Tell me about loopers...

[RallyFanatic]

I know there was a recent thread on inexpensive loopers, but I’m looking in the $2-300 range.

What I’d like to be able to do is start with chords/rhythm then add several layers on top of that, then with a single click I’d like to kill everything sans the original chords/rhythm, and conversely bring it all back in one click.

A decent drum kit would be an excellent bonus. (I know the saying, if you need a drummer, order a pizza...I kid, drummers are great...)

I know squat about loopers and I keep going down rabbit holes reading about quantization and whatever else. Doesn’t help that reviews tend to all be either ‘it’s amazing’ or ‘it’s a pile of garbage’.

I just mess around at home, but I don’t want something cheap that in 3 months I’d feel the urge to upgrade. What should I consider? What features do I need and what should I skip?

 

[Stephen J.]

https://boomeranglooper.com/

I like this company’s products. I have an older model than their current one. There is no rhythm section or anything, but it is versatile. Great sound quality.

 

[alantig]

I use a Boss RC-500 (I think) - three loops, can be configured different ways as to how they play (overdubs, sequenced, etc.). Has a reverse function. And a rhythm section. Tons of presets.

My original interest was in the Boomerang, but at the time, they were more than I was willing to spend. I started with a RC-20 and eventually wanted to upgrade.

You're going to find a lot of stuff in your price range and the vast majority of it is going to be really good. Just about every piece out there will have people who rave over it and people who think the same thing is a pile of trash, as you're seeing.

What I really like w/the RC-500 is the independent loops. So I can record an arpeggiated part on one loop, then chords on another track, then maybe a more rhythmic part on the third. Then I can start and stop those three independently. Most loopers can add and remove an overdub, but this keeps the loops there (and can do the add/remove thing as well).

One thing I don't like about it is how it adjusts tempos. You can record a loop at say 100 bpm, then allegedly adjust it to say 105. In reality, it doesn't work well at all for me. Maybe it's user error, but I've never had good luck with it. And it's pretty much impossible to go back to the original tempo because of how it alters the loop. Again, it may be user error, but that's been my experience with it.

Other than that, it's all been very good for me. It's a great tool for working on your timing, especially w/o the drum tracks. You find out very quickly that what you think you're hearing and what you're doing are not always the same.

 

[RickP]

The TC Electronics Ditto series is something to consider. The Ditto+ has some great functions, including import/export of loops via USB. Were I in the market, I’d try that one.

 

[TMeury]

I use a Boss RC-30 and I love it! 2 "channels", 99 save slots, XLR in, a handful of global effects, a handful of drum patterns, import/export via USB, tap tempo...it has a ton of features built in.

I am intrigued by the RC-10R though.

What I would like to find (and maybe one of you has seen it), a looper than can export via bluetooth/wifi. Similar to the EHX Wiretap.

 

[GADonis]

I have a Digitech Trio+ that I use for goofing around. It seems to do a pretty good job of coming up with usable drum and bass parts.

 

[steved]

I have an old original boomerang that works great and sounds fine. Relatively simple, it only does 2 loops, which you can't layer, but you can switch between. I also recently bought a EHX 95000, which looks like it should be a great device, that will do everything, but it's kind of complicated to figure out. I haven't gotten very far with it yet.

 

[RallyFanatic]

I use a Boss RC-30 and I love it! 2 "channels", 99 save slots, XLR in, a handful of global effects, a handful of drum patterns, import/export via USB, tap tempo...it has a ton of features built in.

I am intrigued by the RC-10R though.

What I would like to find (and maybe one of you has seen it), a looper than can export via bluetooth/wifi. Similar to the EHX Wiretap.

The RC 10r is what I keep coming back to, but it’s also the one with the most polarizing reviews. I’d guess a majority of the negative reviews are likely user error though.

 

[Kiwi]

No brand recommendations, just this note:

In order to use a looper well, your foot needs to keep excellent time.

Really, really precise time. Time in, time out.

That is all.

--K

 

[RallyFanatic]

No brand recommendations, just this note:

In order to use a looper well, your foot needs to keep excellent time.

Really, really precise time. Time in, time out.

That is all.

--K

Yeah, I suspect it’ll be frustrating for a bit! I’m willing to practice the crap out of it though...

 

[CVS]

I would go with a Boss RC 30. It is a workhorse. I have 3 of them and none have ever broken. I put bass on 1 track and put rhythm guitar on the other. Recording quality is good. If you tap the tempo in before you start, the inut will help get the end of your loop in the proper place - a big + for those who are leaning how to loop for the 1st time. The only drawbacks are that you must tap the tempo in (this can be problematic if you want the same exact tempo as a song that you want to learn) vs key in BPM & you can forget about the effects that come with the unit for the most part. Good luck on your journey.

 

[Lacire]

I started out with an Akai E2 Headrush then moved to a Boss RC-20xl. I sold both of those and bought a Boss RC-300 that I’ve been using over the last couple years. I’ve been pretty happy with it.

 

[CVS]

I started out with an Akai E2 Headrush then moved to a Boss RC-20xl. I sold both of those and bought a Boss RC-300 that I’ve been using over the last couple years. I’ve have been pretty happy with it.

The RC300 is a great looper - just a lot more $$ than the RC 30. The 2 drawbacks that I mention above with the RC 30 are taken care of in the RC 300. Also you can split loops up (verse loop, chorus loop, bridge loop) and switch seamlessly from one to the other - a big plus if you want to loop a song.

 

[RallyFanatic]

Thanks for all the replies - I ended up with a TC Ditto x4. I was able to try both the Ditto and the Boss RC 10r and I’m not sure why, but the Boss sounded like it colored the sound a bit. The TC seemed a little more intuitive to me as well, but that could just my inexperience with loopers in general.

It’s quite a bit of fun. It took me a half hour or so to figure out how to get my starts and stops right, but it wasn’t as bad as I was imagining. Certainly requires a bit of planning to get the sound out of my head and properly looped. After being a solo living room hero forever, it’s nice to have an alternative now - kinda kicking myself for not doing it sooner!

 

[iLookLikeElvis]

Yeah, I suspect it’ll be frustrating for a bit! I’m willing to practice the crap out of it though...

It's not that hard to get a hang of. Just make sure it's in a good stompy position and secured. Even on my board, my foot misses my Ditto (because it's sideways). But definitely user error!