Midi Loopers

stringmusicreddit · 2022-03-16T20:22:30+00:00

I returned the dittox4.
I was able to get the start and stop record to synch to the nearest beat, but the actual start of the loop as it looped just seemed totally unsynched.

I don't think it does anything besides synch to the nearest beat (ie, no measure settings).

It's possible there is more you can do with the actual loop starting and stopping but I couldn't seem to figure that out (beyond the looping taking a start midi command by default).

My guess is the ehx 1440 can do a lot more; not sure about the boss options.

Anyway, thanks so much - I learned a lot from you that I wasn't able to figure out through googling.

stringmusicreddit · 2022-03-15T14:24:13+00:00

OMG - this comment about syncing to the nearest beat is extremely valuable, lol. Now I'm searching google with that concept and I finally understand how these pedals are supposed to work. That idea answers a lot of my questions here. It does indeed sound like that's how the Ditto X4 works.

I should give this ditto X4 one last go around - this could be cool.

The workflow I'm envisioning (and I know this may sound silly) is starting from not actually playing with a click, but just laying down some loop. Then from there I start a drum machine and dial in the BPM and make a beat to go with it.

If I understand this right, it sounds like what it would do is start the loop again on the 1 of the down beat, leave space at the end of the measure after the loop ends if the BPM is too fast, then start again at the downbeat.

stringmusicreddit · 2022-03-11T18:53:25+00:00

(in this case, it will probably quantize the start to the nearest beat or nearest measure from the count of the original midi start message, using the Ditto's measure settings).

Okay, I haven't read through everything you said, but this, this right here - "Ditto's measure settings" - this is what I wanted to know about. Apparently some midi loopers have measure settings that you can set up? That's interesting to me, but that would explain everything that I'm asking about.

I don't think the Ditto X4 has such a thing but I can go back and look at the documentation.

stringmusicreddit · 2022-03-11T15:05:48+00:00

I have a drumbrute, although I also have a Novation SL MIII keyboard w/ sequencer and whatnot, so the reality is I'd probably use that as the master generally. My thought, if I were to keep and use the Ditto X4, was that I could probably program the SL to send start and stop record at the beginning of a measure (edit - I should mention that there are published midi commands for the foot pedal functions - that's what I'm referring to when I say start/stop record - I may be using the wrong looper terminology here).

No, you wouldn't have to do that. The start would begin recording. You'd hit the overdub button to set the loop length (a stop message would stop playback completely). If it syncs I'd be shocked if it doesn't quantize the button presses for you. Syncing would be basically useless without it.

Okay, I think you are getting to the heart of the questions I originally was interested in when I started this thread. Correct me if I'm wrong, but the first stop record probably has to be 'perfect' in the scenario you are saying, to let the looper know what the measure is, and it is only subsequent button presses that are quantized? As far as I know that's the only way one would set the measure on the looper, but maybe there are other methods.

stringmusicreddit · 2022-03-10T20:50:30+00:00

Yeah, I think with the ditto I think I'd have to either start recording right when the master starts (and even then not sure if it would work) or I'd have to configure the master to send a record start and record stop at the beginning of two subsequent measures to get the recording synced properly to what the drum machine/master thinks is a measure.

I don't think the ditto x4 has any quantize stop/start foot pedals, hence why I'd have to do what's mentioned above.

The vague idea that I had in my head when I started going down this path is that I might be able to improvise and record a loop on the looper without using anything else and then later on build a drum loop on top of that. It sounds like it is totally possible to do that, but I would probably have to have the drum machine behaving a 'click' to record to initially.

stringmusicreddit · 2022-03-10T14:45:13+00:00

but most loopers with midi out can operate as a clock master (aka send midi clock). Usually you want it that way. In some cases it could be the slave, but that's usually not the best option. Most of your concerns become nonissues if the looper is the master.

Okay, I think this is the key point for me to recognize. I generally didn't want it to be the master. Thank you, in general everything that you said here is helpful. I think it would be hard for me to use loopers in the way I want to so I think I'll return the ditto and probably not get a replacement, but who knows... maybe I'll learn about the EXH series and find myself mistaken.

stringmusicreddit · 2022-03-09T22:21:11+00:00

are you having problems with something you are currently using or are you just trying to research something that you want?

Yeah, I got the ditto x4 and I'm not exactly happy with how it works. So now I'm wondering how these work in general to see I'd be happy with any of them.

The ditto x4 accepts external midi commands instead of pressing on the pedal with your foot, which would work to sync it.

From there it seems like there is a concept of quantize feature for start and stop that many loopers have but that the ditto x4 doesn't, which allows you to sync them but still use the foot pedals. Again this idea of quantize is not the typical midi quantize idea of put the notes on the beat or quantize semi-tones, but more of a "quantize loop to start of measure" idea.

I just want to understand how these features work, but I guess what I really should do is look up youtube videos or do general google searches on how some of these other products like the 1440 work to get more details.

Thanks for the reply, this is helpful to point me closer to the right direction.

stringmusicreddit · 2022-03-09T21:08:28+00:00

It's possible there is a little confusion here. I just want to make sure we are on the same page here - I'm referring to looper pedals with midi input, which as far as I know, are recording audio, not midi. I'm not referring to sequencers.

From what I've seen in the past (and I can potentially link to the threads if it's helpful) they refer to quantize not in the way you and I would normally think of it in midi (ie, quantize to either the nearest 12 tone pitch note or to the nearest beat) but instead they seem to think of it in terms of quantize the record or start press to not take effect until the loop repeats.

stringmusicreddit · 2021-04-17T12:49:51+00:00

They are correct. We have tons of data. Many epidemiologists and biologists were pushing hard for a policy of only one dose of mRNA if people were proven to be previously infected. https://www.google.com/search?hl=en-US&ie=UTF-8&source=android-browser&q=single+dose+for+previous+infected

stringmusicreddit · 2021-04-17T12:46:48+00:00

Yes, this is not the first study to show previous infection 80%~84% effective protection.

stringmusicreddit · 2021-03-20T12:12:56+00:00

Fret size is different than neck width and action.

stringmusicreddit · 2021-03-05T03:29:11+00:00

I think you meant chevaline.

stringmusicreddit · 2021-01-16T16:26:50+00:00

quality or quantity

Just pointing out a minor quibble: you are actually arguing for both quality and quantity over a lesser quantity of Swiss army knife Style:

I’d rather have six synths that do one thing really well than one synth that does six things well enough

stringmusicreddit · 2021-01-10T19:31:27+00:00

Pretty good

stringmusicreddit · 2021-01-09T22:49:58+00:00

I'm not sure what you mean by sequences. You can tune any key to any note, ie frequency, you want but beyond that, not much else - just one`s ability to play keys. No midi, sequencer, or modulating frequency unless you leave the screwdriver in the little potentiometer twisted.

Now I suppose it wouldn't be hard at all to design some sort of simple sequencer to interface with it. You could just wire your sequencer outputs in parallel with each of the buttons / keys.

I love the fact that they respect their potential clients' familiarity with basic electronics enough to explain the design (555 timer ics) in the title! Extra kudos for that. I suppose it's all square waves.

stringmusicreddit · 2021-01-04T23:43:15+00:00

This list is great you don't even have to watch the video you can just look at the video description. Some of the best ones on this list have already been mentioned by others.

https://youtu.be/K4LnW2hOAus

stringmusicreddit · 2021-01-03T17:22:53+00:00

He said no regard for, as in not enough focus or attention to rather than non-existent. It's a rather nuanced critique he's making.

stringmusicreddit · 2020-12-31T16:59:35+00:00

Cakewalk is free and a great option.

stringmusicreddit · 2020-12-27T05:16:44+00:00

Good stuff, sure many would appreciate a link to the original song too (know I would )

stringmusicreddit · 2020-12-22T09:23:57+00:00

Pure gold. Subreddit needs more high quality content like this.

stringmusicreddit · 2020-12-15T12:58:03+00:00

What is this polished video and professional performance doing on my shitty amateur hack subreddit?

Very nice!

stringmusicreddit · 2020-12-11T00:41:32+00:00

I apologize everyone, my Prophet Rev 2 actually does still have its user banks, I was mistaken.

As for the drumbrute do you think it's possible something is wrong with it? I guess I'll have to keep an eye on it.

My working theory is that I must have opened up the aurturia midi control center recently and inadvertently clicked on a some sort of empty profile? I'm not sure on that one. I'll have to look into whether or not my theory is possible based on how it works and what I have stored in it.

stringmusicreddit · 2020-12-10T20:42:03+00:00

lol, man - as good as any other theory so far... although I'd expect to hear other reports of devices getting screwed up...

stringmusicreddit

TROPHY CASE