Best Looper with MIDI (2026): 3 Picks Compared

Updated Nov 12, 2026 · By Jonah Mercer · Ranked from listed specifications · How we rank

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BOSS leads this list with the RC-5 Loop Station, which gives full MIDI I/O, 99 phrase memories and 13 hours of recording time in a bundle with a power supply and cables. The RC-500 adds a second track and an XLR mic input for players who loop a microphone and a guitar together, while the NUX Loop Core Stereo brings MIDI control and 99 memory slots at 0.9 lb.

The picks at a glance

#	Pick	Product
1	Best Overall	Boss RC-5 Loop Station	Check on Amazon
2	Runner-Up	Boss RC-500 Loop Station Bundle with Gearlux	Check on Amazon
3	Also Great	NUX Loop Core Stereo Looper Guitar Pedal	Check on Amazon

Which one should you buy?

Players who want MIDI control with 99 phrase memories: Boss RC-5 Loop Station See pick 1
Players who want two tracks with onboard mixing: Boss RC-500 Loop Station Bundle with Gearlux See pick 2
Players who want MIDI control with tap tempo: NUX Loop Core Stereo Looper Guitar Pedal See pick 3

Want the full range? Best Looper ranks the top looper pedals for every buyer, or browse all 28 guides.

The 3 picks, ranked

1Best Overall

Boss RC-5 Loop Station

Stereo in/out

9.8Spec score View on Amazon

It earns Best Overall with full MIDI I/O, 99 phrase memories, 13 hours of recording time and 7 drum kits with 57 preset rhythms.

Who it suits

Players who want MIDI control with 99 phrase memories
Loopers who want 13 hours of recording time and 57 rhythms

Skip it if

You want more than 7 drum kits
You already own a power supply, cables and picks

The bundle holds the RC-5, a premium power adapter, a 10 ft instrument cable with 1/4-inch straight connectors, a 6-inch patch cable with 1/4-inch right-angle connectors and a 3-pack of picks. MIDI runs through mini TRS jacks, and the BMIDI-5-35 adaptor cable is available separately. Loops back up and load as WAV files over USB, and the LCD shows loop status with a multi-color backlight.

2Runner-Up

Boss RC-500 Loop Station Bundle with Gearlux

Stereo in/out

9.8Spec score View on Amazon

The Runner-Up adds a second track with onboard mixing and an XLR mic input to the same MIDI I/O and 99 phrase memories.

Who it suits

Players who want two tracks with onboard mixing
Singers who want an XLR mic input with phantom power

Skip it if

You want more than 16 drum kits
You already own a power supply, cables and picks

The bundle holds the RC-500, a premium power adapter, a 10 ft instrument cable with 1/4-inch straight connectors, a 6-inch patch cable with 1/4-inch right-angle connectors and a 3-pack of picks. Two tracks run with onboard mixing, and an independent XLR mic input takes a microphone with phantom power. MIDI runs through mini TRS jacks, and 99 phrase memories hold loops that back up and load as WAV files over USB.

3Also Great

NUX Loop Core Stereo Looper Guitar Pedal

Stereo in/out
One year warranty stated

9.0Spec score View on Amazon

The Also Great pick brings MIDI control, 99 memory slots and 50 rhythm patterns at 0.9 lb with a MIDI cable in the box.

Who it suits

Players who want MIDI control with tap tempo
Guitarists who want a 0.9 lb stereo looper

Skip it if

You want more than 6 hours of recording time
You want more than 50 rhythm patterns

The pedal gives 6 hours of recording time, 99 memory slots and 50 rhythm patterns behind an HD color LCD screen. MIDI control covers tap tempo, stop, start and record, and the MIDI to 1/8 inch cable is included. It weighs 0.9 lb, carries a one year warranty, and lets you set a GIF as the boot-up picture.

Side by side

Product	Loop recording time	Stereo in/out	Headphone output	True bypass	Weight	Warranty
Boss RC-5 Loop Station	Not stated	Yes	Not stated	Not stated	Not stated	Not stated
Boss RC-500 Loop Station Bundle with Gearlux	Not stated	Yes	Not stated	Not stated	Not stated	Not stated
NUX Loop Core Stereo Looper Guitar Pedal	Not stated	Yes	Not stated	Not stated	0.9 lb	one year

How we ranked these looper pedals

Every pick ranks in Amazon's best-seller list for its category and has a listing with real specifications. The order mixes two things: how each model compares on the specs below (higher share of the best value in this group scores more), and how widely it is bought. The spec score runs from 9.0 to 9.8 and only compares these picks with each other. A spec the listing does not state is left out and the other specs are re-weighted; a listing with fewer than 2 stated specs is scored at half. We do not test gear in person. Full method.

Loop recording time weight 2
Stereo in/out weight 1
Headphone output weight 1
True bypass weight 1

Buying advice: looper with MIDI

Check what MIDI control the looper gives

MIDI on a looper can mean different things. Full MIDI I/O sends and receives MIDI, so the looper can follow a clock from other gear and send its own tempo out. The BOSS RC-5 and RC-500 both give full MIDI I/O through mini TRS jacks, while the NUX Loop Core Stereo gives external MIDI control over tap tempo, stop, start and record. Read the MIDI row for each pick and match it to what your other gear sends.

Count the tracks and the memories

A second track lets you run two loops at once and mix them, so check the track count before you buy. The RC-500 is a two-track looper with onboard mixing, while the RC-5 and the NUX Loop Core Stereo each hold 99 memories for stored loops. More memories matter when you keep a library of loops ready instead of recording each one fresh.

Look at the recording time and rhythms

Recording time sets how long a loop can run before the looper stops, and rhythm patterns give you a beat to play against. The BOSS RC-5 and RC-500 each give 13 hours of recording time, while the NUX Loop Core Stereo gives 6 hours. The RC-5 gives 7 drum kits and 57 preset rhythms, the RC-500 gives 16 drum kits and 57 preset rhythms, and the NUX gives 50 rhythm patterns, so compare those counts against the beats you use.

Frequently asked questions

What does full MIDI I/O do on a looper?

Full MIDI I/O sends and receives MIDI, so the looper can follow a clock from other gear and send its own tempo out. The BOSS RC-5 and RC-500 both give full MIDI I/O through mini TRS jacks.

How many hours can these loopers record?

The BOSS RC-5 and RC-500 each record for 13 hours, and the NUX Loop Core Stereo records for 6 hours. Recording time is the length of loop the pedal can hold, so match it to the longest loop you plan to build.

Do these loopers come with a power supply?

The BOSS RC-5 and RC-500 bundles include a premium power adapter, a 10 ft instrument cable, a 6-inch patch cable and a 3-pack of picks. Check the box contents of any looper before you buy, since bundles differ.