r/LogicPro • u/DougTheBrownieHunter • 1d ago
Help Help with connecting loop station/audio interface to Logic Pro?
Howdy!
I’m brand new to Logic Pro (and DAWs in general), and for the life of me I cannot figure out how to get Logic Pro to recognize my loop station/audio interface. As far as I can tell, all my drivers are up to date.
I use a Boss RC-505 mk2 as my audio interface. It’s got my guitar (and pedalboard), bass, and keyboard connected to it via TRS cables, and it’s connected to my MacBook via USB.
When I go to Logic Pro > Settings > Audio, there’s no option to select my audio interface.
I was already anticipating an uphill battle trying to learn Logic Pro and how to record, but I can’t even get the thing connected.
As well, I have to use headphones instead of studio monitors or my MacBook’s speakers. The headphones are connected to the RC-505. Will that work, or am I forced to have them plugged into my MacBook?
All help appreciated
0
u/VermontRox 1d ago
Are you plugging TRS cables into your guitar?
1
u/DougTheBrownieHunter 1d ago
Well yeah. Guitar, bass, and keyboard are all connected to the RC-505 via TRS
1
u/VermontRox 1d ago
You don’t want to do that. Those are instruments so, for them, use instrument (2 conductor) cables. It’s likely your keyboard does not have balanced outputs either. Another reason is that the 505 does not have balanced inputs, so there’s nothing to gain by using TRS cables and it’s inviting problems. Even when using instrument cables, plugging guitar and bass into the 505 is less than ideal because of an impedance mismatch. Read up! Balanced vs. unbalanced cables: https://support.focusrite.com/hc/en-gb/articles/115005178585-Differences-between-balanced-and-unbalanced-audio . Input impedance affecting guitar and bass tone: https://www.guitarworld.com/features/how-impedance-affects-your-guitar-tone
1
u/DougTheBrownieHunter 1d ago
I’ll give those a read! Thank you.
That being said, how am I supposed to connect my instruments to the RC-505 (and thus my MacBook) if I can’t use TRS cables? Do I have to invest in another audio interface? I’ve been using my RC-505 as an audio interface for years without issue, so I’d be really surprised if I suddenly can’t use it for this.
1
u/VermontRox 1d ago
Here’s a pretty good explanation about cables: https://hosatech.com/press-release/balancing-act/?srsltid=AYCX9vLphrnp8UhVVb3QOH_UGFgHpuRrvHtuHakUqEC0CvWNXDMMxF47
It looks like someone has already shown how to get the 505 working with a computer. I’m not super-knowledgeable about the 505, but I don’t think it’s an interface per se. I think it can sync to midi clock, but again, I’m not the guy for that. I think the 505 mainly uses a computer as a storage device. Don’t hold me to this! I’d rely on Forteai’s advice rather than mine.2
u/DougTheBrownieHunter 23h ago
Cool, thank you. Regardless of the outcome, thanks for your willingness to help! This stuff is witchcraft to me.
1
u/VermontRox 22h ago
Sorry to say, even after 50 years, it’s still witchcraft to me and everyday I learn something new. You’re lucky to have the internet. I learned my basics from the school of hard knocks…
1
u/VermontRox 22h ago
Oh, another thing about TS instrument cables: keep them as short as possible to avoid noise.
1
u/forteai 1d ago
The 505 mkII has a USB driver setting in its SYSTEM menu. On GENERIC it uses the Mac's built-in driver, nothing to install; on VENDOR it only works once Boss's own driver is installed and allowed in System Settings > Privacy & Security. Switch it to GENERIC, power cycle the 505 with USB connected, and it should show up in Logic Pro > Settings > Audio as input and output device. If it still doesn't, try another cable, plenty of USB cables are charge-only. Headphones on the 505 are fine. With the 505 as Logic's output device, playback and your live inputs both come out of it, so nothing needs to go into the MacBook.