativity.

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#9

Excuse my ignorance but what is an OT?

I’m trying to find the best solution for looping and effects - instruments + vocals.
Ideally I’d like one unit that does this amazingly.

Opinions anyone?

#10

For me ‘live looping’ is guitar, cable, OT and 10 button pedal board performing to an audience of myself to create new grooves & tune ideas and to jam away infinitely on a layered multi-track riff.

I was interested in the RC505 but prefer the OT as once I have either pickup machines or flex recorders set up to loop (using hold setting) then I feel like I have far more post-recording options to use my recorded audio for other purposes within the OT than if it were in the RC505. Furthermore I already have an OT and the RC505 would be yet another (bulky) piece of gear.

The main advantage of the RC insofar as I can see is that if I were performing in front of an audience it is possibly far less finnicky than the OT, with its big buttons and user interface - unless you are well practiced in using the OT and your pedal board.

All-in-all if you already have an OT, you don’t ‘need’ an RC505 to get a lot of mileage for loop studio work and subsequent chopping, editing and mangling … but for live work, the RC505 may be a more comforting & immediate experience

And as jaschar says, the RC505 is a dedicated looper, just switch on and go … dammit, you’ve re-kindled my rc505 interest!

#11

OT = Octatrack

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#12

I have OT + Rc 202. Had Rc 50, Rc300, Rc 505.
My favorite Rc is still the Rc 505. Up to 5 x 3 hours recordings !
Forget Rc 50, not paractical, Rc 300 is master clock only with crap fx.
Rc 202 is ok, nice form factor with OT but I miss faders, more loop sync options, and more midi control assignments.

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#13

I was thinking to get the rc 300 one, manly because I need something on the floor while my hand will be busy.

I will prob use only mics as I wanna loop percussion instrument during live performance, then play guitar and sing on top if it.

in that case, do you guys still recommend the rc 505 instead of the 300 one?

If so, is the 505 one durable as a footswhich pedal?

Is there any difference between both in regarding to quality of recording?

Hope I was clear as English is no my first language.

Thannks!

#14

Yes:
https://www.google.de/search?q=rc+505+foot+switch&oq=rc+505+foot+switch&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l4.6146j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

I don’t think there’s a difference in sound.
I’ve been using the 505 on club PAs for years now.

#15

The main thing is you just have to trust yourself and have good rhythm with the loops you so. It’s possible to do a while track starting with bass then a beat then perc then synth etc … it’s almost more fun because the it’s less robotic and capture the human element