1st, Kudos on a nice beginning advice video for new loopers! I just wanted to respectfully add a piece of advice to anyone watching this who has trouble with the fact that it's initially difficult to keep from creating 'lumpy' rhythmic loops without the use of a quantizing function. I have actually been live looping in public for 28 years and have headlined live looping festivals in 17 countries in my own career. I've seen, literally, thousands of live looping festival performances at the annual Y2K International Live Looping Festival which I founded 20 years ago in Santa Cruz, California. I started out as a drummer and have played to click tracks in studios, synthesizer sequencers, drum machines and played with master drummers from all over the world. One thing I can say , unequivocally, is that I have learned more from using non-quantized live looping pedals (and software oriented live loopers) than all of those experiences combined. The reason is that you have to start the loop just at the start of the measure(s) you are recording and then you have to stop the loop at exactly the downbeat of the next section. it's really easy to screw that up when you are trying to play guitar, keys, horns, vocals or percussion, HOWEVER, by merely practicing how to do it : how, specifically, to create NON lumpy rhythmic loops, you will so vastly improve your since of time and timing. Not only that, but there are ways that you can salvage a real time loop that is 'lumpy' if you do the right things when you overdub onto your loop. So, my advice , with deep respect and appreciation for Haley's advice in this video is DON'T buy a looper with quantization capabilities: Instead, take the time to learn how to have really great time when you perform. It is a skill that will stay with you for your entire musical career, I promise you. Good luck everyone and Haley, come play the vestival next November if you are free! yours, Rick Walker aka loop.pool y2kloopfest.com
Good points. On the TC Ditto Looper (which I agree has drawbacks for live performance), I've found that the timing of the "double tap" is easier if I think of the first tap as a "pickup note" -- for instance, if I'm playing in 4/4 time, I'll think of the two taps on the "and" of beat 4 and on beat 1: (1 + 2 + 3 + 4) + 1! Hope that makes sense!
Hi Haley, thanks for your interesting perspective on looping! I went the other way around... buying an extensive looper with all bells and wistles and in hind-sight wish I started with a one-knob simpel model; the Headrush Looperboard. A great machine but I use it mainly as a one man sound system, which works great! Quantizing sounds handy but for me it is a real pain to get it right. 1) Planning, you have to really think how long your loop is going to be and dail that in before you start 2) Pushing the start/stop button out of the tap/before the end, I find very awkward and distracting - tapping at "exactly the right moment" leaves you at a 50% chance the looper extend your loop with another bar or worse 1 extra beat. 3) Headphones, for a quantized loop you NEED headphones with a click track and a LOT of practice not to get a 'hop' at the closure of your loop. 4) I can not get it into my head to use my Looperboard just like a cheap looper pedal - it is probable perfectly possible but in my head there is an obligation to run the advanced features. Cheers Haley - have a great 2024 - just my 2 cents.
Wow! That’s interesting……I think the Boss RC 500 is perfect for advanced users or complete beginners. Does everything you are trying to do without any of these problems. So completely intuitive. Did you look at boss products? The loopers released in the last few years took on user feedback like yours and are fully implemented. No I don’t work for Boss. But when it comes to looping , boss rules. RC 500 is the only 32 bit on the market. Important and guarantees no sound degradation on multiple loops.
Purchased an RC-1 Monday just gone, it is Thursday now. It’s a gem because already had a dual (A,B) FS-7switch which enables full switch control utilising all functions with one tap of any foot. 2 inputs 2 outputs & dual switch input. A Looper is a very powerful tool for live music making. Probably I could have gone for RC-10 or whatever but wanted to get started and be able to make some music. Anything more than the RC-1 was too much to think about. I guess if I were going to go for something more advanced would go for the RC-600. This RC-1 is enough and it’s more about seeing how much I can exploit the limited functions onboard the entry level looper which makes it about creating something on the fly then deleting is and making another.
Good Points! One lesson I had to learn the hard way is never to rely on the internal memory of any loop pedal alone. The constant rewriting will lead to failure at some point, and to me that point was reached on stage. Did a firmware reset and it worked fine 'til it happened again. Solution: Get a loop pedal that can store loops onto an external replaceable storage such as an SD card. Get the highest quality memory and get into the habit of backing up. These storages will also fail at some point. But then you will pull out a replacement which ideally will have backup loops already prerecorded. Much quicker than exchanging the whole pedal with a backup device (which I'm sure every pro looper is carrying around ;)...
Thanks for taking the time to post your thoughts. Definitely helpful! One issue I noticed immediately when I got my first looper was the need to a separate volume control ie if you're going to do a lead over the loop (or you just want the loop more in the background when you're live playing) you need to be able to control the volume of the looping part.
that's every part combining music its why we use mixers and why instruments are in separate tracks so the producer can bring them all to a levle volume then send them to get remasterd to a perfect sound when working in the studio you need an ear for music you will be listening to loops of sections of songs thousands times over and over again making correction's in the sound of track bringing every thing = volume and matching tones
I watched a Dovydas tutorial on looping. He is the ultimate looper king. But your video is really in depth. Thanks so much. I learned that i need a better looper. Thanks so much.
Spot on advice, wish I’d heard this a few years ago! I’m a trucker, and like to share videos of my guitar playing, with a looper, when I have down time in my truck. I thought just like you said…”loop a rhythm guitar part, how hard can it be?”…I have the entry level Boss looper, and both the quantized rhythm and stop/start features would’ve been awesome! 5 years later, I’m doing some nice playing, but still fumbling with the looper! 😸🎸
Dunno if someone said this already, but all the Boss single switch stompbox style loopers have a ja for an additional footswitch function. Any simple footswitch will do, tho the Boss F series switches are interlocking, well made, rugged and cheap
Thanks for the info. I use the L6 Helix and the looper is configurable as a single stomp or a 6 stomp - and can be moved in the chain to any place you want instantly. Wish it had more memory but for what I do (mono) 60 seconds is plenty.
Great video I just bought my first Looper today like yours compact double tap start and stop. This video was really informative I knew nothing about any of the things you mentioned and now I'm second-guessing my purchase.
Thanks for posting! Very useful. Your last point is possibly the most important - practice with whatever setup you have until you can operate it in autopilot, then you have time to think about the music!
The ditto is great at front of chain for tweaking pedals, EQ, or searching for a certain tone for a melody you have composed. I had the RC500 but it was too much space on the pedalboard. I still have a RC5 on the board near the end but I mostly use the one at the end of the chain built into the Line 6 DL4 MKII. It has a one tap looper setting or a full blown dedicated looper setting. The one tap setting let’s you loop in stereo which is pretty cool too. The looper might be the most underrated pedal most people should have. Like your content!
Do you think a RC5 is an overkill first looper? The drums sound very interesting, and it seems like a complete pedal, but I wonder if it's too much for a first looper
@@YV0910 that I responded but don’t see it showing up. Boss is great if you want some backing tracks to play along with. It even has memory to recall some of your own created loops. External footswitch controls, battery option, etc. This ditto is great if you just want your own loops, extremely easy to use. I’d buy both and send back the one you don’t like. Then you can compare them side by side
Oh, Got it Completely On the Double Tap. And Yes! Learned that about the Chain from Left to Right It should be on the far Left. I use the Keeley Caverns on far right, then the NUX RECTO For Distortion than the Loop core to the Left.
Spot on! I just got into looping a few months ago, and I’ve already had to buy a second one that has some of the very features you discuss! I haven’t tried the quantizing functionality yet, mainly because the pedal I ended up with (Ditto x4) doesn’t have quantizing per se… it has MIDI sync, which means I then have to have yet another piece of gear to provide that MIDI! It balloons quickly. And doing it without MIDI or quantizing does indeed take a lot more practice than you would think!
This was really helpful. Other ideas to consider - In terms of practicing at home, it’s also nice to have an A- B pedal that one output can go to the looper to one amp and then the other output to a different amp. Playing everything through one amp can get muddy even when changing up tones. I also find that sonically it also helps to separate the sounds so I’m not distracted by something getting lost in the mix, which can happen more when playing through one amp. Also helps if laying guitar parts to really utilize the tone knobs and different pickup positions on your guitar so again, things don’t get lost in the mix. I haven’t really used a looper live in my cover band because then instead of everyone following the drummer the drummer really has to listen to the loop and stick to the time which can be distracting for the drummer- or really good for the drummer if the loop is in time and makes them play in time lol.
Hello, Haley! I just started my own TH-cam-channel and I use the mini Tc Electronic Ditto looper. Now I am thinking of buying a looper with drums in. Thanks for a great video! Love from Sweden 💕🇸🇪
Hi Haley glad to see you back! I have a Lekato Looper pedal that has LED lights around the perimeter that blink in time so you can see/hear when you want to "jump in".
lm about to purchase my first looper pedal & the information you have given in this video has been very helpful for me..lm thinking l know more about what lm looking for now..there seems to be a lot more to get right choosing the right looper for my needs, certainly when l compare it to other pedals l've got over the years..Which is understandable when you see how much more is involved in these looper type pedals.. lts even more important l suppose that l do get it right before l buy this pedal..beause there not cheap are they.. which makes your video even more helpful..So thank you for your video.. & loved how well you have explained this pedal..its made a complicated purchase easier to understand..if that makes sense 😀 Brett from Australia
Thank you so much for the incredibly kind comment-really appreciate it and so glad the video helped! I know what you mean about it being a tricky purchase. It’s really a skill you have to work at and having the right pedal is going to make that a lot easier or very frustrating. Good luck with starting to loop and I hope you find the perfect looper!
Got my 1st looper after having 4 yrs - well sort of looper: in the Eighties I used a rat mounted delay for "ambience", a bit like that EHX pedal...*I digress, but: WHOHATT is it with that pico deep Freeze I just watched a vid of... 5minutes, I'm sold...guitar, be the end of me - sold my soul to SMD...* Via self-oscillation I could get a drone, and there was a foot switch which sometimes did not blend but abruptly switch different pitches. I liked the sound a lot, and after tinkering with the "drone"-unit realized the rack-piece was supposed to echo your tones by repeating them (quite stupidly as I then found at first), thereby letting you create 2or even 3 polyphonic arpeggio-like structures in a set speed (think that can e Edge, or Gilmour right at the beginning of Another Brick in the Wall Pt.2). TL;DR Go Walk RUN get a looper! It will make your practicing that much more fun, a bit like playing with someone else (NOT the same), and practicing scales is one of its major uses for me: The drone lets me solo "over something", more importantly allowing me to get a better feeling for the position/function of each tone, as I open an interval with each note played (played note + drone), that is my hypothesis anyway... It'll help your timing (@looppool has his treatise below for all your skeptical nitty-gritty). It'll allow you to become a fake personality, and pose as a bass guitar. Ethics of that needs further exploration. @looppool: A bit harsh, maybe...? You could argue for quantised looping with regards to no matter how complex the. music, and/or setup, your loop will be on time. To me, it seems the tradeoff (what you'll "pay") for that safety is a loss of creative options, as I'm now "bound to the grid). An old-fashioned looper with no quantitation puts you back in time... to a time, when Rock'n Roll was in its prime, music was recorded to analog tape, and Cher had not yet traded her voice for autotune. It's risk. It's fun. Yeah, after a while I become as tight with it as the quantization helps me to be from take one... Had a Boss pedal with a round light, completing one circle in one measure of the loop... I found it as confusing as you may have found my explanation.... rest assured; You're OK - it's me who is obviously too stupid to play to measures & fixed time-frames. I can tell great stories, and come across mega-sympathetic, which is probably why I've been playing live for ages, and neither bands nor fans notice... If you like looped stuff, an Australian beat-box/loop-master with a great voice and great messages in his music would be Dub-FX (I've been fan since 2009, thus, if y'all know him by now: sorry for the old news...
Great informative video. I researched for months. Don’t waste money on the ditto…..which is basically what she is saying, even though she is a TC electronic girl. Good company…good vocal pedals. But when it comes to looping…..Boss all the way. Especially if you gig. Indestructible. And if you do your research, more reliable. Boss basically invented looping. Read a few reviews. Even most of boss’s starter (cheapest) looping pedals cover all of the concerns/wish list here. A good looper will make you a better player. You will practice more and your timing will improve within a few days….
great video. out of all the gear i've bought and sold i dont regret selling much, but i do regret selling my cutlass, the neck on that thing is fantastic
Very helpful, Thanks for your inputs! Lot of options to consider. You got me thinking about double tapping, and not just plugging into the front end. I like the ones that are ready to play as soon as you start to strum them. The drum loopers don’t seem realistic enough to be useful, nor do the ones with a lot of memory. Good vids, Keep ‘em coming ✌️
That's very helpful to consider when buying a looper, I wish I saw this video before I hasted to buy my first looper. Anyway will definitely consider in the future ☺️, thank you.
you can record into the pedal as well head phones output of pedal device into input like if you want to loop sounds from pc plug guitar cable from headphones of sound card to pedal input plug your headphones to pedals output you can sample beats from your studio or even sounds off TH-cam you will only hear from one ear from pedal but after you record and you hook pedal up normal it will have recorded on both speakers so say you can record drum loops into pedal ect you can even send your loops to files on pc for later transfer back in forth when you want use them ive been doing looper thing in studios since windows 94
Thank you cheers . Im a bit older and scared of tecknoligy but love it so much . But just cant get my head around it . Unless exsplained 🎉 easerly . Example a flat pack shelving from wall mart kmart in australia ha ha cheers Wally
I recommend the Digitech Jam man solo XT. I already have loads of sequences and I can just download thru a USB cable. It has a nice amount of memory but it also takes SD cards. So I have hours literally of capacity at full wav format. Don't know why they stopped making it. They are funny about that.
hey, quick heads up, there's another pedal that doesnt require double tab and it's cheaper than the jitto jamx2, its the donner circle looper. Only 100$ and comes with loads of features
Just to add to placement, if your amp has an FX loop it's usually best to put your looper there. It should still be last in the chain. There still may be times when you don't want it in the FX loop though.
My zoom multi effect pedal gives me the option of setting up a 1 button Looper Or the 2 button looper for start stop since it has multiple buttons that can be assigned.
You might want to check out something like the Mooer X2 Looper, which has that ability. To really make it work, though, I‘m pretty sure you‘d also want to get some kind of dual external footswitch so you can trigger more functions. I use a Boss FS-6 and sometimes (when space is tight on my pedalboard) a Boss FS-7. They both have silent switches, which reduces the audience annoyance factor of hearing obnoxious clicking noises all the time (a real thing in less-than-loud settings). Having clicky switches like the ones on the Ditto featured here is a really bad thing for solo acoustic performers, and the majority of simple loopers (including the Mooer X2) are plagued by it. But with an external footswitch, you can at least reduce the annoyance by assigning often-used functions to the external switches. If you can afford it, I think a Boss RC-500 (and an external dual footswitch or Midi foot controller) would get the job done in style.
Most of the Boss pedals have this. It’s called "Quantise" It isn’t cheating, it just compensates for inconsistant button tapping. All professional artists with Loopers have quantise switched on. All. A looper is definitely worth researching . Probably more than any other gear. So many people buy something like the ditto and then end up paying again for one that Will do the job. It’s not something in my opinion that makes sense to buy cheap and upgrade later. It’s not economic sense. The minimum that you should go for is something like the Boss RC5. Look at it as an investment in improving as a musician. Best practice tool that you can ever buy. Good luck
yeah, double-tapping is for drummers?.... just bought a MOOER Groove Loop x2 with like a million drum patterns n genres n speeds so I wont have to chug my guitar into a rhythm instrument... just tried it: works very intuitively, and both drum n loop channels have their own volume, so I dont have to boost the playing vol.... in my beloved Finland 150-200€, I bought it from Aliexpress: 120€!!! YOU ARE VERY GOOD! loved your tone immediately, country??? Cheers from Kimmo in Finland!
Thanks a lot. Yes I'm a one man band trying to become two guitar players in a real band 😅😅😅. What do you think about the Lekato Drum Buddy. It's like 40dlls, has an app for modifying drums on real time and also has a High bit rate looper. I just don't know if it has the correction gadget you mentioned for cheating a bit.
Hey Haley! Frank From Upstate N.Y. HERE. I'm 66 and bought my first Looper about 7 years ago. A NUX Loop Core. Sat in the box for almost two years and realized, " hey i have to use this!" Love it..... I started playing guitar at 14 years old and once i was in my 20's didn't play as much thus working life kept me busy until the 1990's bought a Nice Used Washburn Acoustic and then finally got my first electric [ Fender Tele] in years. still learning the Looper. Have done A few Covers using it....... Two in particular....which are on my Chanel. " Frank Behr" utube if you are Interested..... But I will finish your Vid. Thank you!
I bought the mxr looper and was surprised it didn't come with any kind of manual. Months later I found out it had half speed double speed and reverse options. Why doesn't this come with instructions. I think even overdrives come with instructions
I need one for live performance so the designated stop button would be ideal and also the quantize feature. Also I want a small one to not take up much space on a pedal board. Any idea which would be best for those specifications? @@haleypowersmusic
@@ollonelycat Ok gotcha. So I don't own this one, but what I think I'm going to get next is the Ditto Jam X2 sweetwater.sjv.io/nLN7mV It seems to have good reviews and has the features I thought this one was missing but again I don't own it so I can't fully endorse! Let me know what you end up with!
HELP, I NEED LOOPER WITH FOLLOWING FEATURES: anyone know of a cheap looper that has two separate inputs/outputs and simple two foot-switches for start overdub stop feature with long recording times? An added bonus would be the ability to create two pages or loops that you can scroll between so you can theoretically record a chorus + verse with two different instruments? Auto-sync would be a nice to have as well.
I would like to know what you find is the cheapest. Those needs are are pretty feature rich. A boss RC 500 does all that. Is indestructible. It has two independent looping channels. Dedicate one for verse, one for Chorus.Two separate inputs…Normaly guitar and microphone. But when you are looping, even live. I input voice , guitar , sax and bass. Obviously using an amp/Pa or effects pedal/amp unit. There is always a learning curve. Quantise (aut-sync) is essential. For me at any rate. I output in stereo. But you have to outs. You can send them anywhere. You need your looper last in the chain to record each instrument sound. I.e. Clean rhythm guitar or distorted. These sounds are permenantly saved when recorded like that. You tube for advice. Good luck
I just updated my caption with the two I would choose now that fit my criteria! The biggest thing I would look for is the dedicated stop switch and simplicity so I am looking to try the Electro-Harmonix 720 Stereo Looper Pedal ( sweetwater.sjv.io/Vm4NeE )and the TC Electronic Ditto X2 ( sweetwater.sjv.io/5gjZjj ) next! These don't seem to auto-correct time though (I can't find one with all of these features!)
Could you show how to hook them up and is there one that already has bass, drums ect for blues, rock, country ect and you just click the button and it's doing a blues backing track then you can set the tempo Thanks
Have you experienced tuning stability issues with this particular guitar? I'm looking at them, but I have seen some videos that have me hesitant about buying one. This bites, though, cause I really want one. Side note: your playing sounds really great.
I personally haven’t- it’s not a very expensive guitar though so it could vary depending on the particular guitar? I actually really love this one and end up playing it more than I thought I would! Maybe if you find one at a local store you could see if they would let you try it out and return it after a week if it’s not working out? And thank you!
@Haley Powers absolutely. I actually have my eye on one of two higher end guitars, but both have the same tuning rants associated with them. You'd think that with the higher price range, more extras (and factory) precautions would be added, but if it doesn't necessarily seem to be the case. Regardless, I'll give this one a try. If it works out, I'll be a happy camper. And thank you for responding.
@@haleypowersmusic I have one too, though mostly play acoustic. So I've had the good ol' RC-20XL for years (10?), but only recently got it out and have really set my mind on becoming comfortable with it...and looping in general. It's coming along. I also dug out a pedal with which I can switch from one loop to the next. (Get another pedal and I can go back a loop) But, of course, now I'm thinking I need to upgrade. When performing, it's easy to forget how long the loop is.
Purchased a Boss RC-5 and the Drum Volume is insanely Loud on every Loop. There is No Global way to reduce the Ear splitting and Speaker-Ruining surge of Drum Volume. Major Flaw. Be Warned.
Not True….User error. Just Google rc5 drum volume and read hundreds of posts that discuss all the editable functions of the drum loops. Or read the manual. It’s very clearly written. I am not trying to insult you. I struggled with both my RC 5 and RC 500. The latter of which is so customisable it takes months to fully appreciate. You have a really good looper. If you do your research Boss are way ahead of TC in terms of construction, reliability and function. But I do agree, boss/roland products have always had a learning curve as their user interfaces are never friendly. Boss has its own language. But….i love Boss Roland products …..
Yeah! So there are a few out there, but the one that seems like a good option to me is the TC Electronic Ditto Jam X2 (sweetwater.sjv.io/nLN7mV). It has a "beatsense" technology that seems pretty cool! I haven't tried it but want to get this one next!
@@haleypowersmusic dj s use daw live on laptops even fat boy slim sound tecs in rock bands use it as well live today its an unlimited looper pedal better then the best looper pedal on the market even in the 90s korg monotribe sampler its all sampleing like cuting your recording into loops bassic you match a bpm so it can be played at any bpm with a difernt kool result loops are made in 1 bar 2 bar or 4 or 8 or 12 or 16 bars however not inbetween them you can mix and match loops you make into songs
Hi Haley - or anyone reading this-- can you recommend any looper pedals that fulfills all of these suggestions? I want to find the best one. My most ideal situation is actually two "ins" (I play both synth and vocals) that can be handled (looped) separately in the same pedal, but then 1 output.
Hi! Try checking out one of these: Electro-Harmonix 720 Stereo Looper Pedal ( sweetwater.sjv.io/Vm4NeE )and the TC Electronic Ditto X2 ( sweetwater.sjv.io/5gjZjj ) I don't think that they auto-correct time but they do have a separate two and two inputs so they might work for what you are looking for!
1st, Kudos on a nice beginning advice video for new loopers!
I just wanted to respectfully add a piece of advice to anyone watching this who has trouble with the fact that it's initially difficult to keep from creating 'lumpy' rhythmic loops without the use of a quantizing function.
I have actually been live looping in public for 28 years and have headlined live looping festivals in 17 countries in my own career. I've seen, literally, thousands of live looping festival performances at the annual Y2K International Live Looping Festival which I founded 20 years ago in Santa Cruz, California. I started out as a drummer and have played to click tracks in studios, synthesizer sequencers, drum machines and played with master drummers from all over the world. One thing I can say , unequivocally, is that I have learned more from using non-quantized live looping pedals (and software oriented live loopers) than all of those experiences combined. The reason is that you have to start the loop just at the start of the measure(s) you are recording and then you have to stop the loop at exactly the downbeat of the next section. it's really easy to screw that up when you are trying to play guitar, keys, horns, vocals or percussion, HOWEVER, by merely practicing how to do it : how, specifically, to create NON lumpy rhythmic loops, you will so vastly improve your since of time and timing.
Not only that, but there are ways that you can salvage a real time loop that is 'lumpy' if you do the right things when you overdub onto your loop.
So, my advice , with deep respect and appreciation for Haley's advice in this video is
DON'T buy a looper with quantization capabilities: Instead, take the time to learn how to have really great time when you perform. It is a skill that will stay with you for your entire musical career, I promise you.
Good luck everyone and Haley, come play the vestival next November if you are free!
yours,
Rick Walker aka loop.pool
y2kloopfest.com
Martin Simpson
keep yappin bud
Good points.
On the TC Ditto Looper (which I agree has drawbacks for live performance), I've found that the timing of the "double tap" is easier if I think of the first tap as a "pickup note" -- for instance, if I'm playing in 4/4 time, I'll think of the two taps on the "and" of beat 4 and on beat 1: (1 + 2 + 3 + 4) + 1!
Hope that makes sense!
Oooh that’s smart!! That’s a great idea!
Exactly what I figured out as well. It's the 'and' beat right before the 4 in a 4/4 time signature.
Hi Haley, thanks for your interesting perspective on looping! I went the other way around... buying an extensive looper with all bells and wistles and in hind-sight wish I started with a one-knob simpel model; the Headrush Looperboard. A great machine but I use it mainly as a one man sound system, which works great! Quantizing sounds handy but for me it is a real pain to get it right.
1) Planning, you have to really think how long your loop is going to be and dail that in before you start
2) Pushing the start/stop button out of the tap/before the end, I find very awkward and distracting - tapping at "exactly the right moment" leaves you at a 50% chance the looper extend your loop with another bar or worse 1 extra beat.
3) Headphones, for a quantized loop you NEED headphones with a click track and a LOT of practice not to get a 'hop' at the closure of your loop.
4) I can not get it into my head to use my Looperboard just like a cheap looper pedal - it is probable perfectly possible but in my head there is an obligation to run the advanced features.
Cheers Haley - have a great 2024 - just my 2 cents.
Wow! That’s interesting……I think the Boss RC 500 is perfect for advanced users or complete beginners. Does everything you are trying to do without any of these problems. So completely intuitive. Did you look at boss products? The loopers released in the last few years took on user feedback like yours and are fully implemented. No I don’t work for Boss. But when it comes to looping , boss rules. RC 500 is the only 32 bit on the market. Important and guarantees no sound degradation on multiple loops.
Purchased an RC-1 Monday just gone, it is Thursday now. It’s a gem because already had a dual (A,B) FS-7switch which enables full switch control utilising all functions with one tap of any foot. 2 inputs 2 outputs & dual switch input. A Looper is a very powerful tool for live music making. Probably I could have gone for RC-10 or whatever but wanted to get started and be able to make some music. Anything more than the RC-1 was too much to think about. I guess if I were going to go for something more advanced would go for the RC-600. This RC-1 is enough and it’s more about seeing how much I can exploit the limited functions onboard the entry level looper which makes it about creating something on the fly then deleting is and making another.
Good Points! One lesson I had to learn the hard way is never to rely on the internal memory of any loop pedal alone. The constant rewriting will lead to failure at some point, and to me that point was reached on stage. Did a firmware reset and it worked fine 'til it happened again. Solution: Get a loop pedal that can store loops onto an external replaceable storage such as an SD card. Get the highest quality memory and get into the habit of backing up. These storages will also fail at some point. But then you will pull out a replacement which ideally will have backup loops already prerecorded. Much quicker than exchanging the whole pedal with a backup device (which I'm sure every pro looper is carrying around ;)...
Thanks for taking the time to post your thoughts. Definitely helpful! One issue I noticed immediately when I got my first looper was the need to a separate volume control ie if you're going to do a lead over the loop (or you just want the loop more in the background when you're live playing) you need to be able to control the volume of the looping part.
that's every part combining music its why we use mixers and why instruments are in separate tracks so the producer can bring them all to a levle volume then send them to get remasterd to a perfect sound when working in the studio you need an ear for music you will be listening to loops of sections of songs thousands times over and over again making correction's in the sound of track bringing every thing = volume and matching tones
I watched a Dovydas tutorial on looping. He is the ultimate looper king. But your video is really in depth. Thanks so much. I learned that i need a better looper. Thanks so much.
Spot on advice, wish I’d heard this a few years ago! I’m a trucker, and like to share videos of my guitar playing, with a looper, when I have down time in my truck. I thought just like you said…”loop a rhythm guitar part, how hard can it be?”…I have the entry level Boss looper, and both the quantized rhythm and stop/start features would’ve been awesome! 5 years later, I’m doing some nice playing, but still fumbling with the looper! 😸🎸
Oh that’s awesome! I definitely feel that! Glad you got it down now!
Dunno if someone said this already, but all the Boss single switch stompbox style loopers have a ja for an additional footswitch function. Any simple footswitch will do, tho the Boss F series switches are interlocking, well made, rugged and cheap
It’s good to actually look into the product you buy before you buy it. There’s even manuals out there you can read. Crazy world out there.
Thanks for the info. I use the L6 Helix and the looper is configurable as a single stomp or a 6 stomp - and can be moved in the chain to any place you want instantly. Wish it had more memory but for what I do (mono) 60 seconds is plenty.
Great video I just bought my first Looper today like yours compact double tap start and stop. This video was really informative I knew nothing about any of the things you mentioned and now I'm second-guessing my purchase.
Thanks for posting! Very useful. Your last point is possibly the most important - practice with whatever setup you have until you can operate it in autopilot, then you have time to think about the music!
I have a few loopers, including that One-button Ditto Looper. I agree. Double tapping is for the birds.
I have been looking for a looper pedal for a while and these tips were very helpful. 😊
The ditto is great at front of chain for tweaking pedals, EQ, or searching for a certain tone for a melody you have composed. I had the RC500 but it was too much space on the pedalboard. I still have a RC5 on the board near the end but I mostly use the one at the end of the chain built into the Line 6 DL4 MKII. It has a one tap looper setting or a full blown dedicated looper setting. The one tap setting let’s you loop in stereo which is pretty cool too. The looper might be the most underrated pedal most people should have. Like your content!
Ooh good thoughts here! That’s awesome! Yeah I definitely agree- thank you!
Do you think a RC5 is an overkill first looper? The drums sound very interesting, and it seems like a complete pedal, but I wonder if it's too much for a first looper
@@YV0910 that I responded but don’t see it showing up. Boss is great if you want some backing tracks to play along with. It even has memory to recall some of your own created loops. External footswitch controls, battery option, etc. This ditto is great if you just want your own loops, extremely easy to use. I’d buy both and send back the one you don’t like. Then you can compare them side by side
@@danharris2253 thank you!!
Great tips thank you! I'm looking for a looper, first time.
Oh, Got it Completely On the Double Tap. And Yes! Learned that about the Chain from Left to Right It should be on the far Left. I use the Keeley Caverns on far right, then the NUX RECTO For Distortion than the Loop core to the Left.
Spot on! I just got into looping a few months ago, and I’ve already had to buy a second one that has some of the very features you discuss! I haven’t tried the quantizing functionality yet, mainly because the pedal I ended up with (Ditto x4) doesn’t have quantizing per se… it has MIDI sync, which means I then have to have yet another piece of gear to provide that MIDI! It balloons quickly. And doing it without MIDI or quantizing does indeed take a lot more practice than you would think!
This was really helpful. Other ideas to consider - In terms of practicing at home, it’s also nice to have an A- B pedal that one output can go to the looper to one amp and then the other output to a different amp. Playing everything through one amp can get muddy even when changing up tones. I also find that sonically it also helps to separate the sounds so I’m not distracted by something getting lost in the mix, which can happen more when playing through one amp. Also helps if laying guitar parts to really utilize the tone knobs and different pickup positions on your guitar so again, things don’t get lost in the mix. I haven’t really used a looper live in my cover band because then instead of everyone following the drummer the drummer really has to listen to the loop and stick to the time which can be distracting for the drummer- or really good for the drummer if the loop is in time and makes them play in time lol.
Very good points to consider. Especially that double tap and the fx placement in chain. Ty!
Hello, Haley! I just started my own TH-cam-channel and I use the mini Tc Electronic Ditto looper. Now I am thinking of buying a looper with drums in. Thanks for a great video! Love from Sweden 💕🇸🇪
You could try the Mooer Groove Loop X2. I got one recently. It's my first Looper and they're a bit tricky...give it a look.
You make it easy to understand ~Love it!!!
Great tips Haley. That’s great info as im looking for a looper this year.
Cheers from NZ 😎🎸🤘
Thanks so much- so glad it was helpful! Cheers!
Hi Haley glad to see you back! I have a Lekato Looper pedal that has LED lights around the perimeter that blink in time so you can see/hear when you want to "jump in".
Thank you! Oh that’s awesome! Little features like that definitely make things easier!
Thanks I’m looking to buy a looper and this is extremely helpful
lm about to purchase my first looper pedal & the information you have given in this video has been very helpful for me..lm thinking l know more about what lm looking for now..there seems to be a lot more to get right choosing the right looper for my needs, certainly when l compare it to other pedals l've got over the years..Which is understandable when you see how much more is involved in these looper type pedals.. lts even more important l suppose that l do get it right before l buy this pedal..beause there not cheap are they.. which makes your video even more helpful..So thank you for your video.. & loved how well you have explained this pedal..its made a complicated purchase easier to understand..if that makes sense 😀 Brett from Australia
Thank you so much for the incredibly kind comment-really appreciate it and so glad the video helped! I know what you mean about it being a tricky purchase. It’s really a skill you have to work at and having the right pedal is going to make that a lot easier or very frustrating. Good luck with starting to loop and I hope you find the perfect looper!
Got my 1st looper after having 4 yrs - well sort of looper: in the Eighties I used a rat mounted delay for "ambience", a bit like that EHX pedal...*I digress, but: WHOHATT is it with that pico deep Freeze I just watched a vid of... 5minutes, I'm sold...guitar, be the end of me - sold my soul to SMD...* Via self-oscillation I could get a drone, and there was a foot switch which sometimes did not blend but abruptly switch different pitches. I liked the sound a lot, and after tinkering with the "drone"-unit realized the rack-piece was supposed to echo your tones by repeating them (quite stupidly as I then found at first), thereby letting you create 2or even 3 polyphonic arpeggio-like structures in a set speed (think that can e Edge, or Gilmour right at the beginning of Another Brick in the Wall Pt.2).
TL;DR Go Walk RUN get a looper!
It will make your practicing that much more fun, a bit like playing with someone else (NOT the same),
and practicing scales is one of its major uses for me: The drone lets me solo "over something", more importantly allowing me to get a better feeling for the position/function of each tone, as I open an interval with each note played (played note + drone), that is my hypothesis anyway...
It'll help your timing (@looppool has his treatise below for all your skeptical nitty-gritty).
It'll allow you to become a fake personality, and pose as a bass guitar. Ethics of that needs further exploration.
@looppool: A bit harsh, maybe...? You could argue for quantised looping with regards to no matter how complex the. music, and/or setup, your loop will be on time. To me, it seems the tradeoff (what you'll "pay") for that safety is a loss of creative options, as I'm now "bound to the grid). An old-fashioned looper with no quantitation puts you back in time... to a time, when Rock'n Roll was in its prime, music was recorded to analog tape, and Cher had not yet traded her voice for autotune. It's risk. It's fun. Yeah, after a while I become as tight with it as the quantization helps me to be from take one... Had a Boss pedal with a round light, completing one circle in one measure of the loop... I found it as confusing as you may have found my explanation.... rest assured; You're OK - it's me who is obviously too stupid to play to measures & fixed time-frames. I can tell great stories, and come across mega-sympathetic, which is probably why I've been playing live for ages, and neither bands nor fans notice... If you like looped stuff, an Australian beat-box/loop-master with a great voice and great messages in his music would be Dub-FX (I've been fan since 2009, thus, if y'all know him by now: sorry for the old news...
loopers are very versatile for playing alone. even cheaper simpler ones. I regret not having them sooner
Agreed! They are really pretty great!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this. It's nice to know that someone has a lot of the same want and needs that we do!
Thank you so much for watching- glad it was helpful! :)
Great informative video. I researched for months. Don’t waste money on the ditto…..which is basically what she is saying, even though she is a TC electronic girl. Good company…good vocal pedals. But when it comes to looping…..Boss all the way. Especially if you gig. Indestructible. And if you do your research, more reliable. Boss basically invented looping. Read a few reviews. Even most of boss’s starter (cheapest) looping pedals cover all of the concerns/wish list here. A good looper will make you a better player. You will practice more and your timing will improve within a few days….
I fully agree!
great video. out of all the gear i've bought and sold i dont regret selling much, but i do regret selling my cutlass, the neck on that thing is fantastic
I was honestly so surprised how much I loved that guitar! The neck really is great!
helpful video, I use the Ditto Looper mini and i love it BUT your right, its not enough.
Very helpful, Thanks for your inputs! Lot of options to consider. You got me thinking about double tapping, and not just plugging into the front end. I like the ones that are ready to play as soon as you start to strum them. The drum loopers don’t seem realistic enough to be useful, nor do the ones with a lot of memory.
Good vids,
Keep ‘em coming ✌️
Thanks for watching and the comments! Yeah I completely agree. thanks again!
Really good advice, Haley!
Thanks Susie!!
That's very helpful to consider when buying a looper, I wish I saw this video before I hasted to buy my first looper. Anyway will definitely consider in the future ☺️, thank you.
Glad it was helpful and I get that- I’m constantly selling and buying pedals because of that haha Thanks for watching and for the comment!
well done! I'm gonna follow your stuff...
Dedicated stop button and quantize are a MUST....
you can record into the pedal as well head phones output of pedal device into input like if you want to loop sounds from pc plug guitar cable from headphones of sound card to pedal input plug your headphones to pedals output you can sample beats from your studio or even sounds off TH-cam you will only hear from one ear from pedal but after you record and you hook pedal up normal it will have recorded on both speakers so say you can record drum loops into pedal ect you can even send your loops to files on pc for later transfer back in forth when you want use them ive been doing looper thing in studios since windows 94
This was joy to watch
Ahh thank you!!
@@haleypowersmusic yw 😊
Love that you have an H9 and BigSky on your board.... Two of my favorites !
Ah the best right?! The most magical reverb!
Used to work for Eventide so I may be a tad biased. Ha !@@haleypowersmusic
@@judeworth938 oh man the dreeeam🙌🏼
Great video. thanks Haley.
You're so welcome!
This was VERY helpful. Thank you.
I’m so glad! Thanks for watching!✨
Thank you cheers . Im a bit older and scared of tecknoligy but love it so much . But just cant get my head around it . Unless exsplained 🎉 easerly . Example a flat pack shelving from wall mart kmart in australia ha ha cheers Wally
Very soulful playing.
I recommend the Digitech Jam man solo XT. I already have loads of sequences and I can just download thru a USB cable. It has a nice amount of memory but it also takes SD cards. So I have hours literally of capacity at full wav format. Don't know why they stopped making it. They are funny about that.
hey, quick heads up, there's another pedal that doesnt require double tab and it's cheaper than the jitto jamx2, its the donner circle looper. Only 100$ and comes with loads of features
Nice example jam at the front of your video showing how the looper can be used
Thank you! Appreciate it!
Just to add to placement, if your amp has an FX loop it's usually best to put your looper there. It should still be last in the chain.
There still may be times when you don't want it in the FX loop though.
Really good stuff!
Your jeans are starting to get a small hole in one of the knees. Just in case you hadn't noticed.
Hey, comfort is important.
A few more washings and they’ll be shorts.
Thanks for the vid, Haley. I’m in the market for a looper and you gave me a few things to consider before making a purchase. Very helpful!! 🙂
Has negging ever worked for you?
Tiz but a denim wound
Great info, thank you!
Thanks for the useful tips.
So welcome! Thanks for watching!
Thanks for making this video, it has good information.
Oh thank you for taking the time to comment! Really appreciate it and glad it was helpful!!
Thank you
My zoom multi effect pedal gives me the option of setting up a 1 button Looper Or the 2 button looper for start stop since it has multiple buttons that can be assigned.
Very helpful. Thanks!
Great insight thanks! My search for the perfect looper continues…
Thank you!!
Very helpful. Thank you.
What if your song that has verses, chrous, then a bridge? How can a looper accommodate those variables? Or which looper has that ability?
Thank you.
You might want to check out something like the Mooer X2 Looper, which has that ability. To really make it work, though, I‘m pretty sure you‘d also want to get some kind of dual external footswitch so you can trigger more functions. I use a Boss FS-6 and sometimes (when space is tight on my pedalboard) a Boss FS-7. They both have silent switches, which reduces the audience annoyance factor of hearing obnoxious clicking noises all the time (a real thing in less-than-loud settings). Having clicky switches like the ones on the Ditto featured here is a really bad thing for solo acoustic performers, and the majority of simple loopers (including the Mooer X2) are plagued by it. But with an external footswitch, you can at least reduce the annoyance by assigning often-used functions to the external switches. If you can afford it, I think a Boss RC-500 (and an external dual footswitch or Midi foot controller) would get the job done in style.
Great advice! Thanks!🥂
Thank you! ☺️
Great review. Thank you.
Thanks so much and thanks for watching!
Can you please name a few looper pedals that do have the auto-correct timing button. for easier live use?
Most of the Boss pedals have this. It’s called "Quantise" It isn’t cheating, it just compensates for inconsistant button tapping. All professional artists with Loopers have quantise switched on. All. A looper is definitely worth researching . Probably more than any other gear. So many people buy something like the ditto and then end up paying again for one that Will do the job. It’s not something in my opinion that makes sense to buy cheap and upgrade later. It’s not economic sense. The minimum that you should go for is something like the Boss RC5. Look at it as an investment in improving as a musician. Best practice tool that you can ever buy. Good luck
yeah, double-tapping is for drummers?.... just bought a MOOER Groove Loop x2 with like a million drum patterns n genres n speeds so I wont have to chug my guitar into a rhythm instrument...
just tried it: works very intuitively, and both drum n loop channels have their own volume, so I dont have to boost the playing vol....
in my beloved Finland 150-200€, I bought it from Aliexpress: 120€!!!
YOU ARE VERY GOOD! loved your tone immediately, country??? Cheers from Kimmo in Finland!
Thank you! Good stuff !
Thank you! Appreciate it!
Thank you Haley 👍
Thank you!!
Helpful inf0. Thank you!
Thank you!!
Ha... back in the day, we would sew patches on our jean even where there was no holes. Times they are a changing.
Cool stuff. Thank you.
Love your vid. What guitar are you playing here?
Thank you! It’s the Sterling By Music Man Cutlass- it’s a really inexpensive guitar but plays great!
Which loopers have the ability to quantize?
does the Ditto have this option?
Thanks a lot. Yes I'm a one man band trying to become two guitar players in a real band 😅😅😅. What do you think about the Lekato Drum Buddy. It's like 40dlls, has an app for modifying drums on real time and also has a High bit rate looper. I just don't know if it has the correction gadget you mentioned for cheating a bit.
Thx for your input
Yes so welcome!!
Hey Haley! Frank From Upstate N.Y. HERE. I'm 66 and bought my first Looper about 7 years ago. A NUX Loop Core. Sat in the box for almost two years and realized, " hey i have to use this!" Love it..... I started playing guitar at 14 years old and once i was in my 20's didn't play as much thus working life kept me busy until the 1990's bought a Nice Used Washburn Acoustic and then finally got my first electric [ Fender Tele] in years. still learning the Looper. Have done A few Covers using it....... Two in particular....which are on my Chanel. " Frank Behr" utube if you are Interested..... But I will finish your Vid. Thank you!
How long can the loops be? I like to play long chord progressions.
I bought the mxr looper and was surprised it didn't come with any kind of manual. Months later I found out it had half speed double speed and reverse options. Why doesn't this come with instructions. I think even overdrives come with instructions
Oh that would be hard! Mine came with instructions but there was still a learning curve-that would be really confusing starting though…
❤Good info!
How's the ditto? I heard it had issues with timing.
I haven't found any timing issues with mine so not sure... You have to be very accurate though about when you punch the button though
I need one for live performance so the designated stop button would be ideal and also the quantize feature. Also I want a small one to not take up much space on a pedal board. Any idea which would be best for those specifications? @@haleypowersmusic
@@ollonelycat Ok gotcha. So I don't own this one, but what I think I'm going to get next is the Ditto Jam X2 sweetwater.sjv.io/nLN7mV
It seems to have good reviews and has the features I thought this one was missing but again I don't own it so I can't fully endorse! Let me know what you end up with!
HELP, I NEED LOOPER WITH FOLLOWING FEATURES:
anyone know of a cheap looper that has two separate inputs/outputs and simple two foot-switches for start overdub stop feature with long recording times? An added bonus would be the ability to create two pages or loops that you can scroll between so you can theoretically record a chorus + verse with two different instruments? Auto-sync would be a nice to have as well.
I would like to know what you find is the cheapest. Those needs are are pretty feature rich. A boss RC 500 does all that. Is indestructible. It has two independent looping channels. Dedicate one for verse, one for Chorus.Two separate inputs…Normaly guitar and microphone. But when you are looping, even live. I input voice , guitar , sax and bass. Obviously using an amp/Pa or effects pedal/amp unit. There is always a learning curve. Quantise (aut-sync) is essential. For me at any rate.
I output in stereo. But you have to outs. You can send them anywhere. You need your looper last in the chain to record each instrument sound. I.e. Clean rhythm guitar or distorted. These sounds are permenantly saved when recorded like that. You tube for advice. Good luck
I love your videos!
Thank you!!
So, which pedals have the features you mentioned (separate start/stop, auto-correct time, etc.)?
I just updated my caption with the two I would choose now that fit my criteria! The biggest thing I would look for is the dedicated stop switch and simplicity so I am looking to try the Electro-Harmonix 720 Stereo Looper Pedal ( sweetwater.sjv.io/Vm4NeE )and the TC Electronic Ditto X2 ( sweetwater.sjv.io/5gjZjj ) next! These don't seem to auto-correct time though (I can't find one with all of these features!)
Could you show how to hook them up and is there one that already has bass, drums ect for blues, rock, country ect and you just click the button and it's doing a blues backing track then you can set the tempo Thanks
Oh that would be a good vid! I’ll do some research on that! Thanks!
Have you experienced tuning stability issues with this particular guitar? I'm looking at them, but I have seen some videos that have me hesitant about buying one. This bites, though, cause I really want one.
Side note: your playing sounds really great.
I personally haven’t- it’s not a very expensive guitar though so it could vary depending on the particular guitar? I actually really love this one and end up playing it more than I thought I would! Maybe if you find one at a local store you could see if they would let you try it out and return it after a week if it’s not working out? And thank you!
@Haley Powers absolutely. I actually have my eye on one of two higher end guitars, but both have the same tuning rants associated with them. You'd think that with the higher price range, more extras (and factory) precautions would be added, but if it doesn't necessarily seem to be the case. Regardless, I'll give this one a try. If it works out, I'll be a happy camper. And thank you for responding.
Cool thinline Tele style ax.
Thank you!!
@@haleypowersmusic I have one too, though mostly play acoustic. So I've had the good ol' RC-20XL for years (10?), but only recently got it out and have really set my mind on becoming comfortable with it...and looping in general. It's coming along. I also dug out a pedal with which I can switch from one loop to the next. (Get another pedal and I can go back a loop) But, of course, now I'm thinking I need to upgrade. When performing, it's easy to forget how long the loop is.
I would imagine that looping rythm tracks with key changes might be a challenge.
Oh yeah that would be tricky 😅
❤Excellent work ❤
Thank you!!
helpful !
Purchased a Boss RC-5 and the Drum Volume is insanely Loud on every Loop. There is No Global way to reduce the Ear splitting and Speaker-Ruining surge of Drum Volume. Major Flaw. Be Warned.
Not True….User error. Just Google rc5 drum volume and read hundreds of posts that discuss all the editable functions of the drum loops. Or read the manual. It’s very clearly written.
I am not trying to insult you. I struggled with both my RC 5 and RC 500. The latter of which is so customisable it takes months to fully appreciate. You have a really good looper. If you do your research Boss are way ahead of TC in terms of construction, reliability and function. But I do agree, boss/roland products have always had a learning curve as their user interfaces are never friendly. Boss has its own language. But….i love Boss Roland products …..
I totally agree. I have an RC-500 and have the same issue. I have to turn it down to about 50 in each memory. I have not found a global setting.
@@TMilcich Huge Fail by Boss - I have a Brand New (in box) RC-5 that I am selling. I literally used it 2x's. Now I just use Jam tracks.
Can i ask which looper has the auto timing feature please?x
Yeah! So there are a few out there, but the one that seems like a good option to me is the TC Electronic Ditto Jam X2 (sweetwater.sjv.io/nLN7mV). It has a "beatsense" technology that seems pretty cool! I haven't tried it but want to get this one next!
I dont really understand the placement of the looper? End of the wha wha ? :)
Could you explain it like placement for dumbs? :)
Oh sorry! I would say when in doubt, put it at the end of the signal chain (after all effects and right before amp!)
Be nice if you played with different loopers
It would be! This isn’t sponsored though and this is just my experience with the one type since buying a bunch is kinda expensive 😅
What i wish i had known before 👍
Wish I could play like you ❤ x
🙈 oh thanks!
❤
Have a geat day kid!
🥰Gorgeousness 💞
Thank you!!
i have 500 pedals but no looper - i just use a Daw when i want to "loop" stuff
Yeah that works too (maybe a bit easier as well if you aren’t planning on looping live!)
@@haleypowersmusic dj s use daw live on laptops even fat boy slim sound tecs in rock bands use it as well live today its an unlimited looper pedal better then the best looper pedal on the market even in the 90s korg monotribe sampler its all sampleing like cuting your recording into loops bassic you match a bpm so it can be played at any bpm with a difernt kool result loops are made in 1 bar 2 bar or 4 or 8 or 12 or 16 bars however not inbetween them you can mix and match loops you make into songs
Loopers are great for writing a solo.Maybe for lyrics.A full song and the just keep it all stale.
Hi Haley - or anyone reading this--
can you recommend any looper pedals that fulfills all of these suggestions? I want to find the best one.
My most ideal situation is actually two "ins" (I play both synth and vocals) that can be handled (looped) separately in the same pedal, but then 1 output.
Hi! Try checking out one of these: Electro-Harmonix 720 Stereo Looper Pedal ( sweetwater.sjv.io/Vm4NeE )and the TC Electronic Ditto X2 ( sweetwater.sjv.io/5gjZjj ) I don't think that they auto-correct time but they do have a separate two and two inputs so they might work for what you are looking for!
Music Man Guitar 👍
🙌🏼I love that thing!