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ditto x4 looper :)

thehangingmist

thehangingmist

Dec 14, 2007
6,367
302
New Delhi, India
#1
anyone excited about it?

i always wanted a looper in which i could play a 4 or 8 bar phrase (like a muted slap pattern to emulate a drum sound) and then over lay a much longer 12 or 16 or 24 or 32 bar chord progression.

i think this looper can do that! i feel out of touch with all the tech stuff but the sync and series mode sound like that was what was needed! am not sure but maybe there are some other loopers that can do that?

also, i understand some loopers can "auto quantize" to make things fit and some dont but it sounds like an awesome feature to have if you are like me and can't get your loops in perfect time every time? any thoughts on this auto quantize business? am not sure if i would miss "rhythm" or drum section that some other loopers offer
 
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#8
Mr. voodoobass said:
Yes or just get two ditto's(micro) to have two loops of different length running.
Click to expand...

because i do not have "perfect time" they eventually end up phasing in and out of each other. exactly what the video explains.. the second loop matches up exactly with the "timing" of the first loop and not the length though, so you can loop a 24 bar phrase over a 4 bar phrase and woohoo

yet another reason to work on getting computer like time built into me though.. practice practice practice
 
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#10
I'm definitely interesting in the X4. I've been looking at loopers for a while and leaning toward a Boomerang III, which is a bit pricey, but I could foresee outgrowing the X2. The X4 may be a good candidate to handle most of what I'd use a looper for at a decent price point. It also looks like you can upload loops via USB, which may be an advantage for live performance. Not sure the Boomerang can do that.
 
#12
red_rhino said:
I'm definitely interesting in the X4. I've been looking at loopers for a while and leaning toward a Boomerang III, which is a bit pricey, but I could foresee outgrowing the X2. The X4 may be a good candidate to handle most of what I'd use a looper for at a decent price point. It also looks like you can upload loops via USB, which may be an advantage for live performance. Not sure the Boomerang can do that.
Click to expand...

this however does not offer many loop memories that you can store as different loops, i do not think i care for pre stored loops much though
 
#13
thehangingmist said:
this however does not offer many loop memories that you can store as different loops, i do not think i care for pre stored loops much though
Click to expand...
Yeah, the Boomerang III has 4 loops, the X4 only has 2 but costs significantly less. Once I get a better handle on my use case, I'll know which way to go.

As far as stored loops, I can see an advantage in being able to "prime" the looper via USB in a live situation. One of the things that tends to annoy me about looper-based performances is that layering the the piece together at the beginning takes so long that the song never seems to go anywhere. I keep waiting for something to happen.
 
#14
thehangingmist said:
i always wanted a looper in which i could play a 4 or 8 bar phrase ...and then over lay a much longer 12 or 16 or 24 or 32 bar chord progression.
Click to expand...

That was one of the things I loved about the Oberheim Echoplex Digital Pro. I still kick myself for selling mine. Are those still available from Gibson?

And yeah, I'm excited about the ditto x4!
 
#16
thehangingmist said:
anyone excited about it?

i always wanted a looper in which i could play a 4 or 8 bar phrase (like a muted slap pattern to emulate a drum sound) and then over lay a much longer 12 or 16 or 24 or 32 bar chord progression.

i think this looper can do that! i feel out of touch with all the tech stuff but the sync and series mode sound like that was what was needed! am not sure but maybe there are some other loopers that can do that?

also, i understand some loopers can "auto quantize" to make things fit and some dont but it sounds like an awesome feature to have if you are like me and can't get your loops in perfect time every time? any thoughts on this auto quantize business? am not sure if i would miss "rhythm" or drum section that some other loopers offer
Click to expand...

Honestly if I was doing a ton of live looping I'd definetly pick up the ditto x4. But it lacks the most useful feature of a looper IMO. The ability to save all your loops so you don't have to set them up everytime live.
 
#17
red_rhino said:
...
As far as stored loops, I can see an advantage in being able to "prime" the looper via USB in a live situation. One of the things that tends to annoy me about looper-based performances is that layering the the piece together at the beginning takes so long that the song never seems to go anywhere. I keep waiting for something to happen.
Click to expand...
I agree but only to a degree; the more pre-recorded it is, the more it is just performing to a backing track which to me is not as interesting. I think a big part of a looper performance is the buildup of the composition; seeing someone do it all live is exciting. Maybe that is partly colored by a musicians point of view though and not how an average audience member would see it.
 
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#19
thehangingmist said:
Anyone got one?
I should get mine in two to three weeks.. Can't wait really!!
Click to expand...

Do report back...

I'm looking seriously at getting into the looping/solobass stuff and the ditto 4X is on my short list along with the infinity, the boomerang, and maybe one of the boss pedals. I'm looking at adding a beat buddy as well so I do want something with midi capabilities. As I understand it, those without the quantize feature can be forced into that with an external midi device (like the beat buddy).
 
#20
I've had one for a few weeks. I really dig it for solo looping type stuff. I like to do rhythmic stuff and loose ambient type looping as well; the Ditto X4 is well suited to both. I haven't tried syncing to a midi clock but apparently it works with a beat buddy based on seeing a video of someone doing it. The effects are fun but wish you could control the parameters on the fade and tape effects. The hold effect is really unique and surprisingly useful and musical once you figure it out. I can try answer any questions anyone has.
 

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