Re: Guidance In Buying First Loop Machine

[Douglas Baldwin <coyotelk@optonline.net>]

Greetings Bill!

    I don't know if it exactly fits your bill, Bill, but I'm surprised Rainer's chart missed some of the DD20's features. To respond to your needs:

1) The DD20 is stereo, both in and out. Depending on the setting, the DD20 will either generate a stereo spread from a mono signal (ping-pong or slow pan), maintain a stereo input as stereo output, or collapse a stereo input to mono.

2) The DD20 has a reverse delay. You can't throw a loop into reverse after it's been recorded, but you can record a loop and hear it play back in reverse.

3) Ostensibly the DD20 has 23 seconds of delay time, but I and at least one other looper (Ted Killian?) have commented on how you can rig it to get 46 seconds of delay.

4) No, the DD20 won't save audio, although it will save five settings.

 

If you want the DD20 to function as a looping device, you just set the feedback for maximum, play what you want into it, and turn the input off. For gradually decaying soundscape stuff, lower the feedback to taste. The DD20 does have a Sound-On-Sound function, too. And it's CHEAP! Under $200 per pedal. I own two, which not only gives me all of the above goodies, but some wicked patching possibilities when plugging one into the other. The internal clock is so stable that my two pedals will run in sync for a half hour at a long delay setting with no apparent drift. You can read more at:

 http://www.loopers-delight.com/tools/bossDD20/bossDD20.html 

and you can hear me using it on this cut (excerpt from "The Long Dance")

http://cdbaby.com/mp3lofi/loopersdelight-06.m3u

which is from the absolutely essential Loopers Delight Compilation, Volume 3, found here:

http://www.cavestudio.com/electr-ohm/en/LDCD3/

(and of course at CD baby).

 

Good looping!

dB, coyote

 

----- Original Message -----

From: Bill Campbell

To: Loopers-Delight@loopers-delight.com

Sent: Tuesday, January 03, 2006 8:39 PM

Subject: Guidance In Buying First Loop Machine

Hello there!  This is my first posting, though I've long been a frequent visitor to Looper's Delight.  I'm interested in purchasing a looper, as I'm a guitarist looking to build soundscapes via volume swells, stereo panning, etc.  I'm looking to spend around $600.  I'd like a device that allows for the following:

 

1-STEREO loops.  This is crucial.  I'm not remotely interested in a machine that plays back loops in mono

2-Reverse capability.  Though not essential, I'd like a device that allows for loops to be played in reverse.

3-Loop time.  This is more of a query than anything else.  I see some machines that seem to have good qualities, yet only 15-30 seconds of time per loop.  On the surface, this seems a bit short.  Is there anything on the market that allows for more time without much degradation in the original signal?

4-Ability to save loops. 

 

A friend has the DigiTech JamMan, which has many of the features I'm interested in, with one major drawback: no stereo loops!  With these thoughts in mind (which are admittedly a bit cluttered), what devices would you recommend?  Many many thanks in advance, fellow loopers!!

 

Bill