Using a 4-track as a loop sampler

[DMBean83]

I've heard (on these very boards) that a 4 track can be used as a loop sampler, to layer my guitar playing while playing live (or in my room). Is this true? If so, how is it done?

 

[DMBean83]

I may have posted this thread in the wrong forum. still, feel free to respond.

 

[unitcoed]

hmmm..

can you explain what exactly you want to do? i dont really get the question..

you play the guitar,

and

you want to play with backing music?
sample a section of a CD and play to it?


maybe you are looking for a ZOOM RT-123.. its a cheap drum machine (with bass) and is good for playing along with..
(ps it doesnt have sampling capabilities, just a drum machine)


or consider:
a guitar effects pedal. (i own a KORG AX1000G) built into this effects pedal, theres something called a "phase trainer" it records a sample from the AUX input, and repeats it over and over..

(make sure you check that the effects pedal you are buying has this feature)


sorry thats all i can say to your partial description
hope it helps

UNIT:COed.

 

[sjjohnston]

4-track Loop

A 4-track reel-to-reel can be used to make a tape loop. You need to be moderately handy with marking, cutting, splicing and setting up something for the loop mechanically to go around, but it's not beyond most people.

Using a 4-track cassette deck strikes me as a less rewarding exercise. You can buy "endless loop" cassettes (answering machines use them, among other things), but you won't have much flexibility in the length of your loop. The only way to vary it is with the pitch control, and you can't set or change the length after recording. If you're clever and handy with fine work, you might want to try cutting tape and making a cassette loop. I don't.

 

[DMBean83]

Sorry the question wasn't too clear. What I want to do is record myself playing something (for example a chord progression), then have that play over and over again as I solo wildly over it. And I want to be able to do this on the fly, so I can do it while I jam with my band or play live. This is the primary (perhaps only) function of a Boss loop station or a line6 DL4. But I have heard that I can accomplish the same feat using just a 4-track (for example, a zoom MRS-4). Is this true? And if so, how is it done?

thanks
Jon

 

[unitcoed]

oh ok in that case

i think you should go for the Zoom MRS-4. its a digital 4 track recorder... it has 32 virtual tracks, and stores stuff on a Smart Media disk (32mb = approx 17min of recording)

ps. it also has a built in metronome, and a guitar tuner.

its also quite small, and can fit in your guitar case!

UNIT:COed.
PS: i dont know if you can do internal editinig on the MRS-4 (for your looping) but perhaps you could record the chord progressions over and over??!?!

 

[pratt]

a couple of other ideas:

the best idea - http://www.gibsonechoplex.com/

this is probably the best piece of equipment to achieve what you want....a bit pricey but it can do a whole lot o' things (will even let you play backwards live!!!)


also - you can record/playback/loop samples with alot of digital delay pedals....though they are limited in the length of the sample that you are able to record....

 

[unitcoed]

also - you can record/playback/loop samples with alot of digital delay pedals....though they are limited in the length of the sample that you are able to record....

i think the pedals have a decent sampling length.. if you want any more than 24secs, why not just get a digital recorder?

UNIT:COed.

 

[DMBean83]

i think the pedals have a decent sampling length.. if you want any more than 24secs, why not just get a digital recorder?

UNIT:COed.

This is the very question I am asking. Assuming you mean a digital 8-track or 4-track, the question is, can I use such a device to sample myself (more than 24 seconds) and then have it loop over and over again instantaneously, so that I can play one guitar part, and immediatley layer a second part on top of that, without skipping a beat? I want to do this while playing live, keep in mind, and not with pre-recorded tracks.

 

[pratt]

I'm thinking more and more that what you want is this:

http://www.gibsonechoplex.com/

ever heard of David Torn? he uses one of these live and does exactly what you are talking about......lays down a pattern, loops it, then either plays over top or lays down more loops.....

I just think that you wold have a hard time recording and looping stuff live (on the fly) with a 4/8 track....

 

[DMBean83]

I'm thinking more and more that what you want is this:

http://www.gibsonechoplex.com/

ever heard of David Torn? he uses one of these live and does exactly what you are talking about......lays down a pattern, loops it, then either plays over top or lays down more loops.....

I just think that you wold have a hard time recording and looping stuff live (on the fly) with a 4/8 track....

thanks man but that is just too pricey. If I only wanted the loop function, I would probably just buy a boss loop station or a line6 DL4 for $250.