User Manual

21
Using the Classic Looper
Similar to the original DL4 device of yore, we’ve included a similar (but more powerful!)
Looper, where you turn the Selector knob to LOOPER, and the device’s knobs and
switches change their job descriptions from handling model and preset settings to
instead covering Looper duties. We’ve covered all the details here.
NOTE: As mentioned on the previous page, you can also utilize the 1 Switch Looper for
loop recording, or for loop playback even if you’ve recorded your loop using the Classic
Looper. Also see the section cleverly titled "Using the 1 Switch Looper" on page 23.
Using the Classic Looper’s Built-in Echo
Let’s face it, looping is more fun with some echo thrown into the mix! When you choose
the classic LOOPER on the DL4 MkII Selector knob, you’ll hear that a terrific little echo
effect is built right in. You can utilize the re-purposed knobs to adjust this echo’s time,
repeats, modulation, and level (see "Looper Knobs" on page 22).
Looper Footswitches
You’ll see that each of the four footswitches include a secondary label beneath—these
pertain to their Classic Looper mode functions.
/ DUB /
ONCE
The Looper footswitch labels
/ DUB
Record/Overdub
Press this switch start recording your loop. You’ll see it light green while it is recording.
To stop recording your loop, you can press either the
/ DUB
or the
/
switch:
• If you press
/ DUB
while recording, this will automatically stop recording your
loop and put you into Overdub recording mode, which will continue to cycle
your loop, layering whatever you play as an additional overdub on each cycle.
You’ll see the switch flash to indicate Overdub mode.
• If you press
/
while recording (or while in Overdub), this will immediately
end recording and start playback of your recorded loop. You’ll see the
/ DUB
switch change to unlit to indicate recording has stopped, and the
/
switch
lit solid green to indicate playback is active.
You can also enter Overdub anytime once your original loop is recorded. While your
loop is playing, press
/ DUB
and play —its LED flashes to indicate Overdub mode is
active. With each cycle in overdub mode, the already-recorded sound gets a little quieter,
fading away entirely after many overdub passes.
NOTE: Any time you press
/ DUB
while loop playback is not active, this will start record-
ing a new loop and erase whatever was previously recorded.
/
Play/Stop
Once you’ve recorded a loop you like, you can start and stop playback any time by
toggling the Play/Stop switch—you’ll see it light solid, bright green when playback is
active. From Stop, playback starts from the beginning of the loop.
If you’re currently in active playback or overdub mode, pressing this switch stops play-
back/overdub. You can also press this switch while recording to stop the recording and
immediately start loop playback.
ONCE
Play Once
When playback or recording is stopped, press this switch for “one-shot” playback,
where your recorded loop plays from the start for its full length and then stops auto-
matically—you’ll see both Play Once and Play/Stop light solid, bright green when Play
Once is active.
From Record, press
ONCE
to stop recording and start a one-shot playback
immediately.
If you’re currently in loop playback, press this switch to immediately trigger a one-shot
playback of your loop from its start. (You can achieve a dandy “stuttering” effect by
repeatedly pressing
ONCE
.)
From Record, press
ONCE
to stop recording and start a one-shot playback
immediately.
If you’re currently in Overdub mode, press the switch to immediately terminate overdub
recording and start Play Once playback, which will stop at the end of the loop.
Half Speed/Reverse
This is a dual function switch —tap once to change to half speed, and a double-tap to
change to reverse. You can even use both at the same time!
Half Speed
Hit this switch with a single tap to go into in half speed, or to return to normal speed.
Once you’ve turned Half Speed on, it stays on until you turn it off, and you’ll see it
light solid green to indicate when active.
When a loop is playing forward and at normal speed, press this switch once and the
loop drops down one octave and plays at half its originally recorded speed. Press
this button a second time to return the loop to normal speed.
You can utilize Half Speed for recording as well. Before you start recording, tap this
switch once to enable Half Speed and then record your loop. When you play your
recorded loop, playback sounds normal (and you’ve effectively doubled the available
loop record time for the device, as an added perk). For the loop you’ve recorded
(and/or overdubbed) at Half Speed, if you tap the switch once again to return to Full
Speed, your playback will commence at double the speed at which it was recorded,
and pitched an octave higher. Let that sink in for a minute.