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Post by gasman on Feb 6, 2012 16:37:18 GMT -5
...Digitech multi-effects pedals in my stable! Call me crazy, but I bought a third RP*** multi-effects pedal. It is an RP155 and I bought it for it's looping capability. So far, I love it. Here is a photo of all three of my Digitech RPs:  The one on the left is my RP50, which I bought in 2008, when I was first getting into electric guitar. It's a good pedal to start out with. I like it because it's small and compact, but after a while, I started wondering about the models that come with an expression pedal built in. That's where the second pedal in the picture comes in. It is an RP200. I bought it for next to nothing off of Craigslist last year. It is an older, American made version and is made very well. I like it not only because of the expression pedal, but because it has an auxiliary input and a dedicated headphone jack. I can hook up an mp3 player with backing tracks, or the audio from a computer based training video to it and play along. The headphone jack comes in handy late at night too. My newest edition is the black RP155. It has a 20 second looper on it. I had never used a looper before, so I decided to give one a try. So far, I really like it. The looper on this model is very basic and easy to use (which is a good thing). Anyway, I am running short on time on this post, but I will add to this thread and explain a little more about my RP155 a little later. |
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Post by Mohikanas on Feb 7, 2012 18:09:57 GMT -5
Hey man, great stuff. I really don't know much about these bad boys, maybe that's why I'm afraid to buy them  RP200 seems quite handy... but how does the looper work? |
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Post by pwfirst on Feb 8, 2012 20:23:34 GMT -5
It is great to see the little family growing . |
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Post by gasman on Feb 11, 2012 3:04:59 GMT -5
Hey man, great stuff. I really don't know much about these bad boys, maybe that's why I'm afraid to buy them RP200 seems quite handy... but how does the looper work? Sorry it took me a while to post again, I've been pretty busy with work this week (again, that's a good thing). Anyway, when I was researching this looper, I came across this video which expains the looper quite well: What this person didn't demonstrate was the ability to add an overdub to your inititial loop. This is also very easy. While in 'playback' mode, you press the left footswitch again and keep it pressed as you play over your existing loop. When you are done, just let go of the footswitch and the new loop you just created with an overdub starts playing. In an earlier post, I had mentioned that you could add as many overdubs as you wanted, as long as they were each not more than 20 seconds. I found out that your initial loop length dictates the length of each additional overdub. In other words, if your initial loop is 10 seconds, for example, your overdub loops can't be over 10 seconds each. So it's to your benefit to make your first loop as close to 20 seconds as possible. That gives you more time for your additional overdubs. As the video shows, it's pretty simple and easy to use. What I like about it is that you can create a loop, stop it, and then change presets and play your loop again and play over it or overdub it using the new preset. The only drawback that people have commented about is the fact that you cannot use the drum machine while using the looper. If I ever get fancy enough to want to use a drum machine and the looper at the same time, all I have to do is add the RP200 after the RP155 and use the RP200 drum machine. Since the RP200 also has an AUX input, I could also place it in front of the RP155 and add additional sounds to loop through the RP155 using the PR200's AUX input. I tried doing just that the other night. I have a keyboard that allows me to record a limited sequence of notes on it, so I played some notes and recorded them and then hooked the keyboard up to the RP200 AUX input, with the RP200 in front of the RP155, and I was able to loop my recorded keyboard notes. My RP200 is an older version. Now DigiTech has the RP255 which is just like the RP200, but it also has a 20 second looper like the RP155. Overall, I'm having fun (when I get a chance) with my RP pedals. They are all very easy to use. I find myself using the manual a lot to see what the codes are for the different "tone libraries" and "effects libraries", but with time, I will find my favorites and start remembering the codes. The RP155 also allows you to set up your presets using a computer through a USB cable. I downloaded the software from DigiTech, but I will probably not use it that much (I like making adjustments on the pedal itself rather than on a computer). As for my RP50, I'll probably end up giving that to my son when he is old enough to understand it.  |
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Post by gasman on Feb 11, 2012 3:10:07 GMT -5
It is great to see the little family growing . Yeah, I'm having fun with these multi-effects units. This is probably my limit though. I don't see myself being a pedal connoisseur like RK ;D! |
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Post by lesblues on Feb 13, 2012 16:10:20 GMT -5
sounds like you are having a good time GMan. Whenever I try to use a looper I never seem to get the rhythm right, it always runs away with its self. But then I haven't found a metronome that isn't already broken either. They never seem able to keep the same time as me!
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Post by gasman on Feb 16, 2012 20:29:35 GMT -5
sounds like you are having a good time GMan. Whenever I try to use a looper I never seem to get the rhythm right, it always runs away with its self. But then I haven't found a metronome that isn't already broken either. They never seem able to keep the same time as me! Well, this pedal has a metronome, but it is part of the drum machine, and supposedly, you can't use the drum machine while using the looper (I haven't tried it). But my RP200 also has a drum machine, which should also have a metronome (again, I haven't tried it), so I could hook up the RP200 after the RP155 and use the drum machine on the RP200. I was checking out the computer software you can use with the RP155, and it is pretty cool. You can change presets and store them in different locations on the RP155 pretty easily (plus you can name them). I even found a preset that is set up to emulate a bass, so I relocated it closer to the presets I like so far. That way, I have a whole three or four piece band I can use with the looper function - guitar, bass, and drums (from the RP200)! I normally don't like to use my guitar in front of my main computer (It is the computer that has the internet access necessary for downloading the software). My set up is too cramped around that computer. I have an older computer where I keep my guitars and my amps that I use for computer based-lessons (non-internet). So, I will probably only use the RP155 software along with the guitar once in a while, but it is cool to have anyway. Good times to be had, Les (when I find the time)! ;D |
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Post by 469roadking on Mar 3, 2012 16:24:11 GMT -5
HA!!! I've infected you with my sickness!! ;-). Congrats dude. I just bought my first looper as well. And am in the process of re re re doing my pedal board this year. Bought and sold another round of pedals and then decided to go back to the modded pedal route. Waiting on the last one to get here next week and then I'll rewire and shoot you a pic.
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Post by gasman on Mar 3, 2012 20:25:14 GMT -5
HA!!! I've infected you with my sickness!! ;-). Congrats dude. I just bought my first looper as well. And am in the process of re re re doing my pedal board this year. Bought and sold another round of pedals and then decided to go back to the modded pedal route. Waiting on the last one to get here next week and then I'll rewire and shoot you a pic. You're a dangerous man, RK ;D! What kind of looper did you get? After I got my RP155, I found a Boss looper for $100 on CL just 40 miles up the road. I was REALLY tempted to go get it, but I was able to resist! I really like my RP155, even if it isn't a fully dedicated looper. The 20 seconds of recording time is all an occasional player like me needs (for the time being). So I guess the sickness isn't too bad on me yet  ! Looking forward to seeing pics of your new setup!  |
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Post by 469roadking on Mar 3, 2012 23:09:12 GMT -5
What's up Gman!!
I traded a compressor (Toadworks Mr. Squishy) for a Boss RC2. It's my first looper so I'm not totally sure what to expect as far as simplicity goes. Hope it's not too complicated.
I've been wanting one for a while so help me work on song passages. At this point I don't see me using it live, just a tool for practicing and writing.
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Post by gasman on Mar 4, 2012 13:54:11 GMT -5
What's up Gman!! I traded a compressor (Toadworks Mr. Squishy) for a Boss RC2. It's my first looper so I'm not totally sure what to expect as far as simplicity goes. Hope it's not too complicated. I've been wanting one for a while so help me work on song passages. At this point I don't see me using it live, just a tool for practicing and writing. Hey RK! The pedal on Craigslist that I almost went after was an RC2 also. The looper on my RP155 is very easy to use, and from what I've read about the RC2, they are pretty easy to use also. I'm only going to use the looper on my RP155 as a practicing tool and maybe home recording, so like I said, the 20 seconds it offers is good enough for me. |
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RP200 seems quite handy... but how does the looper work?
!