For some people, the only functionality required from a looper pedal is to track chords to jam over at home, while others use a looper for more capabilities as they explore the potential of multiple tracks and samples onstage.
Boss RC-1 Loop Station
The Boss RC-1 Loop Station is a great pick for anyone new to the world of looping. The RC-1 is an incredibly user-friendly pedal as it’s intuitive, cost-effective, and – with it being a Boss product, you’re sure of being built to last. Boss’s RC-1 has a large display means it’s impossible to lose track of where you’re in your loop, and the stereo ins/outs make it a very flexible option for running multiple amplifiers.
The looper is a good entry-level into the Loop Station series and probably the most basic looper on offer from the historic pedal company. Boss has stripped the RC-1 back to its bare essentials, meaning there’s nothing to get in the way of your creativity. At the heart of the pedal is the innovative LED display, giving a visual indicator of where you are in your loop, as well as which of the three modes you are in – record, overdub, or playback.
Performance
As this is Boss’s most basic version as a loop station, it leads to it missing some few key features which can be found on the more expensive models. One of the main features that are lacking with this looper is storage. While it will save the last thing you recorded – if you turn the pedal off – it won’t let you save multiple loops to go back to. This limits the RC-1 a little in a live situation. There’s also no USB port present for downloading your loops to a computer and even uploading pre-recorded loops to the pedal itself. However, taking into consideration its price point, this isn’t really a concern. Although, if you do find yourself longing for these features, then it’s worth looking at Boss’s RC-5 or RC-500.
Another important note is that the RC-1 doesn’t come with a power supply. Like other loopers, it’s relatively power-hungry and therefore doesn’t last that long with a battery, so it’s highly recommended to have a quality pedalboard power supply.
Boss’s RC-1 has both stereo inputs/outputs, and while this may not seem like a big deal, it comes in very handy. Having this feature allows you to run two guitar amps for stereo effects, i.e. delay and reverb or the ability to run stereo instruments such as synths, keyboards, or drum machines.
If you’ve owned a Boss pedal before, then you’ll know exactly what to expect with the RC-1. Housed in the iconic compact case, this pedal feels practically bomb-proof. Boss is so confident in its near indestructibility that they even give an impressive five-year warranty – which is good for something you energetically stomp on.
Although it may not be as small as its contemporaries, it has a larger footprint allowing for a more significant surface area for your foot to hit – meaning it’s one less thing to worry about when you’re playing.
Overall
The RC-1 is a great choice if you’re looking for something simple. However, if you’re looking for more features. i.e. multiple memory slots or built-in drum patterns, then you’ll have to look elsewhere.
Ditto Looper
If you don’t need a huge looper with multiple channels and advanced features, then the Ditto Looper by TC Electronic is one of the best options available. Not only is it relatively cheap, but the looper also has a high-quality sound, and barely takes up any space on your pedalboard.
TC Electronics Ditto Looper is an affordable but valuable pedal that packs a lot of impressive features, considering the fact that it’s extremely small.
Design
One of the Ditto Loopers’ biggest advantages is its small size. It’s also well-built, therefore you can count on it lasting for a very long time, even if you’re using it frequently.
Performance
As TC Electronics wanted to make sure that you could record anything with the Ditto and hear it being played back with the best quality possible, they went with an analog dry-through signal path, letting you record your loops in 24-bit uncompressed audio.
Overall
TC Electronics Ditto Looper is great if you’re looking for affordability and simplicity, although if you’re serious about looping you’ll soon come to wish there were more features.
Conclusion
The Boss RC-1 and Ditto Looper are both great options for a first pedal. Both loopers are small, have intuitive controls and provide excellent sound quality, although both loopers are very similar when it comes to features.
If you want a looper that is more complete and aren’t worried about how big they are, then you can find other alternatives that have added features such as multiple individual channels for more complex loops, and effects, among others.