Looper Units, Tried Em?

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Looper Units, Tried Em?

By thynctank Sun Jan 19, 2003 11:16 am
In the past, when I wanted to add a loop to a track, I either toyed with the loop and sequence settings or brought in other toys (like the Boss SP-505) that had at least some loop editing/syncing features. However, since I've always been so budget conscious as to buy mostly cheapass gear, these toys have been sort of inadequate.

I'm now looking for a loop-based phrase sampler for recording loops from vinyl, CD, live guitar and bass and mic inputs, etc. I'd like to be able to tweak the loop (effects, pitching, etc), layer several loops at a time, timestretch and compress, possibly chop the loop and so on. I constantly find myself wanting to add a bassline or guitar riff I'll come up with spontaneously, and it's such a hassle to use my existing gear for that sort of thing.

I was wondering if any of you made use of these. I read in a post a while ago about people recommending the Electrix Repeater among other pieces, but wanted some feedback as to the merits of each piece of gear, stacked up against one another.

By thynctank Sun Jan 19, 2003 11:18 am
I've been looking at the Yamaha A3000-5000 type pieces, the SU700, Akai S-series and the aforementioned Repeater. Advice on these particular pieces would be really useful, as well as prices I should expect to pay for used gear.

thanks,
-thynctank
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By rasaban Sun Jan 19, 2003 9:16 pm
I use to own an Electrix Repeater , It was cool , But I wound up just lookin at it for a year , So i sold it. The company is no longer in business. Loop editing was ok..... syncing to midi gear was a nightmare. and I know midi. These units are pretty hard to find though.

Peace
Midi out
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By llasher Tue Jan 21, 2003 11:25 pm
:arrow: For more information on this check out looper's delight if ya haven't already. These guys are mad loopers and there's a mailing list to talk about looping gear and such. :wink:
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Re: Looper Units, Tried Em?

By ishfaq Tue Dec 29, 2009 9:46 am
I'm also interested in getting a looper. I'm kinda torn between the Electro-Harmonix 2880 and the Boss RC-50. Been checking out a few different ones but they seem to be the only 2 that can sync via MIDI. Plan is to get something that I can sync up with my MPC and play bass lines etc live, loop them up, add some keys, loop them, add some synth lines etc, all without stopping.

I'm kinda leaning towards the 2880 as I like the simplicity of the setup - I used to have a Fostex 4-Track years ago and it seems pretty similar to that, so that's good for on-the-fly live stuff, not having to navigate through LCD menus etc. Also it seems it can be controlled via MIDI, so I could easily create a program on the MPC to start recording etc, and probably trigger it to start with the footswitch on my MPC. But the RC-50 seems pretty solid too, so I'm not 100% sold on the 2880 - would like to hear from anyone that's used either of them.

So, anyone had any experience with these 2 and an MPC in sync?
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Re: Looper Units, Tried Em?

By llasher Tue Dec 29, 2009 10:22 am
Hi, did you notice my post was almost seven years old!! The nursing home I now live in does not allow MPCs, so I can't help you, but I am sure someone else from 2003 may. :D :D :D :D

Re: Looper Units, Tried Em?

By _Stilo_ Tue Dec 29, 2009 10:29 am
ishfaq wrote:I'm kinda leaning towards the 2880 as I like the simplicity of the setup - I used to have a Fostex 4-Track years ago and it seems pretty similar to that, so that's good for on-the-fly live stuff, not having to navigate through LCD menus etc. Also it seems it can be controlled via MIDI, so I could easily create a program on the MPC to start recording etc, and probably trigger it to start with the footswitch on my MPC. But the RC-50 seems pretty solid too, so I'm not 100% sold on the 2880 - would like to hear from anyone that's used either of them.

I have an RC-50, and also decided between the 2880 and the RC-50. I finally took the RC-50 because for the 2880 you have to buy an extra (expensive) footpedal with a proprietary connection to make it controllable hands-free like the Boss, which makes it way more expensive in total. Also you do not need CF cards in the RC-50, the memory is built into it, accessible via USB. And I came from the RC-20 anyway which I liked pretty much already.

You can read many stories on sites like Harmony Central on how the RC-50 and especially Midi Sync doesn't work, but I'm sure most of that is due to user error. I haven't tried to sync it to the MPC myself yet however. That's a thing I have to try out.
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Re: Looper Units, Tried Em?

By ishfaq Tue Dec 29, 2009 11:32 am
Haha, was about to start a new topic when I thought I'd search first, didn't notice the date! Hope you're rocking the old folks home good and proper though...

Anyways, yeah, I don't like that the 2880 has to use a new CF card for every loop - pain in the butt. But I don't think I'd need the footswitch, as I said, cos I could write a program in the MPC for controlling it. And it does seem from the reviews I've read that it syncs ok.

I've read a load of reviews of both, inlcuding Harmony Central ones, and it does seem that a lot of peeps have problems syncing the RC-50 - so that's my worry. If I can't sync to my MPC then it's no use to me really.

I'm also considering the Kaoss KP3 - my friend that I jam with has one, and he easily samples me playing, then chops it up and messes with it on the fly - so it seems like it's a really great creative tool. Only drawback is the sampling time isn't so long...but it does sync with the MPC ok.
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Re: Looper Units, Tried Em?

By Lampdog Tue Dec 29, 2009 2:23 pm
llasher wrote:Hi, did you notice my post was almost seven years old!! The nursing home I now live in does not allow MPCs, so I can't help you, but I am sure someone else from 2003 may. :D :D :D :D

aaahhhaahahaahhahahahahha!!!

Thing is though, you answered, good shyt. :lol: :lol:
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Re: Looper Units, Tried Em?

By buddy maxwell Tue Dec 29, 2009 4:17 pm
thynctank wrote:
I'm now looking for a loop-based phrase sampler for recording loops from vinyl, CD, live guitar and bass and mic inputs, etc. I'd like to be able to tweak the loop (effects, pitching, etc), layer several loops at a time, timestretch and compress, possibly chop the loop and so on. I constantly find myself wanting to add a bassline or guitar riff I'll come up with spontaneously, and it's such a hassle to use my existing gear for that sort of thing.




The su700 can do all of this with ease. If you are going to be using lots of loops, try to get one with the scsi board so you can use zips. Having to load up 12 floppies sucks balls ans takes forever.
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Re: Looper Units, Tried Em?

By mp3 Tue Dec 29, 2009 4:59 pm
How about the SP 555?

Re: Looper Units, Tried Em?

By _Stilo_ Tue Dec 29, 2009 6:29 pm
ishfaq wrote:I've read a load of reviews of both, inlcuding Harmony Central ones, and it does seem that a lot of peeps have problems syncing the RC-50 - so that's my worry. If I can't sync to my MPC then it's no use to me really.

Yea, well...if you're not looking to do some real-time on-the-fly s**t you need your hands free for, then you're not looking for the RC-50 really.
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Re: Looper Units, Tried Em?

By ishfaq Tue Dec 29, 2009 6:49 pm
Well I do want to do some on-the-fly shit, but I still want it sync'd to my MPC, so if I come up with a nice loop I can keep it rolling and add to it. My basic setup for live stuff is my MPC running the beats and bleeps, then that's sync'd with my buddy who's using an Electribe and Kaoss pad. Then I play some live bass or keys or whatever over that. But I can only play one thing at a time. So I want to be able to play something - say a bassline - loop it without stopping, then maybe move onto the keys and add something, etc etc. So build up an improvised tune continuously.

Maybe I'm now leaning towards the KP3 a little more...2880 looks like it would do the trick nicely too but I hate that you can only have one loop session per CF card.
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Re: Looper Units, Tried Em?

By THEWEAZ Tue Dec 29, 2009 7:10 pm
Just want to throw out my $.02 but the loop capture mode on my Roland SP-555 has worked like a charm for me.. Its a bit more expensive than the KP3, but coming from someone who owns both.. SP-555 > KP3.. Unless your really looking to do effects on the fly then the SP is a better option.
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Re: Looper Units, Tried Em?

By ishfaq Tue Dec 29, 2009 8:06 pm
Hadn't looked at the SP-555 until now. Looks pretty sweet alright, but seems quite similar to the MPC in a lot of ways, so I'm guessing a lot of the stuff I wouldn't use - could always sell the MPC I suppose, but I'm pretty attached to it! Do you have that as well as an MPC?

Hmmmmm...really don't know now. I think I might borrow my friends KP3 for a night and see how I get on with it. If I end up getting annoyed that I can't sample for longer, I'll know that I'll be better off with the 2880.
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