BOSS has been at the forefront of modulation for decades, ever since the CE-1 Chorus Ensemble debuted an entire category of effects in 1976 and the compact pedal revolution kicked off in 1977. While phaser, flanger, tremolo, vibrato, and chorus units have become familiar tools on pedalboards, rotary modulation has remained a more elusive flavor. The RT-2 Rotary Ensemble marks a milestone: it’s the first time BOSS has offered this legendary sound in a compact pedal format, and it’s been absolutely worth the wait.
Whirled-Class Rotary Effects
The rotary effect is one of music’s most mesmerizing yet elusive sounds—born not from circuitry alone, but also the physical movement of air from a spinning speaker cabinet.
It’s the Doppler effect in action, where treble/horn and bass/drum rotors tastefully shift pitch and amplitude, creating a luscious, three-dimensional sound. Rotary modulation offers tonal complexity and palpable motion that feels alive. With the RT-2 Rotary Ensemble, that inimitable sensation is just one step away at your feet.
"Rotary modulation offers tonal complexity and palpable motion that feels alive."
Drawing from the ageless legacy of rotary speaker cabinets and decades of effects pedal innovation—including the much-lauded BOSS RT-20 Rotary Ensemble (2005-2019)—the RT-2 brings rich, rotating textures to life with incredible depth and nuance.
Whether you’re looking for subtle or intense motion, this essential modulation stompbox delivers.
Legendary Sound, Compact Form
The BOSS RT-2 is built for expansive, hands-on control and offers many features in a compact format. Plugging into the Input A (mono) jack powers the unit and supports mono instruments, while dual I/O jacks fully accommodate stereo gear.
Optional footswitches can be hooked up to the Speed jack to control rotary speed transitions (Slow, Fast, and Brake). Alternatively, an expression pedal will enable real-time manipulation of rotary speed or on-the-fly adjustment of other parameters, including Drive, Level, and Balance.
"The RT-2 Rotary Ensemble is built for expansive, hands-on control and offers many features in a compact format."
Rear-panel switches let you choose Rise/Fall Times (Slow or Fast) and toggle between Balance and Drive knob shared functionality. A dynamic display visually simulates rotor movement—red for the horn, blue for the drum—bringing the effect to life with every rotation.
Four selectable onboard footswitch modes cater to the player’s preference, and new dual-axis knobs for Fast, Slow, Drive/Balance, and Level provide instant tone shaping.
"A dynamic display visually simulates rotor movement, bringing the effect to life with every rotation."
Mode I faithfully captures the traditional character of a Leslie 122—warm, organic, and versatile enough to work with just about any instrument.
Mode II builds on that core sound, widening the range and introducing a more open feel that pairs beautifully with distortion effects to create extra depth.
Mode III shifts into higher gear, delivering a more aggressive spin and added drive that brings out the edges of your tone, helping it stand out clearly in a mix.
"Mode I faithfully captures the traditional character of a Leslie 122."
exploring the RT-2
1. Grit and Soul for Blues and Blues Rock
Nothing breathes life into a 12-bar groove like the swirling churn of a rotary speaker effect. With the RT-2, blues and blues-rock players can add a thick, soulful grind to their solos or a subtle warble behind a slow-burning riff.
Toggle to Mode III and dial in the Drive control for an edgy breakup that recalls the saturated tone of vintage amps pushed hard. Think Stevie Ray Vaughan meets the Allman Brothers with a twist of Hendrix.
At slower speeds, the RT-2 adds a haunting shimmer to expressive bends and sustained notes—ideal for minor blues solos dripping with emotion. Want to thicken your rhythm work? Kick it into Fast speed and let the rotors whip up a storm beneath your shuffle.
For even more control, hook up an expression pedal like the BOSS EV-30 (sold separately) to glide between speeds on the fly or shape the Balance between treble and bass rotors mid-performance.
You can even use it for hands-free control of Drive and Level parameters. Chicago swagger or southern-style jams, the RT-2 brings the heat that makes blues speak.
"Nothing breathes life into a 12-bar groove like the swirling churn of a rotary speaker effect."
2. Psychedelic Swirl for Shoegaze and Dream Pop
The rotary effect is a dream machine for sonic explorers, especially those drawn to shoegaze, dream pop, or ambient territory. With its richly detailed virtual rotor movement, the RT-2 is a powerful tool for crafting shifting, cinematic soundscapes.
Layer it with reverb or delay, and you can build spiraling, hypnotic beds that stretch out to infinity. It’s a deeply evocative canvas for players who chase atmosphere and depth in their music.
Switch the rotor speed to Fast, crank the Drive, and the sound takes on a new intensity—notes throb with momentum and presence, while phrases bloom and cascade. The RT-2’s stereo output adds another dimension, especially when spread across the stereo field in a mix.
Even the simplest melodies take on a liquid, modulated character. For musicians who think in layers and dynamics, the RT-2 is like an instrument in itself.
"The rotary effect is a dream machine for sonic explorers, especially those drawn to shoegaze, dream pop, or ambient territory."
3. Dirt and Grind for Alt-Rock and Indie
There’s a reason so many alt-rock and indie players gravitate toward the rotary sound: it delivers dirt and grandeur in equal measure. With the RT-2’s Drive knob engaged in Drive mode and Mode II selected, you can dial in sweet spots of controlled saturation across a wide frequency range—perfect for heartfelt leads, energized garage jams, or gritty hooks.
The effect brings harmonic movement to your playing, making even the most straightforward chord progressions feel elegant and full of momentum.
Use the onboard footswitch to shift between Slow and Fast modes, or plug in an expression pedal to sweep the speed of the virtual rotors. Some players prefer to hook up an external footswitch like the BOSS FS-5U, FS-6, or FS-7 (sold separately) to toggle between Slow and Fast, or hit the Brake function.
With these convenient options, you have complete command. The glowing LED rotor display responds in real time, giving accurate visual feedback as you transition up and down.
"There’s a reason so many alt-rock and indie players gravitate toward the rotary sound: it delivers dirt and grandeur in equal measure."
4. Studio Scores and Cinematic Composition
Stereo rotary effects are indispensable for adding color, depth, and space to film scores, game soundtracks, and ambient production. The RT-2 brings studio-grade modulation to your fingertips and pedalboard, with nuanced control over various dynamic parameters including rotor Balance, Rise/Fall Times, and Slow/Fast speeds.
Composers use these controls to add intrigue to synth pads, give sampled instruments an organic shimmer, or transform a simple piano phrase into something unique and immersive.
With an expression pedal controlling Speed, users can simultaneously use the Balance knob setting to shift emphasis between the horn and drum rotors—ideal for building and releasing tension. Remember, this pedal isn’t made solely for guitarists; it combines beautifully with synths, strings, and even vocals.
Whether you’re tracking a moody noir piece or an otherworldly sci-fi score, the RT-2 adds three-dimensional motion that makes static sounds come alive.
"Stereo rotary effects are indispensable for adding color, depth, and space to film scores, game soundtracks, and ambient production."
5. Modern Jazz Fusion with a Twist
Today’s jazz guitarists and fusion players are masters of expression, and the RT-2 fits naturally into their world. From gentle tremolo-like iridescence to more overt rotary organ-like emulation, the Rotary Ensemble responds dynamically to touch and phrasing.
Use Mode I for a clean, classic rotary tone or Mode II for a wider sound range. Jump into Mode III for a deeper, more distorted vibe that cuts through a busy ensemble.
Plug into both outputs for full stereo width and hook up the RT-2 with a pair of amps for that magic interplay of warmth, spread, and space. Adjust the Fast and Slow speeds independently to match the flow of your phrasing, and you’ve got a modulation effect that moves with your playing rather than over it.
It’s musical. It’s stirring. It’s inspiring. Equally at home performing onstage or tracking in a studio, the RT-2 helps your playing sing with soulful sophistication.
"Hook up the RT-2 with a pair of amps for that magic interplay of warmth, spread, and space."
The Final Spin
Smoky blues tones, immersive ambient swirls, or razor-sharp indie grit—the RT-2 Rotary Ensemble invites you to explore an entirely new dimension of sound. With its richly detailed modeling and hands-on flexibility, this BOSS compact pedal puts the timeless appeal of a rotary speaker under your feet.
Every mode, every parameter, and every transition has been fine-tuned to inspire fresh ideas and new textures, regardless of playing style. What sets the RT-2 apart is its uncanny ability to slip effortlessly into just about any musical context while still delivering a bold, unmistakable sense of space and motion.
From the classic warmth of vintage rotary tones to the wide, enveloping swirl of modern stereo setups, it adds depth and quality that’s hard to match. Whatever your genre or instrument, the rotary sound has a way of weaving itself into the fabric of your music, and with the RT-2, it does so with newfound clarity and realism.
