Good starting looper pedal?

Fassa Albrecht · #1 03-10-2011, 12:47 PM

I'm doing a song which is likely going to need a looper pedal in order to play it. Now I don't know too much about pedals at all, nevermind loopers, and would appreciate some advice as to what I should look for. Some brands or models to check out would be good.

Any advice appreciated!

BigOldHarry · #2 03-10-2011, 12:50 PM

This is a fine excuse to buy the new DC delay. It does a ton of cool things, including looping.

Where is that demo on youtube...

YouTube - TC Electronic Flashback Delay

Go to 17:15 for the whole looper demo.

Insouciance · #3 03-10-2011, 02:58 PM

Akai E2. Awesome unit.

TOOL460002 · #4 03-10-2011, 03:38 PM

+1 on getting a delay with a looper mode.

a boss dd7 (or 6) has an exp in, so you could pick up a cheap mini tap tempo in and a used dd7 for probably under 200 shipped. that is what i would do.

the only other delays i can vouch for is the eventide time factor, or a line 6 dd4, though they are both bigger and require a wall wort (although i want to say the line 6 can be powered off a bunch of c or d batteries (dont own one... only borrowed one for a couple weeks years ago [but i actually used it more for looping than delay). these will both cost you about twice as much as the dd7/tap tempo switch combo.

ive also had my eye on the boomerang loopers for years, but they are also big, expensive, and require a wall wort. ive also seen a lot of the boss looper only pedals (they make a couple... a small red one, and then a bigger one of some other color).

MysterMunky · #5 03-10-2011, 04:09 PM

I started out with a Boss DD7 and does a good job at looping.

After a while though, I wanted a dedicated looper so that I could use the DD7 as a delay. I went with the Boss RC2 because GC had a new one for $119. The RC2 has a decent number of rhythm tracks that you can add to your loops (rock, shuffle, latin, etc). It also has memory banks to save your loops in.

Since I've started looping, I have been looking to upgrade to something like the boomerang or something similar.

walker rosewood · #6 03-10-2011, 06:01 PM

The latest boss loopers are due out in April. The RC-3 and RC-30. Up to 3 hours of loop, 99 slots, stereo in/out, mic input, usb (import/export .wav) and the RC-30 is two tracks. $200/$300 respectively.

Boss Releases Updated Loopers: RC-3 and RC-30

benevan · #7 03-10-2011, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Insouciance

Akai E2. Awesome unit.

+1

FrigginChris · #8 03-10-2011, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Insouciance

Akai E2. Awesome unit.

+2 the akai headrush E2 is and awesome pedal.

RenorCordic · #9 03-10-2011, 07:52 PM

Digitech, Hardwire DL-8.

Buy DigiTech HardWire DL-8 Delay/Looper Guitar Effects Pedal | Delay & Reverb | Musician's Friend

I've not used it personally, but a friend has it and it seems awesome. Tap delay+ loop+ small size.

**kenstee** · #10 03-10-2011, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by walker rosewood

The latest boss loopers are due out in April. The RC-3 and RC-30. Up to 3 hours of loop, 99 slots, stereo in/out, mic input, usb (import/export .wav) and the RC-30 is two tracks. $200/$300 respectively.

Boss Releases Updated Loopers: RC-3 and RC-30

As such, the market will soon be awash in used RC-2/RC-20's at rock-bottom prices. That said, the new Boss "3" series looks pretty sweet!

Robertron · #11 03-10-2011, 09:34 PM

Fassa Albrecht, you'll have to decide how much looping functionality you'll need from your loop pedal.

Do you need tons of functions?
Do you need to be able to store loops in the unit?
Do you need to be able to adjust the tempo of the loop live?
Do you have specific power limitations for the pedal? Are walwarts a problem?
Do you have pedal board real estate limitations?

I can't wait for the RC-30 to drop. It's the looper I always wished my Jamman was but isn't.

Fassa Albrecht · #12 03-11-2011, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robertron

Fassa Albrecht, you'll have to decide how much looping functionality you'll need from your loop pedal.

Do you need tons of functions?

To be honest I don't actually know, simply because I've never, until now, ever considered using one.

Quote:

Do you need to be able to store loops in the unit?

It would certainly be handy.

Quote:

Do you need to be able to adjust the tempo of the loop live?

I didn't even know this sorta thing existed...

Quote:

Do you have specific power limitations for the pedal? Are walwarts a problem?
Do you have pedal board real estate limitations?

No to both questions. I use one single pedal (an overdrive) when I can and a BassPOD when needed.

Quote:

I can't wait for the RC-30 to drop. It's the looper I always wished my Jamman was but isn't.

Ooh...

faiz0802 · #13 03-11-2011, 11:13 AM

Guitar Rig 4 has an inbuilt looper, pretty basic. You can download a running demo from the site and try it out. Good for sorting out what you need and don't need.

I'm drooling over the Boss RC-3 right now.
BOSS U.S. - RC-3: Loop Station

faiz0802 · #14 03-11-2011, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robertron

I can't wait for the RC-30 to drop. It's the looper I always wished my Jamman was but isn't.

Damn, I thought it had a March 1st release. Didn't it? Or is it April 1st?

walker rosewood · #15 03-11-2011, 12:11 PM

Musician's Friend says expected arrival 4/29 for the RC-3/RC-30. Sweetwater the same.

AwkwardLoudness · #16 03-11-2011, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RenorCordic

Digitech, Hardwire DL-8.

Buy DigiTech HardWire DL-8 Delay/Looper Guitar Effects Pedal | Delay & Reverb | Musician's Friend

I've not used it personally, but a friend has it and it seems awesome. Tap delay+ loop+ small size.

I have a DL-8 and like it as a delay pedal, but it only loops up to 8 seconds and has no memory bank.

I like the older Boss RC-20 and RC-50 pedals, but the RC-3 and RC-30 coming out soon are significant improvements on those especially with total memory, options, looping time.

TheSuzie · #17 03-11-2011, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by faiz0802

Guitar Rig 4 has an inbuilt looper, pretty basic. You can download a running demo from the site and try it out. Good for sorting out what you need and don't need.

Ambiloop is a very cool software looper for windows machines. It can also be controlled via midi so if you happen to have a midi foot controller and a midi interface on your comp, you can really go to town. IME it is very stable and lots of fun. Just google ambiloop. There is also a yahoo ambiloop group with lots of archived q&a about ambiloop.

Peace,
S

faiz0802 · #18 03-11-2011, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheSuzie

Ambiloop is a very cool software looper for windows machines. It can also be controlled via midi so if you happen to have a midi foot controller and a midi interface on your comp, you can really go to town. IME it is very stable and lots of fun. Just google ambiloop. There is also a yahoo ambiloop group with lots of archived q&a about ambiloop.

Peace,
S

seems very promising, will try out, but I do think Fassa's looking for a looper in pedal form.

TheSuzie · #19 03-11-2011, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by faiz0802

seems very promising, will try out, but I do think Fassa's looking for a looper in pedal form.

Yes. I thought that using a free software looper might help her find what features she needed in a pedal as stated in the post I quoted. NP

faiz0802 · #20 03-11-2011, 01:17 PM

Yes yes, so did I, sorry, must've skipped my mind.. But I kinda realized that she might need a good interface to use software well with bass, well that and latency issues. Also, I use an Audiobox so i take it as a given that I have no issues with software. Dunno what her scene is though.