Yeah you can do that stuff. Check the manual theres a long list of assigable parameters on the aeros.
I use the mc6 to break things up across multiple pages for parts, undos, mutes and solos for each of the 6x6 tracks. And like @sezare56 said, you’d just use CC, MSB + PC, and Sysex Realtime.
I’m close to dropping on a RC-505mkii but I’m curious what other loopers beyond the Rang III handle polymeter well. This is more voice than guitar use, so I’m hoping to stick to the simpler 505 desktop workflow over the Rang, anything else worth looking into?
There’s Aeros Loop Studio, which may be less tuned to voice, no phantom power etc.
Ok, an endorsement from a peer and i’m in on the rc505mkii.
In going over the manual, i must have missed something or i’m seeking a convention that doesn’t exist here and i need to adjust expectations from Ableton.
is there a way to adjust start and ending points of the loop?
Is there a delay option before recording begins?
Beyond being quick with simultaneous slapping or stomping some pedal, are there tricks to getting loops started without a gap?
Mmmhhh not sure you ever had a Rang in your hands, the workflow can’t be simpler.
Ha! Good call, quite poor phrasing on my part.
I ended up getting a pigtronix infinity 2 first time trying a looper for guitar because the rangs were less common on the resale market.
In this case I meant that it seemed like my workflow for voice/xlr/phantom would be easier but you are totally correct that it’d probably simplify other elements over the BOSS.
I don’t know many loopers with an XLR In and the Rang doesn’t have it.
I think once your master loop length is defined, if you launch another recording it will wait the beginning of the master loop to start recording.
In general i do all the pedals stomping before launching the recording. I even start playing one bar of what i wanna record to be sure it sounds good with the tail before launching record.
Otherwise there are options like a foot controller which can send multiple messages at once including Start Record to your looper and turn that pedal On and this other one Off altogether.
Thanks, yes I see that many people set up an empty 1 bar loop to kick it all off, then wipe it once they get others set up.
Yeah, that too. I’m looking into a Nektar pace but was hoping to not have much accessory need 
I know there’s general switch-based ones that’re more $40 than $200, at least.
Oh definitely, I could do a bunch of things and have other items in the chain but the idea is to get to the point where I only have to bring one item with me to a gig.
Edit: And then the other item will be the pedal set, I’ve already failed in my goal 
Staying compact is a good idea but one has to make compromises or the whole workflow can become a nightmare.
I dare to dream.
Once I figure out the best workflow I can also see how simple I can make it while still being useful.
I once was a dreamer too…
Started with an OT, then added a Microcosm, a DN, a ND3p… added to that my guitar pedals and my looper since the OT is so fiddly to use as a looper… thinking to add a MC6… but not more than that I swear 
Still compact though, it also depends what you wanna achieve in terms of music (i guess for techno an OT would have been enough but as soon live looping is involved i start to look at all my instruments “wanna jump on board?”).
I just ordered an Aeros Loop Studio on a whim. I like the idea of the RC505Mk2 but hate the looks of it and sort of don’t trust Roland with the midi sync, especially if the looper is in slave mode.
I’ll have to see if the Loop Studio is the looper for me, it feels like the hardware loopers out there are sort of half baked all around. Syncing issues, or interface issues, or ins/out issues…the Octatrack is sort of the best looper I’ve owned so far, but figured I’d give the Aeros Loop Studio a try.
Will report back how it goes for me.
It depends on what you’re expecting. If you’re looking for a looper to replace a sampler, workstation, multitrack recorder, DAW, or DJ equipment, then you’re bound to be disappointed.
In that respect, there are better tools for the job.
All the latest “loopers”, by Roland and the likes, sure boast a lot of functionality; but if they feel half-baked, it’s because they’re caught between ideologies, and as a result, do nothing particularly well.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for an actual LOOPER, to be used as they were intended to be used, I don’t know why people keep looking to these modern so-called “Loopstations”.
Seriously, the art of live looping was perfected, over a decade ago, by the likes of Looperlative and Boomerang, which still represent the most comprehensive loopers on the market.
Cheers!
Really good to record defined length loops, manipulate recordings in the fly, but pretty bad to record long loops freely.
I like the compact size of the Loop Studio. Let us know how it goes !
Yeah that’s why I’ve decided to go with the Loop Studio. If it weren’t for the reports of midi sync issues with the Roland pedals (and my own experiences with one of their old, smaller pedals), I would have happily picked an RC505mk2. Could still end up going that way.
Blackbox also has my attention.
Yeah I hear you. I use a Hapax to loop midi on the fly in my live setup but also want to be able to loop audio where the need arises (vocals but also part / all of the mix), so being able to record longer loops will come in handy. I don’t love the I/O on the Loop Station, but it should still suffice for my purposes (have it on an AUX channel of my mixer and maybe a guitar via an amp sim pedal into it).
I’ve been wanting to try the Aeros Loop Studio for a while, found a good deal for it and thought “let’s try it to see if/how I like it.” Just hope the midi sync will be half decent, that alone would mean a lot.
As for looping a loop in the classic sense, I have like three loopers at home for that sort of stuff. I agree with you, for a classic looping workflow, even a simple looper will do.
But I’m actually looking for a loopstation for a live setup that’s focused on jamming / building on emerging sound. As you say, none/few of the options out there really match my requirements…at first they look like they do, but then there’s always a catch (eg shitty midi sync being one that affects many loopers, or a massive footprint, or poor IO options). I want an OT with more recording buffer memory and slightly more flexibility on the FX. I think I saw a thread that was speculating on when the OT2/Mk3 will be released… 
Suggestion:
What if you were to send clock from the Octatrack to an otherwise capable looper (one with solid MIDI sync, like the 'Rang III), send audio to the looper via the cue outputs on the Octatrack, then returned the output of the looper to the Octatrack for FX processing, resampling, and chopping?
That would afford you longer loops, while still reaping the benefits of the Elektron sequencer.
Cheers!
Cheers man, I appreciate your suggestion. My setup is quite a bit more complex than that, for better or worse.
I also really like the mentioned Boomerang III, but at least here, buying one of those will set you back a crisp 500€, which is what I paid for the Aeros (or slightly more than a Roland RC505mk2 would set me back) and that’s without the Side Car.
I’ll see how it goes down with the Aeros. As I said, a good part of the purchase decision is my curiosity to see how the thing actually feels in action.
My Toraiz SP16 was my phrase looper of choice before (though also limited to 64 sec per pad), but my daughter dropped a mic on it from high up (my shoulders lol) and I need to get a few of the knobs fixed now.
I just ordered a 5 Moons from Critter and Guitari. I like the simplicity of it and the independent loop mode for drifting loops.
My plan is to use it with my EHX 2880 which provides a solid foundation for the beat and other stuff and then drop some free flowing loops over it. And maybe include the Soma Cosmos for more random madness.
Well, that’s the plan. My experience, especially with loopers is you never know if it works for you until you try them.
I tried so many loopers and there’s always something missing or not working like i’d want it to be. Sometimes there are clicks at the loop endings, midi sync isn’t reliable or the UI is weird, etc…
I love working with loopers. So instant, fun and unpredictable at times.
Still the Elektron sequencer being what it is, unless you wanna record a “normal” 4 bars + fill/P-locked Trig conditions, you won’t have longer loops to record from that box.
Personally, I go guitar + ND3p > Boomerang > Thru machine of the OT. The downside bing that the ND3P has to be mono. I can still record or mangle whatever comes from one of these inputs in the OT.
Yeah 500$ is what I paid for it 15 years ago. Although it’s rock solid and very well thought for live use, its specs would not justify that price nowadays IMO. You don’t really need the SideCar though since you can instruct it via MIDI (someone in this forum found an unofficial chart).
I also regret it cannot send Clock.
I had a look and I’m a bit surprised they go with pine enclosure (cheapest wood) and only 16 bits recording.
Yeah, the C&G gear i had so far was not the most sturdy, but not worse than the Models:Samples for example.
16 bit is fine with me, never made music that needed more than that.
But i know what you mean. They could go a bit higher with the quality of their products.
