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Which looper to buy

TaySte_2000

TaySte_2000

Jun 23, 2001
8,081
2,012
Houston, TX
#1
Decided I need the undo feature of a loop due to being terrible at overdubbing :D

I can get a mint condition RC-20xl for £120 or I can get a Jamman thats got a few chips in the paint and been used pretty consistently for 3 years for £125.

The Jamman seems like the better unit but the lack of reverse and the stupid power supply are pushing me towards the Boss. Also worried that the digitech seems to have been hammered.
 
#4
there's a couple other threads on here about looper preferences...use the search and dig up some looper dsicussions...

From the other threads, it seems more people lean towards the RC-20 over the Jamman.

I have the RC-2, like I Suck At Bass. It works for me and is more than enough for looping capabilities w/ an undo function, etc etc etc.
 
#5
Next to the principal looper in real time fonction, with undo etc
with the jamman and the extra footswitch, you can change loops during playing. For example:

versus = loop 1
chorus = loop 2
bridge = loop 3

Then you start with reading loop 1, during this loop, you can choose the loop 2: then when the loop 1 will be finished, you will automatically start the loop 2. This feature can be very helpfull (notice that it works with loops ever recorded before, not in real time.. )

I also used it to record reharsal: one SM57 in the corner of our local and i can record 6 hours on a 2GB compact flash card. Perfect to record reharsals.
 
#10
Agreed, the Looperlative is the best looper out there, but we're talking about a $1000+ unit vs. a $200+ Boss. Most people don't need that much looping ability.

I'm attaching a looping comparison grid I found on another forum for your review. Take a look. It shows what each looper's capabilities are as well as limitations. Riffbox has some very cool features for just a few bucks more than either the Boss RC20 or Digitech, though it has less looping time and you cannot save the loops.
 
#12
I'm meeting the guy after work to get the RC-20xl, I have some friends that love it so I'm going off their recommendation and the fact it doesn't have a stupid power supply.

If I don't like it I'll sell it and get the Digitech and if I find I don't use the reverse loop I'll sell it and get an rc-2 to save on space
 
#13
irvinz said:
rc20xl. with that you can build up loops, then bring it down again right/? im sure thats usefull...
i think the digitech is only able to do that with a extra footswitch?
Click to expand...

You can only undo the last loop you made, meaning that if you have 4 layers of loops, you can only bring it down to 3 layers of loops. You can work around this is you have pre-recorded loops saved in the patches, but really, using pre-recorded patches live to play along with is pretty lame and takes away the musical aspect of a looper. Might as well just put a CD on and play along to that :D
 
#14
Bryan R. Tyler said:
You can only undo the last loop you made, meaning that if you have 4 layers of loops, you can only bring it down to 3 layers of loops. You can work around this is you have pre-recorded loops saved in the patches, but really, using pre-recorded patches live to play along with is pretty lame and takes away the musical aspect of a looper. Might as well just put a CD on and play along to that :D
Click to expand...

That's fine its usually the top loop I've ballsed up
 
#16
TaySte_2000 said:
That's fine its usually the top loop I've ballsed up
Click to expand...

It's not about mistakes though- it's about composition. Always having the same parts playing underneath what you are playing is extremely limiting composition-wise. It's the biggest drawback to any looper with just one track, which is why it's always better to spend a little more for something like a used Boomerang or the RC-50 if you get serious into looping.
 
#17
Bryan R. Tyler said:
It's not about mistakes though- it's about composition. Always having the same parts playing underneath what you are playing is extremely limiting composition-wise. It's the biggest drawback to any looper with just one track, which is why it's always better to spend a little more for something like a used Boomerang or the RC-50 if you get serious into looping.
Click to expand...

Oh I agree and when I get to the point where I don't need undo because I ballsed up I'll likely upgrade or wait for the fabled Boomerang 3
 
#18
I have an RC-50 and find it to be absolute overkill for me. It's way too much 'thought' for me to even consider using live. I love the drum loops, and the stacking is great, but some things are really complicated. Maybe I'm just dumb, but I've been thinking of moving back down or trying a different brand/style to see if they are more intuitive to operate.
 
#19
grygrx said:
I have an RC-50 and find it to be absolute overkill for me. It's way too much 'thought' for me to even consider using live. I love the drum loops, and the stacking is great, but some things are really complicated. Maybe I'm just dumb, but I've been thinking of moving back down or trying a different brand/style to see if they are more intuitive to operate.
Click to expand...

I've yet to try the RC-50 because I figured it would be so similar in use to the RC-20XLs, which I find extremely easy to use. What aspects are so complicated to you? The EHX 2880 is the one unit that looks like a terror to use live to me- watching the full demo of it made me think it would be great for old-school home recording but not great for live use.
 
#20
grygrx said:
I have an RC-50 and find it to be absolute overkill for me. It's way too much 'thought' for me to even consider using live. I love the drum loops, and the stacking is great, but some things are really complicated. Maybe I'm just dumb, but I've been thinking of moving back down or trying a different brand/style to see if they are more intuitive to operate.
Click to expand...

Trade for an RC-20xl :p
 

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