Author Topic: Looping (Read 121 times)

Bradley Young · « **on:** February 07, 2009, 11:54:01 AM »

I'm looking for opinions on loopers.

I'm aware of the Boomerang and the Boss RC-50.

I'm thinking of a slightly different avenue, however; does anyone here loop with a computer? e.g. GarageBand or something?

I'm basically looking to expand-- I want to be able to lay down a percussion and bass line and improvise over the top. Or maybe a bass line and improvise percussion. Who knows (the shadow knows)?

And when I say percussion, I mean a percussive sound from my bass. I don't want to get into drum tracks and all that (yet?).

Anyhoo, hoping for some of y'all's thoughts, I know there are a few loopers here.

Bradley

lbpesq · « **Reply #1 on:** February 07, 2009, 12:25:23 PM »

Bradley:

I can certainly give you advice on how to get looped, but I suspect that's not what you're looking for!

hehehehe

Bill, tgo

dadabass2001 · « **Reply #2 on:** February 07, 2009, 02:07:15 PM »

Wasn't the Dali Lama a looper? I remember he had the corner on True Enlightenment for the next life.
(a blatant Caddyshack reference if ever there was one)
Sorry , that wasn't much help...

can I just say this is the 1002 post I've put up here?
Mike

Bradley Young · « **Reply #3 on:** February 07, 2009, 04:56:10 PM »

What I love about this forum: always with the serious answers.

And Bill (The Ganja One?), that's medicinal, right?

Bradley

olieoliver · « **Reply #4 on:** February 08, 2009, 05:10:46 AM »

I use my PC and MAc both for looping. I have Cubase 4 installed on them both and it's a very useful tool. I've played around with Garage Band some, in fact it's got some good loops already in the program, but mostly I use Cubase.
I've done some midi and audio looping. I'm not sure about garage band but with Cubase you can use the snap tool and cut your audio recording on a preset of either beat (whole, half, quarter, sixteenth...note) or you can set it to bar. This really helps out when creating your loops BUT you will need to record your loop with a click for this.

As for bass percussive sounds, thats a great idea. I usually, in fact 99% of the time, record my bass lines as a whole. I like to add slightly different touches here or there. But percussion, rhyhtm guitar tracks, key board..I loop em.

OO

adriaan · « **Reply #5 on:** February 09, 2009, 12:53:07 AM »

You might do it the old way with two identical old tape recorders (one in record mode, the other in playback), a couple of patch cords, and a piece of tape that you cut-and-paste onto its own end. Use empty reels to guide the tape, and adjust the delay by moving the recorders.

terryc · « **Reply #6 on:** February 09, 2009, 03:17:17 AM »

adriann..thats a blast from the past, I have Fripp & Eno's first album 'No Pussyfooting', he used the same technique with two Revox tape machines to produce and endless loop which fripp played his sustained guitar over.
Now to can get stomp boxes which do the same, Boss Loop Station is one which available.
Mind you Ibpesq's susggestion sounds more entertaining..well if did both 'loops' that would make an interesting night...which planet is this?

adriaan · « **Reply #7 on:** February 09, 2009, 03:27:17 AM »

Looper stomp boxes will be digital, and we certainly don't want to have any of those hanging around here.

I seem to remember that ye olde Roland Space Echo had a tape, but I don't know if the delay and sample time would be long enough to provide an actual loop - it will be more like the pulse that drove most of the early U2 stuff.

hydrargyrum · « **Reply #8 on:** February 09, 2009, 06:27:09 AM »

Not necessarily Adriaan, I have a Zvex Lo-fi Loop Junky, and it uses an interesting technology to loop in analog. If your interested you can read more here: http://zvex.com/junky.html.

(Message edited by hydrargyrum on February 09, 2009)

olieoliver · « **Reply #9 on:** February 09, 2009, 06:39:02 AM »

Bradley are you looking to loop for live gigging or recording?

OO

adriaan · « **Reply #10 on:** February 09, 2009, 08:13:51 AM »

Interesting Zvex thingy. Not something I'd run out to buy - but then there's nothing much that does that for me.

Bradley Young · « **Reply #11 on:** February 09, 2009, 10:38:23 AM »

Live, although probably not actually playing out (yet?).

Tape? That wasn't quite what I'm looking for.

Likely biased against analog-- too much effort, not enough flexibility.

Bradley

olieoliver · « **Reply #12 on:** February 09, 2009, 10:52:46 AM »

I don't see why you can't use a computer either way. Of course you'd probably want to use a notebook/laptop for live gigging. May be cheaper to get the RC-50 though.
I'm not sure but I think my BassPod Live has looping capabilities. HMM, think I'll check that when I get home.

OO

hydrargyrum · « **Reply #13 on:** February 09, 2009, 11:06:38 AM »

Yeah, the Loop Junky is a little unusual. I think the description of it sounding like playing along with a warped 45 is a good one. Not right for every song, but sometimes dead on. I enjoy over driving drum loops, etc. with it.

pace · « **Reply #14 on:** February 09, 2009, 06:36:14 PM »

Brad,

FWIW, the Boomerang has nice sized pedals and the unit itself is large enough to see in your periphery... So it lends itself to stage or rehearsal space rather than to control rooms / desktops.