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How to Transfer & Get Music From the RC-20XL Loop Station

The Roland RC-20XL Loop Station allows guitarists to record, save, playback, loop and layer guitar phrases. The guitar phrases saved on a Loop Station's internal memory cannot be transferred to a computer in the same way files are transferred from an external hard drive. Instead, the loops must be transferred to a computer by recording each phrase with an audio recording software program, such as Audacity, Cool Edit Pro or Pro Tools.

Things You'll Need

  • 1/4 inch to 1/4 inch TRS cable
  • 1/4 inch to 1/8 inch TRS adapter
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Instructions

    • 1

      Download and install the freeware program, Audacity. Or, use Cool Edit Pro, Pro Tools or another audio recording program. These programs function in much the same way, so Audacity will be used as an example.

    • 2

      Plug one end of a 1/4 inch TRS cable into the Loop Station's output jack. The output jack is on the pedal's rear panel.

    • 3

      Connect a 1/4 to 1/8 adapter to the other end of the TRS cable.

    • 4

      Plug the end of the TRS cable with the adapter into your computer's microphone input. The microphone input has a microphone graphic beside it.

    • 5

      Turn on the Loop Station and select one of the eleven loop phrases to be played using the "Phrase Select" knob.

    • 6

      Hold down the "Exit" button and press the "Auto Start" button. This changes the playback function so that a saved phrase plays back only once, instead of looping repeatedly.

    • 7

      Press the record button in Audacity. A new track will begin to record audio.

    • 8

      Tap the left pedal on the Loop Station to begin playback.

    • 9

      Adjust the level knob on the Loop Station until you can see a waveform appear in Audacity. Make sure the waveform is medium-sized, rather than very small or very large. If the waveform is so large that it fills up the entire track, the recording will distort.

    • 10

      Press the "stop" button in Audacity when you have recorded the phrase.

    • 11

      Record again once you have ensured the waveform is medium-sized. Use the "phrase select" knob to access each phrase to be recorded to Audacity.

    • 12

      Highlight each phrase in Audacity by left-clicking and dragging the mouse cursor over the recorded waveform. Make sure the entire waveform is highlighted.

    • 13

      Save the highlighted waveform by clicking "File" and "Export Selection..." Create a name for the phrase and choose a location to save the file. Click "Save."

    • 14

      Highlight and export each phrase in the same way until each has been exported.

Recording Music

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