loop pedal recommendations?

  • Thread starter Thread starter cello_pudding
  • Start date Start date
C

cello_pudding

Well-known member
i may get a loop pedal for live shows to layer a bunch of strings.

what is a good one that has tap tempo and can be stomped on and off?
 
Those Boss Loop factory/station what ever hell they call them are seem to be what most folks use. I think if I remember from what I've read you can layer like up to 7 simultanous loops or something. Out of all the bands I've ran across that seems to be what almost every single one uses.
 
Played with a guy who used a "Boomerang" and it was pretty cool...
 
killmachine said:
Those Boss Loop factory/station what ever hell they call them are seem to be what most folks use. I think if I remember from what I've read you can layer like up to 7 simultanous loops or something. Out of all the bands I've ran across that seems to be what almost every single one uses.
Click to expand...

The Boss RC2, RC-20, and RC-20XL can layer an unlimited amount of loops. The Digitech Jamman is similar to the RC-20XL but has some good upgrades, like more patch spaces and a USB connection.

savageblues said:
Played with a guy who used a "Boomerang" and it was pretty cool...
Click to expand...

Boomerangs are very user-friendly...they are very well-designed for live use. Problem with them is that they give off a lot of hiss and each time you layer a loop, the sound quality decreases on each previous loop. They're working on a new model.


All of these pedals give you one loop to use that you can add loops on top of. You can only undo the last layer of each loop though, so you won't be able to build them up then subtract them all down. The Boss RC-50 has three individual loops that you can work with (and add unlimited layers on top of each one), so it is better suited to solo performers. The Looperlative is the best hardware looper out there, but it is a rack unit that you use a MIDI pedal for (and it costs $1500).

Whatever you get, a looper is one of the best practice tools you can possibly get.
 
I've been using a Boss RC-20 for a few years. Generally I'm happy with it, but some of its limitations make it difficult to work with:

1) After laying down the first loop, it takes a split second to calculate the tempo. This means in a live situation, you can't record the loop then have it play right away. You have to start recording, stop recording, then start playing it. (Theoretically you can set the tempo first, then start recording, but good luck doing this live in the middle of a song. Useless.)

2) There's a metronome, but this feature is pretty much useless except in rehearsing situations. If you could output the click just to headphones, it would be useful live. But who wants to hear "TAK! BANG! BANG! BANG!" coming out of their amp? Not my audience.

3) There's only one level of undo. Not a bad limitation for the price, but still.

4) An option to fade the loop out rather than just stopping it would be nice.

Overall, the RC-20 is great for rehearsing and idea generation, but for live use it's always a struggle.

Price-wise, the next step up would be the RC-50, but I've read a lot of bad reviews about it.
 
It must be difficult to dig up 2 year old threads.


digging.jpg
 
ocnor said:
It must be difficult to dig up 2 year old threads.
Click to expand...
My bad. Did a search, only paid attention to the date of the most recent reply. A month and a half didn't seem that old. Should've looked at the previous posts. Sorry.
 
Digitech JamMan vs Boomerang looper

Here'a a video I made.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top