Loopers as Practice Tools

mbeall · #1 05-15-2012, 09:43 AM

Anyone else use a looper for practicing purposes?

Just got one this week and it's been sobering to say the least as it makes it very simple to listen back and evaluate myself. The cool part is how fast it allows me to do another take. I feel like I'm just scratching the surface of this thing as a practice tool. For years I've used sequences and backing tracks to practice playing songs or particular changes. This is a whole new ball game.

Langer93 · #2 05-15-2012, 09:49 AM

I got one last year, very good for listening to how clean (or otherwise ) you play.At first all I wanted to do with it was layer up sounds and wank solos in jest. However I would say in terms of tone and practice/learning tunes It's become extremely valuable to me

PDGood · #3 05-15-2012, 09:50 AM

I use mine for practice soloing - not that I take many solos, but it's a way to advance my knowledge.
I also use it to create song arrangements.

DiabolusInMusic · #4 05-15-2012, 09:58 AM

Oh lord yes, I tell people a looper is essential to learning how to solo, you can run a ii-V-I all day long and at no point will it lose time or tell you it is tired of listening you to wank.

tonym · #5 05-15-2012, 10:32 AM

Absolutely, got one two weeks ago for the same reason.

AFRO · #6 05-15-2012, 11:03 AM

I am in the market for a looper...What kind do you guys own/favor?
I was looking into (Jamstation maybe) was pretty good, Boss RC 300 I think..up to four loops?

but for almost $400.00 whew! that is pricey IMO... What are some other options that would fill a "hobbyist" needs..?

How many loops do yous guys get per your devise? (name/ brand)

Thoughts plz.

mbeall · #7 05-15-2012, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AFRO

I am in the market for a looper...What kind do you guys own/favor?
I was looking into (Jamstation maybe) was pretty good, Boss RC 300 I think..up to four loops?

but for almost $400.00 whew! that is pricey IMO... What are some other options that would fill a "hobbyist" needs..?

How many loops do yous guys get per your devise? (name/ brand)

Thoughts plz.

I think anything with an easily accessible "undo" feature will work for the purpose of practicing. The more functions that are available on the pedals the easier it will be. If you go with a smaller ones you may find out that you need external foot switches to accommodate some of the functions so read the manuals before you buy. An important part is to get something with enough sample time that you can loop an entire long form song, i.e. 32 bars, for at least one chorus but that should not be an issue with any of the current dedicated loopers as memory has become so cheap in recent years.

FWIW I got the RC300 ($400). 3 independent loops. The smaller RC30($300) has 2 and would also do just fine but I would want another external FW($30-$60) for ease of use which puts the price closer to the RC300. Regardless although $300-$400 sounds like a lot I think its worth it for the potential gains to be made if it is used effectively. And you can always look for used RC-50's (predecessor to the RC300) on Ebay.

DiabolusInMusic · #8 05-15-2012, 11:37 AM

I bought my RC-20XL about 2 years ago for $150 used on my local kijiji (like CL)... that is about the going rate for a used one, haven't seen a used RC-30 but I'd get it if the chance came to upgrade. In fact I once went to pick one up, got there and the guy had a 20XL, told him to keep as I already owned one.

They are pretty expensive new, I'll give you that, but they aren't rare used either.

PDGood · #9 05-15-2012, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbeall

The more functions that are available on the pedals the easier it will be. If you go with a smaller ones you may find out that you need external foot switches to accommodate some of the functions so read the manuals before you buy.

+1

Also, you can find used loopers FREQUENTLY. People buy them, think they'll use them, then lose interest. It's easy to find used ones cheap and in good condition.

angryclown5 · #10 05-15-2012, 11:49 AM

I got this about three months ago. Great for creating loops to practice over. Easy to use right out of the box. Also easy to import loops from other sources like GarageBand.

$300 new, I scored this nearly new one on CraigsList for $200.

tonym · #11 05-15-2012, 03:02 PM

I got the JamMan Solo as a starter, really like it. Very capable pedal and easy to use. Picked up the additional footswitch which makes it even better for $14 on clearance at GC.

elshunko · #12 05-15-2012, 03:14 PM

I would get the JamMan. I have it, use/practice with it, and love it. It is also a fraction of the price of the Boss.

Bass Mentor · #13 05-16-2012, 07:11 PM

I too bought a JamMan by Digitech just a month ago... and as a pro bassist/educator/studio musician for many years I've been just tapping into the creative and practice tool abilities of this unit.....for my students, especially that they can hear themselves instantly for that reality check and feedback-- it is a revelation!

Clef_de_fa · #14 05-16-2012, 07:48 PM

I had a Boss RC-2 ( the first version ) and I was very pleased by it. Easy to use, can store 11 loops ( of course you can layer many many track ), you can use an external foot switch. The one I had could have 15min of recording.

Very nice to practice your soloing or have something prepared that you can trigger during a show. Not my favorite tool for practice groove. I now use Pro Tools that can loop so, I don't need it anymore.

AJ Brown · #15 05-17-2012, 04:30 PM

I really like the Boomerang III plus Sidecar. The button action is different than the others. No memory for storing loops, but it's a great challenge to keep having to do them over. Pretty versatile otherwise.

Mike M. · #16 05-17-2012, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by angryclown5

I got this about three months ago. Great for creating loops to practice over. Easy to use right out of the box. Also easy to import loops from other sources like GarageBand.

$300 new, I scored this nearly new one on CraigsList for $200.

I bought the same unit about a year ago. Can't believe how much it's helped me to improve. I've got a lot of differant chord progressions from instructional CD's (minus the bass parts) recorded into mine, plus a few of my own little things to practice over.

As said, you can play over the same progression all night long if you want and no one's gonna tell you enough!

Great tool to own.

Bass Mentor · #17 05-18-2012, 01:20 PM

Mike M; Are you storing sounds with the usb and software downloaded from Digitech? and if so, have you found it useful?

Shardik · #18 07-11-2012, 01:31 AM

Just got myself a nearly new Boss RC-30 Loop Station (only 25-30% off new price, but that is OK, I guess).

I think it is a great way to practice, and I really hope to learn more on how to use such a looper for practice and creative purposes.

So far I have used the built in rythms to build loops around. I already got a couple of gotchas about my own (lack of) timing and pitch accuracy on fretless when things get just a bit complicated...

ninefingerbass · #19 07-11-2012, 09:22 PM

I think it's a great tool for practicing, soloing and hearing the result! It's helped me write songs, criticize my playing and a great tool to make songs with too.

henry2513 · #20 07-12-2012, 01:04 AM

A looper is a great tool, I'd say at least 50% of my practice utilizes a looper in some form. I usually pick a tune out of the real book, plug the bass and chords into the looper or once in a while just jam over a few different chord changes for fun, like so: http://soundcloud.com/jrodrig5/loop-practice