Help me solve this equation!

[Godspeed64]

Hey guys, I can't seem to fathom what equipment I need to make this happen.

I'm trying to get into live-looping and plan to add a few instruments into the mix.

Firstly, I want to preserve my two amplifier set-up for my guitars.
The looper I plan to buy is a JamMan Stereo.
Second, I'm gonna add vocals. I suppose the JamMan Stereo would be the one handling that from the input.
Third, I want to add keyboards to the set-up. Possibly considering a Korg Microkorg XL for this.
Lastly, I want to add a drum machine, probably a Zoom RT-223.

Do I need a mixer? Can all these (more worried about the keys and drum machine) work fine going through two GUITAR amplifiers? Or is there some other device I need to look at that can possibly balance all the inputs.

 

[carboxymoron]

http://www.samsontech.com/samson/products/processors/s-class-mini/smix/ can help consolidate some inputs if you don't want to lug a full size mixer

If you're going to add so many things I would look into using a keyboard amp, PA / powered speakers, or something like the Power Engine http://www.tech21nyc.com/products/powerengine/powerengine60.html (have used it for a gig, sounds excellent). Then again depends on what amps you have, but I don't think you can get an ideal sound for vocals/drums out of most guitar amps.

Lastly I can tell you that the middle ground is not satisfying when it comes to live looping. Either keep it dead simple or go all in with stereo paths, a mixer, A/B/Y switches at every conceivable junction... you'll know what I mean when you decide to either downsize or upsize from your current plan

 

[PatheinRaindropMoe]

with the mixer, you can prolly fit in everything and having the looper at the output of the mixer then to the guitar amp. But then, the sound from the keyboard and drum machine wont be optimal sounding through the geetar amp.

Imho and if i wanna similar setup, i would group the geetar and vocal into the jamman.

For drum machine and keyboard, i would group them together, but not using physical drum machine and hardware synth. I will use laptop, vsti drum machine and softsynth within my daw of choice, with 2 midi controller attached to it, one of it will be a keyboard style midi controllers with faders, knobs, button, drumpads(novation remote sl or akai mpk series etc) and the other, a foot pedal style midi controller like the behringer fc1010 or keith mcmillen softstep or apoogee gio(some midi re mapping and routing to be done if not using apple mainstage/logic setup)

With this setup, i can trigger drum machine on the drum pads, play synth on the midi keyboard, trigger pre-prepared loops, add in effect, control effect send and return, control the volume, fading in and out etc, all looped within daw, via the midi footcontroller to compliment the loops from the geetar and vocal.

If it sounds like too much work for the keys and drum part looping via midi controller with the mapping and routing, another easier way to do it is to use pre prepared loops/backing tracks stored within your daw of choice, according to songs, tempo etc. Anytime when you need to playback the keys, drum machine parts, its just a matter or triggering from within the software and also easy adjustment of the parameters mentioned above( volume level of loops, effect level etc) as well, without worrying much bout midi assignment and routing

Heh, lastly a video of moldover, guitar playing dude with his custom midi controller, combining voice, loops manipulation and fast fingering skill to give us whats known as controllerism

 

[carboxymoron]

Ah I was gonna mention the laptop option but Pathein already covered it. It'll be much, much easier than separate drum machine and keyboard. If your looper can slave to your laptop via MIDI you basically solve all beat syncing problems as well.

 

[Godspeed64]

I was considering a laptop - MIDI controller set-up as well.

Pathein, if I group the keys and drums together using software, what will the output be? As in would I still need to get like monitors?

I know I'm being overly ambitious in trying to do so many things at once, but this aspect of music has intrigued me for so long that I can't help but justify myself wanting to go slightly overboard on it lol. I'm really motivated to delve into looping more seriously. Overall I've got some examples on what I want to achieve.

I like how this guy uses a drum machine:

 

[Godspeed64]

This guy uses keys:

 

[Godspeed64]

Same guy controlling everything via a laptop and MIDI controller mentioned:

 

[Godspeed64]

Another dude using vocals and again MIDI controller:

 

[PatheinRaindropMoe]

if I group the keys and drums together using software, what will the output be? As in would I still need to get like monitors?

yep, monitor for the overall sound output. Even with amp, if you wanna wanna best result for recording and playback purpose, monitors would be the best.

imho, start small first, get a cheap behringer mixer, combined everything and run it into geetar amp. See how you like it and what sort of porblem you might encounter and move on from there.

The combos might not be easy for starting out, will prolly need lotsa time and experiment with diiferent setup to get it eventually.

lastly, if you wanna, can try getting in touch with randolf(embryo) and seek his advice on the looping combos you wanna. When comes to looping, Randolf is the man to go to, imho

 

[Godspeed64]

Hey thanks bro! I was thinking of PM-ing you directly instead of starting this thread but decided to see if there were others who could point me in the right direction as well.

I'll build it up slowly, starting with the looper and vocal effects lol. Thanks again!

 

[PatheinRaindropMoe]

in the mean time, if wanna explore software looper that can be configured with midi foot controller, theres these 2 to try out and best of all, its free..

http://essej.net/sooperlooper/

http://www.circularlabs.com/index.html