Best looper pedal

[cbrucez28]

Ok, so what do you think the best looper pedal on the market is right now. I have a Line6 dl4 that can record loops, but a lot of times I want to use the effects on the dl4 to record with. I really don't need anything huge with a lot of features, just something easy to use that will give me plenty of recording time and that comes in a small package that will also sound good when played back. I know that Boss makes a couple but I don't really know which one is good. Any ideas?

[jimtaka]

I use a Boss RC-20XL and am very happy with it, although it is a double pedal so not a small package. It is smaller than DL4, though. Boss makes a looper in a single pedal. I can't remember the model number for it, and I have no idea what the feature set is. I'd at least have a look at it if you're looking for a small package. Like I said, I'm happy with my RC-20XL so I bet the smaller version is good as well.

[mdjphillips]

I'm sure there's many other options, but I use the Boss RC-2 Loop Station and absolutely love it. There's plenty of features (I personally only use it as a looper and avoid using its other features), it comes in a small package (same size as pretty well all other Boss pedals) and is extremely easy to use.

At first, when using it with my HRDX I wasn't very fond of the pedal as it appeared to sound like a muffled and less crisp version of what was originally being recorded; however, now with my Vox AC15C1, the loop sounds identical and has been seeing much more use as of late. And again, as previously mentioned, I'm sure there's loads of options, but for the price and sound quality, it's a winner in my opinion.

http://www.bossus.com/gear/productde...?ProductId=819

Good luck with your search.

[Alex Law]

For live or home use?

Boss RC-2/RC-20XL, DigiTech JamMAN Solo/Stereo, probably. Home or live use will dictate which model...

[jimtaka]

I'd be interested to hear your take on which you think is better for home and live.

[Alex Law]

Alright! Just logistics, really. I think the larger pedals make more sense for live use:

Without adding an external momentary switch, the JamMAN Stereo supports erasing a currently playing loop without playing back the current loop for two seconds. The JamMAN Solo doesn't.

For live use that's pretty much a dealbreaker for the Solo. That said, if you add an external momentary switch to the Solo, the problem is "solved", but the only reason to go that route is if that in some way helps with pedalboard real estate.

I'm going to assume the same issue exists with an RC-2 vs. RC-20XL setup.

Just my humble opinion...

[jimtaka]

"erasing a currently playing loop without playing back the current loop for two seconds"

I'd like to be able to clarify on whether the RC-20XL supports this, but, frankly, you lost me

[sahhas]

i have used:
dod d12
boss dd20
boss rc20
boss dd7
behringer tweakalizer (currently use)
digitech dl8 (currently use)

& i've used numerous delay pedals for short delay loops (ibanez de7, digitech rp100, digitech rp150, zoom g2....)

all the above are good/usable, are they the "best"? no idea. i don't think there is a "best". everyone has different needs/uses.
my main looper currently is an electro harmonix 16 DDL-reissue that i got 2 months ago---I F***ING LOVE IT, it's the best looper i've ever used. love that you have control to manipulate the loops.

i've heard the eh 2880 unit is like a 16ddl on steroids, but it's out of my range....
some thoughts.
good luck....

[giantrobotswinbig]

Sorry for the extra-long post.

The first thing to be aware of is that most loopers progressively compress the sound quality with each layer of a loop you record. Although many products claim to be "uncompressed 16-bit/44.1kHz CD audio quality," you lose a lot of high and low end, which makes recording with the loopers ill-advisable. Digitech and Boss loopers all suffer from this compression, and I'd be very wary of any looper that boasts "CD-quality audio."

I have an original Jamman, and while the memory features (including swappable/expandable flash memory cards) and USB functionality are fantastic, there have been some glitchy bugs with memory bank storage. I do not know if these issues have been fixed with the Jamman Stereo.

The maximum of only 11 savable banks in the Boss RC-2 and RC-20XL is very limiting, but the RC-50 has plenty of storage space, as well as many more features and the ability to toggle on/off 3 different layers. Plus, the audio quality is 24-bit, so it might sound slightly better than the other boss units and the Jammans. However, the pedal is huge!

Although I haven't tried it, the Boomerang III has a good reputation as a solid live looper, so that might be worth investigating. However, it does not have any memory storage. The Electro-Harmonix Looper is similar, albeit with different extra features and slightly lower audio quality.

You're not going to get anything close to a perfect looper, so the best thing too do would be to assess in what settings you want to use your looper and decide which shortcomings you can live with.

I would normally recommend the Boss RC-50, but it's very large. So, the Jamman Stereo could be a way to go for you if $300 is within your budget.

[Slackerprince]

Someone mentioned the Digitech Hardwire DL-8. I just ordered a 2nd. one, just for looping, and sold my RC-2. I don't know how many features you need and storage, etc., but if you just want to lay down a loop and add some layers, the Hardwire is really easy and nice.
Also, with the Hardwire, you just press the pedal to record and let it up to finish the phrase. Repeat for layers. The RC-2 requires you to stomp, play, then stomp again to finish phrase. Adds even more timing issues, if you ask me.
Good luck.

S.

[Alex Law]

Originally Posted by jimtaka

"erasing a currently playing loop without playing back the current loop for two seconds"

I'd like to be able to clarify on whether the RC-20XL supports this, but, frankly, you lost me

OK, so... Say you just recorded a loop, live. You want to wipe it quickly and record again, for whatever reason (you're done with it, or you messed up, etc.).

With the JamMAN Solo (and I believe RC-2), you press twice to stop the loop. Then you hold the pedal for two seconds to erase.

Now, the pedal doesn't know the difference right away between whether you're pressing to start the loop again, or if you're going to hold it for two seconds to erase, so for those two seconds the loop plays back (and then stops and is erased).

You can see how, live, that doesn't work.

An external footswitch takes care of this issue - holding it for two seconds erases without playing back.

[más_fuerte]

Originally Posted by Slackerprince

The RC-2 requires you to stomp, play, then stomp again to finish phrase. Adds even more timing issues, if you ask me.
Good luck.

S.

I agree. I had a Boss RC-2 for about 6 months and ended up selling it. In all fairness, it's not a bad pedal and I sold it mostly because I didn't have much need for a looper pedal anymore. But it can definitely get a little tiring with all the stomping required.

[Alex Law]

That one I don't follow... You're saying you have to stomp to start and stomp to stop? What would be an alternative? Setting it to, say, 4/4 and having it run through once and then go into playback mode?

I think the JamMAN can do that, but I've honestly never had any problem starting/stopping in time... Then again, I never use guide patterns. Maybe I just have mad skillz.

[jimtaka]

Originally Posted by Alex Law

OK, so... Say you just recorded a loop, live. You want to wipe it quickly and record again, for whatever reason (you're done with it, or you messed up, etc.).

With the JamMAN Solo (and I believe RC-2), you press twice to stop the loop. Then you hold the pedal for two seconds to erase.

Now, the pedal doesn't know the difference right away between whether you're pressing to start the loop again, or if you're going to hold it for two seconds to erase, so for those two seconds the loop plays back (and then stops and is erased).

You can see how, live, that doesn't work.

An external footswitch takes care of this issue - holding it for two seconds erases without playing back.

Ahh, now I understand. That would be annoying! With the Boss RC-20XL you press the right button once to stop the loop. Then you can hold the right pedal for two seconds to erase. You would press the left button to play. So no issues with what you are describing. That would render the RC-2 and JamMAN Solo completely useless in a live setting. On the RC-20XL you can also hold the left pedal for two seconds to erase just the last layer of the loop.

Originally Posted by Slackerprince

The RC-2 requires you to stomp, play, then stomp again to finish phrase. Adds even more timing issues, if you ask me.

See I much prefer it like that. Stomp, play, stomp. I wouldn't want to have to hold the button down while I'm playing! What if I wanted to turn another effect on or off during a phrase? What if I wanted to use wah or an expression pedal during a phrase? Having to hold the button down to record a phrase seems like a terrible design imo.

I don't really see how "stomp, play, stomp" creates any timing issues either.

[sparrow1133]

i have the Hardwire DL-8 . it's very easy to use . slackerprince says it above.

the loop time isn't very long ( 20 seconds ) .

you can control the volume of your past loop/s .

all you have to do is set the knob to the " Loop " function ... press down on the pedal ... it starts recording the second you start playing .. and the loop starts as soon as you lift your foot. ( note . your foot has to depress the pedal in order to record ) press it down again for another layer . and Repeat for as many layers as you want .

if you want more options, look around.
if you want a looper that's easy to use .. check out the DL-8 .