I'm always fascinated by solo musicians using hardware looper and add layers to build up parts.

I don't have any looper.. so I have these questions.

While I do understand the way you can loop a single progression and add layers to it on each pass.. can the looper allows you to have A/B or C parts.. So you can build up phrase / chorus.. which have very different chords ?

Can the looper be combined with some pre- recorded parts, so you don't have to start from scratch do record everything (such as pre recorded drums / bass).

tomixornot


I'm always fascinated by solo musicians using hardware looper and add layers to build up parts.

I don't have any looper.. so I have these questions.

While I do understand the way you can loop a single progression and add layers to it on each pass.. can the looper allows you to have A/B or C parts.. So you can build up phrase / chorus.. which have very different chords ?

Can the looper be combined with some pre- recorded parts, so you don't have to start from scratch do record everything (such as pre recorded drums / bass).

I think the answer to your question regarding how many layers you can add depends on the particalur looper you have.
 
for the 2nd question, that's the way I use mine.  I don't really use it as a looper or use it to add layers.  I create "backing tracks" and add those to the looper memory and play along with it.

Inexpensive loopers just let you overdub over the existing buffer, meaning each layer is summed with the previous layers destructively. If you screw up the last layer you're stuck with it.

The next level up in looper sophistication lets you back out of the most-recent layer and try again. That's a good feature if you're using it live!

Some go way beyond basic overdubbing and let you store multiple loops independently and switch between them. That, to me, seems like way too much fancy footwork for a live situation.

I have a basic looper from Boss. I bought it a couple years ago and had an absolute blast with it - for about a week, after which it was retired to my odds-n-ends cupboard where it sits today.

I was away, couldn't reply earlier. Thanks for some insights.

Yeah.. looper needs to be simple enough for use. And it won't be suitable for every song.. Imagine if a looper is used for a whole full set! :)

I still remembere my first Boss digital delay that has a hold feature to record a short sample.. Didn't really use that feature much, must be the first ever looper..

Check this out...watch it to the end. There's a great use of the early loops when they are called up again at the end. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8Htzmxg0ms&feature=related 


best regards, 
mike 

Yikes:

http://youtu.be/6u988iJlkZQ

Scary Good.

Thanks Mike, very impressive performance, especially the ending!