Looper/sampler for live use.

[NickyBass]

I am looking for a little bit of help for a non-bass related project. I am looking for a hardware floor unit that will store songs as loops, and each song has 4 or 5 loops that I can switch between. I would want to store the songs so I can just recall them from gig to gig and I'd like a large screen where I can easily see the names of the files.
I would probably create the loops on the computer and would like to load them into the unit via USB.
I know there are some really nice loopers coming out, but I am not sure if they are the best choice. I don't need the ability to do live looping. I just need something to play back tracks that I can arrange live.
I would prefer not to us a laptop and have a ton of gear and I'd like to have something that is very rugged.
I would appreciate any help. This is all new to me, so I am a bit lost.

 

[lz4005]

Switching between 5 sections is beyond the capacity of any looper I've seen.

Even the high end ones generally only do 3.

You need a keyboard or the foot-operated equivalent that will allow you to trigger them as samples.

 

[NickyBass]

Thanks for the reply. Assuming that 3 could work, which unit would you recommend researching?

 

[Ekajimmy]

Switching between 5 sections is beyond the capacity of any looper I've seen.

Even the high end ones generally only do 3.

You need a keyboard or the foot-operated equivalent that will allow you to trigger them as samples.

+1

 

[Jazz Ad]

At this point you need backtracks, not loops. Fortunately it's cheaper, although less versatile.
Pads and phones with a Bluetooth footswitch will do that just fine.

 

[NickyBass]

Ok, I may have to reconsider the laptop thing. Thanks for the info.

 

[thetragichero]

laptop would definitely be the way to go

 

[thewildest]

I would prefer not to us a laptop and have a ton of gear and I'd like to have something that is very rugged.
I would appreciate any help. This is all new to me, so I am a bit lost.

I agree with everyone that your specification would be too much for a off-the-shelf looper, and more an application for backing tracks IF you are looking to play these 5 loops concurrently (one over the other) following a certain timing.
A few ideas that may help:

• Why a Laptop? I have a Mac Mini, which is the size of a 1/2 rack unit, and has the processing power of a thousand hardware based effects. I run MainStage on it, but Garage Band or other simpler products may be what you need. To see what is going on I have a 7" screen that helps me navigate the menus. I switch pathes with an USB midi foot controller.
• 5 concurrent loops in synch may be tough, but a Boss RC-50 has 3 multi-layer sections in each patch you could work with.
• If you are only storing long loops, loopers such as the RC-50 have "patches", that you can store and call back. Each patch can have 3 overlapping or sequenced loops in it. It also can be selected through MIDI.

I hope this helps.

 

[Flamingo21]

OP, from your opening post I gather that you want to play your loops successively, not simultaneously.

Am I correct? This is worth clearing up before going any further.

 

[NickyBass]

I am looking to play the loops successively, not simultaneously. This would allow for greater flexibility on song form, but more specifically it would allow me to extend the song for a longer period if it is going over well. So, my estimate of 4 or 5 could really be condensed into 3 if need be---intro, form looped and outro. My original idea was to have a loop for verse, chorus, bridge, etc. and I could switch at will.

 

[Flamingo21]

Sounds like a good idea. I hope you find a way.

I have no idea how to do it , so I'm following this thread in hopes of learning something.

 

[bound'n'blocked]

I use my Digitech Jam Man Solo for something similar to what you are wanting to do. I have, for example, the song "Runaway" by Bon Jovi (yeah, really) and we have the whole keyboard part in the Jam Man. I start it with a step at the beginning and it runs the length of the song. Without looking at the manual, I cant remember the amount of time you can store, but with an SD card I remember it being way more that I would ever need. I do all of my editing on a computer and then play it into the pedal just as if I was recording a live loop, although you can do it through a USB card or just drag and drop to the SD card too.

BnB

 

[tshapiro]

Honesty, with 5 loops per song that's a bunch of switching. I'd just make yourself backing tracks. To kickoff 3 loops which could be stored as songs try the Boss RC-300

 

[Kevin Cain]

A stand mounted iPad running Loopy HD, PRIME or Quantiloop Pro will do the trick. A multi button midi floor controller can be used to control the app. I use this set up along with the RC-300.