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Thinking about a looper pedal

Bassic Needs

Bassic Needs

Jul 7, 2019
877
1,699
Canada
#1
Hey fellow TBers.

I am thinking about getting a looper pedal so I can lay down something to play over. This will be for home use, mostly for practice but also to learn and get familiar with using one.

I'm thinking of maybe getting a Ditto X2. Anything else I should consider or any reason I shouldn't go for the Ditto?

Thanks.
 
#2
I wanted the same thing for the same reasons. Boss RC-1.
82C09310-2823-409C-9EA7-1741375BAED7.jpeg
 
#4
I think that loopers generally fall into two major categories - those that support MIDI tempo sync, and those that do not. If you aren't planning on playing with any type of accompaniment or any external source (like a drum machine, backing track, live drummer, other musicians, etc) then MIDI tempo sync won't be a big deal. If you are planning on doing that, I'd plan on looking at a pedal that supports it. Otherwise, tempo drift is inevitable. (They are, unfortunately, expensive, as MIDI tempo clock only comes on high-end models.)

Other than that...if your timing is good, you can learn to lay down seamless loops that don't drop time or add time. It does take practice, but it is rewarding. That said, be careful - if you don't stay aware, you can fall into some bad meter habits with your looper, like rushing or dragging that last bar or just being off time in general. Practice with a metronome (or a delay pedal, in a pinch) to maintain and improve your time and meter.

If you don't need MIDI sync, get the Ditto.
 
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#5
Dittos are cool. If you have $ to burn, though, Boss RC-30s are cool too. And DigiTech JamMan, small or Stereo. And more but those are highly used & common ones.

I think the TC Electronic Flashback X4 qualifies as a looper with MIDI, and there's lots to be said for that if you want to have it controllable by, say, a laptop sending sync pulses along with any music on it
 
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#8
I have the little Wally+ at the end of my board and I've been very happy with it. Functionally it's cool, but I don't like the switches on my Ditto X4. But other people seem to like 'em fine. My EHX 360 is nice, so I'd take a 720 over the X2, personally. I'd like to try an Infinity 2.
 
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#10
Bassic Needs said:
Turns out the Ditto X2 is discontinued
Click to expand...

Oh no! I'd been meaning to add one to my collection (which admittedly is almost indefensible; I currently own seven different looping delays and I have an eighth incoming sometime next month) but didn't think I'd have to rush into that purchase. Guess it's time to check the local shops for NOS, or start hitting up the classifieds.

#FirstWorldProblems
 
#11
Bob_Ross said:
Oh no! I'd been meaning to add one to my collection (which admittedly is almost indefensible; I currently own seven different looping delays and I have an eighth incoming sometime next month) but didn't think I'd have to rush into that purchase. Guess it's time to check the local shops for NOS, or start hitting up the classifieds.

#FirstWorldProblems
Click to expand...

According to my local music store it is discontinued. I have no reason to doubt that but I don't see anything on the TC Electronics site to verify that.
 
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#12
Bassic Needs said:
Turns out the Ditto X2 is discontinued and the store I went to sold it about 30 mins before I arrived.
Click to expand...

then get any other Ditto. the one-button one is not that bad.

I've moved from X2 to the simplest Ditto back recently. separate stop (and clear) button is surely a nice addition in X2, but it seems like I'm okay without it as well.

the 'discontinued' part seems strange though, but it could eventually happen (they launched an Ditto Jam X2 several years ago)
 
#13
Do you have an audio interface and a decent computer? Most DAW's, even the free ones have some sort of looper included. And if you need something to stomp box you can also find cheap USB pedals.

But if you need a hardware pedal id say the Ditto is a good entry point to play around at home.
 
#15
IMHO, MIDI sync is important. Loopers tend to be addictive. The more you use it, the more you'll want to use it.

If you want to play along with someone else using a looper, you can sync the two up with MIDI. And if your Focusrite Scarlett has MIDI (which I think it does), you can lay down a drum or backing track down on your computer and sync your looper to the track with MIDI.

For the record, a Boomerang is my looper of choice.
 
#16
LeonD said:
IMHO, MIDI sync is important. Loopers tend to be addictive. The more you use it, the more you'll want to use it.

If you want to play along with someone else using a looper, you can sync the two up with MIDI. And if your Focusrite Scarlett has MIDI (which I think it does), you can lay down a drum or backing track down on your computer and sync your looper to the track with MIDI.

For the record, a Boomerang is my looper of choice.
Click to expand...

I've heard about the Boomerang Rang III and Pigtronix Infinity 3 but thems be a wee bit pricey. Looks more geared towards good players and pros. I could up my $ limit but I'd have to forego any thoughts of more shiny pedals in 2021.
Decisions, decisions.
 
#18
LeonD said:
You don't need to be good to play a Boomerang; I play one! :thumbsup:

After MIDI, I think the next division is if you want to be able to store pre recorded loops or not. The Boomerang does not. The tradeoff is that it's a very convenient looper to use live.
Click to expand...

I'm sure you are way better than me but thanks for the laugh.

I'm going to have a few drinks tonight so we'll see if I end up with an alcohol-induced pedal purchase. I bought a Reeves Electro BlackHatSound for guitar the last time I went Rum Dumb. :laugh:
Great Fuzz pedal though.
 

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