Live looping explained: looper pedals, software, sync and overdubs

Live looping is "the recording and playback of a piece of music in real-time" (Wikipedia): you play a phrase, the looper repeats it, and you add to it while the audience listens. One person ends up sounding like a band, and every layer is built in front of them.

A short history

The idea is older than pedals. Les Paul demonstrated live looping on the TV show Omnibus in 1953, and Terry Riley's 1963 piece The Gift ran on a tape delay and feedback system built from two Revox tape recorders. Dedicated devices followed, starting with the Paradis LOOP Delay, and Roland and DigiTech loop pedals reached the market in 2001 (Wikipedia).

Pedals or software

Loopers come in two forms: dedicated hardware, "called loopers or phrase samplers", and software on a computer with an audio interface. Boss, DigiTech and TC Electronic are the best-known hardware makers (Wikipedia).

A typical single-track pedal: the Boss RC-5 records stereo WAV, holds 99 phrase memories and about 13 hours of recording in total, has undo/redo on its main switch, 57 rhythm patterns, and TRS MIDI I/O for "MIDI sync with drum machines and DAWs" (Boss).

On the software side, Ableton Live's Looper device can do things a footswitch can't easily: double the loop length while copying what's there (×2), halve it (÷2), and drag the loop out as an audio clip (Ableton).

Overdubs and undo

The first take sets the loop's length. Every overdub after that adds a layer of the same length on top (Ableton). Undo is your safety net: on Ableton's Looper it removes the overdubs made since you last switched overdub on (Ableton), and on the RC-5 it sits on the main pedal (Boss).

Sync: who keeps the time?

There are two ways to run a looper alongside drums or a computer:

• The loop sets the tempo. Ableton's "Set & Follow song tempo" option works out the song tempo from what you recorded, then follows any later changes (Ableton).
• A clock sets the tempo. The pedal follows MIDI clock from a drum machine or DAW, as the RC-5 can (Boss). With Ableton's transport running, the Looper also snaps its start to the global quantization setting (Ableton).

Free-running (no sync) is fine solo. The moment a second machine is involved, decide which one is the master clock before the gig.

Artists to study

Wikipedia's list of live loopers runs to dozens of names, including Ed Sheeran, KT Tunstall, Andrew Bird, Reggie Watts, Tash Sultana, Marc Rebillet, Kimbra, Dub FX, Beardyman and Tune-Yards (Wikipedia). The range is the point: singer-songwriters, beatboxers, violinists and comedians all use the same basic tool.

Performance tips (our advice)

• Nail the first loop. Everything is built on it, so a late footswitch press makes the whole song drift. Practise the press, not just the part.
• Start with rhythm or bass. A sparse foundation leaves room; a busy first layer leaves nowhere to go.
• Plan the exits. Know how each song ends (stop, fade, or drop layers) before you start it.
• Keep levels low. Each overdub adds volume; leave headroom for the fourth layer.
• Tell the audience. A quick "this is all live" makes the build-up part of the show.

For a costed kit, see our budget live-looping rig.

What we think

Start with a pedal. Software is more powerful, but a looper's real skill is timing your feet, and a single-track pedal teaches that without a laptop to distract you or crash. Move to a DAW looper when you hit a wall: when you want to change loop lengths mid-song or reuse loops as clips. And the best loop sets are written, not improvised. The artists above make it look spontaneous because the structure was planned before they stepped on stage.

FAQ

What's the difference between a looper and a delay? A delay repeats and fades; a looper repeats a phrase until you stop it, and lets you layer on top.

Do I need MIDI sync? Only if you're looping alongside a drum machine or computer. Solo, play free.

Can I loop vocals? Yes. Use a mic into a looper or mixer with a mic input.