I'm currently conducting some research for the development of a new Loop Switcher and would be very grateful of everyone's input. I can't give t0o much away just yet, but please answer in the comments the following two simple questions:
A: What loop switcher(s) have you used?
B: What do you like and dislike about the loop switchers you have tried?
If you are happy to be contacted in future for further research, please send me a private message with a contact detail. I will be sure to offer a discount code, when the product is released, to all that have helped on this great forum!
Thank You Everyone
Aaron Grimwood
Comments
a. Gigrig QM6, QM8, G2
b. On the first two:
I. The width of the board you end up with
ii. It's much better soundwise, but you still hear the difference between the swltcher and straight in to the amp (not so with the G2, that's amazing)
iii no tuner function
iv ability to have flip/flopping - yes the QMX does that, but you still can't say have a 'group' with two pedals going off and two going on
v. remote amp switching - if you're consolidating your switches, why not have that there?
vi. earth loops
c. G2
I. really I wish it was cheaper, but so far it's addressed all of the above
It really is incredibly flexible. Things I really like:
- Pretty much every button and LED is programmable
- It does analog EXP to MIDI so I can use one EXP and the ES-8 allows me to control parameters on my MIDI pedals
- I can have whatever pedal order I like
Things I don't like:- There was no software editor until recently (which is excellent, by the way, now it's appeared).
- No USB, so all updates, programming and backup has to be done over MIDI
- Idiosyncratic programming method through the on-board menu, although once you understand the logic, it's super easy
- The manual is shocking. Had to rely on YT videos and the FB group for some of the deeper stuff.
Having played with both the ES-8 and the G2, I'm convinced the E-8 is the benchmark, although the G2 is easier to learn initially.Thanks everyone else! Any body had much experience with the deeper functions, e.g using MIDI?
Cheers
Aaron Grimwood
I use Midi on the G2 for two Strymons.
PM me if you like
The ability to name presets, use any combination of 5 presets for up to 99 songs and then another mode arranging them into 9 setlists
makes it great for live performance, where you have more complex midi and preset requirements for each song.
Requires a massive board, jacks are a bit iffy, sometimes pops when changing certain pedals which drives me nuts so the offending pedals don't make it to the board. Otherwise it's awesome, and amazing for the £100 it cost. For me the pros far outweigh the few cons.
I think the downsides for me are more general to switchers, and these for me are:
-Requires a shit load of patch cables. I made my own but it was still expensive
-Makes it harder to switch in and out pedals if you buy and sell a lot, with all the cable management it becomes a drag
-Suddenly you can't go light to a gig, the full setup has to come unless you have spares or don't mind ripping the whole thing apart
-Can be a bit confusing in the heat of the gig since everything is on there's leds glowing all over the shop at you
-If a patch cable does go and you have no replacement you need to reprogram mid gig or work around which is sometimes easier said than done
There are 5 switches across the front so I have the songs set up for
switch 1 - intro
2 - verse
3 - chorus
4 - bridge / misc
5 - solo
I can have switch 1 to be preset/bank 3A and switch 2 to be bank 6D etc. You can also change 6 midi pedals per preset along with 4 amp functions via 2 trs jacks
Then set list mode lets you arrange the songs in the order you need it for your set, so you just hit bank up and the next song is there ready. You can have 9 sets saved.
The musicomlab switchers aren't really that well known in this country, I got mine from Germany. I've had my mkiv advertised for a couple of months and haven't had a single enquiry.
Thankyou all
Aaron Grimwood
Echo what everyone's said on the scribble strips - a lot of (non Daniel) G2 vids have stickers/labels next to the switches. It's like the first cars with cup holders - a simple thing, yet people bought the cars purely on the basis of having them.
Feedback
https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/npd-musicomlab-efx-mkiv.1491599/
Disaster Area DPC5
B:
PROS:
1. Small sturdy compact design
2. Midi functionality
3. Very customisable (menu's etc)
4. Cheaper than most of the similar looper options it competes with
5. Optional expression wheel
CONS
1. No display (Although the new version now has a small screen for labellling presets etc.)
2. Bit tricky to get it set up at first but once you get your head around how it works and you get everything set up how you want it, it's a dream come true
Happy to participate in any further research, interested in where this is going..............
EDIT Actually one can turn the buffer off I noticed from the manual. Very tempted now. Just no money left
Got a decibel 11 switch Dr.
Pros -
setting up is easy once you understand how
easy to bank up and down
robust
LED readout for 'bank no' helpful
Cons -
4 loops isn't much (I had 2 strymon outside the looper controlled by midi which made it more usable)
took a fair time to learn. the manual wasn't easy to understand. and no videos online.
needed more than 2 midi channels
LED layout was a bit confusing
big footprint
Signal chain is
Guitar in > Fulltone Clyde Wah > Mad Professor Bluebird (top of board) > Mad Professor 1 or Royal Blue (top of board) >Mad Professor Simple (or Zendrive) >Polytune 2 (top of board)
Input Buffer & Switcher unit next... (the above pedals work better pre-buffer)
(then the following pedals in the switcher loops)
Boss CE3 (under board)
MXR Phase 90 (under board)
Boss TR2 (under board)
HoF Mini (under board)
Fulltone Dejavibe (under board)
Providence Chrono Delay (or TC Flashback) - top of board
Strymon Timeline (top of board)
Xotic EP booster > Amp
I must do some more experiments with the Mad Professor pedals and the buffer, I'd like a patch of the Simble + Short delay :-) (the Bluebird is OK but not quite as nice sounding) - having the drives in the loops would be very useful but the MP pedals are designed to see high impedance pickups)
Pros (Es8 based system)
Cons (ES8 based system)
- Lots of potential for reliability issues in the system generally
- Size/weight
Advice- Have a diagram on hand if there's a problem to diagnose (I had an intermittent fault with a Gigrig Distributor terminal, now resolved)
- Have a backup plan in case of failure...mine is to take the Bluebird off the board and use that into the amp (with a spare TU3 tuner in line)
- Keep an LED torch in the case
- Get a rigid plastic case to carry it in (I have one on order), Flight cases are great in vans but destroy the inside of your car plus they add more weight!
I used soldered cables throughout, Switchcraft stubby jacks (model 380) to Hicon pancake generally at the pedal ends with Evidence audio Monorail.Power is a mix of a Decibel Eleven Hot Stone Deluxe plus a Gigrig Generator/Timelord/Isolator/Distributor setup.
Amp is usually a Two Rock Studio Pro plus 35 1x12