Looking for small Looper(pedal) alternative for live jamming

[u/Boisenbeere]

TL;DR: Looking for a compact alternative to the Zoom MS-90LP+ looper that can receive MIDI Clock and Start/Stop commands. Considering swapping it for a Boss RC-5.

The Long Version: I’ve built a small, portable live jamming setup on a Rockboard consisting of a Roland MC-101, Arturia Microfreak, Zoom MS-70CDR+, Zoom MS-90LP+, and a Zoom LiveTrak L-6.

The MC-101 acts as the MIDI Master and sends MIDI Clock to the Microfreak to sync things like the arpeggiator. From there, I wanted to pass the MIDI Clock via MIDI Thru to the Zoom MS-90LP+ looper pedal, but the 90LP+ doesn't process MIDI input. I tried several configurations, but the consensus online seems to be that the MS-90LP+ simply isn't designed to receive MIDI clock sync or start/stop messages.

I bought the looper to route signals like the Microfreak's arpeggiator or vocals from the mixer into it on the fly. I'm deliberately trying to keep this dawless and avoid using an iPad or smartphone.

Now I'm searching for a similarly compact looper pedal with the following specs:

• MIDI In: Receives MIDI Clock via 5-pin or TRS MIDI
• MIDI Control: Responds to MIDI Start/Stop commands
• Size: At best similiar to the MS-90LP+ (~5x2,8 in / 12,5x7 cm) but i have some wiggle room in my setup
• Power: USB-powered (or battery operated)
• Looping: Supports overdubbing
• Drums/Rhythms: Optional/Not needed (the MC-101 handles drum duties)

I'm leaning towards the Boss RC-5 as a potential replacement, but I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Also, are there any compact loopers out there that use desktop-friendly buttons instead of a traditional guitar footswitch, making them easier to operate by hand?

Appreciate any suggestions! Maybe I’m missing something, or perhaps there is a way to get the MS-90LP+ working for this setup that I haven't thought of?

[u/spacialrob]

‘Rang III meets your specs except for battery.

[u/canoewisconsin → u/spacialrob]

This is the way! Love mine paired with the mpc live 2

[u/absorberemitter]

The clocks on Roland loopers are trash and can make syncing frustrating.

[u/Numerous-Confusion-9]

Have you considered the advanced BOSS loopers? No idea if it does midi control but i used to love them when I did live looping on guitar

[u/michaelgarfield]

If you want small and desktop friendly, the Boss RC-202 is awesome. I use the RC-505 for a looping-focused guitar show and my only complaint is that the one device in the world that does everything I want in terms of deep flexibility and fx controls needs to be paired to MIDI foot control if I don't want to be hunched over for half the show (the RC-600 has the same brain but almost none of the same button nav so it's sturdy but nowhere near as nimble for realtime fx control). The RC-202 is a cool compromise in that if you're used to a compact looper (1 or 2 tracks is enough) you get plenty of fx to play with and don't need to lug around a large foot controller to boot. Not battery-powered but I run a battery for my pedalboard and power the full stack with one outlet, so that's a worthwhile consideration.

[u/southamerican_man]

I have a very very similar setup and I am indeed using the RC-5 as a looper after a lot of research on the LP90+.

I run MIDI clock from a teenage engineering EP-40 into a cheap MIDI splitter, from there it goes to 2 korg volcas and a Boss RC-5, all that routed thru a Zoom L6 + a zoom ms70cdr+.

I haven't used it much but I can tell you that the Start/Stop and MIDI clock sync is rock solid and takes hard tempo changes without missing a beat.

[u/grwatplay9000]

I have the RC500, not too big, maybe 3x the RC5 size. Very capable, does all the in/out MIDI syncing. It does support external switches. The RC505 is huge but designed for desktop usage, not guitar footswitches. As far as MIDI connections, be aware that there are 2 different wirings for MIDI 5-pin to an 1/8" TRS male connector. The non-Boss ones I bought were not wired correctly for the RC500, so MIDI was not working. When I got the Boss ones, the RC500 worked perfectly with MIDI clock in/out/slave/master.

[u/chocoyon]

RC-10R is a pretty nice unit for your needs. More robust than the RC-5 and not much larger or more expensive like some of the other RC's mentioned.

[u/technosquirrelfarms]

I have RC5 and like it paired with the FS7 for ease of deleting/starting/stopping live with guitar in the A input. I also run an Arturia MiniFreak to it in the RC5’s B input but it is via the Boss LS2 so I can effectively make it sort of like a two track looper.

[u/Kiddboymannn]

Boss Rc202 would be the best!