If you're ready to take your music to a higher level, a looper pedal or loop station is never a bad idea. At Bax Music, you'll find many loopers that, while seemingly similar, each offer slightly different options, features and functions, so a little extra background information can come in handy when you're trying to figure which looper fully suits your needs.
Looper Pedals In a Nutshell
Simply put, a looper can either be a piece of hardware or software that enables you to repeat sounds like samples and guitar riffs. Of course, there are plenty of looper pedals that have some useful additional features.
Loopers with Tap Tempo
One possible additional function is tap tempo, which allows you to set the tempo intuitively rather than typing in the BPM. With a tap tempo you simply hit a button with your finger or foot at the tempo you want.
Single and Multi-Channel Loopers
Every looper is essentially designed to do the same thing. By recording a chord progression on a guitar, any looper will simply repeat the 'sound bite' so you can play a solo on top, creating two layers. Basic and more affordable loopers usually offer just a single loop while more extensive pedals offer room to save multiple loops and the option toggle between them. There are also loopers that have two or more 'channels'. These units give you the option to playback multiple loops at the same time and, if they have footswitches, you can quickly switch from, say, a verse-loop to a chorus-loop, or from a guitar loop to a percussion loop that you can alternate and then playback at the same time before going back to alternating both loops - all while performing the same song.
Mini-Loopers
A mini-looper is basically the most straightforward version of a loop station. In other words, a pedal that only offers the core functionality of a looper pedal. While mini-loopers are often equipped with nothing but a single control, they can prove exceptionally useful. Just like fully-fledged loopers, some mini-loopers feature a tap tempo function which is great because you won't have to learn any BPM settings by heart. Instead, you can simply 'tap in' the beat based on feel. Mini-loopers can also come in handy for artists who are limited in terms of on-stage set-up space, as well as for any guitarist who wants a small, no-fuss pedal.
Large Loop Stations
Full-size loopers and loop stations aren't that different from small loopers and basically offer more of the same, like more channels so you can split up and toggle different parts of a composition; more recording time; and more internal storage capacity to store sounds. Larger looper pedals usually also offer the option to hook up multiple instruments, like a microphone plus a guitar - Ed Sheeran-style - or even electronic drum kits or drum machines
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Generally made for playing live, most pedals and loop stations feature intuitive controls and control lay-outs.
MIDI Loop Station
Loop stations equipped with MIDI functionality allow you to connect one or more MIDI-compatible instruments, such as synthesizers, and use them to control functions like tempo and playback. In other words, the instrument is used to operate the pedal.
Loop Station App
Loop station apps and online loopers function just like hardware loopers and will repeat recorded bits of sound. The difference is that apps and online loopers are software instead of hardware. While there are countless apps available, most tend to lack the intuitive ease of use of a real looper pedal. After all, loops are 'normally' created by hitting switches with your feet, leaving your hands free to play your instrument, but you need your hands to control phone and tablet apps, so they’re generally a better tool for vocalists. So you can expand their functionality, it's worth noting some online loop stations do offer support for an external MIDI-controlled footswitch.
Frequently Asked Questions About Loopers
What's a Boss Loop Station?
Boss is a manufacturer of music gear with a big reputation in the world of loopers. In reality, there's no difference between a looper - a chunk of hardware made to record and repeat sounds - and a loop station. 'Loop Station' is simply the name that Boss have given their loopers.
How can I make music using loops?
Making music using loops is actually pretty easy. After connecting an instrument to a looper, all you have to do is press the 'Record' button and play a rhythm or melody on your instrument. Press the button again and the looper will stop recording and start looping what it's captured. This process can be repeated to create layered loops.
Are loop stations or loopers compatible with guitars only?
While loop stations and looper pedals are used by a lot of guitarists and are generally considered a guitar effect, loopers are also compatible with keyboards, electronic drum kits and various other instruments, including fully acoustic instruments, and if a model supports microphones, it can even be used to loop vocals.
Which loop station or looper should I buy?
If you want to experiment by stacking multiple sounds, a mini-looper will do the trick. If you want to weave together complete songs, go for a looper that offers more recording time and more than one channel. Check out our
Looper Buyer's Guide
for more tips.
