The looper pedal is the most underappreciated, overlooked, and misunderstood of all effects pedals. These fantastic pieces of gear allow you to perform a musical phrase on an instrument and then play it back in an infinite loop with the stomp of your foot. For many guitar, bass, and keyboard players, a looper pedal is used to practice songs and new parts. However, the best looper pedals are more than humble practice tools. They also serve as a streamlined and user-friendly way to compose new songs. Loopers are also invaluable tools for solo performers, enabling one musician to create a lush, ever-evolving musical landscape in minutes.
You’ve come to the right place if you’re looking for a great looper. Plenty of our team members and Sweetwater Sales Engineers classify themselves as looper advocates, so we’ve seen what the best looper pedals are capable of. Sweetwater stocks a large selection of looper pedals to cater to the needs of every performer. We’ve got the looper you need, from simple mono loopers to fully loaded stereo looping rigs with vocal looping and effects. Read on to see our candidates vying for the best looper pedal title.
Note: At Sweetwater, we know there’s no such thing as “best” when it comes to music gear. Every player and artist has unique tastes, which is what makes selecting gear so fun! The items on this list feature some of our favorite products from top manufacturers to help you start your buying journey! Explore these recommendations and dive into Sweetwater’s massive collection of gear on our online store. For personalized picks and expert advice, please contact our knowledgeable Sweetwater Sales Engineers at (800) 222-4700!
- BOSS RC-1 Loop Station Looper Pedal
- TC Electronic Ditto+ Looper Pedal
- Singular Sound Aeros Loop Studio Stereo Looper Pedal
- MXR M303 Clone Looper Effects Pedal
- Electro-Harmonix 720 Stereo Looper Pedal
- Fishman AFX Broken Record Looper/Sampler
- Line 6 DL4 MkII Delay Modeler Pedal
BOSS RC-1 Loop Station Looper Pedal
The modern classic stereo looper
The BOSS RC-1 Loop Station looper pedal headlines our list for several reasons: it’s easy to use, affordable, and built like a tank. This looper offers stereo I/O and is fully compatible with mono setups. It provides up to 12 minutes of recording time, which is enough for most users. Plus, the light-up loop indicator helps monitor where you are in the loop, so you’re never surprised by a chord change. You can even run it on battery power in a pinch. That’s convenient. That functionality is packed into a compact chassis with a single footswitch for operation. If you’re running a stereo rig and need a simple, performer-friendly looper, then the BOSS RC-1 Loop Station has you covered.
TC Electronic Ditto+ Looper Pedal
A compact looper for the next generation
Putting a TC Electronic Ditto+ looper pedal on your pedalboard provides a host of creative playing options. Its micro-sized chassis may look unassuming, but this looper pedal is very capable. You get 60 minutes of recording time with unlimited overdubs, so you can’t run out of looping space even if you try. The looper can also store and recall 99 loops, including backing tracks, via the USB port — a must-have for solo performers. Ditto+ has a single control knob flanked by two buttons for streamlined operation and a familiar feel. There’s also a high-resolution display for effortless navigation through stored loops. The screen also keeps you abreast of the looping status, thanks to the progress bar and timer. If you’re looking for the best compact looper pedal, then the Ditto+ fits the bill.
Singular Sound Aeros Loop Studio Stereo Looper Pedal
DAW-like functionality for your pedalboard
The Singular Sound Aeros Loop Studio stereo looper pedal is the Pandora’s box of looper pedals on our list. It’s so powerful and flexible that it blurs the line between being a looper and a DAW. You get six parallel tracks alongside half a dozen song parts, granting you 36 distinct loops per song. Like with the Ditto+, you get unlimited overdubs for unrestricted creativity. Despite its formidable capabilities, this beast of a looper is super easy to use, thanks to its streamlined controls, onboard touchscreen, and scroll wheel. The tops of the switches are gentle on your feet, which is a significant plus for playing at home without shoes on. The Aeros Loop Studio has a few more tricks, including onboard quantization, SD card compatibility, and MIDI I/O for drum machines and synths. Buying a Singular Sound Aeros Loop Studio is far more than purchasing a looper. You’re getting one of the best looper pedals on the planet.
MXR M303 Clone Looper Effects Pedal
Hi-fi looping with rarely seen features
You don’t see many loopers that call themselves “hi-fi” these days, but the MXR M303 Clone Looper effects pedal is one of them. This pedal records at sample rates of 88.2kHz — double what most other digital loopers even dream about. The Clone Looper gives you six minutes of record time with unlimited overdubs. Beyond its uncompromising sound quality, the M303 has some unique features you rarely see at this price point. It comes with hands-free time stretching from 1/2 speed to 2x speed. The Play Once mode lets you activate cool one-shots or trigger stuttering effects whenever needed. Finally, the flashing 4-count entrance gives you a heads-up for the beginning of the loop, so you always enter on time. And like all MXR pedals, the M303 Clone Looper is insanely durable and will provide excellent service for years.
Electro-Harmonix 720 Stereo Looper Pedal
Unleash your true looping potential
With an Electro-Harmonix 720 Stereo Looper pedal, your loops can reach new heights. Power it up, and you get 12 minutes of uncompressed audio with unlimited overdubs at 24-bit/44.1kHz resolution. And once you’ve fully fleshed out your loop, you can store it in one of the 10 onboard storage slots. While the stereo I/O is excellent for spacious ambience, you can also record two instruments, such as a guitar and bass or two different keyboards. There are also 1/2-speed and reverse features to open up further avenues of musical exploration. Finally, the 720 can be battery-powered for playing on the go. For dependable stereo looping, check out the Electro-Harmonix 720 Stereo Looper pedal.
Fishman AFX Broken Record Looper/Sampler
Simple, user-friendly design and efficient operation
Looping doesn’t get much more straightforward and hassle-free than with the Fishman AFX Broken Record Looper/Sampler. A single footswitch handles recording and looping duties while the level knob controls the output volume. There are six minutes of recording time, plus endless overdubs. Above the level knob, you’ll find a switch for looper mode or sampler mode. Sampler mode lets users load WAV files via USB and play them back as backing tracks or one-shots. Users also can choose true bypass or buffered switching to optimize the pedal to fit their rig’s signal chain. Perhaps best of all, the AFX Broken Record saves your loops when disconnected from power, so none of your ideas ever disappear. For many musicians, the best looper pedal is the most user-friendly one, and we can confirm that the Fishman AFX Broken Record Looper/Sampler is incredibly easy to use.
Line 6 DL4 MkII Delay Modeler Pedal
The iconic green looping and delay machine returns
Last but certainly not least, we present a revamped version of a classic looper — the Line 6 DL4 MkII delay modeler pedal. The DL4 MkII builds on the legacy of the ubiquitous green delay machine from the early 2000s. It has all of the original’s sounds and features, plus 15 brand-new HX-derived delay models. You get four minutes of recording time (240 seconds). With the addition of an SD card (sold separately), you can expand your looping time to several hours. The Line 6 DL4 MkII also has an XLR mic input for looping vocals or acoustic instruments. Finally, full MIDI connectivity and control help you get the most out of your pedal. The Line 6 DL4 MkII is the best looper pedal for musicians who want a looper and a fantastic reverb and delay unit in a single piece of gear.
Every Musician Should Have a Looper
Whether you’re a beginner looking for a new, engaging way to practice or a well-seasoned, lifelong musician, a looper opens up many creative possibilities. From practicing to writing songs and everywhere in between, a looper has the potential to change the way you make music. If you’re curious about looping or have questions about the pedals on this list, then call your Sweetwater Sales Engineer at (800) 222-4700 and get ready to start the looping journey of a lifetime.
