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I've been looking for a loop pedal, and i'm lost.

currently looking at:
jamman solo, boss RC-3

can they do basic looping without any quantizing? the whole 'rythem section' part of the pedal just seems silly to me.
i just want to
stomp > record loop
stomp > stop record & loop recorded audio
stomp > overdub (either hold to overdub, or stomp to stop overdub
double stomp > stops loop.


also i'd like to load some samples and trigger them. & with external aux toggle through presaved audio (could be one shot or looped, programmed according to the sample)
are these things possible?

edit:
I also DON"T want to use my hands for anything.

What about the Line6 JM4?

also, the Flashback works exactly how you described.

futuresailors wrote:What about the Line6 JM4?

I've only heard awful things from the JM4. bunch of added features that I really really don't need - amp sims, backing tracks... I really don't need to undo loops and such either.
plus i want to keep the footprint small. single sized & aux pedal for toggling through the saved loops (i can get an aux pedal in an mxr sized box)

behndy wrote:also, the Flashback works exactly how you described.

that's actually what I've been leaning towards, but for 50$ more maybe I could add the sample playback options that seems to be on the RC-3 & jamman - IF i figure out how they work...
I've had the old jamman & RC-2 a long while back and not only disliked the buffer on them, but I couldn't figure out how to get it to do simple looping like i wanted. maybe the rc-3 & newer jamman solo XT are different?

oinkbanana wrote:

behndy wrote:also, the Flashback works exactly how you described.

that's actually what I've been leaning towards, but for 50$ more maybe I could add the sample playback options that seems to be on the RC-3 & jamman - IF i figure out how they work...
I've had the old jamman & RC-2 a long while back and not only disliked the buffer on them, but I couldn't figure out how to get it to do simple looping like i wanted. maybe the rc-3 & newer jamman solo XT are different?

I don't use my Flashback for looping a ton because I find the tap, tap, tap-tap to do everything a bit annoying. (I'd rather give up the pedalboard space to have separate stomps for each) Also you can't quantize the loop (or even really perfectly start it in time in my experience), trim it, speed it up or slow it down, reverse it, etc.. all things I'd like to be able to do.

mathias wrote:I don't use my Flashback for looping a ton because you can't quantize the loop (or even really perfectly start it in time in my experience), trim it, speed it up or slow it down, reverse it, etc.. all things I'd like to be able to do.

quantizing, trimming, speeding up, slowing down are NOT things i need to do.
can the rc-3 or jamman solo do un quantized looping? i've never had problems doing unquantized looping on my dd-20, dd-7 or timefactor.

mathias wrote:I don't use my Flashback for looping a ton because I find the tap, tap, tap-tap to do everything a bit annoying.

tap, tap, tap tap - yeah.. annoying. I would prefer tap, tap, tap (start, loop, stop) with a hold for overdub, but i can deal with tap, tap, tap tap (start, loop, stop) with tap, tap (overdub start, overdub stop) manageable.
either way looping requires tapping.

Headrush is pretty nice if you don't need any fancy options, just straight looping/layering...

too big. & for basic looping i'd just get the flashback.

JamMan Solo is sized like a Boss, easy to use, and it allows for standard looping plus lets you run samples. Pretty nice little pedal honestly.

so it does non-quantized? because all the demos i've seen use the quantizers & drum loop. and the manual doesn't help either.

EHX SMMH, hold switch to start rec, release switch to stop rec, hold switch again for overdub.... tap other switch to turn off
. 30 seconds of loop time, and had some cool delays too

oinkbanana wrote:so it does non-quantized?

Yep. It's been awhile since I owned one but it'll act a a standard looper OR allow you to record using the tap/drum loops feature. It also let you slow loops without altering pitch (more of a practice tool I think...) and store loops with internal memory or you have the sd card option for more memory in terms of loop length. There's something like 99 banks you can fill with your own loops or any sample/beat/whatever you choose to download onto it for triggering purposes.

Standard looping functions as follows. First off, select an empty memory bank slot, then:

1. Tap once to record, LED lights up RED
2. Tap once again to end loop and enter PLAYBACK mode. Loop will play, LED goes back to GREEN.
3. Tap once again to enter OVERDUB mode, LED goes YELLOW.
4. Tap once again when overdub is complete, goes back to PLAYBACK mode with LED going GREEN again.
5. Tap twice to STOP loop.
6. You're given the option of storing each and every loop when recorded as long as memory permits.

That 2-stomp-stop is the one thing I didn't like but it's limited with a single footswitch. I also prefer the option of automatically going into playback/overdub mode after the initial loop is recorded but again, one stomp limits things here.

I do know they sell and external switch but I think it's more for cycling through the saved loop banks in order to ensure hands-off triggering of samples/saved loops. I don't remember the buffer being an issue but that's pretty rig dependent so it could work/sound great and then again, maybe not...

Ironbird13 wrote:EHX SMMH, hold switch to start rec, release switch to stop rec, hold switch again for overdub.... tap other switch to turn off
. 30 seconds of loop time, and had some cool delays too

I used to own this and absolutely HATED the fact you had to hold the switch throughout the recording process. I was coming off a DL4 tho, probably the sweetest looper in terms of functionality imo until it was unseated by the Timeline so holding the switch on the EHX felt really unnatural.

Also, it doesn't have any form of memory or sample triggering capability, not sure how important that is to the OP but something to consider...

Holy Schnikes wrote:Yep. It's been awhile since I owned one but it'll act a a standard looper

cool. that's the main thing I couldn't find an answer for.
thanks!
maybe they take it for granted?

btw
according to the manual you can set up record > dub > play as a global parameter (instead of the standard record > play > dub)
p.50 in the manual
press <setup> eight times until rPd or rdP shows up,
press up/down to select the one you want (rPd= record >play>dub, rdP = record>dub>Play)
press <pedal switch> to exit setup menu.

i'm looking at the 'JamMan solo XT' pedal, might not have been an option on the older solo pedal.

Any of the Jammans will just work as a loop/recorder without quantitized crap.

I wouldn't have a use for one if it required it.

I have one of the ancient two-pedal mono ones from years ago when they first came out.

Fidelity is decent, record time good, handles high input signals, I just have the rhythm section off on mine, I've never used it for anything. It's there for the people who, fuck, I don't know, see it as a feature?

behndy wrote:also, the Flashback works exactly how you described.

Yep. I use the Flashback in exactly this way and it works exactly like I need it to.