Few are the naturally gifted musicians that can play a rhythm without employing a looper pedal to help them through. In truth, if you really want to express yourself musically, you’re going to need to learn how to use a looper pedal sooner rather than later. This is because a looper pedal allows you to record any segment of your performance and then set it on a loop to further your creative outlook. At the same time, you can make all sorts of pitch or speed adjustments on the go.
Having said that, we should point out that not all looper pedals are built to the same standards and that some of them are definitely better than others. As a matter of fact, the good ones are rather difficult to come by on account of how many sib-par models have flooded the market over the years. To help you make the right choice, we put together a list of the ten best looper pedals money can buy for you to look at.
Best Looper Pedals – Reviews
10Coolmusic A-LP01 Digital Circuit Looper Guitar Effects Pedal
The Coolmusic A-LP01 Digital Circuit Looper Guitar Effects Pedal is a uniquely designed gadget that comes equipped with a handy set of features. Featuring a digital circuit with a true bypass, it allows a recording time of up to 10 minutes maximum. Crafted and constructed from high-quality, durable components, it features a single control knob for adjusting the volume levels and comes equipped with an input and output jack. It also comes with a low-noise level feature that delivers an exceptional playback and high-quality recording. Other functions include unlimited overdub, undo, redo and delete recording controls.
9Ammoon Electric Guitar Effect Pedal
Made from premium grade aluminum alloy, the Ammoon Electric Guitar Effect Pedal is known for its compact size and premium durability. Offering up to 10 minutes of recording, it allows unlimited overdubs and comes with additional features that include an undo, redo and delete functions. Easy to use and adjust, the pedal is designed with a single key that can be utilized to control all its functions. It also comes with a single knob for quick and easy volume control, along with an LED light to indicate the status of the pedal.
8Electro-Harmonix 360 Nano Looper Effects Pedal
Thanks to a robust die-cast metal casing, the Electro-Harmonix 360 Nano Looper Effects Pedal comes equipped with a momentary footswitch that is noise-free. Providing you with optimum control and flexibility of use, the pedal allows up to 360 seconds of looping which can be further divided into 11 different kinds of loops. Producing exceptional sound quality, this pedal allows unlimited overdubbing without degradation. Designed with a simple layout, it allows you to record loops, erase loops, undo and redo, and overdub with quickly and easily.
7Donner Looper Effects Pedal
This pedal is designed to deliver limitless overdubs with 10 minutes of looping, which makes the Donner Looper Effects Pedal a top-notch choice by most standards. Including an undo and redo feature, it comes equipped with true bypass and 48 kHz of uncompressed audio. Featuring a single knob for controlling the sound level, it includes an input and output jack and an LED light to show the status of the pedal. Made from high-quality aluminum alloy, the pedal is strong, durable and compact in size.
6BOSS Audio RC-3 Loop Station Pedal
Considered to be one of the best of its kind, Audio RC-3 Loop Station Pedal from the popular brand BOSS comes equipped with everything you need. Powerful, compact in size and high performing, this pedal allows up to 3 hours of stereo recording time with a storage space enough to hold 99 different loops. It also features a real drums rhythm guide and a USB 2.0 port that allows easy connectivity to your PC for import and export of audio files. Equipped with a single knob for volume control, it also allows you to adjust the tempo via the tap tempo control.
5Digitech JMSXT Jamman Solo XT Stereo Looper
Crafted with the ability to store over 35 minutes of high-quality audio loops, the Digitech JMSXT Jamman Solo XT Stereo Looper is designed with 200 internal memories. Thanks to its unique design, the pedal also allows you to insert a micro-SDHC card to store 16 hours of audio in 200 additional memory slots. Made from heavy-duty metal, the gadget offers optimum durability and reliability. Featuring an inclusive power supply, this gadget can be used for recording loops and soloing over them, hands-free. It also allows you to minimize and maximize the speed of the loop without altering the pitch, while its aux input allows you to import music from other audio devices.
4Rowin Tiny Looper Electric Guitar Effect Pedal
Light in weight and compact in size, the Rowin Tiny Looper Electric Guitar Effect Pedal is a convenient, ultra-durable gadget that is made from high-quality zinc alloy. Providing you with up to 10 minutes of looping and recording, it offers unlimited overdubs and features a redo, undo, and delete function. Easy to operate, it comes equipped with a single knob for adjusting the volume level and also comes with a USB cable that allows you to upload and download files from your desktop.
3Kokko Guitar Loop Pedal
Delivering an exceptional musical experience, the Kokko Guitar Loop Pedal is designed with a great set of features and functions. Easy to operate and control, it comes equipped with a single knob that can be utilized to record, overdub, undo, redo, erase and store your current loop. It also features a knob that controls the volume level and comes equipped with an LED indicator that shows the status of the pedal. Durable, compact in size and lightweight, the pedal is also equipped with skid-resistant rubber pads on the bottom that helps in providing optimum stability.
2TC Electronics Ditto Looper Effects Pedal
This exquisite looper pedal can deliver up to 5 minutes of looping time, which means that the TC Electronics Ditto Looper Effects Pedal is one of the most convenient and high performing gadgets of its kind. Equipped with an AC power adapter, the pedal contains an ultra-small footprint and takes up little to no space on your pedalboard. Easy to operate, it features unlimited dubs and an undo-redo function. Thanks to its internal memory, the pedal retains the created loops even if the power source is shut off. Designed with a single knob it allows easy control of the volume on your loops.
1Zoom G1on Guitar Effects Pedal
Equipped with 75 different high-quality sound effects, the Zoom G1on Guitar Effects Pedal features a heavy-duty casing that is ultra-durable and reliable. Uniquely designed, the pedal allows simultaneous use of 5 different effects, helping you to create musical masterpieces in minutes. Featuring 100 memory locations, it allows you to store your creations with ease. Including an onboard chromatic tuner and looper, the pedal features 100 different effects like distortion, reverb, compression, delay and more. Overall, it is one of the most reliable and accessible looper pedals out there.
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What To Look For In A Looper Pedal
Although they don’t really differ that much from one another in regards to their design and general purpose, looper pedals can definitely outperform each other through their accessibility, performance, and versatility. Depending on the style of music you commonly play, you might want a looper pedal with a specific set of features. To ensure that you’re getting the right quality, you should first and foremost take the time and learn about what exactly makes a decent looper pedal and what to look for when buying one.
Organic Sound
A good looper pedal should always deliver an authentic and organic sound output. In this respect, you need to be wary of sonic interferences or any type of sub-standard rendering, not just for the musical component but also for helping you with the creative process. While good, top-shelf pedals tend to deliver a reasonable output, you can’t shouldn’t just look for a big brand and be done with it. Instead, pay close attention to the Hz output and whether it can be paired with stand-alone sound systems.
Functions
You should also pay close attention to the inbuilt functions and features of a looper pedal as they determine how much depth you can have when composing or playing a song. For instance, many such loopers have a tempo feature along with a rhythm function, both essential for any experienced musician. At the same time, a good looper pedal will also possess a pitch changer feature, a reverse function, and a whole lot more.
Construction
A good looper pedal should above all be able to withstand the test of time. Seeing how intensely some of these pedals are used, they really need to be rather sturdy and durable by most standards. Along with a sturdy construction, a looper pedal should have strong electric circuits and be able to take a fair bit of abuse before showing any signs of damage. In principle, you want a device that will provide you with good value for money while still looking rather nice from an aesthetic point of view.
Footswitches
The footswitches of a looper pedal allow for greater control of the device, which is definitely something that experienced musicians want. In fact, footswitches can control a wide variety of functions starting from the recording, the playback, the loop, and much more. unlike single-switch models, many modern looper pedals will employ multiple footswitches to operate the device’s many functions, thus providing you with a greater versatility overall.
Loop Length
Another thing you want to take into account is whether the pedal features any restrictions on the loop length. Although many musicians do not really care about the length of the loop, there are still plenty of those who do. We should point out, however, that most people require a loop length of about one minute or so. This changes when working on more complex pieces that require about five or even ten-minute loops, which is what most high-end looper pedals can deliver with ease.
Loop Storage
Many are those who wish to save their created loops for later use, and yet, not many looper pedals possess such a feature. So what you want is to invest in a looper pedal with internal storage and even file transfer capabilities. While some of the base models already possess a decent internal storage function with a fair bit of space, more advanced models can also have the option to employ external SDHC cards for extra storage.
Mono VS Stereo Loopers
As the name suggests, some looper pedals employ a mono output while others allow for a stereo output through a stereo rig or similar technology. With stereo inputs, for instance, you get two IN jacks that enable you to be a bit more creative if you see fit. This is achieved with the help of separate amps or a plug-in microphone that you can use as a secondary input. At the same time, you can use the stereo input to add vocals or any other type of sound that might help with your creative process.
Effects
On the subject of loop effects, let us point out that not many people actually use them on account of how much they change the natural sound of the instrument. You need to understand that some of the flashy effects a looper pedal incorporates are only good for having fun when you first use the device. In the long run, however, very few people actually make use of these effects because of how much they alter the original sound and pitch of the composition.
Accessories
It needs to be said that most looper pedals can be used just as you purchase them, with no need for additional accessories. You will, of course, need the occasional power adapter or extension cord. Other than that, however, it is highly unlikely that you will run into a looper pedal that requires you to employ any third-party tools or gadgets. That said, you would do well to invest in a pedalboard to help you make the most out of whatever looper pedal you currently use.
