Hi Rich and all who read this.
I don't consider this a hijack and am most willing to offer all I can about loopers. Fact of the matter is I'm quite flattered, thank you.
Standard disclaimer - Individual needs, results, etc. will vary. Works for me.
I looked at the Digitech and for a reason I can't quantify or even remember (a year ago this month), just didn't get the 'warm fuzzy' even though with the memory card the record time was far far superior. For a point of reference, I'd never used or owned a Digitech or Boss/Roland product before. Anyway, I can only speak about the Boss.
I had the XL-20 before the RC-50 came out and returned it (30 day try it out trial period) *only because* I became aware pretty quickly it didn't have enough memory for my needs. I still didn't 'change brands' and go to the Digitech and again I couldn't quantify why other than just lack of the warm fuzzy. Thus the RC-50 which has met all my needs to date and which I'm happy with after about eight months now.
The Boss comes with 99 'drum tracks' which sound just fine, though some do sound kinda 'tinny'. Overall the drum sounds sound good and work well.
Modifying them is the weakness, as the individual tracks are *not* editable. Once you start you're committed to what's available. It is possible to change 'on the fly' but...here's a problem. The drum tracks are selected with a rotary knob and while I can work the rotary volume knobs in my stocking feet, it would be much more difficult to do with the drums, as it's a 'detent/click' selector. So for me, it's a 'hands on' operation/function.
The drum tracks located right next to each other are of the same 'basic feel/groove/genre', which could make changing feel on the fly easy, but if you want to select a beat that is multi clicks away on the drum track selector (the shuffle comes to mind with about six or so choices), you *have to click through however many there are from your first drum track to the one you end up on* and that can be a problem. Matter of fact, while it can probably be done, I've never even considered it, as it just doesn't seem viable because you will have that 'burp' of different drum track sounds as you spin the knob. Maybe only a seconds worth, but it would be rather obvious. It does keep the same time/tempo, so you'd stay in time, but still...just not for me.
One option you do have to 'modify' the beat, is to add sounds, snare lick/ride cymbal, in advance and then with the RC-50, you can turn those phrases on and off via the foot operated switches (three phrase selections available, each capable of recording and playing multiple parts). The downside of this approach though is two fold. One, it's not live and two is if you want to add, say for example in a twelve bar blues a single crash at the fifth measure, you have to use the full twelve measures worth of time to keep it in sync which 'eats memory'.
One more thing to be aware of is you can 'bury' your first loop when adding more parts on top if you're not careful. This was on both the XL-20 and the RC-50. The more parts you add, the more the first ones become buried. I compensate for this by playing harder on the first one and lighter on subsequent parts. Or you can use your volume control and make the first hotter and the following ones lighter. It's easier for me to compensate with my fingers and attack. The RC-50 with it's three phrase selections, each with individual volumes, kind of addresses this, as I can start on one phrase and then switch to another for additional parts which maintains the original volume of the first part.
Another issue is what I call 'time warp'. It's shocking how time will fly when you start playing with a looper. One idea leads to another, which leads to another, which leads to...
In this instance, the above paragraph is moot, as it can be a good thing to have your loops become buried and newer ones evolve into something completely different then what you started out with. I kid you not, you can lose hours and I've even heard of people being lost for days.
I hope all this makes sense.
Please feel free to ask for any clarification or any other questions you may come up with. I'm happy to help as best I can.
Best Regards,
Kimberly (taking a break to walk around and stretch)
PS. I just remembered to mention this. It seems to me someone, and I think it was on this board, said they used to work for Digitech as a tech and even though they had an employee discount on products, they never bought a single item. I *think* I remember reading this. Search for Digitech?
