It takes time and practice to become a great looper. But in addition to all your hard work, you also need a good quality looper pedal to produce excellent loops. Most people, especially beginner guitarist and music makers don’t know what makes a good looper pedal and this can make finding the perfect one a bit difficult. Here are some things to consider before buying a looper pedal.
Memory
The built-in memory in looper pedals varies from one pedal to the other. Since memory is required for recording CD-quality stereo loops, it is one of the most important things to check on any looper pedal before you make a purchase on websites like https://loadrecords.com/best-looper-pedals. While some pedals offer only minutes of recording memory, others give you hours. Several models also give you the option of extending the memory using an SD card. You should consider how much recording you will be doing as this will determine the memory size that will be perfect for you. If you will be recording a high number of loops, then you should buy pedals with a considerable internal memory or one whose memory is expandable.
Number of Pedals
If you intend to use your looper pedal for live performances or other professional purposes, then you need to put into consideration the number of switches on it. A looper pedal with a single pedal is okay for practice purposes or other similar scenarios. But if you will be using it for stage performances, you will find it easier to stop and play loops or switch between loops. Having multiple loops is also important for playing multilayered loops.
Multiple Loops
If you intend to play more than one pre-recorded loop at the same time to create complex tunes, you will need a pedal that has a multiple loop capability. This is particularly useful for professionals that use loops for creating music quite often. Not all models will allow you to play multiple loops. Hence, if this is a feature you want you should check and ensure that the product you intend to purchase allows it. But if all you intend to do is solo practice then you can go for one that only plays single loops.
Reverse Looping
This is another feature that isn’t for everyone but becomes quite useful if you intend to create something more amazing and professional. Playing recorded loops allows you to add more textures to sound. If you love experimenting with the instrument this is a feature you would most definitely find desirable. You should have no problem finding a product with this feature since it is fairly common in most of the modern/advanced pedals.
Types of Inputs
A quarter-inch input is the most common input type in most pedals. However, a good looper pedal will give you some more additional input options. For example, some pedals allow you to plug in an XLR or microphone. This makes it possible to add various sequences to a loop. Others may also allow input through aux jacks or USB thus allowing you to transfer loops directly from MP3 devices or computers. Having multiple input options is a lot more convenient and gives you greater control.
True Bypass
A true bypass allows your pedal to produce an output tone that is just like the tone going into the pedal. Pedals with this feature are generally preferable to those without it since the lack of a true bypass means the quality of the tone produced is affected even when the pedal is off in some cases.
Pricing
Like most appliances, you get what you pay for. The price of looper pedals depends on several factors ranging from the brand type to the features of the pedal. While there are many cheap models, they might lack the latest or advanced technological features such as multiple pedals and so on. But that does not mean you need to break your bank account to get a good looper pedal. A lot of pedals below $100 will serve your needs quite easily. However, for more professional use, you can go for higher-end models with cutting edge features that cost as much as $500.
New to looping? Find out more about looper pedals and what you can do with them here.
Conclusion
A good quality looper pedal is arguably one of the most essential tools for experimenting with sounds. Since there are several types of pedals in the market, knowing the things to look out for will make finding a good quality pedal easy.
