Hi guys, I hope you're all doing well.

I got myself a bluetooth MIDI footswitch recently, and I'm trying to set up a system for live looping on guitar using my notebook.

You know, add some drums using my drum pad MIDI controller, some keyboards, bass, then guitar, and so on.

These things can get really complex, so I wonder if any of you have any experience with this and could help me create a solid system.

I know I would eventually create a perfect system for my workflow, but I'm aware that it could take months, so any advice is welcome.

My main DAWs are Studio One and Bitwig, but I'm open to studying other DAWs/Hosts if they work better for this purpose.

For guitar, I'm mostly using Tonex/Amplitube, Helix, and NAM stuff.

Thank you!

 

Studio One Looping like in Ableton Live

Can You Use Studio One as a Looper? | PreSonus

 

If you have an iPad have a look at some videos on TY about Loopy Pro, its awesome and controllable from various MIDI devices including foot switches.

This guy does some good videos

 

Reaper does it too.

 

Nabla Looper in Reaper, can also do arranged live looping:

 

For live looping, I mainly use Gig performer as a host (I just like working with it, but anything should work)
As a looper, I'm using mobius (best looper ever. And it's free, but only 32 bit..) or Audiodamage Enso, which is paid and expensive, but also very nice.

This is my routing in Gig performer:


And this is my setup with buttons and all:



For midi: I have the arturia minilab mk2, a very cheap 4 buttons midi foot controller (m-vave chocolat )and an even cheaper pedal for wah, or fade in-out.

 

I am sure I read somewhere that Mobius 3 was now 64bit

 

Do you know Enso?


https://www.audiodamage.com/products/ad049-enso

 

You're right! I didn't know Thanks for pointing this out. So, no more Jbridge for me

 

You are very welcome Barbatron

 

Whatever you end up using I can vouch for Behringer FCB-1010 as a foot MIDI controller. 10 switches and two rocker pedals, all configurable.

Dead easy to configure using the Mountain Utilities FCB editor if you have basic MIDI knowledge (know the note and control change messages, really): https://mountainutilities.eu/fcb1010

I use this to control Ableton, but I've got a template using the built in Looper effect just for guitar looping. Great fun.

 

I have been using ableton (and it's looper, which I like very much for its simplicity) in my bedroom performances (a pre recorded drum loop, and then I add guitars and some synth with the looper). But... I was trying to find smth else cuz ableton has a little latency when recording and monitoring audio (the recording is always a little off (just some milliseconds), which can be a problem for super tight riffs). So, following this thread.
PS: I am experimenting with the melda super looper recently, and I think it will be an option.

 

Take a look to the Korg - nanoKONTROL2 is not expensive 59 € --> www.korg.com/us/products/computergear/nanokontrol2/

 

I've been considering getting a foot MIDI controller, never knew about this one, this looks really good and a good price too.

Thanks for the suggestion.

 

Sales rank at thomann 2nd place 155 EUR

AudioSexPro Links:

Ableton 9 + FCB1010 = latency ? https://audiosex.pro/threads/ableton-9-fcb1010-latency.43902/
Behringer FCB1010 - Has anyone figured it out? https://audiosex.pro/threads/behringer-fcb1010-has-anyone-figured-it-out.72281/
Can't get presets in cubase elements 11 with Behringer FCB1010 https://audiosex.pro/threads/cant-get-presets-in-cubase-elements-11-with-behringer-fcb1010.60221/
Behringer FCB1010 Midi Foot Controller Video Manual/Tutorial https://audiosex.pro/threads/behringer-fcb1010-midi-foot-controller-video-manual-tutorial.32909/

 

Get the free Mountain Utilities editor if you decide to get one, it makes life so much easier as programming the controller with your feet is a bit... challenging at first. Doable though, and most people don't need tens of layouts.

 

Have just tried it, but... I cannot figure out how undo an overdub without clearing the whole loop (no undo function for overdubs? Or am I missing something?).

 

It doesn't have undo as far as I know. It's designed to be an abstract version of a tape machine with multiple play/record heads, I guess that's why.

Good for sound design and messing about, not so good for creating looped takes in my opinion.

 

If you are not going to buy some device, MSuperLooper is generally considered one of the better software options. But if you are having issue with lag in Ableton, I would consider doing it in REAPER. I have lag with new versions in Ableton doing nearly anything, but newest Reaper runs as smoothly as Logic. Couldn't hurt to try, you wouldn't be learning an entire new DAW; just some easy stuff.

 

Hey folks, just came back to give you some impressions from my testings in the last few hours.
Mobius 3 - wow, almost had a stroke to set it up. Extremely deep, so be prepared to RTFM. Even so, could not find if it is possible to set loop length (pre define it) when Mobius is in sync with your daw. And, at least in my system, it makes some audio glitches now and them.
Enso - no undo for overdubs. Well, be prepared to never make a mistake after recording your first loop. For live situations that is a big problem.
Melda Superlooper: still trying to figure some things out. For now, very promissing (you can set loop length beforehand, and can undo an overdub if needed). Let's see.
Ableton looper: still a favorite, but it is on the (maybe too) simple side of things.

 

Last edited: Nov 1, 2024