Wanted to write and say thank you for the demo for this looper, I have never used on but as soon as I’m over this blasted food poisoning I got done for sure ideas! Thank you for your patient instructions and you have a new subscriber!
I love this Looper, you can do so much I've had mine for years and I'm still learning/figuring out all sorts of cool new tricks & things you can do with this thing every time I use it
Its kinda hard to tell whats on the 1st loop and 2nd loop although i get the idea but i think it would be better if you put completely different sound on the both loops.
I just bought this one! Very Disappointing......! So sad.... I'm going to return it. I'm a TC costumer! hehehe I have 9 of your pedals. When you start the first knob loop you record. Then you start the second knob loop e it only plays after the hole time of the first loop...... It would be nice if it was like Boss Rc-505 Loop Station, which you can hear the first loop you did while you make another that plays right after you finish recording. So you can build a lot of layers. In this case I prefer to have three small loopers so i can have more control over each loop.
i happened upon this site looking at pedal demos, I've never even thought about playing ambient style before but I am completely intrigued at what you are laying down in your videos. Great stuff! I really appreciate the inspiration. Off to the pedal shop.....
Glad you like it! Ambient style guitar, whether it is ambient music or blended into another genre is a real blast to play. Hope you enjoy experimenting!!
Very nice. I only wish for a demo that the loops were not so similar. The two loops are like one loop divided in two parts (which is what it is in this case) This combined with the low speed and the reverb makes it hard for someone like me who can`t play an instrument to distinguish which loop was which and when it starts, when the "other one" stopped etc. It was a bit blurry for my understanding. Of course people with better rhythm feel will get it much faster and easier but am just saying as a demo video. That being said looks and sounds like a nice piece of equipment.
Omg ... This is what I need.. Ive been stuck on a Moor micro looper for ages, still awesome but no instant stop function! Seriously the day dreams I have with the thought of 2 loops in sync... Damn would love to be able to stop start a 2nd loop while keeping another going that's some DJ spec 🥳
Hey Chords of Orion this is just what I needed to see. Been thinking about the Ditto x4 for some time as I am an ambient musician all be it synths and not guitars. This really helped me to make my mind up and now I will get one. Loving the soundscapes you are creating so will be checking out more of your vids.
I've been playing guitar for over 30 years...punk rock, space rock, shoegazer stuff...all my band mates are gone and I'm now I'm hooked on playing ambient music. I love your reviews, especially since you just use the guitar, vs. other reviewers using backing tracks with drum, etc. I just received a flashback triple delay, thanks to your review. Thanks for all the great vids and keep them coming.
I am very glad you are liking the content here, AND I am really excited that you got the Triple Delay. I hope you enjoy working with it as much as I have! It's been a truly inspirational pedal for me.
Thanks for this video. It just arrived yesterday and the only documentation it comes with is a small single page with "quick start" style instructions. This was much more comprehensive and gives me an idea of what this is capable of. Thanks.
In sync mode do you know if the pedal syncs both loops 1 and 2 in a way that over time they stay perfectly synchronised with eachother or would they slowly become out of sync over time due to slight timing differences? Great review, very precise and clear feedback, however this specific question wasn't answered for me and is key to whether ill be buying this pedal. Thanks for the good video and i hope you could get back to me!
I loved mine, but I had to take it back-only because of the footprint. I have another smaller looper I'm using now, but I really miss being able to go double time! For my folk music, it was like I had a backing mandolin player on hand at any time. The serial/sync option was also a joy to use.
Love it! I just ordered mine through Amazon. I am a sax player, but I also play a Yamaha WX7, through a Roland module. This will really help in my ambient stuff.
Thanks for sharing. I liked the walk through of the functions and felt you were very clear. I also like that you are ambient. I am also. Your video helps me to imagine the X4 in a context relevant to me.
After watching your videos I decided to purchase not only Ocean Machine but also Dittox4. Looping witchcraft may commence today. I really enjoy all your ambient music videos and send my warm geetings to you from Czech Rep.
Bill, I really have enjoyed your channel for many years as I've built up my ambient pedalboard. I've read a lot of mixed reviews concerning the reliability of the X4. However, I haven't found many other devices that can do the dual loops in parallel with the simplicity of the X4 (the closest unit would be the EHX 22500 which has more bells and whistles than I would prefer). So I guess what I'm asking is, are you still using this unit and how has it fared reliability wise?
This is very very helpful I just ordered this off Reverb so I'm going to save this video and refer back to it very very expertly explained thank you very much we'll keep watching more your videos for other things also have a great day
Hey Bill, I know this video was a while ago, but is there any advantage to using both output channels of the Ditto X4 when you’re only using the mono input?
Wow, what a great demo Bill, just convinced me on upgrading from the X2. Sidenote: I could easily picture you over a white background presenting the new iPhone. :)
+Bruno Wong Ha! But the new iPhone doesn't have a built in looper! Although...I guess there's an app for that... :-) If you do upgrade to the X4, I think you will be happy with it. You don't lose any X2 goodies...
The X4 is a great looper and a cornerstone of my pedalboard. I wanted something that could do two loops in serial, but, having had it a while, I find the sync mode even more fun and more useful. The big, foot-friendly volume knobs are a bonus. Pair this with a TC Electronic WireTap and you have a great musical sketchpad at your feet!
I wanted to know when recording loops are you always cued so as to not being off time or do you have to be exact with timing, I am new to looping and learning ambient music Thanks
Great job of explaining the features. But really difficult to hear how the pedal reacts because everything is going into the delay pedal after it. Almost like you have that fade fx knob on. It would be nice to hear the loop stop when you hit stop
Have you used a Ditto x4 much live in the 3 years since recording this video? The features are a good fit for what I want - keep it simple - but I read a lot of bad reliability reviews online. Wonder if it's up to being a reliable piece of stage gear or not.
Hey Mike! I don't play out live at this point, at least not with electric guitar, so I can't say from experience if this is a stage worthy piece of gear. My sense is that it would do just fine unless you are really hard on gear in general.
Is there a looper that will switch seamlessly between loop1 and loop2, say, as parts A and B of a song? Oh, wait, this seems to do it... It queue's the loops correctly. Very excellent. Thanks for the great review.
Yes, very nice demo. My only nitpick would be that you use two loops that are more distinct, so easier to pick apart from one-another. This answers a lot of questions I have about this pedal though. Thank you.
+Chords Of Orion I'm looking forward to more demos of yours. As I'm sure you know, there are a lot of people demoing pedals out there, but very few are as good as yours.
A feature I'd like to see on all loopers is for them to store every loop (every separate phrase or layer that you add) as a separate file on an SD card - and keep all those loops/phrases until you deliberately delete them; a kind of automatic "dump" so that if you create something you really like in the middle of a performance that needs to be deleted during the performance you will still have it later. So as you layer a loop, each layer will be saved separately. Kind of like a browsing history.
A few other questions Bill....first, where do you have the x4 in the chain? I'm using chorus, delay and reverb. My assumption is that is goes at the tail end unless for some reason it doesn't. Second, last night I played around with it through my acoustic rig. So it was guitar into a Fishman Aura into the x4 into acoustic amp. My chorus delay and reverb went through the Fishman efx loop. With this set up the reverb and chorus controls on my amp (Fishman Loud box Mini) seemed to be bypassed and non existing. I have to play around more but is it possible the x4 overrides something? Thanks!
+RichieFlip1973 Normally, I run my looper in front of delays and reverbs (that's what I did in the video). I prefer to let the loop be dry, so the entire set of layers are effected together. But you can certainly run the looper after the delay/reverbs if you prefer. It's all what sounds best to you for your music. Not sure what might be going on with your acoustic rig, but sounds like an effects loop setting issue. Maybe try without the X4 in the path and see if the problem still occurs...
Really great demo. Thanks for such good work. Like the musical style too. A question: in "sync mode" do the loops sync in time with each other, or would it be a little hard to keep them playing on time together? Thanks
+Joe Black I have found that it is not too hard to keep them in time with each other. To be honest I need to do a little more experimenting with different loop combinations. The other thing I am going to try is the MIDI sync which is supposed to keep both loops in time with an external source.
it would be nice to have the abillity to add an expression pedal and put the decay on the pedal... does it have midi CC implementation so it can be controlled by an external midi controller?
Hey Bill! Do you still use this looper pedal? I’m starting to look for one to use with my ambient creations. I’ve been eyeballing this one and the Boomerang Phase III. I greatly appreciate your feedback on which one you prefer and why.
I still use it frequently, in particular for "frippertronics" style looping. The loop decay features and the ability to run each of the 2 loops independently works really well.
Thanks that really helped me understand the possibilities. One question - is it possible to record in mono but set it so that loop 1 and 2 are panned in the stereo field so they have a bit of separation in the mix and don’t compete with each other in the EQ spectrum so much? If not I think I would try recording one loop on the bridge pickup and the other with the neck pickup. Also, is it possible to control the volume of each loop with an expression pedal?
I am not aware of a way to pan the loops, however, if you have 2 different stereo sounds going into the X4, you could pan them so that sound 1 is to the left and sound 2 to the right. That way, when they record, they will be panned. Here's information on MIDI: community.musictribe.com/t5/Musician/Ditto-X4-Midi-Control/td-p/84392
Hello! Thank you for sharing your wonderful music and demo of the X4. I had the X2 but I think I outgrew it and got a new X4! I have a question... if I record some percussion beats on Loop 1 for my verse and want to use the same on Loop 2 for my chorus, what should I do? Is there a way to make both loops record and stop at the same time? Or, can I copy a progression to Loop 2? Thanks!
I have a question about using the master STOP button in a live setting: • Can you use it to stop a loop with one tap? (thought I noticed you doing this) • After you’ve stopped a loop with the STOP button, can you then restart the loop from its beginning by one tapping the loop station it’s on?
Looks good for performance. Though I'd like to see a couple of more features, simplicity [and reliability!] is good in performance. **Did you test the computer connection? Does it work properly?** Decay control is good. Controls for the time of the fade and tape stop would be nice. Unfortunate that this unit doesn't have the ability to store more than 2 loops at a time.
As noted elsewhere, the tone you're getting seems incredibly transparent, which is wonderful... I don't detect any digital coloration or anything of that nature. One question: have you run across any hardware issues, such as broken switches? I owned the Akai Headrush looper, which sounded absolutely fantastic, but one of the foot switches failed multiple times, requiring re-soldering... pretty much the same issue that has famously plagued the DL4! Can you comment on the reliability of these foot switches?
Hello there, can you tell me how the export of loops works? Is there some software required or do they just land in a folder as .wav-files? Some other loopers like the jamman have horrible software and there is no other way to access the loops via pc. How is it with the ditto X4?
+onpsxmember It's pretty easy. You just turn on the X4, use the USB cable to plug it into your computer, and the X4 will show up like thumb drive. The loops are in folders called Track 1 and Track 2. You can drag and drop from there... Here's the manual for more information: cdn-downloads.tcelectronic.com/media/5642044/ditto-x4-looper_m_en.pdf
It has been some time since i got a really fullfilling reply like this one. Thank you . Your music reminds me a little of the 28 days later soundtrack. So its even possible to adjust the volume of a backingtrack in memory. This pedal is well engineered.
I really wanted to get one of these, go to guitar center cause I wanted it right away, online it says get a new one because a lot of them unfortunately fail. Employee grabs a brand new ditto x4 out of the box still in a sealed bag. I plug it in, doesn’t work. All red and green lights. Didn’t function. Sooo that was my cue to not spend the money.
+Andres Samur Yes, each of the loops has independent redo/undo/delete. Also, in case you are interested, here's a link to the user manual, which just posted the other day on the TC Electronic web site. Got all the information on the controls!!! cdn-downloads.tcelectronic.com/media/5642044/ditto-x4-looper_m_en.pdf
I have one of these and started using it for acoustic duet gigs. Is there an easy way to pre-record rhythm parts for the songs that I can queue up before each song to trigger during guitar solos? Some song I play don’t have a rhythm part I can record during the song before the solo that has the right cord pattern for the solo (sweet child o mine for example). Or is the only way to achieve this to have a laptop on stage and manually drag and drop them into the looper before every song. It would be nice to have them all stored in the X4 and simply use a midi controller to flip through the recordings.
Well, the RC-300 has more features and is twice the price compared to the X4. Will you use the additional capabilities, and are they worth the extra cost? Your answer will determine what you should get. My looping needs tend to be on the simple side, so the LoopStation is probably more than I need.
The RC300 has a lot more feature plus it has not two but THREE loops, so you can do verse/chorus and you still have a loop for a bridge, It also has an onboard drum machine so it’s great for keeping everything in sync. The downside is that it’s like an aircraft carrier, so the question is; have you got enough room for it in your gig bag?
Awesome demo, I love the ambient swell! Curious about the reliability of the X4, there's a lot of bad experiences with it freezing up..have you had any issues with it after a couple of years?
I have read about issue too. Mine was worked well over the last 2.5 years, except for one freeze up, probably 1.5 years ago. I updated the firmware and all has been well since.
Chords Of Orion Thanks! I have the Boss RC-300, I find myself not playing as much as I’m menu diving and getting frustrated.. TC Electronics seems to have made a more intuitive offering 👍
+Chords Of Orion No you used the master stop button to stop for each demo. Thanks for answering my question! For your ambient guitar style, double taps should be pretty easy. Not sure if it's that convenient for my fast paced and many breaks kind of playing though.. otherwise this pedal beats everything out there now!
So, it can do serial loop playback (one channel after the other), but can do serial RECORDING of these loops? Im in the search for that. Separated channels with serial recording/playback.
Difficult question for you ; if stranded with only one pedal to use , would you choose the Ditto X 4 or the Boss DD-500 - and which one is better suited for Frippertronics ?
+maxwellc13 Not difficult at all for me. I would definitely take the Boss DD-500 over the X4. I can live without a looper, but can't live without a good delay! and the DD-500 includes a basic looper function. Also, I think in general, the DD-500 is going to be better for getting that classic Frippertronics sound. But the X4 is for sure, a great looper!
+Chords Of Orion Thank you for the speedy reply ! There's such a lot of information and functions with each great looking device - and I;m primarily an acoustic player looking to get into light amplification,albeit with a little seasoning -think Frippertronics acoustica (a bit closer to an acoustic Easter Sunday). I also have e Thunderhawk.....can you recommend a condenser mic ?
+maxwellc13 Awesome that you have a Thunderhawk! For recording this guitar (and also my standard acoustic guitars), I use a matched pair of Oktava MK012. I've had these for about 10 years and like the way they sound, but I am sure there are better options today. It all depends on your budget. I would say that any "pencil mic" or Small Diaphragm Condenser mic that has a decently balanced tone would work well.
Dear Bill, Got my doubts about the reliability of these ditto loopers, I'm actually sending back a very recently ordered x2 as it makes a huge audio bumping sound when pressing the stomp switch. Also, i can hear faint bumps on this demo! How are you going on with the x4? ***edit*** Dear Bill Been reading more and more stuff about the x4 and the issues....do you know of any other loopers that have the decay feature? Happy Christmas too!
I am still loving my X4. Just used it on one my "Chords of Orion Long Play" pieces. It did freeze up once about 2 years. I updated the firmware and it has been good since. As far as other loopers go, I know the Boomerang 3 has a loop decay/fade. Not sure what else does.
+Carlos Gutiérrez I hope you can get one too! By the way - I really like "Covenant Rainbow in the Clouds"! theverbwithus.bandcamp.com/track/covenant-rainbow-in-the-clouds
I like the way you present your demos but i would have loved to hear some music relevant for guitarists. Some rhythms, chords, solos, different layers etc.
There are lots of videos on this channel that are just musical performances. For example, here's one that features the Ditto X4: ruclips.net/video/7aUn9Af3Yq8/видео.html. I hope you will check this and some of the others out!!
Wanted to write and say thank you for the demo for this looper, I have never used on but as soon as I’m over this blasted food poisoning I got done for sure ideas! Thank you for your patient instructions and you have a new subscriber!
I love this Looper, you can do so much I've had mine for years and I'm still learning/figuring out all sorts of cool new tricks & things you can do with this thing every time I use it
Its kinda hard to tell whats on the 1st loop and 2nd loop although i get the idea but i think it would be better if you put completely different sound on the both loops.
Agreel
+1
Absolutely right.. i just wonder why he didnt choose two very different chord progressions to make his explanation very clear ?!!!
agree
yup!!!
Thank you, Professor for the great content as well as the kindness and humor you bring!
Really nice demo, Bill :)
+TC Electronic Thanks! I gotta tell ya - this thing is really great. I've used it on 2 recordings already!
Chords Of Orion - that's amazing, man! Really happy you like it :)
I just bought this one! Very Disappointing......! So sad.... I'm going to return it. I'm a TC costumer! hehehe I have 9 of your pedals. When you start the first knob loop you record. Then you start the second knob loop e it only plays after the hole time of the first loop...... It would be nice if it was like Boss Rc-505 Loop Station, which you can hear the first loop you did while you make another that plays right after you finish recording. So you can build a lot of layers. In this case I prefer to have three small loopers so i can have more control over each loop.
Thanks Bill!!!!! Now it's OK!!!! hehehehe I'm relieved! TC should give you some money!!! I bought some 7 pedals because of your videos! 😀👍👍👍
▼
Too bad it completely breaks when it's been left alone and untouched. Huge waste of money
i happened upon this site looking at pedal demos, I've never even thought about playing ambient style before but I am completely intrigued at what you are laying down in your videos. Great stuff! I really appreciate the inspiration. Off to the pedal shop.....
Glad you like it! Ambient style guitar, whether it is ambient music or blended into another genre is a real blast to play. Hope you enjoy experimenting!!
Very nice. I only wish for a demo that the loops were not so similar. The two loops are like one loop divided in two parts (which is what it is in this case) This combined with the low speed and the reverb makes it hard for someone like me who can`t play an instrument to distinguish which loop was which and when it starts, when the "other one" stopped etc. It was a bit blurry for my understanding. Of course people with better rhythm feel will get it much faster and easier but am just saying as a demo video. That being said looks and sounds like a nice piece of equipment.
You chilled me out so much Bill! Sat in sun with your tones washing over me!
Great demo too👍
Omg ... This is what I need.. Ive been stuck on a Moor micro looper for ages, still awesome but no instant stop function! Seriously the day dreams I have with the thought of 2 loops in sync... Damn would love to be able to stop start a 2nd loop while keeping another going that's some DJ spec 🥳
You always have great reviews, but this pedal desperately needed a tutorial this detailed.
Hey Chords of Orion this is just what I needed to see. Been thinking about the Ditto x4 for some time as I am an ambient musician all be it synths and not guitars. This really helped me to make my mind up and now I will get one. Loving the soundscapes you are creating so will be checking out more of your vids.
Glad you found the video useful and thanks for letting me know!!
I've been playing guitar for over 30 years...punk rock, space rock, shoegazer stuff...all my band mates are gone and I'm now I'm hooked on playing ambient music. I love your reviews, especially since you just use the guitar, vs. other reviewers using backing tracks with drum, etc. I just received a flashback triple delay, thanks to your review. Thanks for all the great vids and keep them coming.
I am very glad you are liking the content here, AND I am really excited that you got the Triple Delay. I hope you enjoy working with it as much as I have! It's been a truly inspirational pedal for me.
Thanks for this video. It just arrived yesterday and the only documentation it comes with is a small single page with "quick start" style instructions. This was much more comprehensive and gives me an idea of what this is capable of. Thanks.
Great piece of kit. Was my first choice in loopers. Never get tired or rid of this baby. Great demo, as always Bill :-)
Thanks for the nice demo, Bill. Love your ambient sound. :-)
In sync mode do you know if the pedal syncs both loops 1 and 2 in a way that over time they stay perfectly synchronised with eachother or would they slowly become out of sync over time due to slight timing differences? Great review, very precise and clear feedback, however this specific question wasn't answered for me and is key to whether ill be buying this pedal. Thanks for the good video and i hope you could get back to me!
In sync mode, they stay synchronized. In serial mode, they would get off time.
I loved mine, but I had to take it back-only because of the footprint. I have another smaller looper I'm using now, but I really miss being able to go double time! For my folk music, it was like I had a backing mandolin player on hand at any time. The serial/sync option was also a joy to use.
A really great and thorough review and demo! Great features! And stereo in and out, as well! Thanks for this!
Really good demo and clear explanation of the TC X4 looper - Thanks Bill!
I love this demo, super in depth. Subscribed.
Hey, thanks!
couldn't tell whats on the 1st and 2nd loop.
I think this is the looper I need. Thanks for the nice demo.
+cosmogang It is a great device for sure!
Just ordered mine from SweetWater - thanks for the review! I'll be writing some ambient cello music with it as soon as it gets here!
+Jamie Clark Ooh! Ambient cello music sounds awesome!!!
Got mine in the mail today. Lots to learn. Looking forward to this.
+RichieFlip1973 Great!!!
What if you turn on the half speed effect with along with the double speed effect?
dittoception
Love it! I just ordered mine through Amazon. I am a sax player, but I also play a Yamaha WX7, through a Roland module. This will really help in my ambient stuff.
+Ron Shaw Looped ambient sax and wind MIDI controller? Awesome!!!!
Thanks for sharing. I liked the walk through of the functions and felt you were very clear. I also like that you are ambient. I am also. Your video helps me to imagine the X4 in a context relevant to me.
After watching your videos I decided to purchase not only Ocean Machine but also Dittox4. Looping witchcraft may commence today. I really enjoy all your ambient music videos and send my warm geetings to you from Czech Rep.
And greetings back from Virginia the USA! I hope you enjoy both of those pedals. They should definitely be able to product some magic!
I am honored! If I happen to make something that might be worth spreading I'll let you know as your judgment means a lot to me
Dude, I just got an Ocean machine and it's awesome! Most of the presets are kinda weird, but you can dial some insane tones with it
Good demo, found out a lot about this pedal that other videos didn't show me. Subscribed!
+Floptimus Prime Thanks for letting me know you got value from the video!!!!!
Thanks so much for this demo, especially the stacking part. I've seen it demonstrated before but not explained how it worked.
Great clarity in the demo...... it enhances your signature sound Bill!
+Kick biker One thing I like about all the Ditto Loopers is the quality of the recorded loop. Really clean!
Bill, I really have enjoyed your channel for many years as I've built up my ambient pedalboard. I've read a lot of mixed reviews concerning the reliability of the X4. However, I haven't found many other devices that can do the dual loops in parallel with the simplicity of the X4 (the closest unit would be the EHX 22500 which has more bells and whistles than I would prefer). So I guess what I'm asking is, are you still using this unit and how has it fared reliability wise?
Very beautiful playing,Bill.
Thanks!!
Great demo. I just ordered mine from Sweetwater today. Hoping to have it Monday. Can't wait.
+RichieFlip1973 Great!!!!
Adjustable decay - now THAT's what we were waiting for!
Very nice demo! I like the way they have this pedal laid out.
+Nathan Shafer (EchoEchoGuy) It is very straighforward. Now all I need to do is get my feet more coordinated!
Thanks for sharing this demo...I need a walk through like this to figure out some of these loopers.
Can you have one loop e.g. 4.0 seconds and the other 4.1 seconds and have them play at the same time, making a constantly changing blanket of sounds?
Yes - if adjust the small DIP switches on the back.
@@chordsoforion Cool! Thanks! :)
This is very very helpful I just ordered this off Reverb so I'm going to save this video and refer back to it very very expertly explained thank you very much we'll keep watching more your videos for other things also have a great day
Hey Bill, I know this video was a while ago, but is there any advantage to using both output channels of the Ditto X4 when you’re only using the mono input?
Thanks - a very clear and coherent demonstration.
+aj pegg You are welcome!!
Well explained,,,, Might have used a rhythmically more definitive lick? Although I am a start trek fan... Thank you!
Wow, what a great demo Bill, just convinced me on upgrading from the X2. Sidenote: I could easily picture you over a white background presenting the new iPhone. :)
+Bruno Wong Ha! But the new iPhone doesn't have a built in looper! Although...I guess there's an app for that... :-) If you do upgrade to the X4, I think you will be happy with it. You don't lose any X2 goodies...
The X4 is a great looper and a cornerstone of my pedalboard. I wanted something that could do two loops in serial, but, having had it a while, I find the sync mode even more fun and more useful. The big, foot-friendly volume knobs are a bonus. Pair this with a TC Electronic WireTap and you have a great musical sketchpad at your feet!
Cool! Glad the X4 is working well for you. I agree about the sync mode - that's the one I use almost all the time.
I wanted to know when recording loops are you always cued so as to not being off time or do you have to be exact with timing, I am new to looping and learning ambient music Thanks
Just received mine. Awesome pedal!
+Daniel Hawkwind Great! I continued to explore the X4 since I filmed this video last week, and it continues to impress me.
+Chords Of Orion It's definitely the best dual looper for the price, I'd say. I look forward to seeing more videos of it in action.
Great Job as always.
Thanks!
Great job of explaining the features. But really difficult to hear how the pedal reacts because everything is going into the delay pedal after it. Almost like you have that fade fx knob on. It would be nice to hear the loop stop when you hit stop
I was interested but I've seen a ton of mixed reviews on it.
Have you used a Ditto x4 much live in the 3 years since recording this video? The features are a good fit for what I want - keep it simple - but I read a lot of bad reliability reviews online. Wonder if it's up to being a reliable piece of stage gear or not.
Hey Mike! I don't play out live at this point, at least not with electric guitar, so I can't say from experience if this is a stage worthy piece of gear. My sense is that it would do just fine unless you are really hard on gear in general.
Pretty cool there
Thnx for clear explanation
Thank you Sir Davos
Is there a looper that will switch seamlessly between loop1 and loop2, say, as parts A and B of a song? Oh, wait, this seems to do it... It queue's the loops correctly. Very excellent. Thanks for the great review.
Yes, very nice demo. My only nitpick would be that you use two loops that are more distinct, so easier to pick apart from one-another. This answers a lot of questions I have about this pedal though. Thank you.
+Timothy Kraus That's a fair nitpick! I'll tuck this away for future demos.
+Chords Of Orion I'm looking forward to more demos of yours. As I'm sure you know, there are a lot of people demoing pedals out there, but very few are as good as yours.
A feature I'd like to see on all loopers is for them to store every loop (every separate phrase or layer that you add) as a separate file on an SD card - and keep all those loops/phrases until you deliberately delete them; a kind of automatic "dump" so that if you create something you really like in the middle of a performance that needs to be deleted during the performance you will still have it later. So as you layer a loop, each layer will be saved separately. Kind of like a browsing history.
Good functionality for sure. I have not tried, but I believe the X4 allows you to export a loop if you connect the pedal to your computer via USB.
Oh - missed the end. Yeah - saving each layer as a separate file would be very cool!
A few other questions Bill....first, where do you have the x4 in the chain? I'm using chorus, delay and reverb. My assumption is that is goes at the tail end unless for some reason it doesn't. Second, last night I played around with it through my acoustic rig. So it was guitar into a Fishman Aura into the x4 into acoustic amp. My chorus delay and reverb went through the Fishman efx loop. With this set up the reverb and chorus controls on my amp (Fishman Loud box Mini) seemed to be bypassed and non existing. I have to play around more but is it possible the x4 overrides something? Thanks!
+RichieFlip1973 Normally, I run my looper in front of delays and reverbs (that's what I did in the video). I prefer to let the loop be dry, so the entire set of layers are effected together. But you can certainly run the looper after the delay/reverbs if you prefer. It's all what sounds best to you for your music. Not sure what might be going on with your acoustic rig, but sounds like an effects loop setting issue. Maybe try without the X4 in the path and see if the problem still occurs...
Excellent demo!
+beephouse Glad you liked it. Thanks so much for letting me know!
Too Cool Thanks for the Great Demo
You are very welcome!!!
Very informative! Helped a lot. Thanks : )
Really great demo. Thanks for such good work. Like the musical style too.
A question: in "sync mode" do the loops sync in time with each other, or would it be a little hard to keep them playing on time together? Thanks
+Joe Black I have found that it is not too hard to keep them in time with each other. To be honest I need to do a little more experimenting with different loop combinations. The other thing I am going to try is the MIDI sync which is supposed to keep both loops in time with an external source.
it would be nice to have the abillity to add an expression pedal and put the decay on the pedal...
does it have midi CC implementation so it can be controlled by an external midi controller?
It does not have a full CC implementation - MIDI sync is only function supported.
@@chordsoforion pitty :(
For a couple of seconds from 13:15 he really reminds me of Patrick Bateman talking about Huey Lewis & The News.
Reminds me of that southpark episode, ahhhsmug smug smug smug smug smug
Dan Paveley LMAO! Bill is a nice guy.
Great review!
Hey Bill! Do you still use this looper pedal? I’m starting to look for one to use with my ambient creations. I’ve been eyeballing this one and the Boomerang Phase III. I greatly appreciate your feedback on which one you prefer and why.
I still use it frequently, in particular for "frippertronics" style looping. The loop decay features and the ability to run each of the 2 loops independently works really well.
@@chordsoforion I’m trying to decide on the TC or the Boomerang Phase III. It’s a difficult choice since I’m not able to actually test them out 🤷🏻
Thanks that really helped me understand the possibilities. One question - is it possible to record in mono but set it so that loop 1 and 2 are panned in the stereo field so they have a bit of separation in the mix and don’t compete with each other in the EQ spectrum so much? If not I think I would try recording one loop on the bridge pickup and the other with the neck pickup. Also, is it possible to control the volume of each loop with an expression pedal?
I am not aware of a way to pan the loops, however, if you have 2 different stereo sounds going into the X4, you could pan them so that sound 1 is to the left and sound 2 to the right. That way, when they record, they will be panned. Here's information on MIDI: community.musictribe.com/t5/Musician/Ditto-X4-Midi-Control/td-p/84392
I bought one. Such an important looper. Loop decay (so great). ...
Totally agree!
Can you use the loop pedal to play backing tracks (mp3 or wav files) I men a song recorded as a backing track not just the drums or loops?
Hello! Thank you for sharing your wonderful music and demo of the X4.
I had the X2 but I think I outgrew it and got a new X4!
I have a question... if I record some percussion beats on Loop 1 for my verse and want to use the same on Loop 2 for my chorus, what should I do? Is there a way to make both loops record and stop at the same time? Or, can I copy a progression to Loop 2?
Thanks!
Awesome video, great explanations!
+rubebop Thanks!!!
Hi, thanks for the demo! Really enjoyed it.
I have a question, does this looper work on a 9V battery? Or must it be DC power supplied all the time?
I have a question about using the master STOP button in a live setting:
• Can you use it to stop a loop with one tap? (thought I noticed you doing this)
• After you’ve stopped a loop with the STOP button, can you then restart the loop from its beginning by one tapping the loop station it’s on?
hey im an ambient music lover and your channel is awesome , im happy ditto brought me here :D
Welcome - and thanks so much for letting me know you like the channel!!!
Wow thanks so much for answering all my comments, btw you should do a demo of the flux liquid ambience reverb, i think you would really dig it.
Looks good for performance. Though I'd like to see a couple of more features, simplicity [and reliability!] is good in performance. **Did you test the computer connection? Does it work properly?**
Decay control is good. Controls for the time of the fade and tape stop would be nice.
Unfortunate that this unit doesn't have the ability to store more than 2 loops at a time.
As noted elsewhere, the tone you're getting seems incredibly transparent, which is wonderful... I don't detect any digital coloration or anything of that nature.
One question: have you run across any hardware issues, such as broken switches? I owned the Akai Headrush looper, which sounded absolutely fantastic, but one of the foot switches failed multiple times, requiring re-soldering... pretty much the same issue that has famously plagued the DL4! Can you comment on the reliability of these foot switches?
I have heard negative comments about the switches on this pedal, yet I own one and haven't experienced any problems. There's anecdotes for ya.
I have had no issues with any of the footswitches on my TC Electronic pedals. Seems pretty sturdy to me.
Hello there,
can you tell me how the export of loops works?
Is there some software required or do they just land in a folder as .wav-files?
Some other loopers like the jamman have horrible software and there is no other way to access the loops via pc.
How is it with the ditto X4?
+onpsxmember It's pretty easy. You just turn on the X4, use the USB cable to plug it into your computer, and the X4 will show up like thumb drive. The loops are in folders called Track 1 and Track 2. You can drag and drop from there... Here's the manual for more information: cdn-downloads.tcelectronic.com/media/5642044/ditto-x4-looper_m_en.pdf
It has been some time since i got a really fullfilling reply like this one. Thank you .
Your music reminds me a little of the 28 days later soundtrack.
So its even possible to adjust the volume of a backingtrack in memory. This pedal is well engineered.
I really wanted to get one of these, go to guitar center cause I wanted it right away, online it says get a new one because a lot of them unfortunately fail. Employee grabs a brand new ditto x4 out of the box still in a sealed bag. I plug it in, doesn’t work. All red and green lights. Didn’t function. Sooo that was my cue to not spend the money.
Would you recommend this pedal over the rc30?
Can it record while a momentary switch is pressed down ?? Or it only works with latch switch? Thnxx brother ❤
Hey there! Latch only - no momentary record option.
Great demo, find it very useful. One question, does each looper has its own redo/undo/delete?
+Andres Samur Yes, each of the loops has independent redo/undo/delete. Also, in case you are interested, here's a link to the user manual, which just posted the other day on the TC Electronic web site. Got all the information on the controls!!! cdn-downloads.tcelectronic.com/media/5642044/ditto-x4-looper_m_en.pdf
Thanks a lot, keep up the good work, cheers
I have one of these and started using it for acoustic duet gigs. Is there an easy way to pre-record rhythm parts for the songs that I can queue up before each song to trigger during guitar solos? Some song I play don’t have a rhythm part I can record during the song before the solo that has the right cord pattern for the solo (sweet child o mine for example). Or is the only way to achieve this to have a laptop on stage and manually drag and drop them into the looper before every song. It would be nice to have them all stored in the X4 and simply use a midi controller to flip through the recordings.
Try the digitec jam man. you can pre record stuff and play it back. also the boss rc 30 can do that.
Hi! Great Review. I can't decide if I want to invest in the DITTO x4 or the Boss RC-300. Can you help?
Well, the RC-300 has more features and is twice the price compared to the X4. Will you use the additional capabilities, and are they worth the extra cost? Your answer will determine what you should get.
My looping needs tend to be on the simple side, so the LoopStation is probably more than I need.
The RC300 has a lot more feature plus it has not two but THREE loops, so you can do verse/chorus and you still have a loop for a bridge,
It also has an onboard drum machine so it’s great for keeping everything in sync.
The downside is that it’s like an aircraft carrier, so the question is; have you got enough room for it in your gig bag?
What do you think of the Strymon Timeline vs the TC triple?
Would love to see you do one on the Flashback x4
Can i record MIDI signal like vocals into the looper and the add guitar?
No - the looper can't record MIDI. Only audio.
@@chordsoforion ok, thanks!
Awesome demo, I love the ambient swell! Curious about the reliability of the X4, there's a lot of bad experiences with it freezing up..have you had any issues with it after a couple of years?
I have read about issue too. Mine was worked well over the last 2.5 years, except for one freeze up, probably 1.5 years ago. I updated the firmware and all has been well since.
Chords Of Orion Thanks! I have the Boss RC-300, I find myself not playing as much as I’m menu diving and getting frustrated.. TC Electronics seems to have made a more intuitive offering 👍
had one for months never froze or even had a hicup
Gyre Project thanks! I just got mine a couple of months ago. Hasn’t had any major problems yet, very simple and inspiring
@@mateoleadONe Presumably the newer ones come with the better firmware installed by now.
is there a way to upload drum beats on this one like the x2?
Yes indeed - you can do this with the X4. The manual has all the details.
Great demo Thank you. I love Fripp... Have you used NST ( New Standard Tuning)?
+Rob V I have used it from time to time, but I struggle with strings 1 and 2 being only a third apart.
Thanks for the vid man! Quick question, if you have the loops in sync mode, how do you stop only 1 loop and keep the other going?
+Justin Lim If you double-tap the Loop 1 or Loop 2 button, only that loop will be stopped. I didn't show that, did I? Sorry!
+Chords Of Orion No you used the master stop button to stop for each demo. Thanks for answering my question! For your ambient guitar style, double taps should be pretty easy. Not sure if it's that convenient for my fast paced and many breaks kind of playing though.. otherwise this pedal beats everything out there now!
Love your videos, you have a very reassuring way about you which helps me part with my money ;-)
I hear ya. You should see what happens to my budget when I start talking to myself - I am so easily persuaded!
So, it can do serial loop playback (one channel after the other), but can do serial RECORDING of these loops? Im in the search for that. Separated channels with serial recording/playback.
any experience looping vocals with a mic through the ditto x4? Can you put two separate inputs; a mic and a guitar and record them separately?
Thanks excellent demo
+Tony Osborne Glad you got some value from it!!!
Great video.Thanks.
And thanks for the comment!!
thanks for this buddy
Difficult question for you ; if stranded with only one pedal to use , would you choose the Ditto X 4 or the Boss DD-500 - and which one is better suited for Frippertronics ?
+maxwellc13 Not difficult at all for me. I would definitely take the Boss DD-500 over the X4. I can live without a looper, but can't live without a good delay! and the DD-500 includes a basic looper function. Also, I think in general, the DD-500 is going to be better for getting that classic Frippertronics sound. But the X4 is for sure, a great looper!
+Chords Of Orion
Thank you for the speedy reply ! There's such a lot of information and functions with each great looking device - and I;m primarily an acoustic player looking to get into light amplification,albeit with a little seasoning -think Frippertronics acoustica (a bit closer to an acoustic Easter Sunday).
I also have e Thunderhawk.....can you recommend a condenser mic ?
+maxwellc13 Awesome that you have a Thunderhawk! For recording this guitar (and also my standard acoustic guitars), I use a matched pair of Oktava MK012. I've had these for about 10 years and like the way they sound, but I am sure there are better options today. It all depends on your budget. I would say that any "pencil mic" or Small Diaphragm Condenser mic that has a decently balanced tone would work well.
Thank you-I'll start to check them out.
Can you use the fade effect to fade loops in as well?
Dear Bill,
Got my doubts about the reliability of these ditto loopers, I'm actually sending back a very recently ordered x2 as it makes a huge audio bumping sound when pressing the stomp switch. Also, i can hear faint bumps on this demo! How are you going on with the x4?
***edit*** Dear Bill
Been reading more and more stuff about the x4 and the issues....do you know of any other loopers that have the decay feature?
Happy Christmas too!
I am still loving my X4. Just used it on one my "Chords of Orion Long Play" pieces. It did freeze up once about 2 years. I updated the firmware and it has been good since. As far as other loopers go, I know the Boomerang 3 has a loop decay/fade. Not sure what else does.
@@chordsoforion Thanks, Bill...good to hear, I like t.c electronics products and as a company, I wish them much success
Great Demo Bill!!!! and I say again! I hope can buy this pedal before die :)
+Carlos Gutiérrez I hope you can get one too! By the way - I really like "Covenant Rainbow in the Clouds"! theverbwithus.bandcamp.com/track/covenant-rainbow-in-the-clouds
OmG! Thanks to listen my creations, I'm trying to record my feelings an ideas, while I buy my rig! Thank You Bill!
I like the way you present your demos but i would have loved to hear some music relevant for guitarists. Some rhythms, chords, solos, different layers etc.
There are lots of videos on this channel that are just musical performances. For example, here's one that features the Ditto X4: ruclips.net/video/7aUn9Af3Yq8/видео.html. I hope you will check this and some of the others out!!