looper drum info
- Thread starter eSGEe
- Start date
SkyMonkey
Well-Known Member
Well, I found a mint RC-3 2nd hand locally.
My board is finally complete (for now).
I had been daisy chaining all the pedals up to now with no ill effects.
But the RC-3 needs a separate supply or I get a wining hum. It now gets the Boss PSA-230Es I had in reserve.
An isolated 8-port PSU should fix that sometime down the line.
I am waiting to hear if the Ammoon PSU that @jtcnj bought is a keeper.
Did you make a decision yet on a looper/drum @eSGEe?
My board is finally complete (for now).
I had been daisy chaining all the pedals up to now with no ill effects.
But the RC-3 needs a separate supply or I get a wining hum. It now gets the Boss PSA-230Es I had in reserve.
An isolated 8-port PSU should fix that sometime down the line.
I am waiting to hear if the Ammoon PSU that @jtcnj bought is a keeper.
Did you make a decision yet on a looper/drum @eSGEe?
Last edited:
SkyMonkey
Well-Known Member
A quick review of the Boss RC-3, so far.
First of all, it works.
Having the FS-7 connected helps by having the 'one press stop' option, and hands-free changing pre-sets, and Tap Tempo is good too.
The drum patterns and sounds are basic, but it is only a practice tool for me, so that's fine. I have a DR-880 if I want to record better drum patterns onto a loop.
The 'count-in' feature is a godsend to looper newbies like me. Unfortunately 'count-in' has to be enabled each time after start up if you want it.
Set the rhythm on, enable count-in mode, press the footswitch to start and one measure is played with a flashing red LED.
When the LED stops flashing the recording has started.
Here's the clever bit.
When you press to stop the recording it carries on recording until the current measure is complete, so you just press stop a little before the end of the measure.
To make it even more fool proof you can just record the number of measures you want without playing anything.
Then all layers on top of the blank recording can be redone or undone.
The next thing to try is the 'Auto Start' feature to record DR-880 patterns onto loops.
You can change the tempo of loops you have saved to memory, but the digital recordings sort of 'break up' and sound strange if you go too far.
To restore the original tempo of a saved pre-set you have to switch pre-sets and then going back to the original again.
There is no incremental tempo adjustment, just 'Tap'.
Uploading WAV files of practice tracks to the RC-3 over USB is easy with the Boss 'Tone Studio for RC'.
To upload a track the file has to be a WAV file.
I ripped some blues backing track vids off YT and then converted them to 'WAV audio only' using a Wondershare Uni Converter software.
I can recommend Wondershare.
I got it a few years ago just to rip DVDs and Blu-Rays, but it does loads more, and updates seem to be for life, not just the usual 12 months you get with some software.
I think I am going to like the RC-3 and, depending on how the learning curve goes, could get a more sophisticated one sometime down the line.
First of all, it works.
Having the FS-7 connected helps by having the 'one press stop' option, and hands-free changing pre-sets, and Tap Tempo is good too.
The drum patterns and sounds are basic, but it is only a practice tool for me, so that's fine. I have a DR-880 if I want to record better drum patterns onto a loop.
The 'count-in' feature is a godsend to looper newbies like me. Unfortunately 'count-in' has to be enabled each time after start up if you want it.
Set the rhythm on, enable count-in mode, press the footswitch to start and one measure is played with a flashing red LED.
When the LED stops flashing the recording has started.
Here's the clever bit.
When you press to stop the recording it carries on recording until the current measure is complete, so you just press stop a little before the end of the measure.
To make it even more fool proof you can just record the number of measures you want without playing anything.
Then all layers on top of the blank recording can be redone or undone.
The next thing to try is the 'Auto Start' feature to record DR-880 patterns onto loops.
You can change the tempo of loops you have saved to memory, but the digital recordings sort of 'break up' and sound strange if you go too far.
To restore the original tempo of a saved pre-set you have to switch pre-sets and then going back to the original again.
There is no incremental tempo adjustment, just 'Tap'.
Uploading WAV files of practice tracks to the RC-3 over USB is easy with the Boss 'Tone Studio for RC'.
To upload a track the file has to be a WAV file.
I ripped some blues backing track vids off YT and then converted them to 'WAV audio only' using a Wondershare Uni Converter software.
I can recommend Wondershare.
I got it a few years ago just to rip DVDs and Blu-Rays, but it does loads more, and updates seem to be for life, not just the usual 12 months you get with some software.
I think I am going to like the RC-3 and, depending on how the learning curve goes, could get a more sophisticated one sometime down the line.
OP
eSGEe
Ferengi Ambassador of Trade
Very nice review--- mines a bit LESS informative........or intelligent.
Got the JOYO OMB --- ive used it for -- 2 hours -- Ive not even TRIED the looper part--
I have found the flaws in about 2 seconds
1. it sounds thin an "toy like" -- the drum rhythms-- through a guitar head
2. if you run it into a guitar amp with reverb --- your DRUM and CYMBAL tones now have reverb.......(yuk)
the "good" so far
I can use it as a DRUM MACHINE (better than practicing bass with a metronome) through my bass rig the kick drum and snare ACTUALLY SOUND GOOD --yeah--
its not all that and a bag of chips for sure-- but it does have nice rhythms and is EASY to operate (even for a hammer wielding ferengi with a bad attitude)
I do not think it is as technical or advanced as the BOSS for sure-- but --for my uses it will be here a while longer
Got the JOYO OMB --- ive used it for -- 2 hours -- Ive not even TRIED the looper part--
I have found the flaws in about 2 seconds
1. it sounds thin an "toy like" -- the drum rhythms-- through a guitar head
2. if you run it into a guitar amp with reverb --- your DRUM and CYMBAL tones now have reverb.......(yuk)
the "good" so far
I can use it as a DRUM MACHINE (better than practicing bass with a metronome) through my bass rig the kick drum and snare ACTUALLY SOUND GOOD --yeah--
its not all that and a bag of chips for sure-- but it does have nice rhythms and is EASY to operate (even for a hammer wielding ferengi with a bad attitude)
I do not think it is as technical or advanced as the BOSS for sure-- but --for my uses it will be here a while longer
SkyMonkey
Well-Known Member
Not being a fan of amp reverb, I have all my effects in front of the RC, so the drums are sent to the power amp dry.
I did think of trying to record my own bass to one stereo channel only, i.e. dummy jack in Left (Mono) and bass into Right.
Then send the Right side (+ half the drums and guitar) to a bass practice amp (or keyboard amp).
That should thicken up the sound.
Not got a bass amp yet though.
OP
eSGEe
Ferengi Ambassador of Trade
Hartke B600 --- wonderful contraption -- can be found used for dirt cheap
SkyMonkey
Well-Known Member
I only apply reverb to the guitar tone before it enters the looper. It's the same with overdrive, etc.
The drums in the looper emerge dry. So the only way to reverb them is to place a reverb unit after the looper.
Even with the looper in the loop of my amps, the amp reverb is after the FX Return so I don't use it.
I'm not fond of the one-dimensional control you get with onboard amp reverb anyway.
My 4CM pedalboard chain (LS-2 A) is: Guitar>OD20>Spark>Preamp>Zoom MultiStomp (reverb, etc.)>RC-3>Power amp(s)
My direct pedalboard chain (LS-2 B) is: Guitar>MT-2>NS-2>Zoom MultiStomp>RC-3>Power amp(s)
I know you are not a fan of added effects @eSGEe, so all this may be a wrench (or hammer) to your psyche!
But I can't see another way of using reverb and keeping the JOYO dry.
I've had a look for the Hartke amp you recommended but my LGS has never had one in 2nd hand, so I'm not hopeful.
The KickBack is the newer version?
The Fender Rumble 15 or 25 looks like the sort of amp that would do me fine in just a bedroom setup.
I plan to add modelling and effects with a Zoom MultiStomp bass gizmo so don't need any super EQ or onboard FX.
Has anyone tried one of these (not the Studio versions)?
They do come up on Gumtree 2nd hand and I might even be able to afford new.
If I swap out the NS-2 on my pedalboard for an MS-60B then the LS-2 (B) signal chain for bass would go:
Bass>MT-2(OFF)>MS-60B (comp, OD, modelling, EQ)>MS-70CDR (TBEs)>RC-3>Bass amp IN
The drums in the looper emerge dry. So the only way to reverb them is to place a reverb unit after the looper.
Even with the looper in the loop of my amps, the amp reverb is after the FX Return so I don't use it.
I'm not fond of the one-dimensional control you get with onboard amp reverb anyway.
My 4CM pedalboard chain (LS-2 A) is: Guitar>OD20>Spark>Preamp>Zoom MultiStomp (reverb, etc.)>RC-3>Power amp(s)
My direct pedalboard chain (LS-2 B) is: Guitar>MT-2>NS-2>Zoom MultiStomp>RC-3>Power amp(s)
I know you are not a fan of added effects @eSGEe, so all this may be a wrench (or hammer) to your psyche!
But I can't see another way of using reverb and keeping the JOYO dry.
I've had a look for the Hartke amp you recommended but my LGS has never had one in 2nd hand, so I'm not hopeful.
The KickBack is the newer version?
The Fender Rumble 15 or 25 looks like the sort of amp that would do me fine in just a bedroom setup.
I plan to add modelling and effects with a Zoom MultiStomp bass gizmo so don't need any super EQ or onboard FX.
Has anyone tried one of these (not the Studio versions)?
They do come up on Gumtree 2nd hand and I might even be able to afford new.
If I swap out the NS-2 on my pedalboard for an MS-60B then the LS-2 (B) signal chain for bass would go:
Bass>MT-2(OFF)>MS-60B (comp, OD, modelling, EQ)>MS-70CDR (TBEs)>RC-3>Bass amp IN
OP
eSGEe
Ferengi Ambassador of Trade
Thanks for the info Monkey -- Makes sense now -- I was using the amps reverb -- -- If I use a pedal verb between guitar and looper/drum machine it wont get Reverberations --
I can also HIGHLY recomend the Fender RUMBLES --- they are my second favorite home use bass amp Ive had several feature packed -- light-- great tone and CHEAP
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I can also HIGHLY recomend the Fender RUMBLES --- they are my second favorite home use bass amp Ive had several feature packed -- light-- great tone and CHEAP
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