Trying to learn the technology

[danktat]

In the shop, between appointments, trying to familiarize myself with this pedalboard. Just attempting to properly use the Looper it's showing me how woefully inadequate my knowledge of the technology is. LMAO! As many things as this board can do, I basically have it set up to sound like my old analog board, and I set it to forget it! It is kind of like my phone. I don't think I do anything more with the phone that I have now than I did with the previous one. Age I think is sapping me of my technological savvy and curiosity. But I feel like I have to maximize what I can get out of my own gear. I think in my youth I USED to be a tinkerer. Not any more....lol

 

[Deleted member 5962]

Yeah, if you want "simple" and "set and forget" then analog is usually the way to go.

And don't be fooled by the demo's. A looper isn't easy to use. If you miss by a micro-second then every loop is off time. And, between your foot hitting the switch, the switch going down, then you releasing it and it coming back up, exactly where in that does the loop stop? I've had one for 5 years and after the initial excitement of getting it, it hasn't been plugged in for at least 3 years.

 

[RickP]

I’m going to have to invest some time with the looper on my Axe Fx, too. A great tool if you know how to use it. From what I can tell, it just takes some practice. I’ve got a feeling it’s like that new chord you can land cleanly, then after a while it’s smooth as silk. I’m going to program a page in my RJM controller just for the looper, so every control button is where I need it!

 

[danktat]

Yeah, if you want "simple" and "set and forget" then analog is usually the way to go.

And don't be fooled by the demo's. A looper isn't easy to use. If you miss by a micro-second then every loop if off time. And, between your foot hitting the switch, the switch going down, then you releasing it and it coming back up, exactly where in that does the loop stop? I've had one for 5 years and after the initial excitement of getting it, it hasn't been plugged in for at least 3 years.

I have a friend [Berkley brat] that uses a looper like it is just a regular part of playing. Never seems off timed. (I am still taking lessons from him as I am attempting to steal some of that Berklee knowledge on the cheap). I watch him loop stuff in a lesson and am like SCREW YOU AND YOUR WELL TIMED FEET!!!!! LMAO

 

[danktat]

I’m going to program a page in my RJM controller just for the looper, so every control button is where I need it!

lol....I once hit the wrong switch on the pedalboard during a rehearsal. Somehow it switched something up to where I was on a different saved patch. Took like 4 or 5 minutes to figure out how to get back to my OWN patch [I bought the pedal used and it is loaded with this guy's cover band patches....at some point I will explore them to see if any of them are usable for me....but I have had this thing for a couple of years now so we will see how long THAT takes]. I really don't know the board that well....BUT, it does sound good for what I have it set up to do.

 

[Wakester]

I just picked one of those up this morning at a GC on my route to the other side of the state. I run a few tests on it in awhile to see If it is any better than the Boss GT-6 I have at home.

 

[Deleted member 5962]

From what I can tell, it just takes some practice.

Yeah,this. I own one, and have tried 3 others. They were all different. One stopped/started the split second you touched the footswitch, one seemed to be the split second the footswitch was all the way down, and one didn't trigger until the footswitch was released. 3 different types of switches/relays, I suppose. But even with quick taps of the foot, it takes some getting used too.

 

[Tucson Thump]

lol....I once hit the wrong switch on the pedalboard during a rehearsal. Somehow it switched something up to where I was on a different saved patch. Took like 4 or 5 minutes to figure out how to get back to my OWN patch [I bought the pedal used and it is loaded with this guy's cover band patches....at some point I will explore them to see if any of them are usable for me....but I have had this thing for a couple of years now so we will see how long THAT takes]. I really don't know the board that well....BUT, it does sound good for what I have it set up to do.

I hear you. Awhile ago I bought a harmonizing pedal and my son used it first without reading the manual and I still can't get it back to factory spec.

 

[aphantomvaper]

The secret to timed loops is practice and play through the chord changes. Don't stop on the one, press the loop pedal button to make the loop and keep playing the next couple of bars. It really helps with the timing.

Not bragging too much, just a little I use 5 loop pedals on my board for some projects. Loop pedals brought me back from quitting guitar!

Good luck Dankat. It will take a bit of time and practice.

 

[Tony M.]

Loopers?
No thank you.
One of me is bad enough.

 

[alantig]

Yeah, loopers will humble you on your timing. It takes practice, and just when you think you've got it, it can all go away. @aphantomvaper gives excellent advice - I've found it best not to try to record the loop on the first downbeat, but after a measure or two (or four), depending on what you're looping. It's a great practice tool, and can an incredible live tool. I think live usage definitely takes some creative thinking, but when someone does it well - wow.

I need to hook mine back up - I took it out of my signal path because I was getting some hum while trying to record a clean part.

 

[Rhythmisking]

For me, state-of-the-art live looping is watching Tash Sultana perform. Unbelievable. The link below is one of her simpler tunes...

 

[Rhythmisking]

...and she doesn't add in trumpet parts on this one...

 

[aphantomvaper]

For me, state-of-the-art live looping is watching Tash Sultana perform. Unbelievable. The link below is one of her simpler tunes...

She's quite mad you know...

 

[Rhythmisking]

I can't say, we've never chatted...

 

[Harvey C. Yates]

For me, state-of-the-art live looping is watching Tash Sultana perform. Unbelievable. The link below is one of her simpler tunes...

I found her while I helped with college application essay writing to a musical college student at https://edubirdie.com/college-application-essay-writing and was blown up when I researched Tash Sultana as an artist more deeply. It was so satisfying to find out that Tash released her new album "Terra Firma". I am happy right now.

Woah! Thanks for the link. She(Tash) is the absolute beast.