Boss RC-505 - Saving Sytem Settings

[The Elf]

It seems every time I power up my Boss RC-505 the System settings are back to default. It's getting tedious having to reset all my custom settings in there. Does anyone know how I save them?

[Hugh Robjohns]

From page 5 of the manual:

If you select a different phrase memory or turn off the power after recording or editing the settings, the recorded content or edited settings will be lost.

If you want to keep the data, you must save it.
1. Press the [WRITE] button.
2. Use the [MEMORY/VALUE] knob to select the save-destination.
3. Press the [WRITE] button to save.

Does that help?

https://static.roland.com/assets/media/pdf/RC-505_e02_W.pdf

[The Elf]

Thanks for helping, Hugh. It's always appreciated.

That manual reference relates to saving one of the many 'Phrase Memories' - not the machine-wide 'System' settings. I can't see anything in the manual that relates to saving these parameters, so one might assume it would be automatic. The system settings contain such things as auto power off, line output settings, MIDI channel and the like. After a power-cycle they are resetting to default.

I started wondering if the internal batteries were duff, but it's storing everything else between power cycles - just not the settings that affect the machine as a whole! Odd...

[CS70]

Hmm.. according to https://www.boss.info/us/support/knowledge_base/201975189/ the same procedure should apply to system setting, by selecting the relative slot?

[The Elf]

But System settings are global - they don't have a 'slot'.

The link you've given here is to Factory Reset, BTW!

[CS70]

Hehe yes I'm aware, but it was point 4 that got my attention:

Turn the MEMORY/VALUE knob to select the desired range of parameters you want to reset (SYSTEM + MEMORY, SYSTEM, MEMORY).

It sounded a bit like the same language as page 5 in the manual where it talks about how to save (generically).

But it obviously wasn't - my bad.

Haven't got my hands one one unit, there's one at the studio but I'm not scheduled there til next week.. hopefully you'll have found out by then!

[The Elf]

Weirdly the thing now seems to be storing System settings between power-ups without any intervention on my part.. Hmmm...

[CS70]

Yeah I was going to write, just tried last night the RC at the studio and it was doing just that - no need of explicit save.

It may be that it uses some CMOS memory like PCs used to do, and thus a battery to keep the settings... maybe it had somehow dislodged in yours? Or if it is a newer model it should have an SD card, and maybe that got out of whack somehow..

[Sam Spoons]

Boss don't seem to use removable memory. Now they have 3 hours onboard (RC-3, 30, 300 & 505) that's not much of an issue but the RC-20 with only 5 ½ mins and RC-20XL with 16 mins pretty much rendered most of the 11 memory slots redundant. OTOH my TC Ditto has 5 mins which is plenty for my live looping needs.

[CS70]

I have a vague recollection reading that for the newer models, there should be an SD card, not removable, but internal and attached to the motherboard. But haven't really opened one so could well be mistaken.

[Sam Spoons]

Not come across that but I guess it's possible, It would make upgrading the onboard memory a breeze though (on the basis it would be pointless to solder it to the board. I suspect them memory is soldered on SMT chips though.

[The Elf]

I'd been told explicitly that there's no SD card option on the RC-505, but hidden somewhere inside? An intriguing thought!

But for me it's fine as it is. I only use it for live improv and it's more than up to that task.

[CS70]

I'd been told explicitly that there's no SD card option on the RC-505, but hidden somewhere inside? An intriguing thought!

But for me it's fine as it is. I only use it for live improv and it's more than up to that task.

If you were to open I think it you would see an SD card (which I guess it uses to store everything) - either soldered or hopefully inserted in an interface container as Sam says. Dont think it's particularly serviceable though, I've seen pictures of the motherboard with a glob of glue over it.. but you never know

Though I realized that wouldn't explain the behavior you're experiencing, if the problem with the save setting was the card, it wouldn't be able to save much else.. unless the file got corrupted somehow and it has an auto-recovery that kicks in. A mistery

[Sam Spoons]

Unless somebody has faked the pic it seems like the 505 does use MicroSD memory. I suppose it's a cheap way of being able to upgrade future versions at the manufacturing stage maybe with new firmware and a bigger memory card?

https://postimg.cc/k6rbh1vp

Must take the RC-300 I've just bought to bits and see if it has one, (though I guess I should wait until the warrantee runs out). So if anybody wants a mint, boxed RC-30 a sensible offer by PM would secure it before I stick it on ebay.

[Wonks]

Pic...

[Sam Spoons]

Tanks Wonks 4GB looks about right, 3GB is roughly 3 hours of stereo at 24/48 leaving plenty for firmware and any global stuff that needs storing.

[The Elf]

Amusing that it's all down to a little SD card! It's kind of a shame that Roland didn't feel they could let us have an external card slot and choose the storage size for ourselves. It would also be far more convenient for moving data around and keeping backups.

30 minutes of storage is way more than plenty for my needs. It wouldn't surprise me if other aspects of the machine disallow putting a larger capability card in. Has anyone tried that we know of?

[Sam Spoons]

Not with the 505 but, if my 300 has a microSD inside I definitely will (but not 'till it's out of warranty).

Years ago, when I had an RP-20, I would have killed for a CF slot (like my SPD-S has). microSD is the new SD is the new CF.........

Now 3 hours is probably enough TBH, and even my stomp box sized RP-3 has that!

[Charlie1975]

Greetings from Holland, I've been working with the RC505 for 3 years now, but recently i bought a new one. Now i would like to transfer all my files from the old one to the new one. There's no problem with the audiofiles and also the MEMORY and SYSTEM-files are transmitted to my new RC505, but the a problem occurs. As soon as disconnect my new RC from my laptop the new MEMORY-file I just send to the new RC is deleted an the old MEMORY-file re-appears. This means that the different frases don't have there names or any other information like assign1 Switch or volume information. How can I succesfully store my new MEMORY-file onto my new RC505?

[Sam Spoons]

I have just bought a RC-300 and had issues when I first tried to save the factory loops and a few I had done. The manual says you must delete the 'Roland' folder from the RC-300 before copying the backup to the onboard memory, I did so and restored the backup, as far as I can tell (having only had it a week) everything is now working as expected.

[sm7x7]

Well, opened up my RC-505 and - yes! - there IS a micro SD card of 4gb capacity. Didn't have any larger capacity card at the moment, and exchanged for another 4gb card. It shown damaged data error immediately. I then updated the OS and factory restored the looper. After it everything started as intended Later will try a 32gb card.

[Sam Spoons]

I've a feeling that 4GB might be the max memory the OS can address but let us know if it does work (I'm an inveterate 'fettler' and have Boss RC3, 30 & 300 loopers but, TBH 3 hours of loop memory is probably as much as I'll ever need)

[The Elf]

I had to dig up this zombie in order to resolve my original question for future generations. I now know what was happening, because the same thing was happening with my new RC-505 Mk1, leading to a fresh bout of head-scratching.

It would appear that the RC-505 stores its System settings at power-off - but only when powered off from its own power switch. So any system settings made are not stored at the time the setting is made - lose power and the whole thing reverts back to the previous 'powered-down properly' state.

The RC-505 has one of those momentary power switches (no doubt to permit the auto power-off feature), but 'nuff said about that...

I power up/down all my gear from one main socket - which was preventing the RC-505 from performing its automatic save.

Mystery solved!