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Re: New Member - Buying Advice and Opinions Sought
Hi Rob,
Have you looked at the Digitech JamMan? it has
both instrument and mic inputs (presumably you can use them both at the
same), and can also be used as an interface for computer recording. .
The same is true of the GNX4, which may be an even better
solution if you want to incorporate effects and amp models into your loops (i.e.
make your acoustic sound like an electric). The GNX4 has an
integrated "JamMan" looper, different from the above, but in a way
better, because with it you can lay down up to 8 mono loop tracks (or 4 stereo),
and then disengage or re-engage them by pressing the corresponding track
buttons. (For example, if on track 1 you record guitar, vocals on
track 2, and some sort of rhythym on track 3, then, for variation, you can
press buttons 1 & 2 to silence them, leaving only the third track playing;
if you press the same buttons again tracks 1 & 2 will start playing
again.)
I used the GNX for several years before upgrading to an
Echoplex (probably #1 of the "big three" that you referred to). The former has
the advantage of being really easy to use, so it's obviously a good way to
start. I like it too (and still use it in my live setup) because it's
literally an all in one device, thus simplifying the whole potentially
complicated routing issue. . .
--Joshua
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, September 02, 2008 2:34
AM
Subject: New Member - Buying Advice and Opinions
Sought
> Hi all!
>
> I'm a new member to the list, and I'm
looking to expand my musical style by
> getting into looping.
However, I find that my lack of knowledge and
> experience with the
equipment is hampering my decision-making process, and
> I'm hoping that
you all might be able to guide me a little.
>
> I hope I'm not
breaking any etiquette by asking for purchasing advice. If
> so,
please simply ignore my newbie mistake.
>
> I've tried reading up
on the various products, and I tried reading the
> reviews up on this
site, but frankly I am still mostly in the dark. Heck,
> people keep
referring to the "big three", and I'm still not sure which three
> they're
referring to!
>
> While I'd appreciate any reading lists or advice
for suggested reading you
> wish to give, I really think that I'm just
going to need to trust the
> experts at some point.
>
> So I
thought I'd just come out and ask you what you thought I should pick
> up,
specifically, for my particular requirements.
>
> My needs: I
play almost exclusively live, acoustic guitar and vocals at the
> same
time, and would want to loop either guitar or vocals or both (or other
>
instruments through the mike). As a live player, I'd need
something
> portable, small, easy to set up, etc. (a rack-mounted unit is
probably
> inappropriate) and my hands will be unavailable while playing,
as a
> guitarist. The loops would need to be at least the length of
an entire
> verse/chorus combination, so that could run up to 1 minute or
more. As a
> live acoustic instrumentalist, it'd be nice if the
sound quality was as high
> as possible, and if there was little-to-no
hiss from the looping unit. It'd
> be nice to save a decent loop
after the fact (off the unit onto a recording
> medium of some sort) but
this is far secondary to decent live performance.
> Ease-of-use is a
bonus, but I'm expecting a learning curve. However, that
> being
said, the ability to remove the last layer (if a mistake was made,
>
'cause I make 'em!) would be a big plus! Simple effects would be nice,
too,
> as I own no effects pedals (and feel free to make suggestions there
if you
> feel they would enhance things). I'd want to loop both
guitar and vocal
> lines at various times, perhaps even looping multiple
different loops and
> playing them in synch, or in sequence.
>
> I looked at the new Boomerang III specs on a friends' advice, and from
what
> I could make of it, it seemed that it only loops one input (so I
could only
> loop the guitar, or the vocals, but not both). Of
course, I could be wrong,
> and/or there may be a workaround that is
commonly used for this drawback (if
> this is a common state of affairs
for many looping pedals).
>
> I'm extremely interested in moving
forward with this project, but sadly I
> just seem to have run into an
informational wall that I can't seem to break.
>
> So please, if
you have a moment, feel free to share any advice, thoughts, or
>
suggestions that you wish. And frankly, if you simpy want to come out
and
> say "I'd suggest buying Such-and-such" then that is fine by
me!
>
> Thank you kindly for your consideration.
>
>
Sincerely,
>
> Rob "Bodhi" Wolff
>
>
