Loop pedals—also known as looping stations or loopers—allow a single player to record an exact replica of their instrument within a given space of time to be played back with the tap of a foot. The first looping pedal is an enormous graduation step for any developing musician. Guitars, basses, keyboards: If an instrument is electronic, its possibilities are multiplied when a looper is brought into play.
So how do you use a looper? Looper functions are divided into three main parts: record, overdub, and play. Recording typically involves a button or footswitch: Press the button to begin recording, press it again to stop. Overdubs allow for additional parts to be layered on top of an existing recording, and finally, hitting play sets your loop live. Want a rhythm section to practice your soloing? Done. Prefer some ambient noise to complement a track? No problem.
Now you just have to figure out the kind of looper you need. Like other effects, an entire world of loopers is out there for the taking. Today we’re looking at the best entries into that world for beginners to familiarize themselves with and get a firm grip on looping. While lacking some features of more elaborate loop stations, all these options are great starting points and all come in at under the $150 price point.
| Model | Loop Time | Best For | Price |
| TC Electronic Ditto Looper | 5 minutes | Simplicity. | $66-$100 |
| Electro-Harmonix Nano Looper 360 | 360 seconds | Banking loops. | $73-$95 |
| TC Electronic Flashback Delay/Looper | 40 seconds | Effects pedal with looping capability. | $95-$170 |
| Boss RC-1 Loop Station | 12 minutes | No-nonsense looping. | $79-$120 |
| DigiTech JamMan Express XT | 10 minutes | JamSync for locking with other pedals. | $59-$100 |
| DigiTech JamMan Solo XT Stereo Looper | 35 minutes | Takes micro-SD for more loop memory. | $80-$140 |
| Line 6 DL4 Delay Modeler | 14 seconds | Tweak and Tweez. | $120-$250 |
TC Electronic Ditto Looper
One of the strongest offerings on this list is also one of the simplest: the TC Electronic Ditto. An immensely successful pedal across the board from beginners to experts, this miniature effect offers pure looping in an intuitive package.
The interface consists of only a single knob and footswitch. While this may seem scant, the beauty in the Ditto is you only need a knob and footswitch to control loop volume, record, undo/redo, stop, and erase functions. Unlimited overdubs, five total minutes of looping time, and 24-bit audio quality nicely round out this powerful little copycat’s resume.
Size, simplicity, and price all make the Ditto a perfect choice for the beginning loop enthusiast. The pedal plays perfectly with other effects thanks to its analog-dry through design and compact dimensions. Plus, there’s always a market for these guys, so if you want to venture out to other pedals, you can sell your Ditto right here on Reverb lickety-split. The drawback here is the Ditto can only handle one loop at a time and only offers control over the loop volume, so if you find yourself wanting more functionality, the appeal of the Ditto may wane quickly.
Side note: TC Electronic also offers the Ditto in a dual loop rendition with added functionality, the X4, an XLR version called the Ditto Stereo, and one by sister company TC Helicon for mics named, you guessed it, the Ditto Mic Looper.
Electro-Harmonix Nano Looper 360
The Electro-Harmonix Nano Looper 360 does just what its name suggests: It offers a compact looping experience with 360 total seconds of recording time. The calling card of this pedal is a loop selection knob with 11 separate banks for easy, on-the-fly selections.
Built in Electro-Harmonix’s standard die-cast housing, the interface consists of a volume knob, the aforementioned loop selector knob, and a silent momentary footswitch. The 360 also sports nifty LED indicators to let you know when you’re recording, playing a loop, or using the memory bank. Recording, overdubbing, undo/redo, and erase functions are all controlled via the footswitch in accordance with the selected memory bank.
If you’re looking for an easy way to pull up loops on the fly, the 360 is right up your alley. Creating and arranging your loop army is an easy process without a lot of unwanted bells and whistles to get in the way. That said, the absence of bells and whistles can make the 360 a little boring after awhile, and having to toggle the loops manually as opposed to having a stomp switch option can leave the pedal feeling a little wanting.
TC Electronic Flashback Delay/Looper
Here’s a curveball: Why just have a great looper when you can have a great looper and delay? The TC Electronic Flashback is the answer to that question. Another immensely popular pedal, the Flashback is a great introduction to both delay and looping with the signature expanded functionality TC Electronic trades heavily on.
The pedal features 11 selectable modes comprised of the aforementioned looper and 10 distinct delay types. The interface features controls for level, delay time, feedback and repeat. While the looping seems to take a backseat here, the additional controls allow for a more effects-driven loop. In addition to a carbon copy of your playing, the Flashback offers the ability to add a more cavernous, delay-driven track.
If you’re in the market for a twofer, the Flashback is a prime option. Knocking out familiarity with two effects in one chassis is an attractive option for the pioneering musician looking to go headfirst down the rabbit hole of pedals. Less favorably, the Flashback's nature as a dual effect can take the focus off of looping.
Boss RC-1 Loop Station
Few pedal lists are complete without an entry from Boss, and this one is no exception. An industry leader for four decades, Boss’s effects are everywhere, and getting your first is a rite of passage. The RC-1 is a perfect introduction to looping via an effects giant.
This iteration of the Loop Station boasts straightforward, no-nonsense looping. Bringing up to 12 minutes of recording to the table, this pedal also features easy operation with an easy loop volume knob and iconic Boss enclosure. One of the big draws here is the 24-piece LED loop indicator next to the volume. In addition to being fun to look at, the light-up circle is your gauge for whether you’re in play, overdub, or record modes. The pedal’s rounded out with both mono and stereo inputs, so if you’re interested in exploring that territory down the road, the option’s there.
The RC-1 is a rock solid looper. Boss pedals last for years and are thoroughly vetted for user experience. This entry Loop Station gives a great avenue into the possibilities of the effect, and if you want some with a little more horsepower later on, you’ll already have familiarity with the Boss style. On the downside, the LED circle can be a little gimmicky and smaller pedals are available which can accomplish the same end.
Side note: More ambitious musicians who are unimpressed with the RC-1 can graduate to the pedal’s big brothers like the RC-3, RC-20XL, and RC-30.
DigiTech JamMan Express XT
DigiTech’s JamMan series is one of the most well-recognized and loved series of looping pedals on the market. Introduced decades ago, these pedals laid the foundation for what would come to be expected of a looper and how they function.
The JamMan Express XT is another solid offering of an intuitive effect. The front of the pedal is comprised of a stomp switch, volume knob, and three LED lights to indicate whether you’re recording, overdubbing, or playing a loop. The XT stores up to 10 minutes of recording to be summoned at the touch of a button and recalls parts even after the pedal is turned off. In addition, the XT features the company’s JamSync technology, which allows you to automatically sync your loops with other JamMan products, a nifty feature if you buy another down the road or play with other musicians who have JamMan pedals.
The sleek design and hit-the-ground-running playability of the Express XT makes it a fan favorite amongst beginners. It’s an immensely fun pedal to pull out of the box and play with, plus the JamSync function makes it a breeze to lock in with anyone else playing one of the company’s pedals. On the downside, this exclusivity can be annoying if you’re interested in checking out other brands.
DigiTech JamMan Solo XT Stereo Looper & Phrase Sampler
Our last entry on this list is for the adventurous: the JamMan Solo XT. Another step up from the previously mentioned Express XT, the Solo XT is one of DigiTech’s flagship looping pedals within the series and a powerful piece of machinery to boot.
Stereo looping, for the uninitiated, adds a greater degree of depth and richness to a recording, and is very worthy of investigation. The storage on these babies far exceeds the previous entries with a removable microSD card for an essentially endless array of loop memory. In addition, this pedal also serves up Auto Recording and Auto-Quantize (which automatically adjusts the timing) along with selectable beats per minute (BPMs) and an easy-to-use interface for an expansive but approachable effect.
The expansive capabilities of the Solo XT like the stacked memory bank and auto-quantizing make it a looper likely to remain on your board for a long time. Developing a ready-to-use library of dozens or even hundreds of loops is a walk in the park this pedal. The downside here is if you’re looking for only a couple prime cuts in your loops, the large library and interface designed for protracted searching can irk some players.
Wild Card Pick: Line 6 DL4 Delay Modeler
Think these picks are all playing in youth league? Well then you’re ready for the pros. The Line 6 DL4 isn’t only a behemoth of an effect, it’s one of those effects every musician should have in their arsenal at some point. Found on the pedalboards of artists like Thom Yorke, Troy Van Leeuwen of Queens of the Stone Age, and Dave Knudson of Minus the Bear, the DL4 is a master class in what can be done with a pedal.
Let’s ignore the 15 delay types available for a moment and look at the DL4 solely as a loop station. Creating a loop is simple enough: Hit record, hit again to stop, and pin down up to 14 seconds of audio. Then it gets fun. The pedal’s Tweak and Tweez controls field effect modulations on the loop for hazy, ethereal, atmospheric tones. The added Tap Tempo button allows you to play your loop at regular speed, half, and an experimental reverse mode for the cavalier among us.
Our Choice: the TC Electronic Ditto Looper is an undeniable union of quality, functionality, and affordability. These little wonders, as previously mentioned, are one of the most popular pedals on the market right now, and for good reason. The simplicity of the Ditto makes it the perfect teacher for your Looping 101 class.