What's a good midi-sync 'able Loop Pedal/Unit?(for rhodes, clavinet, bass guitar,etc)

fooddude · 22nd July 2011

What are the good or decent loop pedals or units out there that have midi-sync? I am zero DAW (just use it, audacity, for recording completed songs). My main sequencer is my MPC 60, used along with all my midi'ed hardware synths and outboard fx, etc. But, I am toying around the idea of maybe getting some nice un-midi'able vintage classic real instruments in the future, aside from synths - ie: Rhodes, Wurlitzer, Clavinet, guitars and bass guitars. Would be nice to loop these while producing instead of recording them on a DAW. I plan to just mainly use looped bars anyways. So kinda similar to sequencing synths on my MPC60, but instead with old classic instruments. Heck...I could even use the looper for looping recordings of pre-midi synths as well (like moogs, J4, sh2/09, etc, etc). Not to mention live percussions, hand drums, a friggin kalimba, etc., etc or other sounds. But, mainly thinking about a syncable looper to sync recorded loops of classics like a Rhodes, Clavinet, and also Bass Guitars. I think some sort of syncable looper would be a powerful and very welcome piece of kit to my set-up. My old 12-bit samplers could also do the trick...but I really prefer a looper as I could have a particular project running/playing as I jam out at the same and figure out new stuff to loop while playing with the song running at the same time. Basically, i'd like to be able to be recording a new track on the MPC's sequencer while it is running, but with a non-midi instrument, via a looper.

I did a little research, and the Boss RC-50 seems to fit the bill. Just need a simple high quality looper. Any other opinions out there welcome.

enossified · 23rd July 2011

Most loop pedals have no MIDI sync.

The Boss RC-50 does but it's known to be buggy...google for reviews.

I'd look at the Electro-Harmonix 2880.

If you can live without footswitching, the Kaoss Pad or Kaossilator Pro.

cdog · 23rd July 2011

RC 50 is good, maybe a Korg Microsampler if it can record long enough loops

KOTARE · 23rd July 2011

I second the EHX2880. Best looper I've owned. But you NEED the foot pedal, don't buy it without. Rugged too and good looking on stage and in the studio.

zerocrossing · 23rd July 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by KOTARE

I second the EHX2880. Best looper I've owned. But you NEED the foot pedal, don't buy it without. Rugged too and good looking on stage and in the studio.

I agree, though I think it may be discontinued. If you can deal with it not being a pedal, the Gibson (Oberheim) Digital Echoplex is the mother load. You'll need two for stereo though. THere was also a rack mounded stereo looper called the Looperlative, but I've heard that's gone the way of the dinosaur too. I had one briefly and it's MIDI sync was seriously flawed. After months of "I'm working to fix it" and never having it fixed I returned it, but I was an early adopter. I don't know if they ever got it working right but it seemed like it could have been great.

Somedays I wish I still had my Electrix Repeater. Also, not a foot pedal, but easily controlled with any MIDI controller like a Behringer FXB1010. It did time stretching stuff that was unparalleled. Shame they crashed and burned. There was rumors they were going to be reborn, but I think that was just some people trying to scare up VC.

These days, I'd tell you to forget using hardware. Mobius is amazing, and free. Mac and PC. Run that inside Live so you can also use Live's audio Looper plug in. It's simple but great. That and Augustusloop and you'll run rings about pretty much any hardware.

fooddude · 23rd July 2011

Thanks...lots of good choices here...never even knew Electrix made one. The EH, Gibson and Electrix all look like really nice units

teamsterjim · 24th July 2011

You don't need 2 Oberheims, you simply use a delay sample and Y the sends. Even using a stereo input with an ADT plug in will work.
I still use one for reversed stuff live. You simply learn to subdivide and use your brain as look ahead.
Pre recorded loops are easily recalled too.

tstu102 · 24th July 2011

lexicon jam man is the way to go

zerocrossing · 26th July 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by teamsterjim

You don't need 2 Oberheims, you simply use a delay sample and Y the sends. Even using a stereo input with an ADT plug in will work.
I still use one for reversed stuff live. You simply learn to subdivide and use your brain as look ahead.
Pre recorded loops are easily recalled too.

You sure do need two if you want a stereo looper.

zerocrossing · 26th July 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by tstu102

lexicon jam man is the way to go

I did love mine, except for that little "puh" at the end of a loop when it was synced to MIDI clock.

Morechips · 26th July 2011

I tried out the RC-50 for a while and found that it does not sync well as slave...as master it seemed to fine syncing my MPC1000, I only tried it out for a few weeks and decided it was one bit of kit too many and not used enough (bought cheap on fleabay and sold for more!).

The sound was pretty good, certainly good enough for live but i did notice that quiet decaying sounds for eg. an acoustic guitar ringing out to silence would have a tiny bit of sound 'break up' just before silence....i think that may have been the result of cheap pre amp components.

Apart from the barely noticeable sound niggle the RC-50 is a very well thought out looper! File transfer worked perfectly to my PC (XP Home).

fooddude · 26th July 2011

Which syncs the best as a slave and has no problems whatsoever as a slave synced? EH, Gibson and Electrix?

RC-50 is out, since people seem to be saying it can't sync as a slave well and is buggy. That lex jam man looks cool too, but is it only a master sync? I was reading the specs and it says it does sync, but only as a master and not a slave (my main sequencer and master clock is my MPC60). Anyways, no rush really...just planning just in case I get a Bass Guitar, a Rhodes and/or a Clavinet in the future

Acid Mitch · 26th July 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by fooddude

Which syncs the best as a slave and has no problems whatsoever as a slave synced? EH, Gibson and Electrix?

None of them.
So long as your loop points are correct they should loop in time and you wont need sync anyhoo.

KOTARE · 26th July 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by fooddude

Which syncs the best as a slave and has no problems whatsoever as a slave synced? EH, Gibson and Electrix? )

You will definitely need to sync as slave if you are using it with another sequencer on stage. I can't vouch for the others but the EHX 2880 performs fine, well, mine did. I reiterate, if you get the 2880 you NEED to get the footswitch (it's quite rugged). If you don't you'll soon wish you had...

Ricoche · 26th July 2011

I currently have a Gibson Digital Echoplex, Lexicon Jamman, and a Boss RC-50. I have no sync issues at all with the Boss RC-50 used as Master. The Gibson Digital Echoplex and Lexicon Jamman both sync well for me either way. I prefer to use Loop Pedals as as the Master with midi so I find myself using the Boss RC-50 the most. It also saves the loops you create which the other two don't. I will also say that the Lexicon Jamman is amazing with Midi. It just locks into anything I throw at it.

22nd July 2011	#1
fooddude Lives for gear Joined: Oct 2010 Posts: 1,274 Thread Starter	What's a good midi-sync 'able Loop Pedal/Unit?(for rhodes, clavinet, bass guitar,etc) What are the good or decent loop pedals or units out there that have midi-sync? I am zero DAW (just use it, audacity, for recording completed songs). My main sequencer is my MPC 60, used along with all my midi'ed hardware synths and outboard fx, etc. But, I am toying around the idea of maybe getting some nice un-midi'able vintage classic real instruments in the future, aside from synths - ie: Rhodes, Wurlitzer, Clavinet, guitars and bass guitars. Would be nice to loop these while producing instead of recording them on a DAW. I plan to just mainly use looped bars anyways. So kinda similar to sequencing synths on my MPC60, but instead with old classic instruments. Heck...I could even use the looper for looping recordings of pre-midi synths as well (like moogs, J4, sh2/09, etc, etc). Not to mention live percussions, hand drums, a friggin kalimba, etc., etc or other sounds. But, mainly thinking about a syncable looper to sync recorded loops of classics like a Rhodes, Clavinet, and also Bass Guitars. I think some sort of syncable looper would be a powerful and very welcome piece of kit to my set-up. My old 12-bit samplers could also do the trick...but I really prefer a looper as I could have a particular project running/playing as I jam out at the same and figure out new stuff to loop while playing with the song running at the same time. Basically, i'd like to be able to be recording a new track on the MPC's sequencer while it is running, but with a non-midi instrument, via a looper. I did a little research, and the Boss RC-50 seems to fit the bill. Just need a simple high quality looper. Any other opinions out there welcome. __________________ http://soundcloud.com/edgar-m http://soundcloud.com/edgarmaguyon http://www.youtube.com/user/fooddudeone/videos http://vimeo.com/edgarmaguyon http://www.flickr.com/photos/fooddude

23rd July 2011	#4
KOTARE Gear nut Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 108	I second the EHX2880. Best looper I've owned. But you NEED the foot pedal, don't buy it without. Rugged too and good looking on stage and in the studio. __________________ Synths and samplers: SCI Prophet VS, Yamaha CS-50, Yamaha SY-1, Chroma Polaris, Roland SH-1000, Micromoog, Akai AX-73, Ensoniq ASR-10 Rack and EPS16+ Everything else: Elektron MachineDrum SPS-1mkII UW, Ensoniq DP/2, Eventide H3000, RE-201 Space Echo, Rode K2 into UA LA610, Avid M-Box Pro, Fruity Loops 10 and Ableton Live. http://soundcloud.com/kotare/madam-mai http://soundcloud.com/kotare/brainworks-from-the-1st-week http://soundcloud.com/kotare/january-and-february-2012-mix

26th July 2011	#11
Morechips Lives for gear Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 530	rc-50 I tried out the RC-50 for a while and found that it does not sync well as slave...as master it seemed to fine syncing my MPC1000, I only tried it out for a few weeks and decided it was one bit of kit too many and not used enough (bought cheap on fleabay and sold for more!). The sound was pretty good, certainly good enough for live but i did notice that quiet decaying sounds for eg. an acoustic guitar ringing out to silence would have a tiny bit of sound 'break up' just before silence....i think that may have been the result of cheap pre amp components. Apart from the barely noticeable sound niggle the RC-50 is a very well thought out looper! File transfer worked perfectly to my PC (XP Home).

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23rd July 2011	#2
enossified Gear addict Joined: Oct 2009 Posts: 441	Most loop pedals have no MIDI sync. The Boss RC-50 does but it's known to be buggy...google for reviews. I'd look at the Electro-Harmonix 2880. If you can live without footswitching, the Kaoss Pad or Kaossilator Pro.

23rd July 2011	#3
cdog Lives for gear Joined: Dec 2003 Location: Brooklyn Posts: 3,559 3 Reviews written	RC 50 is good, maybe a Korg Microsampler if it can record long enough loops

24th July 2011	#7
teamsterjim Gear addict Joined: May 2008 Posts: 351	You don't need 2 Oberheims, you simply use a delay sample and Y the sends. Even using a stereo input with an ADT plug in will work. I still use one for reversed stuff live. You simply learn to subdivide and use your brain as look ahead. Pre recorded loops are easily recalled too.

24th July 2011	#8
tstu102 Gear addict Joined: Feb 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 477	lexicon jam man is the way to go

26th July 2011	#15
Ricoche Gear interested Joined: Jan 2010 Posts: 26	I currently have a Gibson Digital Echoplex, Lexicon Jamman, and a Boss RC-50. I have no sync issues at all with the Boss RC-50 used as Master. The Gibson Digital Echoplex and Lexicon Jamman both sync well for me either way. I prefer to use Loop Pedals as as the Master with midi so I find myself using the Boss RC-50 the most. It also saves the loops you create which the other two don't. I will also say that the Lexicon Jamman is amazing with Midi. It just locks into anything I throw at it.