New Digitech JamMan Loopers
I’ve long been a fan of looping with guitars. I had the original Oberheim Echoplex Digital Pro, before it was co-opted by Gibson. Great looper, but mono and always frustrating that after creating a great composition, there was no way to save it other than just recording the combined analog audio composite. I sold the EDP when I started using Native Instruments Guitar Rig, but was never quite satisfied with the experience of being bound to the computer.
The previous edition of the Digitech Jam Man was nice, but also mono. The Looperlative LP1 and the Boss RC-50 are both stereo but are pretty expensive. I saw a new Looperlative LP2 prototype at NAMM which is much cheaper than the LP1, but it’s mono.
At this year’s NAMM show, Digitech announced their new Jam Man Stereo and Jam Man Solo products, list prices $299 and $199. With 4 foot switches, the Jam Man Stereo becomes much more useable. The new Digitech pedals support both SD cards and USB audio transfer to the new JamManager Loop Librarian. Some more cool new features: more onboard memory, reverse, click output, SD instead of CompactFlash. Some features that jump out as obviously missing from the new Jam Mans are multiple levels of undo, redo, and the ability to slow down a loop with pitch change (although it does support speed change while preserving pitch, which is much harder to do well, so I’m surprised there’s no way to simply change speed/pitch).
I asked Rikk Beatty at Digitech’s NAMM booth to give me a quick demo. Sorry for all the extra noise- other demos were happening in the room at the same time.
January 19, 2010 @ 6:09 am
January 19, 2010 @ 8:44 am
January 20, 2010 @ 7:46 am
$299.99. It is expected to ship in February. I have not been given a
working prototype of the Stereo so I am not sure what the FS3X will add as
far as extra function for the Stereo when plugged into the “footswitch”
port on the back BUT they have incorporated an FS3X into the Stereo giving
it a total of 4 buttons for preset up, down, tap tempo, and record/overdub.
January 22, 2010 @ 2:40 pm
that the RC had the best tracks. BUT..better than nothing. There’s probably
a way to do it. But, nothing apparent so far. And that $199 is list for the
Solo. So, will go much below that on the street. Interested to see the
specifics.
January 22, 2010 @ 3:09 pm
memory slots (or 198 with an SD card), there’s plenty of room to put in
some loops that actually sound good and you like to play with.
January 23, 2010 @ 7:02 am
two-pedal jamman with the CF card. Not really a problem as I like the two
pedal set up and don’t really need stereo output, but I was wondering if
anyone knows if the software that Digitech will be releeasing with these
new models can be used with the original jamman.
January 23, 2010 @ 3:54 pm
pedal to the computer via USB cable. You can import wav files from ANY
source (like the Acid program or…?) & then arrange the loops in a
“setlist” that you can them dump into the JamMan. So if you already have
looping software on your computer & have discs with drum loops on them, you
can create your favorite beats, then store them on the JamMan in CD quality
audio. You have 99 prests to play with so you have PLENTY of room
January 23, 2010 @ 3:57 pm
recording time with a 8GB SD card. The first 10 presets have pre-recorded
drum and bass patterns on them as well. BUT if you have looping software
like Acid or something, then as John says, create your own favorite drum
patterns and import them in via the USB cable and the new JamManager
software. The software allows you to import ANY audio into your JamMan!!!
January 23, 2010 @ 3:57 pm
I will find out though for sure.
January 30, 2010 @ 10:14 am
about SD. This is it. As soon as it hits stores, it will be shipping to me!
Great demo, thanks. 5/5
February 1, 2010 @ 12:15 am
February 1, 2010 @ 1:18 pm
I’ve been toying with the idea of getting something like this, but had a question. Why go with a loop pedal vs. micing the amp, using an audio interface and going straight into the computer. I understand the latter is less mobile, but that’s not an issue for me.
Like I said, I’ve just started thinking about these things and was curious what you all have learned.
Couldn’t agree more with earlier comments about Rikk’s playing. A setup like this seems like a blast.
February 1, 2010 @ 11:22 pm
Hey Jeremy,
You certainly can do that kind of thing. As I mentioned in my intro, I sold my looper when I started using Guitar Rig software on the computer (which has a built-in looper). Guitar Rig is pretty amazing, but there’s several issues with a computer-based setup.
One is mobility, as you mentioned. Second is the potential barrier to playing, due to having to turn on the computer, wait for start up, launch the app, oh let’s just check email since the computer is on, etc 🙂 At least for me, even such a minor impediment can really break up the motivation to play. And third, there’s more latency when playing through a computer interface than when playing with a dedicated hardware looper. You can minimize this latency with a kickass computer and careful tuning of the OS but it’s hard to match the immediacy and near-zero latency of playing with a dedicated looper unit. This sounds like a minor point, but playing with more than a few milliseconds of latency can really make you feel disconnected from the instrument. Consider that at the speed of sound, each extra millisecond of latency is like stepping another foot (13.5 inches) away from the amp. 15 ms of latency is like standing 17 feet away from your amp!
-John
February 2, 2010 @ 12:04 pm
That’s good to know about the latency issue and I can see that being a real frustration, especially considering the computer I had in mind for this setup is not exactly a hotrod. The ease of using something like this, with the foot switches and so on, seems like a big plus the more I think about it. Very cool. Glad you posted this demo.
February 4, 2010 @ 11:58 am
what’s the estimated release date for europe???I can’t wait
February 5, 2010 @ 1:32 am
with the new JamMan pedals.
February 7, 2010 @ 4:09 pm
includes anything that would appear to be the equivalent of the of the
Quantize function on the RC-20XL. There also doesn’t appear to be any
indicator on the face of the JamMan Stereo that would indicate that
something analogous the indicator on the Boss model (The 20-XL shows you
when quantize is active , which you’d think would also need to be indicated
on the JamMan if it had that available as a function.) I’m skeptical!
February 7, 2010 @ 9:28 pm
FS3X switch…not really fixing the issues associated with live loopers.
‘Rang still has it for me. I modded my Jamman for easier use by making it
savable from standing, but selling it and the FS3X for a Boomerang unless
they fix it so you can actually use mulitple loops. This makes a nice
practice tool. Until the save is fixed, it isn’t a viable live looper for
band situations.
February 9, 2010 @ 8:00 am
that the footswitch can be use to operate the “save loop” function so that
you can use multiple live loops and go back and forth between them without
having to kneel down and punch buttons while trying to play over your dead
air (since it won’t save while recording). So close.
February 9, 2010 @ 8:06 am
February 10, 2010 @ 9:09 am
live looper should work. If you can’t save and change loops while playing,
your work is lost, and the complexity of the composition is very limited. I
agree that this is better for backing tracks & practice due to SD, but
backing tracks are lame for live gigs (in my opinion). Ne1 can play over
canned crap. The real loop artists create an entire piece from scratch
before your eyes. And that requires live save.
February 26, 2010 @ 2:42 am
Hi Rikk. Hopefully you’re still watching cuz I’ve got a question for you. I use a looper with my band as an event player. Most of the time as a long drone or special effect, but sometimes as a really short hit…depends on the song and what effect is needed. Anyway, I’m using the Line 6 right now, which works out OK, but there are two things I don’t like about it. Size, which the Jamman Solo would be perfect for, but primarily, the Line 6 has to have loops a minimum of 3 seconds in length. This is a PITA when I’ve got a hit that occurs less than 3 seconds from the previous one on the L6. I have to hit play, stop it right after the hit so it “reloads” for the next hit. For these types of events I need a recording that is 1 sec in length so that, as soon as I hit it, 1 beat later it’s reloaded for the next hit. So, what’s the minimum length a recording has to be on the Jamman Solo. Thanks!
March 8, 2010 @ 6:00 am
Hi, I own a jamman that works with a compact card. I wonder if it can support a 4gb or 8gb compact flash card. I did a search on the internet but couldn’t find anything, it says it can support up to 2gb but was it said before the bigger cards were in the market?
December 21, 2010 @ 2:33 am
This is for BORA: in your query back in March…I have the same question with no answer available anywhere. Did you ever receive a reply about the bigger CF card? I was in MicroCenter just yesterday asking the same question and looking for another 2gb card; but I’m starting to believe they no longer exist. I asked the same question in stores and online but everybody seems to be sidestepping the question. I’ll give the forum permission to release my email address if it results in a reply!
April 11, 2010 @ 4:38 pm
I have the current JamMan and I think it’s great except for one thing. I need a “loop only” output to send to the band to follow when I take solo or melody. I see the new version has click output but I don’t quantize to a click. A lot of times we will be in the middle of a tune and I just want to lay down a rythym on the spot and loop it for the band to follow. How do others deal with this in the current or new JamMan? Thanks for any assistance.
April 17, 2010 @ 9:44 am
Can someone tell me why I would want either the stereo or solo rather than the original tw-pedal JamMan? I don’t need stereo. I fear that the one pedal solo will be tougher to use than the two pedal. There are some good deals on the original out there. It goes for the same as the solo, but again, with two pedals. Thanks for any help.
April 23, 2010 @ 10:43 pm
May 3, 2010 @ 6:54 am
May 12, 2010 @ 12:51 pm
Is the software for these(Jamman Solo and Stereo) vapour-ware? I hear they don’t even connect to the computer?
“The Software for this product does not exist. Without it you cannot manage or transfer loops to/from the computer. You also cannot even connect the device to the computer because the driver doesn\’t… read more [+] exist either. Digitech really dropped the ball with this product. Stay away until they get their act together. For me, I\’m taking this back. No Software, no deal! People need to start banging the door on their website and forums ” –from customer review off Sweetwater…
May 12, 2010 @ 1:10 pm
The Digitech website still lists the JamManager as “coming soon”. Hmmm…
May 15, 2010 @ 2:52 pm
I heard it ‘ll be posted in about 2 weeks……..
May 18, 2010 @ 5:33 am
They have been saying the software will be released “in two weeks” since March. Buyer beware…
June 14, 2010 @ 11:44 am
While the main JamMan Solo page still says the software is “coming soon”, it’s actually listed in the product resources section, and available for download now here:
http://www.digitech.com/products/Pedals/JamManager.php
-John
June 5, 2010 @ 12:29 pm
I have had the jamman for only a few months and I am replacing it with the 2880. The 2880 is THE BEST loop station out right now. Its a multi-track looper, with fading and panning possible for each track. It also has MIDI sync capabilities.
September 9, 2010 @ 11:16 am
Agreed if you need midi, but price wise you can get The Jamman Delay which is the looper + a huge 16 sec delay that can be recorded onto your loops, also like that no external footswitch is needed for most funtions. Jamman delay $299 incld shipping, 2880 $408 + $100 for foot switch. Build quality of jamman case feels worth the price were 2880 feels like a toy, IMHO.
June 18, 2010 @ 2:59 pm
June 29, 2010 @ 9:37 pm
August 29, 2010 @ 8:44 pm
Hey,
I just bought the Jamman Solo, and downloaded the Jammanager.. However when i connect it to either my laptop or PC, the pedal does not show in the Devices section.. Any idea? Help Plz..
Thanks!
September 7, 2010 @ 5:50 pm
September 9, 2010 @ 11:19 am
I dont think so, I kinda miss this feature. To compensate I just record the loop blank let it play and have the rhythm going and punch in at beginning to record.
September 13, 2010 @ 6:30 am
Is there a way in JM stereo to do this?
The reviews of the software coming with the unit are not very good either.
September 16, 2010 @ 10:08 am
November 17, 2010 @ 7:57 pm
You should be able to put a mic in by way of XLR-to-1/4″ adapter. Since the Solo only has one input, obviously you’d have to unplug your previous cable and put in the mic cable. I don’t see any reason why you couldn’t put a mic into the Solo via the adapter.
October 6, 2010 @ 9:57 am
October 13, 2010 @ 10:30 am
Hey John ; can you explain why this software is worthless ??
Quote : Hey folks – too bad the USB software is worthless. Do not buy this pedal. All USB features are unusable.
(Frank) I’ve been working with it for half a year now & I’m no software wizzard but all things just work as they should.
Jamman Stereo => Great !!!
October 13, 2010 @ 11:00 am
Hey Frank,
Just to clarify- that was a different John that posted that. To distinguish him from me, I modified his name to John-IronLion (using part of his email address).
Hopefully he’ll come back to comment on it.
I never got around to buying the new JamMan, as I’ve been using Guitar Rig for looping.
-John
November 1, 2010 @ 9:27 pm
thanks
December 10, 2010 @ 3:14 pm
The only problem is, occasionally the volume of the looper is too loud or soft in a live situation (e.g. if the room’s ambient noise has changed since the sound check) – as a guitarist it’s not easy to alter the looper volume by hand!
Is it possible to use a volume pedal with the JamMan? (e.g. connected to the footswitch socket?) If so, any recommendations for a suitable volume pedal?
Many thanks,
Andrew
December 12, 2010 @ 10:07 am
To control the overall volume, run a volume pedal after the looper. To control the volume of the track you are about to record, run the pedal before. Or use your volume knob.
December 12, 2010 @ 9:27 pm
Many thanks, solid advice. I’m mostly concerned with the volume of the backing tracks, so it looks like the best thing will be to run a volume pedal after the looper to control the overall volume.
Much appreciated, Andrew.
May 4, 2011 @ 3:02 pm
May 6, 2011 @ 1:27 am
February 21, 2011 @ 5:49 am
February 21, 2011 @ 8:39 pm
March 14, 2011 @ 4:15 pm
March 14, 2012 @ 9:18 pm
May 5, 2011 @ 7:58 am
May 21, 2011 @ 7:29 am
Hi. I need some help. Is there any way not to sync the playback to the metronome. I mean, I want to play different levels of guitar, but I want them to be free and not to foll the metronome, so that it slows (or speeds) my playing.
Thanks in advance for your answer
May 31, 2011 @ 5:35 pm
July 15, 2011 @ 8:19 pm
10 minutes per layer. So, you could, in theory, record almost 2 songs worth in one pass. I typically record one song per loop location. You can overdub as many times as you want as long as you have room on the pedal. So, each layer, you can go up to 10 minutes. More space than you would need to record one layer of a song in one pass.
November 26, 2011 @ 4:01 pm
Digitech JamMan Delay EMI problem and solution - Planet Z
November 30, 2011 @ 6:01 pm
[…] wrote about my love of looping back in 2010, when the new JamMan Solo and JamMan Stereo were […]
February 4, 2012 @ 4:41 pm
Used and Loved the original JamMan. Now-not so much.
Switches feel flimsy on the stereo model, JamManager software is a burden and glitchy, and why offer the use of an 8gb sd card if still being limited to 99 loops?
Oh well, back to mono.
February 6, 2012 @ 10:28 am
The footswitches feel flimsy? I’d be surprised if they were using different switch parts in the stereo model versus the solo and delay models. Perhaps the switch nuts were a little loose?
The Jamman Delay switches feel great.
John
February 6, 2012 @ 10:53 am
Thanks for answering, but I was comparing the switches to the original mono jamman…
February 23, 2012 @ 7:41 am
March 20, 2012 @ 9:53 am
March 20, 2012 @ 9:57 am
March 20, 2012 @ 11:07 am
March 24, 2013 @ 6:13 am
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October 2, 2012 @ 3:51 pm
October 2, 2012 @ 6:11 pm
November 8, 2013 @ 10:24 am
Thanks for sharing Rikk’s video – loved it. I haven’t used the JamMan yet but personally, I chose the Boss RC-3 when I was in the market for a looper but I’ve also used my friend’s Ditto looper and it’s AWESOME at what it does.
I scoured Amazon’s best seller list and really weighed the features as well as the pros and cons before plunking my cash down and deciding for myself.
http://amzn.to/16K5DXl
Whether it’s the Ditto, Boss, or DigiTech…they’re all solid loopers it’s all about what you need and what you do with them. Cheers!
November 8, 2013 @ 4:47 pm
Hi Roger,
That Ditto is nice- very simple and clean.
-John
October 20, 2020 @ 5:50 am
I just bought a jamman stereo, my old jamman mono started doing some weird things and became unreliable. The new stereo version seemed like a good option. I thought it would be easy to transfer my live set loops from my old one over to the new one but it doesn’t seem so. I downloaded the jamManger software but dragging n dropping my old files into the new jamman’s internal or external memory doesn’t seem to work. Can anyone help me with this PLEASE!?
October 20, 2020 @ 8:03 am
Seems like there should be a way! I don’t have a DigiTech pedal anymore to try it. I suggest you call DigiTech tech support – their contact info is at digitech.com
Good luck!
John