I recommend every BlackBox owner grab a small (16-32gb) spare SD card, throw a small set of samples on it, and use this as your beta firmware experimentation card.
They are super cheap, can easily be found locally (unless you live in the sticks) and the firmware update process is super quick and easy to go back and forth.
You can experiment with the new features without risking your projects on your regular SD card.
2 Likes
wowzer
3318
I love looping my a4, for this, I use my boss rc500 looper
Although it has 2 loopers and 1 stereo out
I can hardly use the 2nd looper because of latency.
When playing live, I play my a4. Audience can hear the A4 (through my mixer)
I record a loop on my RC500, then I change the source on my mixer from a4 to RC500
Then I can load in a new pattern on my a4, and can go on to the next song. Slowly mix it over, mix out the RC500 input and when playing the a4 only… delete the RC500 loop and record a new one from the a4 into the looper.
Link to example of how I do live set
So I would love to have 3 different loopers from the Blackbox, being sent to 3 different inputs on my mixer. But can I do this?
THE QUESTION IS:
If you record a loop with closed Hh, then hear both the Synth with the Hh and the newly recorded loop… is there any latency and how much is it?
1 Like
I don’t own a black box but have you ever considered purchasing the RC500 MKII it has 5 loopers and is easy to use.
wowzer
3320
I assume you are talking about rc600
I tried, it’s too big, and has too much latency for proper looping multiple groovebox layers.
I need either ‘zero latency’, also ableton track delay will solve the issue
Sorry l meant rc505 mkll but l guess this is too big.
wowzer
3322
Well:
First, it has the same looper engine I have now, so there is this latency problem 
But also, this plastic equipment with too many lights makes me sad. I also prefer to sit at a wooden table in stead of a plastic one. Don’t know why, but although I see 6 mono outputs, I feel I don’t want to go that direction.
1 Like
Yes the build quality is a problem but l like simplicity of adding loop after loop but didn’t realize it has latency issues that’s not good.
1 Like
wowzer
3325
I like the 505 too, had lot of fun with it, so I do understand your perspective.
1 Like
g3o2
3326
Live looping is a bit of a pain scenario on the bb, not really made for that. Nevertheless, if it is just about launching loops or sequences of loops on the bb, then it will be a great machine. Serves me as a songwriting tool all the time.
I‘ve done one for a specific midi mapping (midi fighter twister) and always forget to load it until its too late. Would be nice to save midi mappings globally.
Leto_II
3328
Can you explain why the Blackbox is a pain to use in a live-looping situation?
1 Like
wowzer
3329
I’d like to know the same
g3o2
3330
Recording audio requires you to select a pad, press the Info button and tap record. Some recording settings require menu scrolling and using the encoders. Automatic playback after recording only works if you record a pre-fixed bar length (power of 2^n). There are ways to get organised (e.g with pre-configured sequences and settings), however, IMO you wouldn’t have to fiddle like this with a dedicated live looper. This said, depending on the stress factor during the performance, maybe it could still work for you …
2 Likes
Burpy
3331
To add on: There is a way to control recording / looping with Midi. You can setup a controller to record a pad and to play that pad. It changes the active pad though, that could be a problem depending on the use-case.
1 Like
wowzer
3332
Both very helpful, thank you!
Yeah, as a performance instrument for live looping, you can do better than the blackbox. But as a looper in general, it’s pretty awesome.
wowzer
3334
I feel like drifting back to ableton for these things
3 Likes
Someone mentioned using it for guitar looping with a foot controller a while ago.
a have the keith mcmillen softstep and wanted to see if the bb can hold up with the old pigtronix infinity (original version).
how would you configure some slots in order to get a loopiesque experience without touching a lot of buttons?
