You mentioned the cycloops. I've been using this for the last couple of years, and it is stereo. However, it does not have feedback, nor midi, so it doesn't really fit your bill. Although it doesn't have a remote, it's a fairly easy modification to add a footswitch, which I've done. It is a really quirky device. Here's a review which I sent to LD some while ago, but never got published;
Review of the Red Sound Soundbite XL (formerly known as 'Cycloops')
This is a somewhat unusual product for loopers, especially those of us who do not have a DJing background. It has 6 stereo loop memories of predefined length, but the length of the loop is measured in BPM rather than seconds. It attempts to latch on to the incoming sound and measure the BPM automatically, which for guitar based looping, fails miserably just about every time. However, it is easy to manually set the BPM prior to recording a loop (by either tapping in a tempo or manually selecting with the data wheel). The preset sample lengths are arranged in 3 groups, with the following possibilities;
Group 1 - 16, 8, 4, 4, 2, 1 beats
Group 2 - 16, 8, 4, 1, 1/2, 1/4 beats
Group 3 - 32, 4, 4, 1, 1/2, 1/4 beats
The lowest BPM setting is 60, which would equate to sampling times of 16, 8, 4, 4, 2, 1 seconds for the pads in group 1, or a longest sample of 32 seconds in group 3. All in glorious stereo.
Inputs and outputs are on 2 pairs of phono (RCA) sockets at the top of the unit. There is also a handy headphone output at the bottom of the unit that allows only the input to be monitored - there is no sample output from this socket. I actually find this really useful, as It allows a clean signal feed on to my other devices.
Recording and playback is started by simply pressing one of the 6 sample pad buttons. This is quite awkward for a guitarist, and there is no option for footswitch or auto-trigger record start. The recording continues to the end of the sample time, there is no way of shortening a loop.
There are some very neat features. It has a really nice sounding analogue filter, selectable HP, LP or BP which can filter either the sample pads or incoming 'live' signal. Unfortunately, the filter will work only on ALL the sample pads together, not individual samples. The filter resonance or cut off frequency is controllable via the large data wheel.
In addition, it has a handy reverse function which reverses any individual (or combination of) sample pads.
It is absurdly simple to use (don't forget, it's a DJ tool, he, he). simply press a sample pad to start the recording, then the sample will automatically playback and loop repeatedly at the end of the sample. If you make a mistake, simply press re-sample, then the sample pad again to re-record. All the pads continue playing in forward or reverse mode, all synced nicely together. If you need to time shift a sample, just press and hold a sample pad and joggle the data wheel to bring it forwards or backwards in relation to the other loops. It is also possible to time-shift all the samples simultaneously by just turning the jog-wheel in either direction.
Individual samples can be turned off and on by pressing the sample pad once, when recorded. There is no way of erasing a single sample (but this is not necessary, simply turn it off or re-record sample with silence). There is an Erase All samples button, which activates if held down for half a second. Its a bit too easy to accidentally erase everything, so approach this button with caution.
The output level of each individual sample can easily be set between -20dB and +6dB, although there is a 'click' as the OP goes from +5 to +6dB or vice versa. It would be nice if the OP could go below -20dB, as this doesn't quite allow for a loop to be faded out completely (nearly though).
An undocumented feature is that, once a sample is recorded, the playback speed can be altered by changing the BPM setting. Again, this is a global feature affecting all samples, but allows for various pitch shifting effects.
You will have assumed by now that there is no way of proper looping on this because of the lack of any sort of overdubbing etc. Well, overdubbing is possible, in fact. One handy feature is that when re-sampling a loop, the old track you are recording over continues to play back. So, if you feed back some of that 'old' sample into the mixer and add it into the new sample mix, the old and new sounds will be overdubbed onto the new loop. This may seem a bit crude, but it actually works OK, but it is totally destructive, so if you mess up the dub, you are stuffed.
The sound quality is stunning, and I have no reason to doubt the manuals specs of 24 bit 96kHz sampling. I would have personally preferred to have a lower sample rate giving longer sample time. The total possible sample time (at 60bpm) is 35 seconds (using group 1 samples), 29.75 seconds (using group 2) or 41.75 secs (group 3), but remember that these are split over 6 samples per group.
If you have ever used a Yamaha SU10, you will see some similarities. There are some advantages to the SU10 (including flexibility in the sample lengths and in the recording quality and hence available total sample time, more options for the way the loops are replayed, syncing up with other devices). However, the Soundbite is much more geared towards live use, with a great filter and instantaneous looping after recording, plus recording further loops while playing back other loops. It would be perfectly do-able (although quite weird) to use the Soundbite as your main looper on stage, but this is not something you could ever do with the SU10.
It is actually quite exciting to use this as a looper, and opens up certain possibilities for live use, provided you are able to cope with the fixed sample lengths. Highly recommended.
Further details can be found at
www.redsound.com/images/SoundBITE_XL_manual.pdf
