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No, Pukka-J. The JamMan is really quite fine. Well made, solid, all good. It just has a lot of bells and whistles that I don't really need. It's a solid piece of kit for anyone just slightly less lazy than me. The only real flaws are mine.
Originally Posted by Pukka-J
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04-24-2013 12:59 PM
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I own a Jamman stereo. Just wanted to point out that if you use the pedal in the FX loop of your amp, mixer, or whatever setup, there is no signal loss with this -or any other- pedal. Also, the Jamman line has internal memory that remains after power cycling, and also an SD card slot for even more storage space... I'm really happy with it.
I use it for practicing chord progressions, and I also try to perform arrangements by myself, although I'm not exactly there yet...
K
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This is true and a good point if you are just using the looper in stand-alone (and do not plug your guitar into it) as a backing track player that you start stop with your foot. Originally Posted by nosoyninja
If you run the guitar into a jamman or loopstation and then that pedal into your amp the pedal will impart itself onto even your bypassed tone. Each individual will have to make the decision as to how much it impacts them. I was never happy with the jamman or loopstation bypassed tone (any of them).
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Yes, but just to be totally clear (it may be confusing from the way you wrote the first sentence), you can use an FX loop Send/return in any amp that has it to play your guitar through the amp with out signal loss, and also use the loop pedal to record progressions, parts, or other loops with the same guitar. You can then play over yourself, or do whatever you wanted to do with your looper pedal... Originally Posted by shawntp
The Jamman (and I assume the other pedals also) has a special mode for when it's connected in this way, so that the signal is not repeated.
K
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For practicing lines over progressions, any looper will do.
You won't need the ability to save tracks until you plan to play over backing tracks; even then, you may as well just play the tracks on an MP3 player.
The newer Boomerang (the III) is, IMO, the best "performance" looper in current production, both in terms of playability and audio quality. The Sidecar is a nice convenience, but not strictly necessary.
The Pigtronix Infinity looks good on paper, but I haven't had the opportunity to play one.
For basic practice tasks, just find something you won't regret buying.
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How long do you get out of the battery on the ditto if you use battery ? Originally Posted by shawntp
Does it use a PP3 ?
Might get one of these dittos
Also their Mojo crunch box sounds really quite good (quite like an overdriven amp)
if you like that kind of thing as an option
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Ditto doesn't run on a battery. It only works with a power supply. The newly announced JamMan Express will run on a 9V battery power (3 hrs looping time). Originally Posted by pingu
Keith
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For those planning to get the Ditto, there is a firmware upgrade available on the TC Electronic site that addresses a problem involving the consistency of the volume of loops. This was discussed in the "gear head" forums and TC Electronic seems to be active over there. The Ditto has a USB port, so it is a matter of downloading the software executable, connecting your Ditto to your computer, and running the download. I have both the Ditto and the Boomerang III. They serve different purposes, as pointed out elsewhere in this thread. The firmware update was quick and easy, but I had to use my wife's PC since I don't run Windows or own a Mac. I did not experience the bug, so I can't describe it as can people who have. I use the multiple loop tracks of the Boomerang, so the Ditto is more or less a standby for me. I have played with it a bit and it does seem to work well without affecting tone. One thing the Boomerang and Ditto have in common is that the workflow does seem to "flow". I had the Boss RC-50 for a while, and it seemeed to me that anything I wanted to do, seemed to interrupt the workflow with a sense of always having to stop and restart. I can't comment on the Digitech product, so maybe its workflow is smooth too (?). To me, that is the important thing after establishing that the pedal doesn't adversely affect your sound.
TonyLast edited by tbeltrans; 04-25-2013 at 07:55 AM.
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Just wanted to say thanks to everyone here who recommended the Ditto looper! I researched it a bit more and went ahead and ordered it. How could anyone go wrong with one knob and one button? Sometimes simplicity outweighs features as in the case with the Ditto. Now I can practice all the licks I'm learning before I go and make a fool out of myself in public!
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Hey Jerry, I too learned about, then subsequently purchased the ditto, thanks to your thread, so thank you personally for bringing it up! The simplicity of the device is definitely one of its best features, IMO, and I love how it's always there at the ready, one tap of the foot away... no need to boot up the computer (and wait, and wait...) to load up an Aebersold track or BIAB just to practice some changes, just "click", lay down some chords" "click" again and I'm off. Awesome!
Thanks again for the starting this thread as I probably would have gotten something else and ended up with buyer's remorse.
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I bought an RC 30 about 18 months ago but hardly touched it, preferring iRealb, Aebersold, slow down etc. This discussion has made me dig out the pedal. I love it. You can set up a base line on one track, comp in some shell voicings on the other track, and then play over the top. Want to practice the alt scale or some alt motif? Set up an altered shuffle and away you go. You can save up to 100 different double tracks. You can also seriously critique your comping - it's amazing what you hear when you are not actually playing. At the moment, I'm loving playing around with triads over different pedal tones, implying all sorts of things. I think some of the frustrations can be overcome with familiarity of the pedal. There are also some mods you can do which you can check out on Youtube. Goodbye iRealb...
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I used to have the Line 6 JM4 and I hated it. I found it too complicated, too many features, too big, and I am not sure that it did not suck tone. i had bought it used and I sold it again quickly.
Thanks to this thread, I went and bought a Ditto. I like it very much so far. Nice, small and simple. I still need some time getting used to it, especially when it comes to playing a full chorus comping and then trying to get into a solo right away -- I usually start a solo with a pickup before bar one and right now, I kind of screw up the transition. I'll get it with practice...
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No aux in to record backing tracks, only 5 minutes recording time.....
Too limited!
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IMO the Boss RC Loopers are better than the Digitech JamMan loopers. I've owned several models of
both brands and IMO the Boss RC loopers preserve your sound perfectly while with the Digitech's
there is some aggravating tone suck apparent.Last edited by Double 07; 06-09-2013 at 02:43 PM.
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Earlier in this thread I wrote that I was perfectly happy with my Digitech JamMan Solo and it did suffice, but last week I played the Ditto and only then I heard how true Double07's remark considering the JamMan's tone suck was.
I sold my JamMan for the price of a new Ditto and got myself one of those little one knob wonders.
It sounds better, less compressed and it does exactly what I need: recording and playing back short vamps and progressions to practice my soloing over.
The JamMan did have more features, but I didn't need any one of them for my purpose and I appreciate the simplicity of one knob, one button and one led. Make it as simple as possible, but not simpler, that sort of thing.
What I definitely do prefer in the Ditto is the flow of control: from any mode you can press and hold the button and erase the loop. Also it only takes one second. With the JamMan erasing is only possible from the 'stop loop' mode and takes 2 seconds (meanwhile playing the loop again). Also powering up the JamMan takes more than 10 seconds (during which it also doesn't pass the dry signal)! The Ditto's boot up is almost instant and in those respects it is more comfortable to work with.
I've been very happy with other TC Electronic stuff before (I own the Flashback, Hall of Fame and Polytune, just sold the Corona) and this is no exception: pukka little pedal!Last edited by Pukka-J; 06-09-2013 at 05:22 PM.
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Rc20xl. Love mine. You can see ray barbee or the Mattson 2 on YouTube for ideas.
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I'd like to get one for teaching, thinking it could be quite useful and it's definitely time for me to enter the 20th century on this stuff.
Not really looking for too many bells and whistles and special features, just a long recording time and a pretty simple user interface.
Who's got one they like?
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I've tried out a few lately.
The Boss RC-3 is pretty simple, though I'd want to have a separate footswitch to stop the loop. Double tapping to stop is a pain.
The RC-30 is crazy with the features, but has two switches, so it was easier to use for straight-ahead operations. It's also got a mic input.
If I could find a used RC-20XL for not too much, I might get it.
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Jamman stereo . You at least want to get a looper that you can store files so the wheel doesn't have to be reinvented
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I bought the single knob / footswitch original Ditto looper about 2 weeks before Ditto X2 was announced and promptly returned it for the newer version, which is being shipped from Sweetwater today. I liked the simplicity of Ditto, but it was impossible to stop cleanly, requiring 2 quick taps. Ditto X2 seems much improved in this regard. It also allows storing / transferring loops back and forth to the computer via usb.
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I have used loopers extensively since the first boomerang came out. I currently use a boss RC-300 for solo gigs, saving loops etc. It has tons of features and is a very nice looper, but is a bit complicated and would benefit from more memory. Depending on the length of the loops you save, you can fill it up before you even use all 99 loops. I also have a new Ditto X2 on order for real time live looping. In my experience, you need a dedicated stop button for performance.
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I'm on the fence. I got a TC Electronic Flashback X4. It's decent delay with 40 seconds of loop. I figured I would mostly use the delay but I use the looper more than expected. Really like having 4 buttons (record, pause/resume, play one last time, and stop/erase) and the button quality (no click) matters. Still, I could want more. More loop time. Some kind of midi click track for layering.. et al. As for offline storage, I don't know. I could build up a set of rhythms to practice over but that function is pretty well covered by iRealB on a tablet. Not sure I see using pre-recorded bits on stage. Tempo would be dicey. I do see using a looper on stage though.. especially playing solo.
Finally, you may have to own one before you know your requirements. Maybe take NSJ up on a loaner while you figure out what you like. I'm pretty sure your looper vision will change with a little experience.
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Boomerang III. The ability to have "serial" loops that play one after another as well as "sync'd stacked" loops is worth the price alone. You could have an A, B, C section of a song in each loop bank and trigger them when necessary, or have a master loop and layer endless textures on top. There are lots of creative options too like reverse, speed, or add an additional loop bank for a total of 4.
If you only need a single loop with built in tempo, the Jamman will take care of you.
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Hard to beat the JamMan Solo XT price wise and feature wise.
I bought a Ditto which i resold immediatly:
mono only and no stop button.
Yes, the new Ditto will be here soon, but being able to store and load loops really is a plus for a working musician,
teaching or gigging.
However, for the JamMan Solo XT you will need the footswitch to make clean stops, which may be a drag.
I made my own footswitch, cost: 20 bucks
And it is smaller, smoother than the one Digitech sells for 60$.
If you have a drill, a soldering iron, an old video tape case, you'll just need a stereo female jack, two diods, a stereo jack, and some basic on/off switch, latch type (like to ring a bell).
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Actually, the JamMan SoloXT can chain loops, but you'll need the footswitch's up and down buttons Originally Posted by spiral
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