Sheeran Loopers Looper X review: Create a ride for one

The Song setting allows each track length to work independently, and the Band mode is a combination of sync and song. The final mode, Free, leaves all four tracks out of sync, which is fun if you tend to crank up a plethora of effects and drift into space with layered soundscapes rather than standard structured music.

There are three main views available to help you keep track of your loops: Track, Wave, and Mixer. Your favorite view can act as your home screen. Track displays each track’s loop level and entry in a vertical bar that changes colors based on its state. Wave is what I consider to be the most useful of the three views, displaying a horizontal waveform and a scrolling indicator that follows the progress of each episode in real time. Mixer view is similar to Track view, with mute, solo, and FX buttons available for each track, as well as a vertical slider to lower the volume for each track. Both the mute and solo buttons display a clickable icon for adding a backing track from the internal library, which you can fill in via file transfer using the USB-A connector and your computer or SD card slot.

Akai offers a free file conversion application that provides drag-and-drop functionality to ensure that loops and backing tracks fit the device’s required 16-bit, 44.1 kHz WAV file specifications. Anyone who spends hours tearing their hair out while praying and kissing a certain Roland Looper sampler or sampler will appreciate this nice little bonus.

Customizable mode is the most notable function, helping you navigate the device and customize it to your exact needs, whether that includes a reverse feature, a built-in tuner, a loop double button, or more. Using it you can specify what the eight buttons do when you press the mode pedal. Settings are saved per loop rather than saved globally, meaning each loop can have its own custom mode with just the tap of a foot.

Is Looper X worth it?

Photo: Pete Kotel

Given its size and cost, I expected the Looper Each track can include its own “rack” of effects, with a variety of preset shelves for drums, vocals, guitars, and the like. A selected rack contains a series of virtual pedals placed in a specific, non-movable order. Unfortunately, all the effects prove to be primitive, and I wouldn’t recommend relying on them, except for the occasional compressor or reverb unit on vocals or drums. You’re much better off with an old Line 6 Floor Pod that you can find at any nearby Music Go Round or pawn shop for $100 or so. You’re looking at at least $1,500 for the Looper