Looper pedals, what's out there?

[simon_d]

I've got a TC Nova system, which is fine but it doesn't have a looper function. I've tried to do some research on what might fit the bill but it got out of control quickly!

Seems to go from very simple (TC Ditto) to very complicated (Line 6 JL4).

What else is out there that's easy to use and good? Having never used one I'm not even sure what features I need or how they even work**! I want it primarily as a practice/composition tool.


[** say you create the 1st loop, does the second layer you record have to fit that length of bars or can you create longer loops over shorter ones and vice verca? Eg say a chord progression over 4 bars is loop 1, can you record a melody line that's 8 bars long over it?]

[fretmeister]

Boss RC20XL in the classifieds. Much easier than the single foot switch variety.

[Fretwired]

Boss RC20XL in the classifieds. Much easier than the single foot switch variety.

+1

I have one which proves it's easy to use .....

[Not_the_DJ]

+2 I've also got the RC20xl and that's a lot if looper for not much cash second hand.

However I will be getting a Ditto just to keep on my regular gigging board as it's so tiny.

[simon_d]

Thanks guys, I'd not heard of the RC20XL (been - ahem - out of the loop for some time) will check it out.

The TC Ditto is very cute and can see it bing great for live, but I know I'll want more than it offers for home use.

[octatonic]

Don't like the sound of the RC20xl at all- bit of a tone sucker.
The Lexicon Jamman is better in that format, imho.

Does the budget allow for a Boomerang?
It is a far superior product.
Totally transparent, more features, more flexibility, but more money.

[simon_d]

Does the budget allow for a Boomerang?

Maybe, who makes it?

[Not_the_DJ]

Maybe, who makes it?

http://www.boomerangmusic.com/

Budget for about 3 times that if a Ditto or used RC20xl. Serious bit of kit, and you need to be sure you're seriously into looping before looking at those.

[simon_d]

Yeah, that's way over my budget.

With the RC20XL can you layer loops of different lenth? I'll try that diagramatically (/ = loop start & end points):


L1 /---- ---- ---- ----/...
L2 /----/...

Or the opposite:

L1 /----/...
L2 /---- ---- ---- ----/...

Or even:

L1 /---- ---- ---- /...
L2 /---- ---- ---- ----/...

[Not_the_DJ]

You record the first loop. That really sets the length of everything after. So if you do example one from your post it'll work fine, the second shorter loop will just play again each time the looper gets back to the start point.

For the other examples you can play the longer phrases, but if you record and loop them you'd start overlapping with the earlier part if that second longer loop. Hopefully that makes sense.

The key part with loopers is to get used to the stomp timing that stops the first loop, and automatically becomes the start point. That needs to be in time, or on the beat.

Looping's great fun, I don't do as much these days but I used to play in a duo, just me on guitar and a singer, and the looper tracks we did always went down really well.