MusicRadar
The No.1 website for musicians
DigiTech Jamman Looper £279
The impressive JamMan is a Boss beater in the looper pedal market
The MusicRadar Team, Tue 23 Oct 2007, 12:08 pm BST
It's doubtful that DigiTech can be accused of industrial espionage, but there's little doubt that this latest JamMan pedal is based directly on Boss's Twin Pedal format. When it was launched, it seemed specifically intended to outclass Boss's RC-20XL Phrase Recorder.
Outwardly it seems an almost blatant copy, with its dual width pedal size, main controls and central display in the top section and two large rubber-topped footswitches below. Despite many similarities, the major difference is one of memory. Boss's RC-20XL is limited to its own 'hard-disk' - once it's full that's it and you can't offload the info. DigiTech includes - for the first time in a stompbox, when it launched - 'removable media' in the form of a Compact Flash (Type I) card. Digital camera enthusiasts will be more than familiar with these and other types of removable memory card: your photos are stored on the card, not the camera, and it's the card size that dictates the number of shots you can take. In our context, the supplied 128MB card allows 24 minutes of recording; with a 2GB card you could hold over six hours worth of loops. Not only that, but via the USB port you can download your loops to your computer (as .wav files) and reformat and reuse the CF card as many times as you want.
Obviously, you can upload the stored files from your computer back to the JamMan when, and if, you need. All this makes the RC-20XL's 16 minutes of memory with no computer connectivity seem a little archaic, not least because of the JamMan's slightly higher spec audio quality. Similarly, the JamMan's 99 memory slots look very impressive next to the RC-20XL's 11. Aside from this admittedly huge difference, the JamMan - with a couple of omissions - pretty much mirrors the RC-20XL in terms of features.
We have dual inputs for guitar (6.4mm jack) and microphone (XLR) plus mini-jack auxiliary input to create loops from pre-recorded sources. There are rotary level controls for both mic and instrument, and levels for loop output and the rhythm 'click' track. Here we get a choice of nine types plus off - from wood blocks to various kick/high-hats combos - and time signature can be set (from two to 15 beats per measure). The tap tempo feature is a little frustrating. You can only alter the tempo of a loop while it's playing -handy if you're playing with a live drummer - from the tempo push button, not the right-hand footswitch which will only alter tempo pre- or post-recording. Annoyingly, there's no tempo readout on the small LED display so setting precise tempo isn't as easy as it could be.
There are four recording modes (inst/ mic, aux input, minus centre, and full range amp) that cover standard loop recording as well as using the JamMan as a practice phrase recorder via the centre-cancel function. And bearing in mind you might want to run full backing tracks through your guitar amp, the 'full range amp' setting is EQ'd to maximise the limited frequency response of your guitar amp.
You Might Like:
You need to be logged in to post a comment. Login or Register to post a comment.
MusicRadar rating
Pros
Most powerful stompbox looper available .
Cons
Additional expense of footpedal. No reverse function.
Verdict
Aside from the minor differences between them, the JamMan and the BOSS RC-20XL essentially do the same thing, although the Compact Flash memory here provides more recording space even with the supplied card. The six-hour-plus memory available with a 2GB card turns the JamMan into a very serious piece of kit. So aside from the JamMan’s lack of a reverse function, there’s little reason to consider the RC-20XL over the JamMan. It’s £30 more expensive but that’s absorbed by the fact that a power supply is included – neither system accounts for additional footswitches – so price really isn’t an issue. As mentioned, not configuring the outputs to allow use with a multi-amp/ PA set-up seems a missed opportunity; this writer would much rather see that facility over the relatively limited phrase recorder facility that is totally outclassed by something like Tascam’s standalone CD Trainer. As it stands, you’ll get the best from the JamMan’s facilities by placing it last in your FX loop, setting your amp clean and using stompboxes for drive sounds. For now, at least, the JamMan is state-of-the-art. Whether you want to use it to create new parts or harmony lines, to voice entire backing tracks, or even to simply practise, the JamMan is extremely powerful and could certainly change the way many of us approach our performance.
Review Policy
All MusicRadar's reviews are by independent product specialists, who are not aligned to any gear manufacturer or retailer. Our experts also write for renowned magazines such as Guitarist, Total Guitar, Computer Music, Future Music and Rhythm. All are part of Future PLC, the biggest publisher of music making magazines in the world.
Where to buy
Buy product from Sounds Great Music
Buy product from Andertons Music Company
Buy product from Studiospares
Buy product from Thomann
Buy product from Soundslive Ltd
Buy similar products from Wood Brass
Specification
Jamman Looper
- Price:
- £279
- Able to Change Loop Speed:
- true
- Available Controls:
- Instrument level, Level, Loop, Mic, Rhythm level, Select
- Available Outputs:
- Dual Outputs(Mixer/Amp)
- Connections:
- USB
- Country of Origin:
- USA
- Manufacturer's Description:
- Phrase sampler/looper. Using Compact Flash memory to store up to 6½ hours of audio at CD quality plus a USB connection for backing up to a Mac or PC, you never need to delete a loop. 99 memory locations. Mic & instrument inputs / hands free recording / Full Range and Centre Cancel modes. Tempo can be changed without affecting pitch. PSU included.
- Memory Card Compatibility:
- CompactFlash Card
- Memory Card Included:
- true
- Memory Size (MB):
- 128
- Memory Size in Seconds:
- 1440
- Patches:
- 99 memories
- Sample/Loop Sample rate:
- 44.1kHz
- Special Features:
- Rhythm guide click (nine types with level and time signature adjustment), auto record, record mode (four modes). Rec/play/ overdub and stop/tempo footswitches
- Unit Power Source:
- PS-0913Bpower supply