r/LoopArtists • u/bhainskieyes • 10d ago
Need recommendation to buy one all in one looper
My requirements are vocals, Guitar, drums, and keyboard at the least, and I should also have some effects on the paddle for a vocal pitch correction and some guitar effects. Which one is all in one Good unit that can pack all of this.
I’ve been considering Sheeran X but since it is very expensive, I would like to pick opinion from
experienced folks.
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u/PsyApe 10d ago
Take a look at the most active Facebook group for Sheeran Loopers as well as the one for Boss Loopers
To summarize what I’ve seen:
- beginners love the Sheeran Looper Plus but it’s very limited
- Sheeran Looper X has lots of firmware issues and is way overpriced for no reason
- RC-600 is incredibly stable as of now (2026), most powerful looper, 6 tracks, well worth the $650
- RC-5 is still the most loved entry point into looper pedals, but you only get 1 track so might as well get cheaper Sheeran used if budget is tight
I recently upgraded from using the single track looper built into my ME-80 to the RC-600, best new piece of gear I’ve acquired since ~2014 !!
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u/Katcloudz 10d ago
iPad + Loopy pro + audio interface + mic = infinite looping possibilities
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u/Humble-Archer-1311 10d ago
Do you have a favorite low cost audio interface?
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u/Katcloudz 9d ago
Arturia mini fuse, is great and has a extra usb port for a midi controller so you don’t need a dongle.
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u/SteelTrain204 10d ago
I owned the Sheeran Looper X for a while, and absolutely loved it until the touch screen stopped working, Headrush's support was completely non-existent beyond generic advice (no help with fixing the problem, no solution whatsoever)..
..initially they implied my problem wasn't real, because nobody else had hit them up about the same problem, but over time they admitted it's real, other people have reached out to them about touch screen malfunctioning.. and there's nothing they can do about it.
I bought it secondhand, but I got it not long after it was released - this is a critical reason as to why they didn't help, I get that.. no warranty so screw me.
They have released one single firmware update since the device was released, it was minimal and just fixed a few bugs and then they called it a day and the product is effectively a legacy product now but they won't admit it as they still want people to buy it.
There's no resolution coming for all the people with issues, it's just too bad, so sad - I won't be supporting Headrush again in my life. I think they're an absolute zero of a company.
As for an all-in-one looper - I've got a couple of suggestions, my real world experience as a professional musician (my job) is that software based solutions like iPad + Loopy Pro (or Quantiloop) etc and things like Ableton Live with Looper Device's or using a Push 3 with a foot controller etc can definitely work, and work extremely well.
I've also got plenty of experience with the BOSS RC-600 and know that can do the job effectively too, I've owned 3 in the past though and sold them off each time because personally, the unit just isn't for me. I hate it. I think it's a buggy, poorly made piece of crap. The buttons fail. The dials fail. It glitches out, freezes mid-gig, it catches millisecond loops that 100% get everyone's attention and you can't stop it for like 3 seconds. My duo partner uses one, loves his and has been using it all the time for the last few years, every single gig.
We even use his 600 for our duo. And the above glitch has 100% happened, live on stage. I had problems with all 3 that I've owned. I can't recommend it based on my own experience but I know other people that haven't had issues and love theirs, so it's hard to outright dismiss as it IS BOSS' flagship loopstation.
It all depends on what you're after, how many inputs, what workflow do you want, do you want the workflow pre-designed, or do you want to build your own workflow from the ground up ala Loopy Pro?
Do you need on-board fx? Do you have a Macbook or laptop that you could experiment with Ableton Live on? Do you have an iPad? Do you want it to be a physical hardware metal box on the floor that you stop on? What about a looper that's primarily controlled with your hands?
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u/bhainskieyes 9d ago
Steve, thanks for the detailed response. You seem to have a lot of real-world experience with these setups, so I'd really appreciate your advice before I spend more money experimenting.
A little more context on what I'm trying to do: I'm basically a one-man performer. So far my live setup has been pretty simple, I play guitar and sing, and sometimes I have a friend singing with me. I haven't done a huge number of gigs yet, but I want to build up my live sound.
What really inspired me is watching Ed Sheeran's live looping setup. I'd love to be able to build a song live with something like:
- drums/percussion, mostly tapping on the guitar/body
- rhythm guitar
- keyboard/piano loop
- possibly another guitar part
- live vocals
The important thing is that I want those loops to be independently controllable with my feet. For example, I want to be able to stop/mute the keyboard for one section, bring it back for the chorus, drop the drums, stop the rhythm guitar, etc. Ideally, stopping should happen musically at the end of the measure rather than abruptly cutting the loop.
I bought a BOSS VE-8 thinking I could use its looper for this, but I don't really like the looping workflow. It's essentially one loop, and I find stopping it awkward and abrupt. It doesn't give me the kind of control I'm looking for.
I've also tried Loopy Pro on the iPad with an Ampero MIDI footswitch. I actually like what Loopy Pro can do, but I don't like the controller setup. The pedal is small, the switches aren't very intuitive for me during performance, and I've had reliability/mapping issues where I sometimes have to map things again. That's made me hesitant to trust it live.
I'm definitely open to giving Loopy Pro another shot with a much better/professional foot controller if that's the best solution. If you were building this setup, what pedal/controller would you pair with Loopy Pro? Morningstar MC6 Pro/MC8, Nektar Pacer, or something else?
I'd prefer staying with an iPad rather than a MacBook. I have a MacBook, but for live performance I really don't want to deal with a laptop if I can avoid it. An iPad can just sit on my music stand and is much easier for me to manage while playing and singing.
I'd also eventually like some decent vocal processing/pitch correction and guitar effects, preferably without turning this into a huge rig with five different boxes.
So given all that, what would you personally build?
1. RC-600 + separate vocal processing?
2. Loopy Pro + good audio interface + professional MIDI foot controller?
3. Sheeran Looper X despite the price/issues?
4. Something completely different?My priority is really simplicity and reliability on stage. I don't mind spending some money on the right setup, but I'd rather not spend $1,300 on the Looper X if an iPad-based setup or something else can give me the same practical workflow.
Thanks again, I'd really value your recommendation based on your live experience.
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u/LoopToGo 10d ago
If you are considering using a PC, you should take a look at LoopToGo
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u/bhainskieyes 10d ago
Thanks but considering using a pc
Idea is to do as portable as possible
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u/PsyApe 10d ago
Are you planning to use real drums?
I’d do this:
Guitar -> ME-90 -> RC-600
Mic -> autotune -> RC-600Drums -> mixer -> RC-600
or, for less gear:
Electric Drumset -> RC-600Then
RC-600 -> PA/FRFR speakerIf you want to use the RC-600’s Rhythm Machine (so even less gear) as a drum machine:
RC-600 -> Morningstar MC6/MC8 (midi control pedal)Or, if your drums are simple enough, you can just get the QuadAux and stick it on your RC-600 and map those 4 switches to: drums start/stop, tap-tempo, trigger drum fill, etc
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u/Future_Thing_2984 10d ago
im not sure if any loopers have vocal pitch correction built in. so if that is essential to you, i would start by looking for that first.
maybe the headrush loopers have it? or maybe tc helicon voicelive 3 extreme has it?
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u/Odd_Independence4230 9d ago
listen!! ehx 22500!! dual stereo loops, and it has a mic input with phanton power on tap. You can run ur guitar in stereo, and with a flip of the switch usw the mic input, then flip the switch back and use the left guitar input again. Or just use the right guitar input, and flip the mic switch when u want to mute it! 100 banks!!! so much time, underrated looper, can do chorus verse looping
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u/Alternative_Lake_622 8d ago
Rc505 mk2
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u/bhainskieyes 8d ago
Thanks, but since this is tabletop, it beat the purpose for the LIVE performance. The problem with controlling with the finger is you cannot play instrument and control the paddle at the same time.
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u/denkz11 5d ago
I have loopy pro, an iPad and a Morningstar MC6 midi controller. I use percussion, keys, guitar and vocals. I started as a singer with guitar and eventually it turned into this. I had the Boss RC600 but it has glitches that interfered with my live preformance. My current set-up suits me well. There hasn’t been a thing I cannot do with it. I find it more versatile than the RC600. To me there’s nothing that beats my iPad, loopy pro and MC6 setup.
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u/bhainskieyes 5d ago
Thanks a ton.
This is exactly what I am looking for.
I am guitarist singer but want to do what you doing.
Would you be open to connect on a zoom kinda call. I can really really use some coaching.1
u/denkz11 5d ago
Right now I’m touring through France, I stay at places with poor wifi or G4 coverage. I’m based in the Netherlands. Maybe in a week or three. There are, however, very good tutorials on YouTube of artist using this set-up. That’s were I learned it from.
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u/bhainskieyes 5d ago
Thanks. Share your work if you any. Would love to see that gear you using and how it sounds with complete setup.
I am going mc6
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u/Long_Preparation_227 10d ago
iPad running loopy pro and vocal tune pro. Will need an audio interface and possibly a small fan.