Jamman with a live band?

[waz]

Does anyone use the Jamman to loop rhythm guitar parts in a live band situation??? I just got a jamman, and it seems to me it would be too difficult to do. I could see it working for sound FX/noise type things but not for rhythm guitar parts. I play in a three-piece. And it seems it would be difficult for everyone to keep time and to record a perfect loop during a live performace. WHAT DO YOU THINK? peace.

[nick robinson]

waz said:

And it seems it would be difficult for everyone to keep time and to record a perfect loop during a live performace.

It needs 2 things - firstly you've got to be nimble with your feet to set the start/finish timing - there's no chance to redo it mid-song and it quickly sounds *terrible* if you're not "in" with the rest of the band.

Secondly, you need a drummer who a) can hear your loop and b) can sync with it - both can be tricky.

I tend to use it to start riffs to which the band will come in with, but even then, things quickly drift without excellent monitoring for the drummer.

[Stephen Scott]

Here's an idea. If you can persuade your drummer to play to a click track, this might work, or at least give you some ideas.

What I've done on my RC20XL (which is v similar to the new jamman - btw are you using the new or old jamman?) is to set up various loops of EXACT fixed lengths silence. eg, 4, 8, 16, 32 seconds. You need to ensure that the drummer hears a click at a bpm which is an exact sub-multiple of the loop length, for example 60bpm for the above using 4/4 time. Then, with the silent loop continuously running, you can punch record loops in and out as required, and all should be in sync. I have just started using this technique when I want to ensure that my RC20 syncs up nicely with my Soundbite Cycloops, and it works really well.

There is a problem in doing this, which is you won't be able to stop the loop and re-start it if (when!) it does go out of sync. To do this, you'd have to ensure that you started the silent loop running exactly on the 1st beat.

I hope this makes some sort of sense!

[van Sinn]

Stephen said: btw are you using the new or old jamman?

I'm not aware of diffs between old/new models; what are they, and what physically destinguish old/new ones (needed if shopping off evilbay) ?


I guess you're saying MIDI sync doesn't work properly. I see no provision for manually realigning the tempo. Would it be dooable through MIDI, having a CC button arranged for this? Don't really see how (not having a Jamman doesn't help either ).

Been over Bob's revised Jamman software, but it doesn't seem to mention these sync problems.

I guess there's a reason why Per Boysen suggested obtaining an EDP
Only, though he says they're down to $400+ used, I don't have that, and AFAICT it's still mono, right?

Any experiense with modding a Reflex into a Reman?
Not that it would make sync'in any different.. AFAIK hardware should be mostly identical..

[Stephen Scott]

vansinn said:

Stephen said: btw are you using the new or old jamman?

I'm not aware of diffs between old/new models; what are they, and what physically destinguish old/new ones (needed if shopping off evilbay) ?


I guess you're saying MIDI sync doesn't work properly. I see no provision for manually realigning the tempo. Would it be dooable through MIDI, having a CC button arranged for this? Don't really see how (not having a Jamman doesn't help either ).

Old = Lexicon 1U rack version (I think does have midi)
New = Digitech floor pedal (doesn't have midi)

[waz]

Thanks for everyone's input.

Are there any loopers better/easier to use in a live band situation?
Or do they all work the same?

[andybutler]

waz said:

Thanks for everyone's input.

Are there any loopers better/easier to use in a live band situation?
Or do they all work the same?

To loop a rhythm guitar part should be possible with any loop sampler. I've actually looped a bass line with band using a JamMan and it worked pretty good.
Some units have features which might help to keep sync, but essentially it's down to the drummer to keep with it, the other guys not to put them off, and you to tap in a well timed clearly played loop.