Looperlative LP1 stereo loop device

Main features

◊ 8 stereo tracks which can be synchronized or independent of each other.
◊ Superb audioquality (24bit/44.1kHz)
◊ Varispeed
◊ Track bouncing
◊ Scramble slow / medium / fast
◊ Volume & Feedback control of a single track or group of tracks or all tracks
◊ Reverse / Replace / Cue track / Re-trigger
◊ Multiplay double - triple - quadruple
◊ Rec and then immediatly overdub
◊ Audio stereo in / Audio stereo out / Aux out 1 & 2 (3 stereo outputs)
◊ Midi in - out - trough / Midi clock out
◊ Network (Ethernet) connection for Software update and exchange with a PC

I am a professional flutist (concert flute; altoflute; bass and contrabassflute) and composer in the field of classical, jazz and avantgarde music. I use my looping gear almost everiday. I did start with looping about 13 years ago with the Paradis loop delay. From the first loop I made with this machine, I was fascinated about the possibilities. Beside checking my fluteplaying (scales and sound studies) with the Paradis loop, its a great tool for composing. Until today, I composed about 50 pieces with loops. They all have a fix structure with percussion (made with flutes) bassline, melody and solo. I needet always a stereo machine, because I work with stereo effects all the time. That means two Paradis or two Echoplex. When the Echoplex came on the market, I changed. Specially with the software IV, with all the new features, it became more interesting to me. I checked also the Line 6 Echo. It is also a stereo looper with very good sound, but not so many features like the Echoplex.
As soon as the Repeater appears, it was my number one looping tool. Much better sound as the Echoplex, cheaper and even more features. With the possibility of storing loops on a CF card, I could keep good ideas on this card and work on it over a longer period. But, the feature I love the most on the Repeater are the four tracks (2 times stereo) and the pitchshifter. My idea about threedimensional loops became trough. On my newest record "impuls", a multichannel hybrid SACD with a stereo and an 4.0 layer (plays on all CD players), you can listen to the music as I play in concerts with surroundsound.

Now, with the Looperlative LP1, I have the comfortable opportunity with 8 stereo tracks, synchronized or independent. I was very surprised, how light-weight the 1U unit and the AC adaptor (for all voltage) is. The hardware is very professional made (all electronics in SMD technique), and Midi programming is very intuitiv and simple. You go to the main menu, on the very bright and clear 2-line vacuum fluorescent display, then to the "MIDI/USER btn." and hit on your Midipedal the botton you wish to have for instance the "Rec/Dub" function. In the menu, you turn the datawheel until "Rec/Dub" appears and hit enter. Thats it! So easy and fast is Midiprogramming with the LP1.

I did the same with my Midicontrollers. I first calibrate them with the LP1 and tell them, what to do: level or feedback or varispeed. I can decide, that one track, all tracks or just some tracks react. Thats realy comfortable fast and useful.
After unpacking the machine, I needet about one hour to program my midifootcontroller (FCB1010) as I described before and I had to set the input and output levels on my mixer. Then I could start looping. After some distortion appear on a loop with many layers, I put the master level to -1 and there was no distortion anymore.
Another great feature are the AUX outs 1 and 2. On this outputs, you have the opportunity to send desired tracks to this outs. I work with a 4.0 setup (two front channels, two rear channels). Now I decide, witch sounds goes either to the front or to the rear channels, or to another effect-machine. There are many ways to use it.
Varispeed, as we know from the tapemachines is also a good feature: It slows down and the pitch goes down as well, very charming.

Or, the bounce feature: You decide, witch tracks you wanna bounce, and immediatly, you get a new track with the bounced onces.

Or, scrumble: It scrumbles (you chan decide slow, medium or fast) all tracks or the onces you wish and you can go back to the original sound as before.
I appreciate very much the forum on the looperlative website. (www.looperlative.com) Bob Amstadt, the mastermind behind this great tool, offers a discussion place, wishlist and bug reports. He reacts very fast, if there is a bug in the software or he implements new ideas as they are of interest for the users. Since I own an LP1, there have been many upgrades, and all of them improved the LP1 tremendesly. It is a real pleasure to download the new software: You connect the LP1 directly with ethernet to the internet, search on the menu the upgrade page and press enter twice. After about 5 minits, I have my new software on the LP1, restart and go on with looping!!! And, its for free!

The software grows with your needs.

In my rack, I have now a Repeater and the LP1. Each has unique features. The LP1 covers all my needs exept the pitchshifter and the CF card. Until now, there is missing the one level undo on the LP1, but I know, Bob is working on it and I am shure, I can download soon this feature as well.

Stefan "steve" Keller
www.flutetrends.ch