Good Looper vs Recording for simple task

[Snake Aces]

My guitar/bass teacher wants me to record some simple, repeatable guitar parts to experiment with improvising 3rds and 5ths instead of root notes on bass.

I'm not new to playing 3rds or 5ths, been doing it for 20 years. However, my sensei wants me to further develop my skills.

Should I acquire a looper for this task? I want the looper to be able to go on for as long as possible so I can just jam on bass. The other option is to complete my recording setup.

Any thoughts or opinions on this?

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

If you finish up your recording rig, you'll have more versatility -- for recording demos etc. I guess it depends on available resources vs required.

 

[Mincer]

A simple looper is perfect for this. You don't have to set up for recording, and you aren't going to keep it anyway, it is for practice. A Ditto is ideal for improvisation practice.

 

[Snake Aces]

A simple looper is perfect for this. You don't have to set up for recording, and you aren't going to keep it anyway, it is for practice. A Ditto is ideal for improvisation practice.

That's where I'm leaning. Do you know how many minutes of loop the Ditto?

 

[Mincer]

the tiny Ditto has 5 minutes. But for improvising, most chord progressions are usually less than 30 seconds, really. So you don't have to play a round of chords more than once.

 

[Snake Aces]

the tiny Ditto has 5 minutes. But for improvising, most chord progressions are usually less than 30 seconds, really. So you don't have to play a round of chords more than once.

I hear ya. I was just curious because I was looking at an MXR looper that claims to have 6 minutes. I was just curious.

 

[Mincer]

Either one is probably great. They probably work exactly the same.

 

[quadquadquadquad]

These cheap loopers from Lekato (also under other brand names) are pretty good value. At the high end of the market is Aeros (which is close to a foot operated DAW).

If you have USB audio coming out of your rig, running Loopy Pro on an iPhone/iPad is pretty good.

 

[Mincer]

Yeah, a simple looper (you might look for a battery powered option) is the right tool for this job. The less I have to set up, and not limiting yourself to a certain place (like in front of a computer) will make it seamless and more likely to practice.

 

[Snake Aces]

I have come to the same conclusion. I will be looking at loopers tonight.

 

[Snake Aces]

So far I like the Ditto+ a lot, but it's sold out everywhere until July. The MXR is cool, but it includes features I'll probably never use. So, I'm leaning toward the old Ditto or the Ditto2. Anybody have an opinion on whether the Ditto2 is actually worth the extra $30 or so?

 

[Mincer]

There is also the Jam Man Express (I have one) that has 10 minutes of looping time. I use mine for improvisation practice and teaching.

 

[Snake Aces]

There is also the Jam Man Express (I have one) that has 10 minutes of looping time. I use mine for improvisation practice and teaching.

Oh man, I want one. Ten minutes is perfect for letting me loose on bass without reactivating the guitar loop more often.

 

[Snake Aces]

The one you linked to is discontinued. What do you think about the modern version of it?

DigiTech JamMan Solo HD Stereo Looper Pedal

Stereo Looper Recorder/Phrase Sampler Pedal with 24-bit AD/DA Conversion

www.sweetwater.com

 

[jeremy]

usb audio coming out of my rig? ooof im a dinosaur

 

[Mincer]

The one you linked to is discontinued. What do you think about the modern version of it?

DigiTech JamMan Solo HD Stereo Looper Pedal

Stereo Looper Recorder/Phrase Sampler Pedal with 24-bit AD/DA Conversion

www.sweetwater.com

I had one of these, but I didn't use the onboard rhythms, and I didn't need the ability to store loops. If that is something you could use, go for it. You could also find a used express on Reverb (there are 31 currently, about $50US) or somewhere else.

 

[GuitarStv]

If you can, get a digitech trio. You play a few chords and it gives you bass/drums to solo over the chord progression. It feels more like playing with a band than just looping over your own guitar again. I picked up one a several years back for 60-70$ - they've been out of production for a while, you can probably get an old one for cheap.

 

[Securb]

I typically create a loop in GuitarPro.

 

[donaldr]

I'm using Loopy HD (simpler version of Loopy Pro) on my iPhone, connected with my usb-c audio interface (Axe IO One).
So if you already have a usb-c interface, Loopy HD is like $5. If you don't have a usb interface, Hotone Jogg seems a nice way to integrate with your rig.

 

[Snake Aces]

I had one of these, but I didn't use the onboard rhythms, and I didn't need the ability to store loops. If that is something you could use, go for it. You could also find a used express on Reverb (there are 31 currently, about $50US) or somewhere else.

I see. The on-board rhythms would be nice to mess around with playing in the pocket, but I am hesitant to run rhythms through my guitar cabs.

I don't care about storing loops so much. If I wanted to record something, I'd set up my USB interface. I'm trying to avoid having to move a PC down in my practice area. I want the convenience of just playing, which is why I think I would prefer a loop pedal over completing my recording rig for this specific task. I tend to get sidetracked when recording through a PC by little details such as mic placement and the recording software itself.

When I'm ready to record some stuff again, I will set up my recording rig. For now, the looper fits the bill I think. I'm intrigued by rhythm tracks on a looper though. That sounds convenient.