No, I’m looking for an option to organize different loopsthat fit together. Something like parts or banks on the Octatrack.
From different recording sessions?
Doesn’t seem possible, as it wouldn’t be possible in a single tape recorder. And if I understood well, no time stretch but pitch compensation to fit loops timing…
1 Like
That’s probably the one I’ll get someday…
1 Like
2 availables on Leboncoin…
Apparently no midi out sync ?
Can someone who has kept up with this thread and loopers in general help me with some info?
What are the options for a consistent looper that either sends/receives a midi clock and can be used for looper transfers? Preferably without additional hardware like a mixer.
I currently have an Octatrack doing this, but it feels overkill because that’s all I’m using it for. I’d love something smaller/cheaper than can record a 4-bar loop while live audio plays through, and then can cut over to that loop. The ability to change bpm on the loop is also really useful.
These are the options I know of for this:
- Octatrack
- iOS and Loopy Pro
Options that might work I’m unsure of:
- Roland (RC 505… others?)
- EHX 1440 (I tried this a while back and the sync would drift, but supposedly they fixed this?)
What worked for me :
Octatrack
RC 505 MKI and MKII
RC 202
RC 500
RC 5
Loopy Pro
Valeton VLP 200 and 400 maybe, I didn’t try them. I think I saw a Mooer.
EHX loopers (didn’t try).
With OT you can mangle loops directly if you use Flex (4 bars make it simple).
RC 505 MKII has many inputs/outputs, flexible routing…
Loopy Pro is highly configurable and flexible.
RC 5 is obviously limited
1 Like
MIDI Thru only unfortunately… It can’t be Master.
The MIDI implementation on the Rang is …exotic to say the least.
I had to explore the net in depth to find like an Excel sheet of a guy who tried to grasp it.
Its channel is fixed to 16 and there are literally no indication in the manual about CCs.
There are several CCs for the same action and it reacts only to PCs IIRC so you can’t really launch a recording and start to play it thru the OT sesuencer for instance.
The other obvious limitation is that it’s for live use as there is no memory.
Other than that, it has a small footprint, light enough but metal enclosure and a reliable clock following (learn from this Roland!!) and I have been using it for countless hours in my main project since like 13 years.
I wouldn’t mind getting another one as a backup or to extend the number of tracks.
1 Like
Quantized to beat, measure ?
If I understood correctly, loop 3 can be synced to clock, and other loops can be multiples of that loop 3 ?
Quantized to closest 1/4 beat IIRC.
As every looper I know, you have a Master track (here loop 3) and indeed other loops can be multiples of it (no subdivision unfortunately).
So basically, you loop Track 3 then you can tap track 1 or 2 and have the recording starting automatically at the next beginning of the Master loop. Same fashion whenever that loop is being recorded, tap it again and it will automatically stop and loop at the next closest multiple.
1 Like
Quarter note ? (Beat)
Also curious if it reacts to transport (midi start / stop from Digitone for instance). All stop, all start, keeping sync with loops.
Also curious about the “hidden” 4th track.
I just tested the Sheeran Looper +.
Feels reliable and solid, straightforward. No midi sync out so I don’t think I will keep it.
I am trying it slaved to Digitone.
Doesn’t seem to react to start / stop so if it is the case > directly on sale without more tests.
If anybody interested in, don’t hesitate to ask me questions before I part with it.
Edit : Ok out of sync, beat delay.
Update search before selling it.
Updated. Same problem. Beat missing.
Truncated beginning at best. And complety off after midi start / stop.
Ed Sheeran is a crook !
No sync out, and almost unusable sync in.
Works flawlessly with Boss RC 5, same setup.
2 Likes
Yep. It reacts to transport as well. IIRC if you stop a track by yourself, this track won’t react to stop command afterwards, not sure though.
You have 2 “bonus” buttons, a green and a yellow one. They’ll do actions defined by you such as Stop ALL, Overdub, Delete, etc. You can have 4 different actions although some are obvious (overdub, delete a loop for instance) with long or short press on each other.
The hidden 4th track is just one of these options, turning the yellow button into a 4th track. They did this limitations in a mercantile attempt to sell the infamous Side Car that was allowing for full functions at the same time but destroying the whole point of the Rang: having a compact looper.
I just checked his music, I’m not so surprised by the lack of options tbh 
3 Likes
TBF, he doesn’t sink in or out with me either.
Except for his part in Yesterday, that is.
Anyone who doesn’t love that movie is dead inside.
1 Like
I really don’t care about Ed Sheeran, anyway I think it is ridiculous to associate an artist with a product for marketing reasons, unless the artist is also a developper, technician, and check if the product really work before releasing it, WITH ITS NAME on it !
Don’t sell a product at that price with midi sync specs, not working. I updated to V2.
From my test it works only if you press just before right timing. A fade in oftenly, a beat missing (3 beats instead of 4). Off sync after stop / start.
Ok my timing is far from perfect, but it works better for me with RCs. And anyway I think I prefer to use the looper as master.
2 Likes
I’m not sure why so many loopers have midi sync issues. Why even include it if it doesn’t work?
2 Likes
Which has kind of sysex apparently.
So if made 3 loops synced with Digitone, press stop and play, all loops start together ?
Totally agree. Master only seems simpler to implement than slave only imho…
I think the main problem is if you start the loop after the synced quantized point (if you see what I mean).
Testing with Digitone master and RC 5 today I had the impression the RC 5 was less tolerant if midi synced, compared to master using drum machine, which is internal sync reference.
And some noticeable timestrech after stop / play, probably because the tempo has been calculated differently during first recording…
I didn’t try RC 505 MKII slaved with pitch instead of timestretch…maybe worse !
I think I tried Tempo Sync OFF when slaved : stopped playback randomly, definitely worse.
Tests this week-end.
2 Likes
The RC300 had MIDI In but could not slave to a clock IIRC…
Yes but… since you need to loop live, you need to launch the clock, loop then stop with the DN. Then when you press play, all loops will start when you press play on the DN.
There’s no CC chart in the manual because there was never any MIDI control implemented on the 'Rang III. What few MIDI hooks might be found under-the-hood are proprietary to the Side Car only, and were never intended for general use.
When synced to clock, if you need loops of varying lengths, you could simply not use the Master loop. You could have a loop that’s 3 beats long playing against a loop that’s 5 beats long, playing against a loop that’s 8 beats long, and so on, all in sync.
The 'Rang III remembers the play-state of ALL loops when an external STOP command is received, so that other loops don’t start playing indiscriminately when a subsequent START command is received.
Also, any loops recorded when the clock is stopped will forever run free, and vice versa, which can be very useful for creating and playing over drones, for instance.
This is simply not true. The original Boomerang Looper had discrete buttons for every function, but it was HUGE.
People asked for a smaller footprint, so the 'Rang III was born, with just enough buttons to accommodate the primary looping functions (though you’re free to assign any of the secondary functions to the buttons, should you find them more important).
Then people asked for more buttons, so the Side Car was introduced, such that people could ultimately decide for themselves what kind of looping setup they’d prefer, based on how much real-estate they have to spare on their pedalboards.
After the Side Car was introduced, Mike Nelson thought it would be nice if people could then choose to use one of the function buttons on the 'Rang III as a fourth loop, should three loops not be enough.
So, you see, it was all very generous and accommodating, driven entirely by user requests, and not at all a “mercantile attempt to sell the infamous Side Car”.
Exactly. To which end (and for the last time, I swear) the 'Rang III syncs perfectly to any stable clock source. So, if you want a comprehensive live looping pedal that just works, get a 'Rang III.
I don’t know how many RC-XXX’s need to fail at this otherwise simple task, before people resign themselves to just using a MIDI controller with their DAW for these lofty and overly-complicated looping scenarios.
Now, back to my vow of silence…
Cheers!
3 Likes
So basically, on the Rang III you have all the secondary functions implemented but you just can’t access them all… unless you get the Side Car.
So generous.
Another proof of generosity.
You can’t bargain long user POV.
Anyway too bad the Rang didn’t see an evolution after the brand was bought after Mike Nelson passed away. I guess there’s not much to improve on it except more access to secondary functions, memory slots, a proper and official MIDI implementation and get rid of the tiny buttons. The one used to change play style is not working since years on mine which also means I can’t change settings. So I was glad to find some info about MIDI CCs on the net so i can use MIDI to access these settings…