New Looper Design

robbiemcm · March 02, 2006, 11:47:45 AM

Alright, I've decided I'm going to go ahead and get the bits to build this. Slacker obviously has a switching scheme that works, and I figure by the time I get around to building it myself we will have at least one finished version. It'll also be easier than anything out there, and I know where to get help directly from if I have any questions.

Also, when browsing on futurlec it appears as though I have the choice of 60, 90, or 120 sec chips. the 90 and 120 are both $10.51 but the 60 is $11.90 ... why would the ones with more recording time be cheaper? Is there a loss in sound quality for these ICs? And does the P at the end of ISD2560P mean anything that I have to take not of, or will that chip be fine.

Robbie

nelson · March 02, 2006, 02:19:58 PM

I still have all the key parts for this in my bins, waiting for it to be verified. I had given up on this and was going to do my own design. But the momentum is building again, so I will wait.

I think I got the 120 second chip.

bond · March 02, 2006, 10:22:37 PM

mmm i've given up ...
decided i will sell something and buy a really good one like an rc-20 or jamman
i think building a pt80 and univibe should keep me feeling good inside for the next few months

really want to be able to overdub ...
mmm i could build two of these an hook them up together, but buying one that has voice in it + save loops mmmmmmm (reverse to me just sounds ugly)

robbiemcm · March 04, 2006, 04:08:37 AM

I'm sticking with, I don't really know any place you would be able to buy a looper like this. Other than ZVex, but that's like $500 and I expect I would get this right before the 5th time round building it, and end up with a similar product. Minus the awesome painting.

bond · March 04, 2006, 05:15:27 AM

http://www.digitech.com/products/JamMan/JamMan.htm

gonna buy myself a jamman.

for more:
http://www.loopers-delight.com/tools/tools.html
an for some interestin clips:
http://www.loopers-delight.com/files/

also a really good example is from 4:00min on of:
http://www.howieday.com/live_site/video/sorrysosorry_bwryvidfull_300.asx

A.S.P. · March 04, 2006, 05:59:51 AM

E-H 2880 Multitrack Looper (scroll down)
or 16 Second Delay (scroll down further...)

bond · March 04, 2006, 08:06:41 AM

mmm in all the reviews i've read, the jamman is rated superior until the boss RC-50 comes out ....
the eh16sec is more catered to the studio

robbiemcm · March 05, 2006, 08:50:09 PM

The JamMan is so bulky it looks like it's basically a computer that you're feeding your guitar into, and I much prefer building stuff myself. The path is clear for me, I'm sticking with this one

bond · March 06, 2006, 12:45:15 AM

for what it can do, its terrible small, 17cm*14cm
considering a 1590bb is 9.4cm*12cm it really on doubles in width
99saved loops something like 6hours of recorded tracks
overdub, reverse, can do guitar+mic+aux at the same time.

the only thing that will beat it will be the boss rc-50 but thats a whole pedalboard.

robbiemcm · March 10, 2006, 10:41:15 PM

I think I'll get the 60 second chip, I don't see how the ones with more storage time can be cheaper unless they sound worse. I'd look at the data sheets to find some differences but I have no experience reading them and have no idea what to look for, nor what they would mean.

ethrbunny · March 10, 2006, 11:55:28 PM

What are the chances of PCBs being made?

Do any of these designs let you turn on / off the playback without starting a record cycle?

IE play -> record/play -> play + playback -> play -> play + playback

does that make sense?

slacker · March 11, 2006, 07:15:36 AM

Not quite sure what you mean but here's how it works. You've got 2 switches play/record and bypass.
Play/record switches between play and record so if the unit's playing and you press the switch it starts recording. If it's recording and you press the switch it plays back what you've just recorded.
The bypass switch is true bypass that also stops the unit when it's bypassed. So if you want to stop playback you press the bypass switch, when you press the bypass switch again it engages the effect and starts playback from the start of the loop. You can also change play/record whilst it's bypassed.
I'm thinking of adding a toggle switch to give a mode that wouldn't stop the unit whilst it's bypassed. The loop would carry on playing in bypass mode, but you wouldn't hear it. Then when you engage the effect the loop would be playing where ever it is in the cycle. This might be quite useful for more ambient sounds.

ethrbunny · March 11, 2006, 10:05:30 AM

On the cheesiest level - imagine the chorus to a song. Angels weeping, cherubs singing, etc etc. You have pre-recorded this magical moment in your looper. You only want it to play during the chorus and then hush up. You want a switch to start the playback from its beginning. The same beginning every time.

slacker · March 11, 2006, 10:15:18 AM

yes it will do that, the starting at the begining part that is I don't know if it will manage choirs of angels

basically put it in play mode, then press bypass which puts the loop back to the start and bypasses the effect. Then when you want to kick in the chorus press bypass again and the loop starts from the begining. At the end of the chorus press bypass again the effect shuts up and the loop goes back to the beginning.

ethrbunny · March 11, 2006, 10:45:55 AM

Niiiiiice. Will it keep looping indef or just 1x?

Jaicen_solo · March 11, 2006, 11:11:13 AM

Well, by definition it has to loop to be a looper

It would be quite easy to add a switch that will pause the looper at any point, allowing it to resume at that point. From memory I think you have to take the CE pin high for pause and low for play, but i'd have to check the schem to be sure.

ethrbunny · March 11, 2006, 11:30:58 AM

Ok. Ive been wanting to build one (another) of these. I have 2 of the 120 chips and lots of the parts still stuck to my semi-functional Gurutheta box... not to mention a nice box that needs to be used. I can track down another few sockets and give it a whirl.

EDIT: where is the latest spec for this new(er) design? Sounds like its still in the mod phase.

robbiemcm · March 12, 2006, 12:12:22 PM

If a circuit designer had a lot of time on their hands could they make it be able to record over the top of one recording by using two chips, and simply playing one and combining its output and the guitar into the other one?

puretube · March 12, 2006, 01:25:07 PM

The Tone God · March 12, 2006, 02:03:57 PM

Quote from: robbiemcm on March 12, 2006, 12:12:22 PM
If a circuit designer had a lot of time on their hands could they make it be able to record over the top of one recording by using two chips, and simply playing one and combining its output and the guitar into the other one?

Its possible but it will not be very smooth. Remember that tick at the end of the loops ?

Andrew

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New Looper Design