The Boss RC-50 is a great looper but not so great for backing tracks. Here are a few things that make it unusable for that. * Having 3 different phrases in each patch to play from is cool but how many songs can you play that only have 3 changes? Most of what we play have 6 or more changes. intro/vers/chorus/solo/bridge/ending * So why not just switch from one of the 99 patches to the next to add more changes to a song? It is possible to change patches during playback but "there is a pause in the audio when playing phrases and changing patches". I contacted Boss about it and the pause is unavoidable. *With 24 minutes stereo 49 mono record time and no memory upgrade available making start to finish backing tracks chews up time fast. 24/4 = about (6) 4 minute stereo songs max.

The good. That live overdubbing loop thing is pretty cool even if it can be a little short lived. Boss products are very solid and the RC 50 makes it really nice to have a on the fly play back partner for song creation when no real players are around. I do have a couple of weeks to decide to keep it or not. But I am going to be upset if I do keep it and they come out with a new version that address those issues.

I've had the Boss RC 50 for a couple of days now as an upgrade from the RC 20 xl. So far, have been thrilled with the features. I make loops on my computer, transfer them to the pedal, then play and manipulate them live. The option to either stack 3 phrases or move from 1 to the next is great. Sound quality is great through the phones jack or a PA. Low floor profile makes pedal play smooth & easy. LEDs were well thought out for visual recognition of whats going on. Buckets of settings too (you will need to wade through the manual for a few hours) but all relevant ones are able to be saved to patches individually, you won't be fumbling too much live if you set them up beforehand. Outputs are impressive especially the subs where you could potentially send phrases to separate mixer channels for more control and separation. Negative comments generally surround the tempo shift and MIDI features. Tempo shift IS truly ineffective for its intention. Even a slight BPM change garbles up the sounds. It can be used as a sort of ambient effect but thats it. Timing up your songs beforehand on each patch is so easy and convenient though that I can't imagine why you really need to manipulate tempo very much after recording is done. Not a MIDI guy yet so no clue on that one. My biggest gripe: Why, Why, Why would BOSS not include removable memory or at least more than 256 mb built in? In general though, this is BY FAR the most advanced analog looping device on the market. If you need something more, you go to Ableton Live and use a foot controller, at least those are our choices for now.

I bought this device after seeing a friend pull off the most amazing and entertaining single act with one. sure, it's not the simplest device in the world to use, yes, it has WAY more features than I will ever use, and yes you will be able to do live music wizardry with it. if you are a multi-instrumentalist soloist/single act, this device can become an amazing backup band. It's not cheezy because it's YOU playing, not midi, not pre recorded (unless you wish). you can magically create an entire song before your audiences eyes and ears; one layer at a time.

Sent the unit back to Roland for repair, due to "instrument input" break up; The unit was returned "no problem found"... Did they turn it on? Did they plug an instrument in? Do they have ears?

For this price, the materials should be of the utmost and this is hardly the case; This is not the Roland/Boss of decades past; This is cheap craftsmanship/manufacturing/product-workmanship at an extreme price point;

You cannot plug an instrument in to this unit... You must send your guitar signal chain through a Mixer with EQing and other dynamics mastering PRIOR to sending to the main in of the RC 50;

The sound of the RC50 is as if you compressed an MP3 to 16/48, as an analogy; The input breaks up at just about any level; It's as if the dynamics of the guitar are muted or otherwise unaccounted for and certainly not handled as any typical guitar processing unit should be manufactured;

Furthermore, when the USB is connected, my antivirus software detected an extremely viscous spyware that had to be removed from my [then] infected computer as well as the unit (meaning the test lab is likely infected, too);

I will never purchase a product from that vendor ever again, and since I plan on making my living as a professional musician in the years to come, that is a tall statement;

Wow....

This thing is amazing. I have had other loopers including the Jam Man, and this one is the cat's pajamas.

I have only scratched the surface, but already, after a week of using it, I am a better player.

I love the ability to have 3 phrases in each patch and to layer them on top of one another.

The learning curve is long, but for basic stuff it can be done right out of the box.

Make sure to read the manual cover to cover, and then go back and reference it while you are learning.

I also downloaded the Turbo Start, and Workshop PDF's from the website. They are very helpful to get more in depth information.

I have already gotten rid of some of the factory default patches. I like 2 of the 5.

The only drawback that I have seen so far, is if you record something, and then drastically change the tempo, you get a lot of warble. Not a big deal for me, as I am using it to build live loops for performances, and don't usually change them once they are recorded.

I am using it tonight for a gig/private party. I will see how it goes. I am a little shaky on it but the loop quantize helps get the starts and stops even, which was my biggest problem with the Jam Man. Also, you can set it up to do the back ground for many songs.

I do wish it had longer record time, but am switching it to Mono to get the max.