BOSS RC-3: Using Foot Switches

A quick tutorial on connecting foot switches to the RC-3 looper and demonstration of what they will do.

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  Howto & Style

[CaptainStonewall]

Hey man, I have a question. I need to be able to switch memories rapidly during a performance for this piece that I'm writing....but I'm kind of a cheapskate. Can I pull it off with one FS-5U? Or am I gonna need the FS-6? I'm assuming the latter....

[cdg2g]

To get the second foot switch's function of changing tracks, the RC-3 has to have a first pedal connected. Even with an insert cable, if there's nothing plugged to the jack for the first foot switch, then it won't recognize the second foot switch. You may be able to "trick" the RC into thinking there's a foot switch connected by shorting the tip & sleeve of the first plug, but if you don't understand that stuff, then..

..It's easiest to just get an FS-6 and connect to the RC-3 with a TRS cable.

[Dan Bordonaro]

I have absolutely no use for stopping, clearing and tap tempo functions.

I have one footswitch, and I need to change/scroll through memories. How can I do this without connecting two footswitches?

[cdg2g]

This is a "quirk" of these pedals: you have to have a connection to the cable that would go into the "first" pedal in order for the "second" pedal to work.

If you want to jerry-rig it, you can short the wire that would normally go into the "first" pedal to trick the RC into thinking a pedal is connected to it. Then your "second" pedal will do the memory up/down function just fine.

[franz fünf]

is there any possibility to change the speed of my loop while it is playing?! I would like to change and vary the speed of the recorded loops while playing.

[cdg2g]

The only way to do this on an RC-3 is to bend over and press the Tap Tempo button. There's no way to do this with a pedal while the loop is playing.

[Rhetor100]

I have an RC-3 and I needed to figure out how to remotely advance or decrease the memory slots in order to trigger backing tracks for live performance. I got tired of bending over to manually change the memory slots. Your video told me exactly what I need to buy and how to do it. Thanks for taking the time to film this. It sure has made my life much easier and has given me information that I could not easily find elsewhere.

[tuckerdrez]

Thank you!!! Great info!!

[chiasson100]

This was very helpful. Thanks!

[TheCalifornicator]

I really appreciate it bro, thank you!!! Your video tutorials are awesome

[CaptainStonewall]

Thanks, man!

[MarauderNL]

Thanks mate! I was getting annoyed by the double-tap to stop thing. This convinced me to get a footswitch. :P

[Todd Hooper]

Awesome video! I just bought the RC3 and the FS6 and you made my life soooo much easier! Thanks!

[TheCalifornicator]

Very well, good job bro! Nice tutorial ;)