Buy a loop station?A loop station takes something you play in and keeps repeating it: a loop. After that you can keep adding things to create whole songs layer by layer. Artists like Tash Sultana can give fantastic shows on their own. There are also plenty of examples of covers made with loop pedals on YouTube. Buying a loop station is ideal if you play alone, but don't want to sound alone.Read more... |
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A loop station doesn't have to do much. Some have only one button and one function. But you can still find them as complex as you want. With advanced pedals you can make and adjust loops a lot more specifically. Being able to adjust the tempo afterwards is one such useful feature. For example when you are playing with a band and the tempo is imprecise. Some loop pedals can add drums themselves so you don't need a band. This is ideal because acoustic drums are difficult to record with a loop pedal. You could also adjust the volume per loop. This way you can quickly mix and master your improvised songs.
Loop stations also differ in the internal memory they have. Some have nothing, so if you erase the loop, it's gone forever too. Others allow you to save loops for later use. What is important to take into account is the memory time of the loop station. Some have no more than twelve minutes. This means that you can either do one twelve-minute run, or two six-minute runs, and so on. To ensure that you never run out of time, you can buy a loop station that offers 3 hours of RAM. Some pedals also allow you to use external knobs and expression pedals. This further expands the possibilities and control you have with your feet.
When you decide to buy a loop station, you can take a few things into account. Where and with whom you want to use it can be decisive. As said, if you want to use it live, it is nice to have multiple tracks at your disposal. To use it with a band, the ability to adjust the tempo is ideal. If you only use it as a hobbyist you probably need fewer functions. Every loop station fits in the studio. Most work in stereo, so you don't have to compromise on sound quality. Buying a walking pedal second hand is always an option. Brands such as Boss, TC Helicon or Digitech know how to make durable pedals. These can therefore last for a while.
It's as easy as it gets. Each walking pedal has lights that indicate whether it is recording or playing. What you should pay attention to is the order in which the loop pedal is placed in a pedalboard. Whether it comes before or after your amp. You have more options in terms of tone if all effects come before the looper instead of after. You can, for example, have everything run over one reverb effect. This way it sounds like a band is playing everything together at one location. It is also important to take your volume into account. You have to mix and master everything on the spot. With some you cannot adjust the first after recording a second loop. Also, not all pedals have built-in quantization. This ensures that everything plays well to the beat. This prevents flaws and natural defects.
Loop station / walk pedal: Music equipment that can record and repeat everything you play.
Stompbox: A form of effect pedals.
Walk: The recorded part that the loop station keeps repeating.
Overdubbing: Playing a new loop over a recorded loop.
Quantization: Adjust the recorded loop so that it fits exactly to the beat.
