A
Simple operation, a great creative tool with decaying loops.
The tc electronic Ditto X4 Looper has clearly been designed by a looping enthusiast that fully understands the needs of the live looping musician. The user interface is so easy to operate, leaving you to focus on playing and easily creating tight loops without being distracted by the technology.
It provides dual loops, plenty looping time (5 minutes), and the two loops can be synchronised to either serially follow each other (eg verse/chorus) or play in parallel to layer over each other. The second loop can be the same length as loop 1, or multiples of loop 1 length.
It features true stereo inputs and outputs, so you can use it with just your guitar as a mono input, or combine your guitar on one input with your bass player on the other input for example, or feed your stereo FX output into the looper retaining your full stereo delay/reverb effects etc on the looper output.
As well as guitar, I use it with my 12 string Grand Chapman Stick, feeding my combined bass and guitar effects into the stereo ins, but can also feed the melody side to one input and bass side to the other for a more ?acoustic? approach, keeping each side of the instrument to a separate output for recording and later EQ or processing. Perfect flexibility for the Chapman Stick player.
One of the key features of this device is that it enables decaying loops, which transforms the fixed looping concept into fading echoe loops that morph continuously into the next overlayered loops, allowing harmonised parts to continuously evolve and change. This gives fantastic creative possibilities. For example, in serial mode you could create a fixed bass or rhythmic progression in loop 1, then go to loop 2 keeping it open in decaying mode to play melodic lines over the top of loop 1 that combine with but gradually fade under the next loop 2 layers as you build evolving harmonised parts. These can be directly synchronised or played in ?Canon?. The decay control lets you easily set the number of fading repeats for each layer.
A great sounding set of loop specific effects can be selected and switched on with a dedicated footswitch. These include a fade out when stopping, a cool stop mode that sounds like a tape machine slowing down to finally stop, loop reverse, half speed, double speed, single loop trigger, and a digital stuttering ?Hold? effect. Again these are so easy to use.
There are four dedicated footswitches for Loop 1, Loop 2, Stop and Loop FX engage/disengage.
The easy interface has been designed to allow flexible operation to suit your preferred way of working, the footswitches can be set to either close the loop on second press or go immediately to over-layering.
Midi synchronisation is provided to allow locking to externally defined tempo, sequencers or loops.
You can save your loops and export them, re-import them or other existing backing loops.
Even if you don?t want to use a looper as a performance tool I still recommend working with one to tighten up your internal timing and listening skills, and as a composing tool.
I Wish I?d had the X4 to add to my loopers when recording my ?Wavedance? CD, decaying loops would have been ideal. The X4 has already quickly inspired lots new material for the next CD.
The sound quality is excellent, totally transparent without any colourisation, and when not looping defaults to true bypass avoiding digitisation or processing.
In summary this is an easy to use and flexible dual looper incorporating variable loop decay, great loop specific effects, external sychronisation, and loops import/export. This is a complete list of features I?ve waited a long time for, and I would highly recommend it.
Simple operation, a great creative tool with decaying loops.
Thomann set the standards by stocking this unit as soon as it was made available in Europe, I was impressed that they actually shipped it to me the day before stock was due, and gave clear shipment notification and communications.
Dave Bowmer ? February 2016
www.davebowmer.com
It provides dual loops, plenty looping time (5 minutes), and the two loops can be synchronised to either serially follow each other (eg verse/chorus) or play in parallel to layer over each other. The second loop can be the same length as loop 1, or multiples of loop 1 length.
It features true stereo inputs and outputs, so you can use it with just your guitar as a mono input, or combine your guitar on one input with your bass player on the other input for example, or feed your stereo FX output into the looper retaining your full stereo delay/reverb effects etc on the looper output.
As well as guitar, I use it with my 12 string Grand Chapman Stick, feeding my combined bass and guitar effects into the stereo ins, but can also feed the melody side to one input and bass side to the other for a more ?acoustic? approach, keeping each side of the instrument to a separate output for recording and later EQ or processing. Perfect flexibility for the Chapman Stick player.
One of the key features of this device is that it enables decaying loops, which transforms the fixed looping concept into fading echoe loops that morph continuously into the next overlayered loops, allowing harmonised parts to continuously evolve and change. This gives fantastic creative possibilities. For example, in serial mode you could create a fixed bass or rhythmic progression in loop 1, then go to loop 2 keeping it open in decaying mode to play melodic lines over the top of loop 1 that combine with but gradually fade under the next loop 2 layers as you build evolving harmonised parts. These can be directly synchronised or played in ?Canon?. The decay control lets you easily set the number of fading repeats for each layer.
A great sounding set of loop specific effects can be selected and switched on with a dedicated footswitch. These include a fade out when stopping, a cool stop mode that sounds like a tape machine slowing down to finally stop, loop reverse, half speed, double speed, single loop trigger, and a digital stuttering ?Hold? effect. Again these are so easy to use.
There are four dedicated footswitches for Loop 1, Loop 2, Stop and Loop FX engage/disengage.
The easy interface has been designed to allow flexible operation to suit your preferred way of working, the footswitches can be set to either close the loop on second press or go immediately to over-layering.
Midi synchronisation is provided to allow locking to externally defined tempo, sequencers or loops.
You can save your loops and export them, re-import them or other existing backing loops.
Even if you don?t want to use a looper as a performance tool I still recommend working with one to tighten up your internal timing and listening skills, and as a composing tool.
I Wish I?d had the X4 to add to my loopers when recording my ?Wavedance? CD, decaying loops would have been ideal. The X4 has already quickly inspired lots new material for the next CD.
The sound quality is excellent, totally transparent without any colourisation, and when not looping defaults to true bypass avoiding digitisation or processing.
In summary this is an easy to use and flexible dual looper incorporating variable loop decay, great loop specific effects, external sychronisation, and loops import/export. This is a complete list of features I?ve waited a long time for, and I would highly recommend it.
Simple operation, a great creative tool with decaying loops.
Thomann set the standards by stocking this unit as soon as it was made available in Europe, I was impressed that they actually shipped it to me the day before stock was due, and gave clear shipment notification and communications.
Dave Bowmer ? February 2016
www.davebowmer.com
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Rw
More than I need but that's best . .
I'd tried various loopers but didn't like the 'double-tap stop' variety. So many times in the past, I have bought a mid range product and found out very quickly that I should have bought the next model up. So this time I went for the top. of the range X4 which offers two loops operating in-sync or in-series. TC for me guarantees it's construction and quality and there were no surprises there. The main use for me is to record a loop of a chord progression allowing me the freedom to insert solos or double the rhythm. This does it easily - i do have rather spatulate feet - picture Donald Duck in trainers - so I need to be careful not to hit two switches instead of one. Then that's not the pedal's fault - which behaves impeccably at all times!
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G
Very good, the handling is OK
What I don't like:
What I don't like about the handling is the switches, they make a lot of noise. If you want to loop live instruments there is always a click in the beginning or end of your loop. I'd use the dip switches on the back the so when I press to record half way into to loop it will only start recording at the beginning of the new loop. But somehow I still heard the click, maybe from the switch I pressed at the end recording..
Also the switches are really close together, maybe its because I have big feet (size 12 US). So with shoes on I often press booth loop switches instead of only the one I ment to press.
I don't like the fast double tab on the same switches to stop a loop. I have to do this with my hands otherwise i'll mess it up. Maybe I need to practice it more but it seems unnecessary hard to get right.
All the other stuff I do really like, The midi sync works really well, the sound is good, the quality is good, this thing feels solid.
I had NO issues with the firmware or other software problems like so many others had.
And yeah this Looper is packed with features and that's cool but I don't really use them. Maybe I will try them in the feature.
What I don't like about the handling is the switches, they make a lot of noise. If you want to loop live instruments there is always a click in the beginning or end of your loop. I'd use the dip switches on the back the so when I press to record half way into to loop it will only start recording at the beginning of the new loop. But somehow I still heard the click, maybe from the switch I pressed at the end recording..
Also the switches are really close together, maybe its because I have big feet (size 12 US). So with shoes on I often press booth loop switches instead of only the one I ment to press.
I don't like the fast double tab on the same switches to stop a loop. I have to do this with my hands otherwise i'll mess it up. Maybe I need to practice it more but it seems unnecessary hard to get right.
All the other stuff I do really like, The midi sync works really well, the sound is good, the quality is good, this thing feels solid.
I had NO issues with the firmware or other software problems like so many others had.
And yeah this Looper is packed with features and that's cool but I don't really use them. Maybe I will try them in the feature.
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PF
Love the sound transparency
Great product, I had number of loopers , but TC is the best - the tone remains unaffected.
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A
Can even fry eggs!
Fantastic tool for live use, creative inspiration, and practice.
Why I like, and why I chose the Ditto X4 Looper:
1. It?s great to have too separate loopers running as this, as obvious as it sounds, opens up so many more creative possibilities. However, this combined with the decay knob - which controls the amount of layers recorded and looped before decaying away (being removed) - really means that you can play, loop, and morph on the fly without stopping for as long as physically possible. Your loops can morph and flow continuously.
2. The simplicity, and immediate ease of use.
There?s no LED, no beats. Nothing you don?t need. Nothing else to concentrate on or be distracted by other than what you are playing & looping.
3. The build quality and design.
It is a lovely pedal, with a simple yet attractive design. But, more importantly it is really well constructed. And, because it doesn?t have the frills and spills there is less that can go wrong with it. It is built like a brick and I can see it lasting a very long time. It has survived extreme heat without any problem or damage. Having left it out in the blazing sun at a gig for a couple of hours, it got so hot I (could have) fried an egg on it - the unit was completely unaffected.
I highly recommend this professional looper.
Why I like, and why I chose the Ditto X4 Looper:
1. It?s great to have too separate loopers running as this, as obvious as it sounds, opens up so many more creative possibilities. However, this combined with the decay knob - which controls the amount of layers recorded and looped before decaying away (being removed) - really means that you can play, loop, and morph on the fly without stopping for as long as physically possible. Your loops can morph and flow continuously.
2. The simplicity, and immediate ease of use.
There?s no LED, no beats. Nothing you don?t need. Nothing else to concentrate on or be distracted by other than what you are playing & looping.
3. The build quality and design.
It is a lovely pedal, with a simple yet attractive design. But, more importantly it is really well constructed. And, because it doesn?t have the frills and spills there is less that can go wrong with it. It is built like a brick and I can see it lasting a very long time. It has survived extreme heat without any problem or damage. Having left it out in the blazing sun at a gig for a couple of hours, it got so hot I (could have) fried an egg on it - the unit was completely unaffected.
I highly recommend this professional looper.
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a
best looper on stage
Ditto X4 is the most easy to use, yet best sounding looper on stage around.
If you do not need to tweak with layers or play upon recorded tracks, then Ditto is what you need. It is built for performers creating their loops on the fly.
It is a great slave looper in case you would use it synchronized next to a computer or another looper.
With the recent firmware i have not found any bugs, the chassis is classy tc design of metal, a great addition to any looper setup.
If you do not need to tweak with layers or play upon recorded tracks, then Ditto is what you need. It is built for performers creating their loops on the fly.
It is a great slave looper in case you would use it synchronized next to a computer or another looper.
With the recent firmware i have not found any bugs, the chassis is classy tc design of metal, a great addition to any looper setup.
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OD
Great design
Bought this as I needed MIDI sync to stop my loops drifting from my laptops Superior Drummer. The internet suggests there are loads of problems with the MIDI sync but it has been perfect thus far. Love having 2 loops. Criticisms: it is a pretty huge box compared to other TC loopers and they could easily compact the design down a bit. I personally think it's time for a Ditto MK II as other manufacturers are coming out with some pretty cool solutions with drums, arpeggio etc.
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SA
Excellent looper
It is an answer to my needs. Good sound quality, nice effects and two loopers that can be syncronized together. Looping with external tap tempo needs extra sharpness, but can be done.
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s
great looper
The Ditto X4 is, for me, the perfect looper. Easy to use, straightforward access to the most important features, good sound.
The X4 uses internal 32bit float processing, so what you send in comes out sounding identically, no audible change or degradation.
It has stereo in and outs, so it can easily process signals with stereo reverbs or delays.
Switches are silent and responsive.
The looper does not come with a built in drum machine - which makes sense, as drum machines sound awful when played through a guitar amp.
I use an iPad (routed to the mixer) for drums, and use MIDI time code from the iPad drum software to sync with the Ditto X4. Works perfectly.
By working this way, I have quantised loops, that work in time with the drums, even if I don't hit the loop switch at the exact right spot.
Two independent loops that can either be synced to play simultaneously, or play independently, one after the other - for having two loops for different sections of a song.
Great.
The X4 uses internal 32bit float processing, so what you send in comes out sounding identically, no audible change or degradation.
It has stereo in and outs, so it can easily process signals with stereo reverbs or delays.
Switches are silent and responsive.
The looper does not come with a built in drum machine - which makes sense, as drum machines sound awful when played through a guitar amp.
I use an iPad (routed to the mixer) for drums, and use MIDI time code from the iPad drum software to sync with the Ditto X4. Works perfectly.
By working this way, I have quantised loops, that work in time with the drums, even if I don't hit the loop switch at the exact right spot.
Two independent loops that can either be synced to play simultaneously, or play independently, one after the other - for having two loops for different sections of a song.
Great.
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A
Nice surprise by TC electronic
I make electronic based music and bought this pedal to loop some guitar and synths. It does everything required and it's dead simple to operate. I'm really glad I pulled the trigger on this one.
Pros: Dual stereo looper
Great FX to choose and combine between
Great sound quality
Dedicated Decay knob allowing evolving soundscapes
Midi capabilities (although not fully implemented at this time)
Cons: Only has storage for 2 loops
Some of the looper actions such as undo and stop a single loop require multiple taps. However I woulnd't expect it any differently from a pedal this compact
Pros: Dual stereo looper
Great FX to choose and combine between
Great sound quality
Dedicated Decay knob allowing evolving soundscapes
Midi capabilities (although not fully implemented at this time)
Cons: Only has storage for 2 loops
Some of the looper actions such as undo and stop a single loop require multiple taps. However I woulnd't expect it any differently from a pedal this compact
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