The RC-505mkII looks a lot like the original desktop looper that conquered every beatboxer's table — but under the faders it's a different machine. Here's what actually matters about the mkII once it's on your desk, and the settings worth finding in week one.
The 32-bit engine changes the workflow
The headline upgrade is the same one across the current BOSS looper range: a 32-bit sound engine with unlimited, uncompressed overdubs. On the original 505 you thought twice before stacking another layer; on the mkII you simply don't — five stereo tracks, as many layers as the performance needs, no degradation.
Effects got serious
The mkII carries a far deeper effects section than the original, split between input effects (processing what goes in — harmonies, vocoder, pitch) and track effects (processing loops already recorded — filters, slicers, beat repeat). Effects live in four switchable banks, so a single performance can move through wildly different sonic territory. Dig into the effects mode settings early: like the RC-600, some of the power is switched off by default.
Assignments are the real superpower
The mkII's assign system lets you map internal parameters and external controllers to almost anything — the four knobs above the faders are fully assignable per patch, and external footswitches or MIDI controllers extend it further. The moment your hands are busy performing, a well-planned assign map is what keeps the show moving. Plan patches per song, exactly as you would set-list presets on a floor unit.
Tip: Treat each of the 99 memory patches as a song, not a scratchpad — saved fader positions, effects and assigns per patch is the difference between a demo and a set.
It's a proper audio interface too
Like its floorboard siblings, the mkII does double duty as a USB audio interface — loop performances straight into your DAW, resample from the computer, or record practice sessions without extra hardware.
Watch the full breakdown
In the video above I run through fourteen specific mkII features — including the ones BOSS doesn't advertise — with the exact menu paths for each. If you're deciding between keeping the original 505 or upgrading, watch that first; if you've already upgraded, the full course below covers every setting on the unit, step by step.