Please critique my live looping setup?

[loopernewb]

Hi there,

Thanks for accepting my request. I’m a longtime guitarist and musician who has played in bands of various styles (punk, latin, jazz, psychedelia, prog) for many years. I’ve decided to at long last take the plunge into the big scary world of solo looping. My inspirations include Juana Molina, Terry Riley, Panda Bear, Manuel Gottsching etc etc.

Anyway, before I plunk down $1,000 or more I’d like to get some feedback on whether the looping setup I have in mind seems compatible/suitable for what I’m trying to do. What follows is a brief description of what I’m hoping to do, followed by the gear I THINK would be capable of getting me there. Looking for feedback and most important WARNINGS if some of this gear doesn’t sound like it will be able to communicate or work together

I’m hoping to do live, minimalist loops incorporating the following instruments

• Electric guitar: using various effects. In other words, I want the capability to record my guitar with different effects pedals onto separate tracks that overlay each other
• Electric kalimba: this is an African thumb piano with a pickup, takes a ¼ cable. Will also need its own input into looper
• Analogue synth with midi capability: Moog Grandmother or something comparable that can also be looped
• Microphone for looping vocals with effects
• Sampler/Drum Machine— Novation Circuit Rhythm to provide rhythms, beats and samples under loops via Midi

Finally, the loop pedal: I believe the RC-600 Loop Station is (one of, if not the only) loopers capable of accommodating this many instruments, plus Midi controlling for a drum machine. Initially I was looking at the EHX 95000 but it only really has two inputs.

Does this make sense? Seem feasible? Any other options I should consider besides the RC-600?

 

[TSJMajesty]

What if you used some type of switcher box that you'd feed the instruments into, so you wouldn't need to limit yourself to a unit that has several inputs? Perhaps this is why loopers tend to not have more than 2 inputs...?

 

[mikbank]

Second on getting a switcher, Ran an ambient looper setup some years back and used both guitar, a synth and some mics in a swithcer i had borrowed - worked great and gave me a lot of modularity.

I think it is more important to find a looper that works for you, there's a huuuuge difference between the workflows/possibilities on a EHX looper, a boss, a ditto or a boomerang looper, and its more important that you find a looper that you can get inspired by, than the IO details about it.
i'd suggest that you start out by trying out different loopers, if possible. I went through a couple of different loopers before i found something that suited me.

 

[itchyfingers]

You could use a small mixer to input your guitar, kalimba, synth and mic and get those nice and balanced before inputting to your loop station.

 

[KFF]

the RC-600 Loop Station is (one of, if not the only) loopers capable of accommodating this many instruments, plus Midi controlling for a drum machine.

Seems to work well for these guys...