Loopers ?

[lurksalot]

Are they for performers with no mates ?

Just watching a cool dude , but it just that there are at least three jobs going begging , are loopers the ultimate live bedroom players kit ?

[Horizontalste]

I have nothing to add to this thread apart from the fact I once saw a very cool video of a bc member (sorry can't remember who) and a singist covering a Coldplay song. Trouble I think it was.
All he used was a loopy thing and a Stingray and all the singist used was his gob and a microphone.
Very cool indeed.

[CamdenRob]

I love my looper, Its almost single handedly rekindled my interest in bass after several years in the wilderness.

I'm not ashamed if that makes me a bedroom player, I'm no rock star... too old and too bald...

Rob

[lurksalot]

Rob, Ive seen your stuff and its great , but on a stage it just seems a bit odd to see an act build his part by playing in all the other parts first, rather than have his band mates do their bit . yes its a skill , but it rather eliminates the people skills that are needed to actually have a band .

Edited August 25, 2013 by lurksalot

[thisnameistaken]

[quote name='lurksalot' timestamp='1377472119' post='2188020']Rob, Ive seen your stuff and its great , but on a stage it just seems a bit odd to see an act build his part by playing in all the other parts first, rather than have his band mates do their bit . yes its a skill , but it rather eliminates the people skills that are needed to actually have a band .[/quote]

I think with most popular music the thing that makes it interesting to listen to is the arrangement. When you hear it spelled out with a looper it's not as interesting, plus you know the dude is only doing it so he can play a 20 minute solo.

[Jellyfish]

Are they not the ultimate practice tool for when you need some sort of backing? I use mine as an awesome way to lay down a foundation to practice and improvise.

Maybe some day I'll become as good as this guy (who's certainly not a bedroom bassist )

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AbBwTb9AZM

[RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE]

I have a boss foot pedal type looper which I've hardly used. I am thinking of getting a rack version instead, as I am very lazy with effects.

I have been recording bits on sound cloud over the last year or so. Tbh, since recording on GarageBand I have forgotten about it.

Loopers are great for us bedroom players .
I think they can prove your playing and timing .

[mikebass84]

I mess around with loops every now and then. Nothing I would ever take to stage but it's just fun to have a noodle

[Count Bassy]

All very clever, but incredibly dull to watch.
Give me a proper band any day of the week.

[thisnameistaken]

[quote name='Jellyfish' timestamp='1377482423' post='2188054']Maybe some day I'll become as good as this guy (who's certainly not a bedroom bassist )

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AbBwTb9AZM[/media][/quote]

I managed to get to the bit where he started soloing and then stopped watching because I figured he was just going to keep soloing.

The backing he laid sound sounded terrible. Genuinely terrible. Too many bass guitars sounds bad. Chords on a bass guitar sounds bad unless there's very little else going on. All buzzy noise and a glottal swamp of mids.

Someone take his looper away.

[BassTractor]

[quote name='thisnameistaken' timestamp='1377524902' post='2188441']
Someone take his looper away.
[/quote]

Here's where I think an alternative comes in: not using a looper connected to a bass, but building a loop without bass parts on a Kaossilator or similar, and then playing bass to it. It's like a band who never get tired of letting you practise and/or develop ideas.

Me, I love it.
I just make something impromptu on a Kaossilator, and then [b]must[/b] find something to do on the bass to go with it. I find that challenging and fun.
This may not teach me to play bass, but at least I'm having fun whilst not learning to play the bass.

Edited August 26, 2013 by BassTractor

[RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE]

[quote name='BassTractor' timestamp='1377530296' post='2188513']


Here's where I think an alternative comes in: not using a looper connected to a bass, but building a loop without bass parts on a Kaossilator or similar, and then playing bass to it. It's like a band who never get tired of letting you practise and/or develop ideas.

Me, I love it.
I just make something impromptu on a Kaossilator, and then [b]must[/b] find something to do on the bass to go with it. I find that challenging and fun.
This may not teach me to play bass, but at least I'm having fun whilst not learning to play the bass.
[/quote]

I do that also om my ikaossilator

[BassTractor]

You'll never learn to play the bass, Ray!

[RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE]

True, but they're very addictive

[CamdenRob]

[quote name='lurksalot' timestamp='1377472119' post='2188020']
Rob, Ive seen your stuff and its great , but on a stage it just seems a bit odd to see an act build his part by playing in all the other parts first, rather than have his band mates do their bit . yes its a skill , but it rather eliminates the people skills that are needed to actually have a band .
[/quote]

Yes I'd probably look like a bit of a plonker building loops on my own on stage, its definitely more of a 'bedroom player' thing for me.

They don't have to be used for a two chord loop and an endless widdly solo though, I've never played a solo in my life.

Obviously a looper is not a substitute for a band, a full spectrum of instruments can produce a overall sound far richer than just a bass. I use my looper as I don't have the time to dedicate to a proper band, but still want to keep my hand in musically and be creative. The looper allows me to create more complex pieces on my own than I ever could as just a guy playing a bass.

Then again you might be on to something with the 'people skills that are needed to actually have a band'... I don't really like other people, I find them irritating and irrational... especially those you encounter on public transport...


Rob

[cybertect]

Not really a bass thing, but one use of a looper that's always stuck in my mind was K T Tunstall's debut on Jools' show with 'Black Horse & The Cerry Tree' a few years ago. Pretty effective IMO.

http://youtu.be/pdu_IWxSSk4

[lurksalot]

[quote name='cybertect' timestamp='1377543926' post='2188705']
Not really a bass thing, but one use of a looper that's always stuck in my mind was K T Tunstall's debut on Jools' show with 'Black Horse & The Cerry Tree' a few years ago. Pretty effective IMO.

[media]http://youtu.be/pdu_IWxSSk4[/media]
[/quote]

That is pretty much what I saw this guy do , its ok for 1 song but for every time it just seemed he needed a band with him .

[cheddatom]

I think if it's just building loads of layers it can get very messy, and if the guy is doing 2 or 4 of each layer it gets very tedious.

I use my looper in a band context, so that I can keep a bassline going and create another texture on top

[urb]

I definitely love my looper - great for writing and getting ideas flowing - good to try out specific soloing ideas over a specific chord - great too for layering effects with chords and bass lines - they're only as limited as your imagination - and yes I love playing with and listening to a live band but sometimes it's good to explore new ground and new sounds - loops + live playing and realtime looping/improv/interaction can be great - it can also be dull as sh** - it all depends on the gig and the player I guess... a great tool for working up ideas though

[JamesFlashG]

great for practice in my opinion! don'y use it for much else

[xilddx]

[quote name='thisnameistaken' timestamp='1377524902' post='2188441']
I managed to get to the bit where he started soloing and then stopped watching because I figured he was just going to keep soloing.

The backing he laid sound sounded terrible. Genuinely terrible. Too many bass guitars sounds bad. Chords on a bass guitar sounds bad unless there's very little else going on. All buzzy noise and a glottal swamp of mids.

Someone take his looper away.
[/quote]

Can't disagree with that. If you had listened further you'd have heard a guy leaving no space at all, relentless jazz funk noodling we've all heard before a thousand times. I get depressed hearing it, but some folks like it.

[davehux]

I like mine

I like mine

I like mine

I like mine

I like mine

I like mine

I like mine

[the boy]

[quote name='cybertect' timestamp='1377543926' post='2188705']
Not really a bass thing, but one use of a looper that's always stuck in my mind was K T Tunstall's debut on Jools' show with 'Black Horse & The Cerry Tree' a few years ago. Pretty effective IMO.

http://youtu.be/pdu_IWxSSk4
[/quote]
Wow, very good indeed.

[lurksalot]

[quote name='the boy' timestamp='1377608431' post='2189318']
Wow, very good indeed.
[/quote]

wow,
wow, very good,
wow, very good, very good indeed.
wow, very good, very good indeed, but a bit samey.
wow, very good, very good indeed, but a bit samey, OK though ,
wow, very good, very good indeed, but a bit samey, OK though , for 1 song .

to develop Daves idea a little

but for a song yes great , but the songs need to do something or go somewhere , and it just ends up like showing off and gets very repetitive after 4 songs of the same stuff .

[funkgod]

[quote name='urb' timestamp='1377602324' post='2189190']
I definitely love my looper - great for writing and getting ideas flowing - good to try out specific soloing ideas over a specific chord - great too for layering effects with chords and bass lines - they're only as limited as your imagination - and yes I love playing with and listening to a live band but sometimes it's good to explore new ground and new sounds - loops + live playing and realtime looping/improv/interaction can be great - it can also be dull as sh** - it all depends on the gig and the player I guess... a great tool for working up ideas though
[/quote]

Everything Urb said.
I have an RC2 used it once, hate it, its too fidgity,...
but love the rc20xl its been a workhorse of a thing for me.
get your ideas down fast then add parts you think wil fit, if not delete the part and try something else.
also at a practice you can digi record your now song format on with just a mic in the room.
you can also sample on it wont be the best quality but again the idea is there,
you can put whole songs into it and record over the top to check your bass line.
great for learning to solo your blues licks over diff chord progressions.
will record 11 quick ideas.
i have used it before now to record a brass arrangement we came up with for one song so then i could email it
to them so the lazy buggers dont forget !.
yep...im sure i will think of another few uses for it,
Great bit of very handy gear.

Edited August 27, 2013 by funkgod