REVISED 2.0 MASTER LIST of Least Costly Live Live Looping Solutions

[Rick Walker <looppool@cruzio.com>]

_*SHORT LIST of CHEAPEST LIVE LOOPING SOLUTIONS for the NEWBIE LOOPER*_

In the United States

*Audible Disease   JUNK FI SAMPLER JF-1   $90  (runs on batteries)
                                  *(note: this looper will not pass 
original sound through as you loop
                                  and adds a small bit of silence to a 
continous loop meaning
                                  that it is useless as a rhythmic 
looper.   It does, however
                                 have pitch control of the loops over a 
wide range unlike any other
                                 cheap pedal and it has very low sample 
rate so it is very trashy sounding (on purpose)
*BOSS DD-7        $160   +   $20  (PSA 120 - AC)   *
                               (note:   a digital delay that is not a 
dedicated looper but will loop)
*RC-2     $180 +  $20 (PSA 120-AC)
**AKAI HEADRUSH   $200  +  $20  (MP9-3  AC)
Electro-Harmonix Stereo Memory Man with Hazarai Delay Pedal    $214   
(not sure about AC pedal)
                               *(note:  all the reviews at Harmony 
Central mention the fact that the volume of the click is really distracting
                                   but that , otherwise,  this pedal has 
a lot going for it).
Boss DD20       *$219 + $20 (PSA 120 - AC)*
*LINE 6 DL4        $250  ac included*
*RC-20XL             $260  +  $20 (PSA 120-AC)
*
*PC Laptop running Mobius or other free looping software*
                                     -  anywhere from free if one is 
resourceful and/or lucky to around $700 for a system
                               that is ready to go with Midi footpedals, 
and a decent sound card without latency
                               (in other words,  a live looping solution 
that you can take out of the box and play
                                immediately like the other stomp boxes 
on the list ----- 
                                (note: this solution requires a fair 
degree of computer knowledge to set up
                               with access to the Loopers Delight 
archives to figure out how to use the keyboard as a
                               hand controller.   This is a viable 
solution if one can find a free or very cheap laptop
                               but precludes foot pedal control and adds 
latency and noise from a cheap internal
                               sound card.      To badly paraphrase 
Rainer Straschill, however,  if you are resourceful
                               and knowledgeable,  where there is a 
will, there is a way.

*Two REEL TO REEL TAPE DECKS   What every you can purchase them for plus 
the cost of tape and splicing gear
                                 *(note:  not appropriate for any kind 
of rhythmic looping or accurate overdubbing in
                                    a live setting.    Great for ambient 
or experimental looping live but time consuming
                                    to play more than one piece of music 
at a live show)
*Old Cassette recorders      Whatever you can purchase them for plus the 
cost of tape and splicing gear
                                 *(same note applies from REEL to REEL 
solution)

In the UK

*RC-2  £90 + psu *
*SMM & Hazari £145
**DD-7 £120 + psu *
*RC-20XL £140 (maybe £125) + psu
Headrush £140 +psu (maybe £120)(it's gone up! used to be <100)
**DL4 £240 (maybe £200)
PC Laptop running Mobius or other free looping software
                           (see notes above in the US price list)
2 REEL to REEL TAPE DECKS
CASSETTE RECORDER with endless CASSETTE TAPES (purchased or created)*