best looper pedal for live performance

10 Best Loop Pedals For Live Performances On Guitar

Updated on April 1, 2022 by Dan Harper

The best looper pedal for live performances can heighten your musical palette in more ways than you can envision. Check these out!

Quick Links To My Top Loop Pedals For Live Performances

Our Live Performance Looper Pedal Reviews

1.  Digitech Jam Man Stereo Looper

Digitech has raised the bar high with its Jam Man Stereo looper pedal. Although it has been a few years since its launch, this product has managed to stay in demand and relevant all this while. This mid-sized version targets the needs of guitarists/musicians with its microphone mic looper vocal effects compatibility through a well-balanced XLR input.

It is backed with the capability of storing 35 minutes of recording span, along with 99 internal memory slots. If this is not enough, this looper pedal carries an SD Memory Card expansion slot, offering over 16 hours of time with 99 memory slots.

This feature-rich stereo looper also boasts a whopping stream of attributes, such as Reverse Playback, Built-in Metronome, and Mic Input. It also incorporates three unique stop modes – Stop, Finish, and Fade. Additionally, the looper also syncs to Digitech’s Jam Manager Software that helps create tailored jam lists and backing tracks.

Lastly, Digitech’s Jam Man Stereo looper pedal completely obsoletes its preceding models. This makes it safe to say that it is one of the best looper pedals for live performances for all the go-getters!

Top Features:

  • Reverse Playback
  • Three Stop Modes
  • Auto-Quantize to fix loops

Pros:

  • Intuitive controls
  • Two additional pedals
  • Four Footswitches for better control

Cons:

  • Footswitches are somewhat noisy
  • Take a lot of space on your pedalboard

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6lgV0YsjNo

Check The Latest Price On The Digitech Jam Man Stereo Looper

2.  NUX Loop Core

NUX’s Loop Core Looper Pedal is a convenient option for those in pursuit of the best looper for live performances and shows under a budget. It comes in a distinctive yellow casing and unites the quality sound with a range of advanced functions. Some of these are the Tap Tempo feature and its competence in memorizing loops.

This live performance looper pedal robustly records up to 6 hours of stereo or mono audio, which is much higher than what you’d expect for a live performance! Also, to store the mix, it carries a pack of 99 memory slots.

As a versatile guitar pedal, it comprises a bunch of music genres. Additionally, the NUX Loop Core carries 40 dynamic drum patterns. The loops can either be imported and exported through PC or via a plug-in extension pedal for supplementary control.

The looper pedal operates on a standard power adapter of 9V battery, dodging issues of over-voltage, and short circuit. In terms of its performance, this product offers an organic sound. Once the effects are added to the customized mix, its sonic output remains quite natural and adjusts to a plethora of effects!

Top Features:

  • 40 on-board Drum Patterns
  • 99 User Memory Logs
  • Tap Tempo mechanism

Pros:

  • Cost-effective
  • Offers an unlimited overdub
  • Imports and exports spontaneously

Cons:

BPM Display for Tempo not available

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ee0fRI6lt3c

Check The Latest Price On The NUX Loop Core

3.  MXR M303 Clone Looper

The MXR M303 Clone looper pedal is a user-friendly and compact device that provides an outstanding sound quality. It is pitched at guitarists who take up looping through a creative, performance-driven mindset.

This product holds a generous 6 minutes of record time, in addition to an imperative undo function. This ensures that your meticulously crafted sonic creation does not go awry in case of a power down. Moreover, it delivers a sample rate as high as 88.2kHz, thereby providing remarkable sound quality.

Furthermore, the Clone Looper also lets you adjust the loop playback to double-speed, half-speed, or reverse, thereby curating theatrical effects in your sounds. Even the two footswitches stationed on the device are clearly defined in their functions and make the operation a breeze.

Overall, the MXR M303 Clone looper pedal guarantees a stellar audio quality through its long-lasting, brushed-metal housing. Even if you compose intricate tapestries on the stage performance, this one carries minute audio details. Looking for the best for live performance? Check this product now!

Top Features:

  • Effects: Half-Speed, Double-Speed, Reverse
  • 6 Minutes of Loop Layers
  • Switchable Bypass Mode

Pros:

  • Functionality at a decent pricing
  • Great sound quality
  • Compact size

Cons:

Lack of Storage Banks

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4P_Imktg3U

Check The Latest Price On The MXR M303 Clone Looper

4.  TC Electronic Ditto X4 Looper

The TC Electronic Ditto X4 looper pedal for live shows is a feature-loaded big-brother to the Ditto and Dotto X2 series. Essentially, it is a mix of two Ditto live loopers and comprises of a bunch of fun options for the creative guitarists out there.

It builds itself on two footswitches for a massive phrasal diversity, serial, and sync loop modes to keep the artistic juices flowing on stage! Its MIDI sync helps you start or stop the guitar sample recording, in addition to turning the loops at the perfect second. Additionally, this device is backed by a Tempo Map that facilitates seamless transactions.

Music aficionados can now chop and alter the loops with its seven effects. Some of these are reverse playback, half-speed playback, fade, and more. Each of the effects helps create compelling musical atmospheres along with state-of-the-art sonic arrangements.

This model hosts a Decay Control that defines the intensity of fading in each loop. This allows you to carefully build another creation on top of a structure, avoiding a muddy mix. Lastly, with its Ditto X4 series, TC Electronic has made a solid track record!

Top Features:

  • 2 Loop Tracks
  • 7 Loop Effects
  • True Bypass Switching

Pros:

  • Excellent sound quality
  • 4 Footswitches for hands-free use
  • MIDI Sync

Cons:

No Drum Tracks available

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEZDhsZyT_A

Check The Latest Price On The TC Electronic Ditto X4 Looper

5.  Pigtronix Guitar Looper Effects Pedal

The Pigtronix Guitar Looper Effects Pedal is a robust device that provides the freedom to customize the loops as per your style. It accompanies series or parallel modes, in addition to a black canvas and nine effective presets.

The design of this looper pedal is ideal for generating an undistorted sound quality. Another key feature is its Sync Multi mechanism that establishes the length of the loop two to switch to 1x, 2x, 3x, 4x, or 6x the length of loop one.

Regardless of its reasonable sizing, this device manages to comprise of 3 footswitches sufficiently wide, ensuring you do not hit the wrong one. The internal 8 GB micro SD card offers approximately two hours of recording time. The audio can be transferred through USB to any PC or Mac. This process is achieved via the pre-installed Infinity Looper Application, which even lets you update the firmware.

With its Decay Control mode, the loops can either fade out after a couple of seconds or keep running forever. What’s more fascinating is its self-explanatory Undo button, which erases errors as swiftly as you make them. With truckloads of features and a seamless design, this is certainly one of the best!

Top Features:

  • 9 Loop Presets
  • 2 Stereo Loops with Sync
  • Two-hour recording time

Pros:

  • Practical sizing
  • Profitable sync options
  • Good sound quality

Cons:

  • No Auto-Record function

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z10zui7bafM

Check The Latest Price On The Pigtronix Guitar Looper Effects Pedal

6.  BOSS RC-3 Loop Station

In the world of the best loop pedals for live performance, the BOSS RC-3 Loop Station sets itself apart as one of the leading models. This device hits every guitarist’s sweet spot, with its affordable pricing and super-high quality.

It has a compact design with its signature style sturdy metal casing and caters to every looper’s needs out there. The device hosts a large memory, and stores up to 3 hours of high-quality footage via 99 in-built memory slots. Additionally, it incorporates a Rhythm Guide with real Drum Sounds. You also get a USB 2.0 port that connects to any PC for importing or exporting compositions.

The Tap Tempo mechanism of this looper pedal is worth mentioning since it helps manually set the tempo through foot-switching. Lastly, it’s Auto Recording feature initiates the recording from the moment you begin playing the guitar.

Top Features:

  • Built-in Drum Patterns
  • 99 Audio Phrase recordings
  • AUX IN to connect to external stereos

Pros:

  • Large Capacity
  • Compact size for your pedalboard
  • On-board rhythms

Cons:

No cons observed

You can also consider the Boss RC5 loop station. Or look at our comparison of the Boss RC3 vs RC1.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PTFJgckwxw

Check The Latest Price On The BOSS RC-3 Loop Station

7.  TC Electronic Ditto Looper

The TC Electronic Ditto Looper effects pedal eases the process of the best looping by providing a range of no-nonsense features. This device is backed with a recording time of 5 minutes and offers an uncompromised audio quality with endless overdubs! Simply put, this fun, fast, and fuss-free product is the at an affordable price!

This model is easy to operate and lets you stop, start, or undo loops by hitting the pedal’s button. Furthermore, the control knob present on this looper pedal help adjusts the volume of the loop in relation to the dry signal. Also, it consists of an LED that indicates your loop’s outset by blinking.

In terms of connectivity, it includes a mini-B socket that collects software updates from the manufacturer’s website. What’s impressive is that this looper pedal does not run on batteries.

Another great aspect of the TC Electronic Ditto Looper is its hands-free, intuitive operation that is apt for live performances. Thanks to the 24-bit audio processing, guitarists can now overlay creative loops without potential trouble with the playback quality.

Top Features:

  • 5 minutes of looping time
  • True bypass allows for excellent clarity
  • DITTO LOOPER with loop import/export and stereo I/O

Pros:

  • Ultra-small footprint
  • Unbeatable simplicity and compact sizing
  • Reasonably-priced

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7qDxW6gYiI

Check The Latest Price On The TC Electronic Ditto Looper

8.  Twin Looper Electric Guitar Effect Pedal

If your definition of the best is a budget device with workable features, then you should consider the Twin Looper Electric Guitar Effect Pedal. This dual footswitch device is easy to use, yet excessively sophisticated and versatile.

One of its footswitches governs the standard loop functions, and the other one offers direct control to reshape the loops as per your preference. With this product, clearing, starting, stopping, and even manipulating the tempo of the loop becomes a walk in the park.

It generates 11 kinds of stereo input and output plays, along with 10-minute recording time. It also incorporates unlimited dubs for a more comprehensive and productive live looping pedal session. Furthermore, the Undo function helps minimize and plausible errors.

This device also helps play the custom loops in a reverse mode, in addition to setting the pace to half the speed. The Twin Looper Electric Guitar Effect looper pedal is the ideal blend of creativity, quality, and simplicity. Through its True Bypass mechanism, it helps you deliver a simply jaw-dropping performance onstage!

Top Features:

  • Undo/Redo Function
  • Endless Overloops
  • Heavy-Duty Footprint

Pros:

  • Supports (L/ R) channel change
  • Recording through USB cable
  • Forward and Reverse play

Cons:

  • Glitches in the reverse recording function

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZtJo11l_Lg

Check The Latest Price On The Twin Looper Electric Guitar Effect Pedal

9.  BOSS RC-10R Rhythm Loop Station

The BOSS RC-10R Rhythm Loop Station has bundled a legion of features into a reassuring and sharply-designed pedal. It is a creative device that carries 280 preset rhythms incorporating a line of musical genres.

For the actual looping process, it consists of 2 independent tracks. It provides a whacking 6-hour recording time and 99 onboard memories to store the compositions.

The RC-20R series is constructed into the same chassis, like the Boss 200 series looper pedal. Hence, it carries two conveniently accessible footswitches – one for rhythm and the other for looping.

Apart from its standard mono operation, this product also holds a stereo in/out function. It is a great option for those who intend to expand their control options with multiple features. Overall, the BOSS RC-10R Rhythm Loop Station is well-suited to your guitar’s looping needs! If you want the top choice that is also moderately-priced, consider this one.

Top Features:

  • 50 User Rhythm presets
  • 6 hours of recording time
  • 2-track loop engine

Pros:

  • Switchable between two compositions
  • Visual loop indicators
  • Ease of use

Cons:

  • No Headphone Output

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Az04Ghgp3A0

Check The Latest Price On The BOSS RC-10R Rhythm Loop Station

10.  LEKATO Loop Pedal Looper

The key USP of Lekato’s Loop Pedal Looper is its versatility and ease of use. What’s interesting is its powerful sound quality, which beats most mid-priced models in the markets. This device packs a resolute aluminum alloy construction. Its super simple design and compact sizing make for its durability.

All the reduced loops host a 24-bit uncompressed superior quality audio. Furthermore, thanks to its Analog-Dry-Through built, all the dry sounds pass through unaltered tweaks. It carries a basic turn on/off mechanism, along with an intuitive knob.

In terms of connectivity, you can conveniently export or import the composition to any PC through a USB. With this looper pedal, you will be able to record up to 5 minutes of loops, along with multiple options in overdubbing. It is also well-suited for recording in case you want to hit the studio.

Top Features:

  • 5 minutes of loop time with unlimited overdubs
  • Uncompressed 24-bit high-quality audio
  • Undo/Redo, Record, Stop and Erase options

Pros

  • Sturdy aluminum alloy construction
  • Remarkably cheap
  • Easy to use

Cons:

  • Limited looping time

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYt0e2SHXbc

Check The Latest Price On The LEKATO Loop Pedal Looper

Final Takeaways On The Top Live Performance Loop Pedals

More quick picks:

  • Boss RC 300
  • Digitech Jamman
  • Electro-Harmonix 720 Stereo Looper

From being your own Ed Sheeran to reigniting the thrill during live performances, a best looping pedal for live performance is worth every penny. Apart from using it as a basic overdrive, there is a lot more to a looper pedal than what meets the eye!

This device sure looks like a simple acoustic guitar instrument stomp-box. But, the best for live performance can magically transform your guitar compositions and modulations in a go. We hope that our list of the leading best stage looper pedals for guitar helped you make the right choice that matches your needs. Happy looping!