Re: Re: New to looping/processing

[Fmplautus <Fmplautus@aol.com>]

Hi New Potential Acoustic Looper:



Rich Lamphear wrote:

> Hi,
> I'm an acoustic guitarist/singer/composer and I'm getting interested in 
>the
> concept of looping and processing the acoustic guitar.  I'm intrigued 
>with
> the idea of extending my solo guitar and voice concept to incorporate new
> sounds, textures, and rhythms via electronics.
>
> I've got a little money to throw at this (~$1500) and I'd like some 
>advice
> on how I might best spend the money.
>
> My idea is to install a decent quality pickup on my acoustic, something
> that would maintain a reasonable amount of the acoustic guitar timbre
> before sending it to processing.  I've heard good things about the 
>Sunrise
> and McIntyre pickups for this type of application.
>
> The Echoplex Digital Pro seems the clear choice for a looper.  Has
> availability of these improved lately?  (sorry if it's a faq, just joined
> the list).  I did phone Thoroughbred Music and they had three in stock, 
>but
> no pedalboards.
>
> In addition, I'd like a multifx box to do standard digital processing for
> both the guitar and the voice.  My main question revolves around the 
>issue
> of stereo processing.  Do you really need 2 Echoplexes to get a decent
> stereo sound happening?  Do most people running stereo process first (add
> reverb, flange, etc.) and then go into 2 Echoplexes?  Or do people loop
> first and then send the mono looped signal into a stereo processor and
> output from there?
>
> My choices (for around $1500) seem to be:
> 1) Echoplex mono into good quality multifx to stereo output.
> 2) El cheapo multifx stereo output into 2 Echoplexes operating in sync.
>
> Any advice to help me think about this would be much appreciated.  It 
>sure
> would be great to be able to do both the processing and looping in a 
>single
> box, but I don't think anything like that's on the market....correct?
>
> thanks,
> Rich

The LoOpDoctOrs have their own particular take on "appropriate" technology,
but we've journeyed down some of the paths you wish to explore and here's 
our
two cents.

1: acoustic pickups are enjoying a renaissance.  We use the Highlander 
system
-- piezo and internal mike combo.  It works just grand and you can split 
the
seperate feeds out of the guitar...so there are more processing/looping
choices.  That said, a single source piezo or whatever will work fine too.
Sure it will sound like a piezo/whatever, but it's there to loop and morph,
etc.

2: One thing that we think is important on your equipment list for live
applications is a MIXER.  We use Mackie 1202s, but there are any number of
excellent and affordable small mixers.   It can't be emphasized how 
important
learning to deal with a mixer is, vis a vis getting a good live sound and
taking advantage of all the acoustic looping possibilities.  When you can 
take
your mixer and break it down blindfolded in the dark with the drill 
sargeant
barking at you at 1 am, then you know you're in the music zone.  So start
checking out mixers and the possiblities of hanging your loopers/processors
off the aux channels, which will give you molto/mucho/maxi flexibility as 
far
as tossing out cool stuff to the audience.

3: Stereo processors are a GREAT idea after the looper...  We use the now
discontinued Lexicon Vortex and we SWEAR by it, but we are a loopy lot and
some listeners swear at us.  There are a lot of stereo processors out there
though, and a lot of used one that will take a mono source -- like what 
will
be coming in from your loopers via your mixers -- and turn it into true
stereo.  We have found the best way to grab our audience is to do 
everything
live in TRUE stereo.  The ambient fields created this way can be startling
over the most modest pa.  Put another way, you will have the biggest 
sounding
acoustic guitar on the block!  And remember, that's even before you start
looping, so yes, once you get that mixer and pickup sorted out...look for a
stereo preamp/processor/effects box.

4: Finally loopers.  We own the Jamman and the Echoplex.  We love them both
for their unique personalities.  The Jamman had achieved a cult status by 
way
of now being extinct, but the Echoplex is not unduly complex as far as 
instant
looping gratification, has a MUCH better foot pedal.  Can be loaded with 
three
full minutes of memory and is much, much deeper in terms of what can be 
done
if you really get into it.  We're not crazy about the manual though, and 
the
faceplate interface is not as intuitive as the Jamman or the Boomer-
rrrrrrrannnnngss.

Best,
the LoOpDoctOrs