Live looping is now clearly a mainstay in music world and hence, looping devices, particularly looper pedals, are becoming increasingly more popular. Looping is a simple technique that allows recording snippets of music to form their repetitive loops in real-time.
If you are a guitarist, a looper pedal may be your most valuable purchase. Using it, you can record and replay song ideas, create your own backing tracks, dub songs or add rhythmic/percussive effects… the options are limitless! It allows you to add multiple effects and achieve a sound that’s more like of a full band.
It is creative and convenient- the reason why more and more one-man-band live-looping artists are emerging everyday on YouTube and stages world over.
Top 10 Best Looper Pedal Comparison Table
| Picture | Name | Features | Rating (1-5) | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | BOSS RC-30 Phrase Looper Pedal | 2 separate stereo tracks 5 built-in effects 3 time-based recording modes 10 built-in rhythms Greater recording capability | 2.5 | $$$$$ |
 | Boss RC-505 Loop Station | 5 separate stereo tracks 25 built-in effects 100s of built-in rhythms Unlimited overdubs Greater recording capability | 3 | $$$$$$ |
 | Peavey Sanpera I Vypyr Amplifier Foot Controller 03017540 | Metal casing and switches Bank select function MIDI for live looping Low price | 3 | $ |
 | Mooer Audio Devin Townsend Signature pedal | 9 reverb types 2 independent delays with 17 delay types Metal knobs Bank select function MIDI for live looping | 3 | $$$$ |
 | ONE CONTROL White Loop Minimal 2 Loop Flash Looper Pedal | Flash loop function 2 DC outputs Multi-purpose use Compact & light-weight Low price | 3.5 | $ |
 | Rowin Twin Looper Station Electric Guitar Effect Pedal Loop | Flash loop and analog dry functions Compact & light-weight 2 separate stereo tracks Low price | 3.5 | $ |
 | TC Electronic Guitar Ditto Looper Effects Pedal | Compact & light-weight Flash loop and analog dry functions 24-bit uncompressed high quality audio Unlimited overdubs MIDI for live looping Low price | 4 | $$ |
 | Electro-Harmonix 720 Stereo Looper Pedal | Compact & light-weight Loop fadeout mode 10 independent loops Unlimited overdubs Reverse and half-speed effects | 4 | $$$ |
 | Electro-Harmonix Canyon Delay and Looper Pedal | 10 different delay modes Secondary knob settings Heavy discount on online purchase | 4.5 | $$$ |
 | Boss RC-1 Loop Station | Minimalist design Stereo input/output Innovative loop indicator 5-year warranty Low price | 5 | $ |
One very popular recording artist who uses loopers for his songs is Ed Sheeran. He has managed to make some beautiful compositions with just one guitar and a loop pedal! You too can experiment with your tones and loops to create something unique.
If you are looking for a looper but don’t know which one to buy, this guide will help you choose. Here, we give you a basic breakdown of pedals as well as great recommendations to help you pick the best looper pedal.
What Types of Looper Pedals are There?
Looping pedals are basically of two types: single looper pedals and multiple looper pedals. A single looper pedal allows you to play only one loop at a time.
It has one footswitch that performs functions such as record, overdub, playback, etc and an LED indicator that shows different colored lights for each function.
This one switch serves as the main source of sound, giving you a lot of control. And since this pedal is small and light, it is also convenient to carry around. It is commonly used for home use and personal practice.
But for a live setup where you need to move different dials to stop or play different loops, using a single looper pedal may be cumbersome. Using a multi pedal or multi switch will let you switch between loops and utilize more features rather quickly and easily.
The more footswitches you’ve got, the more loops you can play simultaneously. It helps you create a multilayered loop and if you are a professional looking to build an entire song around a looper pedal, you are going to need this one.
Some single looper pedals can be even extended to have multiple secondary pedals, so if you are unsure about which one you’ll need, get one with this capability.
Benefits of Best Looper Pedal
Loopers as you know are not all the same and for a smoother experience, you need to pick only the best looper pedal. Unlike other musical equipments, pedals are used with feet and get stepped on all the time, so build quality is really important.
If you’re not on a really tight budget, prefer pedals made of metal as these are more durable. A good pedal should have easily accessible controls, well-lit LED screen, easy-to-read labels and considerable size of memory.
Most importantly, it should be easy to use and have great sound quality. Buying the best model will naturally give you better features and a wider collection of effects to experiment with.
Downsides of Looper Pedals
The only downside to using looper pedals is that you may miss the experience of jamming with your friends.
Looper pedals serve like a one-man band but it’s not the same as playing with another human being. If music is all about comradeship to you, you may prefer playing with a real band rather than electronic devices.
10. BOSS RC-30 Phrase Looper Pedal
Boss is a major player in the looper pedal segment and their extensive experience is also apparent in the new RC-30’s intuitive interface and the way it tackles common looping challenges. It is a twin-pedal model with recording capability of 3 hours and 99 memory phrases for storing loops.
Both these figures are significantly greater than what you get in the older RC-20XL model of the same series. The control panel is fairly packed with mic, rhythm, memory and Loop FX selector sections and dedicated volume faders for track 1 & 2.
Having two separate stereo tracks is a neat feature, although the tracks are synchronized in a way that they have to be of the same length. On the rear end, the pedal has input and output jacks for connection with external devices.
It can be powered by electricity or also with the 6 AA batteries which are included in the package. It has 5 built-in effects for processing loops: Bend Down, Tempo Delay, Step Phaser, Sweep Filter and Lo-Fi.
Using Bend Down gives a dramatic pitch-bend effect while Tempo Delay gives a tempo-synced delay effect. Step Phaser changes the phase in incremental steps while Sweep Filter changes the frequency so that it’s in sync with the tempo. The Lo-Fi effect degrades the sound in a way that it creates a distinctive character.
Thus, without adding any extra gear, you can add these cool effects to your loops. Because getting the loops to start and stop exactly in time is often tricky, the model comes with Normal, Auto and Count-in recording modes. The Normal recording mode requires you to manually press the pedal to start and stop a loop section.
The Auto recording mode starts recording as soon as the device hears you playing and the Count-in mode starts recording after one-measure count in. The model also comes with 10 built-in rhythms that you can use as timing guides. Unless you want to build your entire performance on loops, the RC-30 likely has everything you need to start experimenting.
Pros:
- 2 separate stereo tracks
- 5 built-in effects
- 3 time-based recording modes
- 10 built-in rhythms
- Greater recording capability
Cons:
- No MIDI for live looping
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9. Boss RC-505 Loop Station
The RC-505 is a tabletop unit with a recording capability of 3 hours and a memory of 99 phrases. Since it can be operated with hands, it is perfect for beatboxers, vocalists and club performers. This 16.5 x 8.3 x 2.7 inches device is made entirely of plastic, weighs about 3 pounds and can stand firmly on any flat surface without sliding.
On the panel, it has five separate tracks for loop recording and each of these tracks is independent with its own volume fader and controls. To help improve recording accuracy, it also has hundreds of preset rhythms ranging from metronomic to complex grooves.
If you want to add effects during recording or playback, there are 25 in-built effects ranging from everyday distortion to DJ. A 16-character-by-2-line LCD on the panel gives you enough information to see what’s going on at any time.
The RC-505 offers unlimited overdubs and USB connectivity. Since the internal memory is also large, it is the best looper pedal if you need to record and store longer loops.
The device requires mains power 9V AC for charging and once fully charged, the battery will last for almost 5 hours. Comparing to other looper pedals, it is a bit pricey but the wide variety of effects and unlimited overdubs are worth it.
Pros:
- 5 separate stereo tracks
- 25 built-in effects
- 100s of built-in rhythms
- Unlimited overdubs
- Greater recording capability
Cons:
- High price
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8. Peavey Sanpera I Vypyr Amplifier Foot Controller 03017540
Peavey Sanpera I is the second model of the Vypr line and VIP series. VIP stands for Variable Instrument Performance, which means that the pedals in this series are designed to handle electric 6- string, acoustic and bass guitars.
Housed in a roadworthy and rugged cast-metal casing and featuring metal switches, Sanpera I is really durable. It is a sturdy, heavy unit weighing 4.25 pounds and measuring 4.8 x 11.5 x 12.2 inches.
It includes a volume/whammy/wah/pitch shifter expression pedal and has four large buttons to select banks. The bank select function expands the number of different instrument sounds, giving you ample variety to experiment.
The buttons have LEDs to show different colored lights for each bank. Manufactured by Peavey, it is a reliable product and low priced as well.
Pros:
- Metal casing and switches
- Bank select function
- MIDI for live looping
- Low price
Cons:
- Some users complained that the controls are not very user-friendly.
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7. Mooer Audio Devin Townsend Signature pedal; Dual Delay Reverb and Looper unit
Designed and developed in collaboration with guitarist Devin Townsend, Mooer’s Ocean Machine is a four effects-in-one box, combining reverb, two independent delays and a single-channel looper.
This 8 x 5 x 1.5 inches device has three soft-touch footswitches and 16 metal knobs, giving it a very analog-like feel. So, although the effects are digital, you can pilot them in a hands-on, analog-like way. And ‘ocean’ is the perfect metaphor to describe the watery sounds you can create and manipulate upon combining the four effects.
The knobs allow you to select from nine reverb types and two independent delays having 17 different delay types. Also, the pedal has 8 banks each of which has 3 presets, thus total 24 preset spaces.
It allows for hundreds of possible combinations and it’s hard to run out of ideas, given its real-time tweak-ability. To keep you informed of the current settings and effects, there is a small LCD screen on the panel.
The Ocean Machine has 32 MB of storage memory, allowing up to 60 seconds of recording time. For backup and external connections, it has 5-pin MIDI and plenty of other jacks. Overall, it is a well built, space-efficient looper pedal with excellent digital processing quality for the price.
Pros:
- 9 reverb types
- 2 independent delays with 17 delay types
- Metal knobs
- Bank select function
- MIDI for live looping
Cons:
- Due to the small-print labels, it might be hard to read the control names in less than perfect lighting.
6. ONE CONTROL White Loop Minimal 2 Loop Flash Looper Pedal
This model is a two-loop true bypass switcher. It has two loops (green and red) and what makes it special is its flash loop function using which one can quickly toggle between the two loops or bypass both instantly. The left switch on the panel is to toggle between the two and the right switch is to bypass the entire pedal.
Due to this feature, it can also be used as an amp channel switcher when you aren’t using the loops or also as an AB switch with mute function. This is a multi-purpose device and can be very useful for guitarists. In each loop, you can place multiple pedals to be able to choose between different combinations of effects instantly.
It has two DC outputs which can be used to split a 9V adapter to power two additional effects pedals. This will save you money on purchasing additional adapters.
This is a compact device measuring 6.4 x 3.5 x 2.4 inches and weighing just 0.5 pounds, so it’s very easy to move around. It is a multi-purpose, easy to use device and also the lowest priced one on our list, so if you are on a tight budget, this is the best looper pedal for you.
Pros:
- Flash loop function
- 2 DC outputs
- Multi-purpose use
- Compact & light-weight
- Low price
Cons:
- The device can slide easily due to its light-weight, so one needs to be careful when recording.
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5. Rowin Twin Looper Station Electric Guitar Effect Pedal Loop Station for Guitarists Golden
This is another great pedal with guitar-center features like flash loop and analog dry. Analog dry feature retains sound quality by splitting the signal into two outputs; one is converted into digital signal while the other remains same as input.
Great sound quality is thus guaranteed with this pedal. It is a compact (4.6 x 3.5 x 1.4 inches) device with a very simple layout. It also comes in smaller sizes to choose from.
On the panel, it has two bypass footswitches, two left and right channel level knobs and two toggle switches for change, forward, reverse and stop functions. There is also a pair of bright LEDs to indicate which functions are operating, giving a quick visual reference on even the darkest of stages. Creating loops is also incredibly easy.
Simply press the footswitch once and play your music to record it; press this switch for a second time to play loop and then for a third time to create an overdub. The recording capability is of 10 minutes and there are two stereo tracks to aid the process.
Also, there are dedicated controls for each function and plenty of jacks for backup and external connections. It requires 9V power supply for charging but the adapter is not included in the package, so you’ll have to purchase it separately. Overall, it is a compact, solidly built and low priced device which lets you create complex layered loops with minimum effort.
Pros:
- Flash loop and analog dry functions
- Compact & light-weight
- 2 separate stereo tracks
- Low price
Cons:
- Power adapter is not included in the package.
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4. TC Electronic Guitar Ditto Looper Effects Pedal
Ditto Looper is an instant classic, thanks to its solid feel and functionality. Measuring 4 x 3.9 x 2.5 inches and weighing 0.5 pounds, it is as small as a stomp-box can get but it sacrifices nothing in terms of sonic quality.
On the panel, it has just two quarter-inch jacks, a footswitch and a single knob for loop level. Using just the single foot switch, you can create up to 5-minute loops and overdub endlessly. For maximum tone quality, loops produced are in 24 bit uncompressed high quality audio.
Essentials like record, undo, redo, stop and erase can also be easily accessed via different foot-commands. Unlike some other pedals, Ditto Looper stores your loops even when powered down or when the power plug is disconnected, so your efforts are never wasted.
It requires a 9V power supply for charging but the adapter is not included in the package. If you are looking for something which is extremely simple to operate, this pedal is worth considering.
Pros:
- Compact & light-weight
- Flash loop and analog dry functions
- 24-bit uncompressed high quality audio
- Unlimited overdubs
- MIDI for live looping
- Low price
Cons:
- Power adapter is not included in the package.
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3. Electro-Harmonix 720 Stereo Looper Pedal
Featuring stereo ins and outs as well as an input for optional footswitch, Electro-Harmonix 720 allows sending loops to multiple amps and connecting multiple instruments. Measuring 7.2 x 6.2 x 3.2 inches and weighing 0.9 pounds, the device is compact and has plenty of other features to help you unleash your creativity.
But what makes it really unique is its Fadeout Mode. In this mode, you can specify a fadeout time anywhere from 1 to 60 seconds and the loop will naturally fade away after that time, just like a song fades out when it’s over.
This is a very useful feature for anyone who wants to build an entire song on looping or who needs looping for intro or ending part of song. The Level knob enables you to choose loop modes and is accompanied with three LED lights which indicate when the pedal is in Record, Playback or Memory mode.
With 12 minutes of recording time on 10 independent loops and unlimited overdubbing, you can store entire songs for practice and live performance. The Stop switch on the panel also allows controlling reverse and half-speed effects.
The reverse effect allows you to play your recorded loops in reverse and the half-speed effect cuts down the loop speed by 50%. Both these effects are useful and rare. This pedal comes equipped with an EHX 9.6DC/200 AC adapter and can also run on a 9V battery. And all this comes at a very reasonable price, making it an attractive deal.
Pros:
- Compact & light-weight
- Loop fadeout mode
- 10 independent loops
- Unlimited overdubs
- Reverse and half-speed effects
Cons:
- Some users complained that timing of loops is not always accurate.
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2. Electro-Harmonix Canyon Delay and Looper Pedal
As the name suggests, Canyon is a delay/reverb pedal with looper function but a closer examination reveals that it is rather a versatile multi-function processor. It has an 11-position rotary mode switch that gives access to looper function and 10 different delay modes.
Most delay pedals in a comparable price range offer only one or two delay modes but Canyon offers 10. All these modes (echo, modulated delay, multi-tap delay, reverse, Deluxe Memory Man, tape, reverb plus delay, octave delay, shimmer and sample/hold) except echo have a secondary knob mode.
Secondary knob settings means you don’t need to reprogram your favorite effects. The pedal permanently saves the last loop you had recorded, even after the power plug is disconnected.
It has a recording capability of 62 seconds and an internal Tails switch to cut off or maintain delay tails when an effect is bypassed. If you are looking for a looper with awe-inspiring effects, try this one. If you buy it online, you can even avail good discount on it.
Pros:
- 10 different delay modes
- Secondary knob settings
- Heavy discount on online purchase
Cons:
- No stereo operation
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1. Boss RC-1 Loop Station
Boss’s new RC-1 Loop Station is a triumph of simplicity. Its panel features just one level control and a multi-segment loop indicator. But don’t be fooled by what you see as it’s a powerful tool.
You’ll just need to learn a few basic press, double-press and press-hold operations to get started. If you are someone who resisted looping only because of intimidating hardware, Boss RC-1 is the best looper pedal for you. It is a robust device measuring 5.1 x 2.3 x 2.9 inches and weighing almost 1 pound.
As it is a compact junior sibling to Boss RC-3, the feature set is relatively limited (no USB and auxiliary input) but it is ideal for someone who just wants a neat way to practice soloing over chord patterns.
It is a stereo looper, so you can create loops featuring stereo effects and synchronize two different instruments. With 24 LED segments cycle, the display is quite innovative. The lights flash red when recording, red-green when overdubbing and green when playing back.
The cycle/loop indicator always keeps you informed of where you are in the loop, which is especially useful if it’s a long one. When you are finished recording, the loop length will be indicated by the overall cycle duration.
You get plenty of in-built effects to play with. The recording capability is of 12 minutes and whatever you’ve recorded remains in memory even after the device is switched off. For connectivity, it has the same four 1/4″ jack inputs and outputs as the RC-3.
It can be run on battery or also by using 9V power supply but the adapter isn’t included in the package. The device is straightforward, easy to operate and unlike most pedals, it comes with a 5-year warranty.
Pros:
- Minimalist design
- Stereo input/output
- Innovative loop indicator
- 5-year warranty
- Low price
Cons:
- Power adapter is not included in the package.
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Editors Choice of Best Looper Pedal
After analyzing all options, we feel Boss RC-1 Loop Station is the best looper pedal for beginners and advanced musicians. It is extremely straightforward and the ease of use is second to none. All other pedals will require you to keep referring to the instruction manual and the learning curve will also be considerable, but not with this one.
It has just one level control and an innovative 24-segment loop indicator on the panel. The indicator keeps you informed of which function is on and where you are in the loop. The recordings are also retained even when there is a power cut or when the battery runs out.
In short, it is the simplest instrument to get into the world of seamless recording, looping and overdubbing. And it’s most reliable too as it comes with a 5 year warranty. We love it and recommend it to our readers.
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