SCHOOL ME ON LOOPERS.

[nieh]

So, I want to pick up a looper, but I don't know a lot about them. looking to spend around 200ish. I just need a really simple looper. here's what I need, ability to record and overdub loops. A longer loop time is preferred. I don't even really need to be able to save loops. so what do you guys recommend?

[spacelordmother]

Are you looking for separate buttons for record, overdub, stop, etc? Do you want some delayzzz in the same box?

For me "simple" means having access to all the buttons so as to avoid "hold button", etc etc to make things happen. Some prefer a standalone looper in a compact pedal.

Are you looking to overdub phrases or just build some textures?

[nieh]

Are you looking for separate buttons for record, overdub, stop, etc?

its preferred.

Do you want some delayzzz in the same box?

doesn't really matter.

Are you looking to overdub phrases or just build some textures?

what do you mean exactly?

[rfurtkamp]

Overdub, as in ' do you want to be able to add layers after the fact' or are you content with "I hit record, I hit stop, it starts looping, I can stop it and I'm done?" like the old digital delays.

Also, do you need stereo?

[rfurtkamp]

If you don't need stereo, the basic 8-10 year old Digitech Jamman will will just fine. 128mb flash card (which is what it came with) is a six minute loop. You can go to something obscene like 380 minutes for $20 if you really want and you dream of composing realtime Warhol soundtracks and leaving the room.

Adequate headroom, more features than you want (and that I ever use), dedicated start/stop footswitches with the usual dual function 'hold to clear or undo an overdub'. Usual 16/44 sampling, sound quality is decent to a point where I never complain, and I've absolutely abused mine for years.

The single switch loopers can be cheaper but it's usually $10-25 used difference tops and the usability factor is horrible.

Jammans sell for $100ish, give or take a bit. If the memory card's not included, no big deal, you can get cheap old CF cards easily if you don't have one laying around.



You can find fancier ones out there, spend a lot more money, but if you just want "I have a looper, I can loop stuff" you're good to go with this unit. The more expensive stereo unit adds...stereo. An even more expensive unit adds built in delay.

Boss has some units that let you have different loops on tap at once if you want to get all fancy and shit.

Me, I just wanted the old Echoplex sound on sound equivalent without being stuck on a fixed length.

[skullservant]

As far as sound quality of looping, while I've never tried the Jamman, I've tried the DL8, the DD7, the TimeLine, and the RC20XL, and out of all of them I found the DD7 to have the best sound quality and be the most fluid. It's not got dedicated start/stop buttons, but I feel like it's more intuitive because you're not tapping 2 different areas for the possibility of getting confused and accidentally swiping your loop

[rfurtkamp]

Never had a confusion problem with the Jamman 2 button, it's the left one to start recording and to stop recording/start playing, as well as to overdub. If I don't want to clear the loop or stop playing it back, I don't ever touch the right button.

Similar to my Digi Timebender, where left is always delay on/off, hold for infinite repeat. Right is tap tempo. It has a looper but frankly I've never used it, same with the GR-55. It has a looper too but well, again, never needed it.

When the world ends I probably have enough loopers to go around.

[spacelordmother]

Are you looking to overdub phrases or just build some textures?

what do you mean exactly?

I just mean that in my experience, some loopers are better at different things. There loop modes in the SMMH and Muza M900, but (for me) having to hold down the button while recording makes it a better tool for building textures than for recording phrases. Depending on what you're looking to work with, midi control might also be appealing for keeping things synced -- which can be found in the the 2880, M9, and RC-50, among others.

[nieh]

I like how the JamMan Stereo looks.

[nieh]

If you don't need stereo, the basic 8-10 year old Digitech Jamman will will just fine. 128mb flash card (which is what it came with) is a six minute loop. You can go to something obscene like 380 minutes for $20 if you really want and you dream of composing realtime Warhol soundtracks and leaving the room.

Adequate headroom, more features than you want (and that I ever use), dedicated start/stop footswitches with the usual dual function 'hold to clear or undo an overdub'. Usual 16/44 sampling, sound quality is decent to a point where I never complain, and I've absolutely abused mine for years.

The single switch loopers can be cheaper but it's usually $10-25 used difference tops and the usability factor is horrible.

Jammans sell for $100ish, give or take a bit. If the memory card's not included, no big deal, you can get cheap old CF cards easily if you don't have one laying around.



You can find fancier ones out there, spend a lot more money, but if you just want "I have a looper, I can loop stuff" you're good to go with this unit. The more expensive stereo unit adds...stereo. An even more expensive unit adds built in delay.

Boss has some units that let you have different loops on tap at once if you want to get all fancy and shit.

Me, I just wanted the old Echoplex sound on sound equivalent without being stuck on a fixed length.

Found one for 100 on guitar center used and picked it up!

[rfurtkamp]

Rock on.

I have sworn off the GC used site for a few days lest I order.

And ordering over the weekend is always disappointing because it never leaves until Monday at the earliest.