Boss Audio Systems RC50 manual Benefit of Loop Quantize, Measuring Measure Length

The Benefit of Loop Quantize

To better understand how Loop Quantize aids in phrase recording, let’s take a look at how one typically records phrases on the RC-50.

When the guide’s off and you’re recording a Single mode phrase, you usually have one primary concern: closing the phrase so it loops smoothly. If you don’t close the phrase at exactly the right moment, the phrase will play with a little “hiccup” each time it repeats. Mastering this skill is all part of Looping 101, and it’s easy to get the hang of with a little practice.

However, things get a bit more complicated when you’re recording a phrase along with a musical reference such as the guide or another phrase. In addition to closing the phrase so it loops smoothly by itself, it also needs to loop in sync with the reference.

To achieve this, you need to close the phrase so its measure length matches that of the reference. If you don’t press the REC/PLAY/OVERDUB pedal at exactly the right place, the measure length will be slightly off and your phrase will drift away from the reference a little bit each time it repeats, as shown in the following illustration.

Phrase 1 (reference)

Play start

Phrase 2

Here, Phrase 2 was recorded in reference to Phrase 1, a one-measure phrase. However, it was closed just a little late, creating a phrase slightly longer than Phrase 1. Even though they’ve started playing at the same time, they fall out of sync with each other more with each successive loop.

Even with practice, it can still be tricky to close a phrase perfectly. This is where Loop Quantize comes to your aid—when the phrase is closed, the RC-50 automatically trims or extends the phrase ending so it matches the reference’s measures, even if you don’t press REC/PLAY/OVERDUB at exactly the right moment. This results in a phrase that always plays in sync relative to the reference.

Phrase 1 (reference)

Play start

Phrase 2

In this example, Phrase 2 was recorded in reference to Phrase 1, just as before. This time, though, Loop Quantize was used to close the phrase, creating a measure length identical to Phrase 1. As a result, the phrases stay in perfect sync relative to each other.

Because Loop Quantize eliminates the need to press REC/PLAY/OVERDUB “just so,” you can focus your attentions on another important task—the performance you’re recording in the phrase.

Measuring Measure Length

Since Loop Quantize deals with measure
lengths, let’s discuss what actually determines
			O
the length of a measure, both in musical terms	;OO;
				O
and in the RC-50’s phrases.

In musical notation—the written language of music—measures divide and organize a musical composition into short segments of time. Each measure is subdivided into beats, whose number and value is determined by the composition’s time signature.

A measure is also sometimes referred to as a “bar.”

Since music happens over a period of time, the actual length of each measure—as played in elapsed time—is determined by the tempo at which the composition is played.

When Loop Quantize is active, the RC-50’s patch tempo always matches the tempo—and therefore the measure length—of the reference you’re playing along with.