The Boomerang III Phrase Sampler Thread

[wdinc01]

Believe it or not, the Boomerang III is actually in its final production stages! Or at least, that's what I gather. The company's website has information about the new looper, as well as pictures of what the pedal looks like.

From the Boomerang III page...

The software still isn't complete, but we've decided to sell pre-production units to interested players. Essentially what you'll get is a Boomerang® III looper less the Sync and Free Play Styles. The preproduction software will be tested and ready to go in April 2009.

Our price is what we expect the "street" price to be, $439. Shipping will be additional and should be around $15 in the continental USA. Holler if this interests you.

Here's what you'll get in a pre-production Rang™ III:

* Serial Play Style - loops play one after the other like the Rang™ Plus
* Serial Master Play Style - see description below
* 3 or 4 loops, your choice
* Stacking with undo/redo - "stacking" is adding parts to a loop
* Erase one or all loops - a loop can be erased while another plays
* Copy loop - a loop can be copied whether it is playing or not
* Copy live - this enables "re-sampling" and is very powerful; the pedal's output is routed to a new loop
* Octave - loop plays at half speed and an octave lower
* Reverse - loop plays backwards
* Once - loop plays one time through then stops or if already playing, it stops at its end
* Fade - loops fade in or out with one button press; fades can be approx 2 to 42 seconds long
* Reverse solo - this is an effect and enables you to create reverse leads live
* 48KHz or 24KHz sample rate with 20 bit samples
* Through signal is always 48KHz sample rate with 24 bit samples
* Thru Mute function
* Master playback volume control with an expression pedal
* Dedicated loop playback volume knob
* Dedicated loop decay rate knob - the rate at which earlier parts fade when new ones are added
* Stereo or mono recording and playback
* Smart jacks - the III senses which jacks are being used and provides different signal routing options

Sync in Serial Play Style (Serial Master Play Style)

In addition to playing loops one after the other, there is a cool type of sync in the Serial Play Style where two loops can play simultaneously. If loop 3 is recorded first, it will become the master loop, otherwise it's just another loop and there is no master. If loop three is master, it can play along with the other loops. So at one time you can play loops 1 & 3, 2 & 3, 4 & 3, but not 1 & 2, etc. Loops 1, 2 and 4 will be created so they are a multiple of the length of the master. For example, if master loop three is 4 seconds long, the other loops will be 4, 8, 12, 16... seconds long.

Here's the purpose. For serial style loopers it's nice to have a rhythmic background behind the melodic loops. Mute the strings and record a short "chika-chika" or beat on the sides of your acoustic axe. This rhythmic master loop can then play along with any other loop.

Here's what's missing from a pre-production Rang™ III:

- Sync Play Style, all loops can play simultaneously and are sync-ed so they stay together
- Free Play Style, all loops can play simultaneously and are NOT sync-ed; this is great for ambient sounds

You won't be able to do the following until the final software is available:
- play more than 2 loops at a time
- have one loop play forward while another plays in reverse
- have one loop play an octave down while another plays normally
- have some loops fading in or out while others play on
- have multiple loops of unrelated lengths playing

The purchaser will receive the final production software and user manual when complete, but there is no commitment on our part to a specific delivery date. It's done when it's done. The software will be delivered as a MIDI file attached to an email. Uploading is accomplished by playing the file in a MIDI player on your computer with the output routed through a USB/MIDI interface and on to the III with a MIDI cable. If the customer doesn't have the means to accomplish this, then the unit must be returned to have the software installed. In that case, the customer will pay for all shipping expenses, both ways. This will most likely run from $20 to $35 in the lower 48.

The company's front page states that they'll be selling preproduction models this month. Has anyone gotten one yet?

Here's a link to the website, which features more pictures of the pedal: http://www.boomerangmusic.com/Rang%20III.html

Discuss!

[cybersnyder]

Hasn't this been coming out in the next few months for about two years? I was following for awhile, but lost interest. With the delays upon delays, there is no way I'd buy a pre-production unit. When it does come out in final form, I'm sure it will be killer.

[Jazz Ad]

Original Boomerangs are fantastic to use live. I hope the interface will remain as intuitive with all these new functions.
It looks like they made it much smaller, which is good news.

[AJ Brown]

Originally Posted by cybersnyder

Hasn't this been coming out in the next few months for about two years? I was following for awhile, but lost interest. With the delays upon delays, there is no way I'd buy a pre-production unit. When it does come out in final form, I'm sure it will be killer.

Yeah... these sentences from their website say it all

The purchaser will receive the final production software and user manual when complete, but there is no commitment on our part to a specific delivery date. It's done when it's done.

[Mike Dimin]

I had the proto for a few weeks and it was wonderful. I have one on the way. It will most likely need some software updates over the next month or so (done via midi - not a big deal). I should have mine sometime this week... I'll let you know

[Mike Dimin]

UPS came today - oh yeah! It'slaytime

Mike

[James Hart]

looking forward to some reviews Mike! I like what you do with the one you had at the GTG I met you at... I've been 1/2 waiting for the III before I jump into a looper.

[Mike Dimin]

Originally Posted by James Hart

looking forward to some reviews Mike! I like what you do with the one you had at the GTG I met you at... I've been 1/2 waiting for the III before I jump into a looper.

There is a lot more to it. I had the proto for a while so I knew what to expect - but I think I'll actually need to read the manual with this one

One of my youtube vids I use the proto on. The most stunning difference is the sound quality - add to it all the new features and you really have something

Mike

[thrash_jazz]

Wouldn't mind seeing this one. It seems to be the only new high-end looper that has come out in a while.

The only disappointing thing is that other than the serial looping capabilities, there doesn't seem to be a whole lot that's new compared to the last gen of pedal loopers. Still, it'll be nice to see

[allenhumble]

I am in the market for a looper and have been seriously considering the Electro harmonix 2880. I had an RC20XL at one point. I liked it but need something more versatile. How does this compare?

[grygrx]

Digging this thread up because this arrived at my door yesterday.

Horrible Cell Phone Shot.


Background: I've owned the entire boss line (rc-2, rc-20xl, rc-50) and spent a bunch of time with the digitech jamman. I've not used any of the previous Boomerang products.

Music:
I'm a hack, with looping dreams. I've never been able to fully manage a looper AND play to "get it together" and go live. I would love to just bomb into an open mic show with a bass, a looper, and some fuzz pedals... but that has never happened. I'm always fighting the looper not working the way my mind wants it to. I have sworn I will slowly move through all looping products until I hit one that is easy to get me to the 'instinctive' level of using it.

Boom III Background:
They are still selling it as 'pre-production', but the hardware is finalized and they are "working" on the software. Reading some reviews and understanding what it was capable of at this point I decided to jump in after selling my rc-2.

Day 1: Boomerang III arrived (as did an old wah I had out for repair). I parked down with a guitar and decided to see what I could figure out without reading the manual. Played for a bit, broke a string, stopped and read the manual, swapped to bass, looked up and it was three hours later.

Initial Impressions:
Nice layout and nice size. The 'bonus' buttons are easy to use and quickly swap assignments AND still be able to tell what they are set to with little more than a glance. Recording and swapping loops is easy, though will require a little more timing skill than the boss (no quantize-like feature). Only one of the three modes is currently active: 'serial' with 'sync' & 'free play' to be added via software updates.

Serial mode seems to contain most of what I want from a looper. There are two distinct ways to use it.

The basic situation allows you to record loops, stack, undo etc... when you click on the button for one of the other loops it will move to that loop when the current loop ends. If there is nothing currently recorded there, it will start recording.

If you have no loops recorded and start with Loop 3, it will act as a master (and the others as slave). You can record a little something-something in the master loop, and it will continue to play as you move between the other loops. You can still stack on that master loop if you would like. Slave loops can be recorded in multiples of the master loop. So for example if the Master loop is 5 seconds long, slave loops can be recorded as 5, 10, 15 seconds.

I am already more skilled using this looper after one day than I have been with any other.

Additionally it was better sounding than my recently departed RC-2 as well.

I've not attempted to remap any buttons, or use any of the advanced button functions other than (stack, undo, erase, and once), nor have I added an expression pedal for volume. I will continue to update as I play/learn.

I understand it's the honeymoon, but man... the first night was GREAT.

[Mike Dimin]

Originally Posted by grygrx

Digging this thread up because this arrived at my door yesterday.

Horrible Cell Phone Shot.


Background: I've owned the entire boss line (rc-2, rc-20xl, rc-50) and spent a bunch of time with the digitech jamman. I've not used any of the previous Boomerang products.

Music:
I'm a hack, with looping dreams. I've never been able to fully manage a looper AND play to "get it together" and go live. I would love to just bomb into an open mic show with a bass, a looper, and some fuzz pedals... but that has never happened. I'm always fighting the looper not working the way my mind wants it to. I have sworn I will slowly move through all looping products until I hit one that is easy to get me to the 'instinctive' level of using it.

Boom III Background:
They are still selling it as 'pre-production', but the hardware is finalized and they are "working" on the software. Reading some reviews and understanding what it was capable of at this point I decided to jump in after selling my rc-2.

Day 1: Boomerang III arrived (as did an old wah I had out for repair). I parked down with a guitar and decided to see what I could figure out without reading the manual. Played for a bit, broke a string, stopped and read the manual, swapped to bass, looked up and it was three hours later.

Initial Impressions:
Nice layout and nice size. The 'bonus' buttons are easy to use and quickly swap assignments AND still be able to tell what they are set to with little more than a glance. Recording and swapping loops is easy, though will require a little more timing skill than the boss (no quantize-like feature). Only one of the three modes is currently active: 'serial' with 'sync' & 'free play' to be added via software updates.

Serial mode seems to contain most of what I want from a looper. There are two distinct ways to use it.

The basic situation allows you to record loops, stack, undo etc... when you click on the button for one of the other loops it will move to that loop when the current loop ends. If there is nothing currently recorded there, it will start recording.

If you have no loops recorded and start with Loop 3, it will act as a master (and the others as slave). You can record a little something-something in the master loop, and it will continue to play as you move between the other loops. You can still stack on that master loop if you would like. Slave loops can be recorded in multiples of the master loop. So for example if the Master loop is 5 seconds long, slave loops can be recorded as 5, 10, 15 seconds.

I am already more skilled using this looper after one day than I have been with any other.

Additionally it was better sounding than my recently departed RC-2 as well.

I've not attempted to remap any buttons, or use any of the advanced button functions other than (stack, undo, erase, and once), nor have I added an expression pedal for volume. I will continue to update as I play/learn.

I understand it's the honeymoon, but man... the first night was GREAT.

Great. I've been using the pre-procution model for some time and I am really digging it. Being able to set Loop 3 as a master is genius. I have been using Boomwhackers to create rhythm loops to play over.

Mike

[grygrx]

Originally Posted by Mike Dimin

Great. I've been using the pre-procution model for some time and I am really digging it. Being able to set Loop 3 as a master is genius. I have been using Boomwhackers to create rhythm loops to play over.

Mike

I'm not familiar with Boomwhackers and how they would be applied in this situation.

[Spacelordmother]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMONz...eature=related

I don't know that he uses a Rang, but he surely uses Boomwhackers.

I'm more of a Darsombra kind of guy, but Keller can really work a loop.

[LeonD]

Does anyone know how close they are to shipping the production model?

LeonD

[grygrx]

Originally Posted by LeonD

Does anyone know how close they are to shipping the production model?

LeonD

Production hardware IS shipping. Production software is not.

[CDT]

a week ago I sent an email wanting to order a pre-production unit and haven't heard back.

[grygrx]

You won't until it's ready. It was about three weeks for me.

[jeffee47]

Originally Posted by CDT

a week ago I sent an email wanting to order a pre-production unit and haven't heard back.

I had the same experience. They did get back with me after a couple of weeks (I think) and got me setup with full instructions on ordering a unit. It was hard because I was so excited to get one. I used a cashier's check and the total turn around time for the check to leave my house and have the Rang III was surprisingly fast.

I will say, it was worth the wait, and the pedal is the best looper I've used. My main loopers before it were the Digitech Jamman and the Boss RC-50. The Rang III is the easiest to use and I love the master mode (using loop 3 first as a basic rhythm). The loop boundaries are smooth and it is small, but still, easy to operate.

HTH

[LeonD]

I had a Boomerang + but wanted to have the ability to play multiple loops both in and our of sync. So I sold the + and got a RC-50.

The RC-50 can do what I want but I find the complexity of the unit often limits me. The Boomerang III with all it's capabilities looks perfect.

The only thing holding me back is their past history. The Sync and Free styles could be delivered in the next three months or the next three years.

LeonD