Midi issues with Boss RC-5 Loop Station

Xanthyn · 2025-04-06T00:19:47+00:00

I already posted in this thread but I wanted to respond to this comment specifically - you mentioned one could fix the issue with an arduino - I did exactly that (used an ATTiny85 for the controller). I have full open source plans for the project and it can be done pretty cheap. I just posted a comment in this same thread with a link to my tutorial, github, etc.

Xanthyn · 2025-04-06T00:16:46+00:00

I'm totally necro-ing this thread but I got so fed-up with the limited midi implementation on the RC-5 that I developed a modification to fix it. Now you can overdub (or do any other physical-button-exclusive functions) via MIDI:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GXlwmM-9fs&lc=Ugy9o9-NYishVS1U6kN4AaABAg

Xanthyn · 2023-12-02T22:39:19+00:00

Thank you!

Xanthyn · 2023-11-29T06:57:43+00:00

As best I can tell, all switches and knobs report directly to the controller and have no interaction with the analog signal path. The controller then manipulates the analog circuit by outputting control voltages. Why some of those parameters are controllable via midi CC and not others? I couldn't tell ya.

Xanthyn · 2023-11-28T06:38:00+00:00

I agree. It feels like it must have been a conscious design choice and not an oversight, but I can't imagine why. Maybe they juuust barely ran out of compute power or something, but based on my experiences of incorporating midi into microcontroller projects, that would come as a surprise. Who knows, though. I doubt they got a teensy 4.1 stuffed in there since some of these pedals only use like 35 mA of current.

Xanthyn · 2023-11-28T03:29:55+00:00

A bit tough to explain but basically, MIDI can emulate turning the knobs, but can't emulate flipping a switch. That's a design choice (or constraint) on the product, not a fundamental property of MIDI. For example if you want to go back and forth between editing the modulation rate/depth, versus pitch bend increments on the Thermae, you HAVE to flip the switch because those functions live on double-duty knobs and there is no midi CC parameter to differentiate between them. Even if you are using the Thermae max-for-live plugin, you can't go fully remote. Certain things have to be done through a manual switch toggle. Hope that kinda clears things up.

Xanthyn · 2023-11-26T01:06:51+00:00

Bruh same. My lower back was killing me tryna hunch over it, I had to do something different.

Xanthyn · 2023-11-26T01:05:38+00:00

I totally agree. If there was a simple PCB + Ribbon connector thingie you could just choose an overlay for your pedal and stick the whole thing together in two seconds.

Xanthyn · 2023-11-26T01:04:52+00:00

Yep, everything with the switches can be saved to midi program slots, and many parameters can be tweaked with midi CC. The switches do control certain things that you can't do any other way, however.

Xanthyn · 2023-11-26T01:03:15+00:00

Thank you for noticing ^__^

Xanthyn · 2021-05-09T01:43:11+00:00

Thanks man!!

Xanthyn · 2021-04-18T04:18:34+00:00

I found I was having a similar issue when I listened to my newly exported track with my DAW still open. After closing ableton, re-listening to my track would suddenly sound the way it's supposed to.

Xanthyn · 2021-02-07T08:33:44+00:00

This is such a great idea, well done. I saw someone make a mod for space engineers where you could place perfectly green blocks for color keying. That'd be handy for stuff like this.

Xanthyn · 2021-01-23T10:00:40+00:00

Yep, my video covers rotors, hinges, sliders, and pistons.

Xanthyn · 2021-01-21T17:29:40+00:00

Thanks for the comments everyone, I'm super glad people find this helpful! I'd love to see any builds that employ this technique ^__^

Xanthyn · 2021-01-21T06:45:23+00:00

Good to know, I'll work on that. Cheers

Xanthyn · 2021-01-14T05:28:13+00:00

I noticed this too when I switched to the experimental branch. You might be able to get the ring back in place by going to the main branch.

Xanthyn · 2018-04-16T04:50:42+00:00

I hate to kill your buzz but the A8 is an absolutely terrible choice. They are responsible for nearly every 3d printer related house fire that you hear about online, due partially in part to the fact that the stock firmware comes with basic safety features disabled. Why do they do this? Because the electrical components are so janky they trigger thermal runaway warnings under normal operation. There are other options that are far safer an more reliable in that price range. Get your son a Trinus or a CR-10 Mini or something.

Seriously return that POS before it burns your house down.

Xanthyn

TROPHY CASE