Looking for some advice regarding looping gear

[fiddlinfool]

I am looking for some advice regarding recording/looping software or hardware.

I am considering purchasing a Boss RC-20XL Loop station for the sole purpose of recording my mandolin tunes and looping them back so I can play chords along with my own recordings for practice. I figure I can vary my speed and chose my own tunes if I record what I know and then practice my chords to these tunes.

Does anyone do this sort of thing, and if so what sort of recording software or hardware do you use?

thanks in advance http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[CES]

I'm not a looper, and so my advice may be totally worthless for your applications...BUT, I have tremendous respect for Keller Williams, who's basically a one man jam band and has recently done a BG flavored album (within the last couple of years). #He plays primarily guitar/bass but has a short scale he plays like a mando...some of his music is kind of out there, but he's a ridiculously talented artist. #NFI, btw.

He has a pretty cool website that outlines what he's currently using and has FAQs about his equipment. #You may get some guidance there, though I'm sure the other folks here will do a better job than I of helping you out.

[Bob Wiegers]

I dont do a loop exactly, but here's a poor man's version of that idea.

I got a Zoom H2 and I record the melody (or whatever). Dump it onto the computer and adjust it with Audacity. To achieve a loop effect I'll copy/paste it for a longer version. Then I'll save it to the iPod and listen while I play along with the chords (or whatever) and record with the Zoom again. then put it all together in Audacity. not exactly convenient, but it works. and if you have a decent mic setup for your computer you dont even need the Zoom.

[Eric F.]

I have a Mac, so I just use Garage Band. If I have any trouble, I ask my 13-year-old son for help. ...

[fiddlinfool]

I have a Mac, so I just use Garage Band. If I have any trouble, I ask my 13-year-old son for help. ...
I am considering getting a MacBook (as my PCs only seem to last about 6 months before going squirrely) - how do you like Garage Band?

[fiddlinfool]

I dont do a loop exactly, but here's a poor man's version of that idea.

I got a Zoom H2 and I record the melody (or whatever). Dump it onto the computer and adjust it with Audacity. To achieve a loop effect I'll copy/paste it for a longer version. Then I'll save it to the iPod and listen while I play along with the chords (or whatever) and record with the Zoom again. then put it all together in Audacity. not exactly convenient, but it works. and if you have a decent mic setup for your computer you dont even need the Zoom.
Interesting - thanks for the info http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Santiago]

record yourself using FREE audacity software. select all and copy the entire track to a second track. put the cursor on four seconds in (or a similar spot within the second track) and go to align tracks with cursor. This will be the same as looping, and you have much more control.

[Santiago]

You can also play against it live.

[foldedpath]

Recording with a cheap mic directly into your computer soundcard, and then making a loop with Audacity is the cheapest way to do this. However, for practice and rhythm training, I think a dedicated hardware looper has some advantages:

1) There is no need to boot anything up when you get inspired to practice. Just turn it on and start looping.

2) A "live looper" will inspire you to create new backing track variations, because most models don't store the loops long-term. You create new loops each time.

3) Because you "live loop" each time, it works as a great trainer for your rhythm sense. If your timing isn't consistent when making the loops... if you speed up gradually over time, or can't hit the footswitch at exactly the right time... then loops won't be clean. You'll have to learn how to play consistently to get a good loop going. That's a type of feedback you don't get by just recording into a computer, selecting the best take, and using that one take over and over. You might as well get something like Band in a Box if you just want backing tracks as a canned recording. A "live" hardware looper, or live looping software running on a computer, forces you to learn how to make good consistent backing loop on-the-fly, each time you play.

Anyway, that's been my experience with looping vs. recording. I can't recommend a specific model because it's been a while since I've been familiar with the market (I use an older discontinued Electrix Repeater for looping). Roland/Boss has maintained a consistent line of loopers so that's a good place to start looking. Also you might want to look for "live looping" software for computers, but you'll need a good soundcard/audio interface with low latency, so you don't get out of sync with live audio. The standalone hardware loopers won't have that problem (or the latency will be so low you don't notice it).

Good luck, and happy looping!

[fiddlinfool]

Audacity sounds very interesting. I'll give this software a try before I shell out hard coin for a looping maching - thanks very much for your input - it may have saved me $300...

[devilstone_the_bard]

I had a looper (boss) for my bass.
Basically I plugged a 1/4 cable from bass to looper, another from looper to amp head.
You step on the pedal and play. when you step on the pedal a second time it starts playing back to you what you played when you first hit the pedal.
That will play as many times as you want. If you want to record a second loop with the first, you hit the pedal again when the loop starts, play angain and step on the pedal again when the loop is done.
both loops will now play back to you. depending on the memory in the loop pedal you choose, you can do this many many times.

here is a non mando example. - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvH8uNfCEtg

there are many more on the tube.

[Santiago]

Do a google search on audacity tutorials. There are a number of good ones online.