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new toy! ehx 2880 (updated with sample)
StoreTags: bacon, 2880, looper, ehx
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In an effort to build a live setup that doesn't rely on a computer, I got myself an EHX 2880 4-track looper! My live setup isn't fully ready yet, but this will aid a lot as a solo.... err... instrumentalist. I aim to use it as a "tape deck" to splice and cut beats and loops together. I want to be able to construct organic-sounding loops on the fly. A lot of hardware sequencers do offer that, but don't always offer ultimate flexibility without needing to set a bunch of things for the sample. I needed something straightforward and simple. To me, a looper is really appealing because the idea of looping magnetic tape crossing reading heads, and the timign to punch sounds in and out is something I can visualize in my head without any effort. Obviously the 2880 isn't magnetic tape, but the process is more-or-less the same. I can instictivly manage an infinitelly looping canvas much more easily than sequenced samples across multiple channels.
I spent a bit of last night and most of this morning aranging samples, sounds and beats to form neat rythms. I still have yet to read the manual but I had no trouble learning the controls. Here's what I've gathered so far:
Pros:
-As much recording space as your CF card can take, up to 4 gigs I think.
-Intuitive.
-MIDI in/out for BPM sync
-USB to access individual loop tracks as WAV files on the fly
-16/44 sound quality, seemingly lots of headroom.
Cons:
-Can't have multiple sets of loops on CF card. If you want more than the currently-playing set of loops, you need extra CF cards. According to the designers, it's because they couldn't find a way to easily use the controls to switch between sets. Personally I don't buy it. They could of just had an extras knob with an LCD (folder number on CF) to switch between sets. It also means when you make new loops, the old ones are overwritten, unless you have it connected to a computer and copy the loops first.
-Reverse and pitch/tempo bend affects on all tracks at once and not just the currently selected track. This isn't a HUGE issue, though.
-No MIDI for regular faders/knobs/buttons
-The optional foot-controller is more-or-less essential if you want your hands free. It's pricey too, at almost $200.
-I would of likes a minimum db threshold for the punch-in feature, so that I don't need to start my new sounds the instant I hit the rec button, and hitting it again the instant the sound ends.
I'm currently looking for a tool or BAT file that will quickly copy/zip the WAVs as I'm playing the looper in increments, to avoid overwriting things during a live session. For the moment, I have all my instruments hooked up to my mixer, and the mixer itself hooked up to the looper input, and it's output hooked to the soundcard/monitors. As far as I can tell there's no degredation of sound-quality. In the future, I might just hook it up to one of the mixer's send/return's, althoguh that wuld be a pain since Id have to occupy both of them, since I'd want to retain the stereo fidelity of the 2880. We'll see.
update - yay sample!
A 14 minute video of the new 2880 in action! I admit the performance doesn't really amount to anything. I just used some old samples on the es1 without any preperation (just triggering samples, not sequencing them). When my arm covers half the view it means I'm reaching for the mixer for whatever reason. Bearly pictured center-top is a bent DFX94 that I use for the background hum/drone, plus other various noises and feedback.
So far I'm still having trouble with timing and quantisization, but it's really fun!
the movie, 29 megs big | |
Comments
07/08/06
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Roshi
Nice! I've been drooling over this pedal.
07/08/06
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cloudscapes
Roshi said: "Nice! I've been drooling over this pedal."
I reccomend it. It has flaws and it's expensive, but it really rocks for putting organic soundscapes and perc together.
07/09/06
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kidko
that looks hellishly fun
07/09/06
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datathinner
electro harmonix = God
edited: Jul 09 2006
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cloudscapes
it's really fun! I wake up this morning and the first thing on my mind is that I'm looking forward to tinkering with it some more!
updated blog to include sample
07/09/06
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sprouts
e-h pedals are great, i love my 16 second delay
07/09/06
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tamim
Thanks for sharing this... I was thinking about getting one of these pedals.
07/09/06
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cloudscapes
yeah, the 16-second delay thoroughly rocks!
tamim said: "Thanks for sharing this... I was thinking about getting one of these pedals."
I really reccomend it! It has its flaws (like those I mentioned) and somehow I don't believe the design team put that much effort in solving an important problem (multiple sets of loops on a single CF card) but otherwise they did a great job at delivering a looper. its the kind of effect that is an instrument on its own, I think.
07/09/06
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jcd
You get a big thumbs up for including the video.
07/09/06
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sprouts
hopefully e-h will come out with some software/hardware updats/revisions in the future to make the pedal better.
07/10/06
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Roshi
Very cool demo, thanks! Someone just pointed this out to me: link . Much less flexible, but it's kind of neat how it recognizes your playing.
07/10/06
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cloudscapes
jcd: thx :D
sprouts: yeah hopefully. I couldn't find any information if it was firmware upgradable but technically (if the designers planned it) I can't see why it could be. it has a CF card and USB. if I can find some kind of flashable memory in the schems then that should point to a yes. question is, will they. I'm gonna email them.......
Roshi: that loops pretty cool! timing is really difficult on normal loopers, if that one you linekd to can help with that.....
07/10/06
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energygiant
Roshi said: "Very cool demo, thanks! Someone just pointed this out to me: link . Much less flexible, but it's kind of neat how it recognizes your playing."
link
the fxtracker looks way cooler, in my opinion. look at all the midi stuff it can do. $500 
07/11/06
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cloudscapes
The fxtracker does indeed look versatile. Too little knobs to play around with in my opinion but I certainly can see how useful it would be for effect automation!
MIDI-sequenced reverb.... mmmmmmm
07/12/06
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DrexonField
that looks sweet 
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