HEADRUSH Looper Board User Guide

Looper Board
User Guide

Introduction

Box Contents

Important: This Quickstart Guide covers basic functionality of the HeadRush Looperboard. Visit headrushfx.com to download the full, detailed User Guide.
Support
For the latest information about this product (documentation, technical specifications, system requirements, compatibility information, etc.) and product registration, visit headrushfx.com. For additional product support, visit headrushfx.com/support.
Get Started!
Here are some steps to start recording quickly:

1. Make sure your guitar or other sound source is connected to an input on the rear panel, and set the input gain level by turning the Input (1–4) knob for the input you want to use.

2. Tap Fixed at the bottom of the touchscreen (Fixed Mode enables playback and/or recording of all tracks simultaneously).

3. Press the •Rec/Play/Dub footswitch for Track 1, and start recording!
   

4. When you are done recording the first track, press that •Rec/Play/Dub footswitch again. Your recording will return to the beginning and start looping in its “playback mode” (the waveform will turn green). Press the •Rec/Play/Dub footswitch once more to enter the “overdub mode” for that track (the waveform will turn red). You can now overdub more playing on that track.

5. Repeat Steps 4–5 for Tracks 2–4.

6. Tap the meter icon at the top of the touchscreen to enter the Meter page. Tap and drag the gray line at the top of a meter to adjust its level. See Basic Operation to learn more.

Features

Top Panel

1. Touchscreen: This full-color multi-touch display shows information relevant to the Looperboard’s current operation. Touch the display (and use the hardware controls) to control the interface. See Basic Operation > Overview to learn how it works.
2. Encoder: Turn this encoder to scroll through the available menu options or adjust the parameter values of the selected field in the display. Push the encoder to confirm your selection.
3. Input Gain: Turn these knobs to adjust the independent gain level of each input.
4. Footswitches: Use these footswitches to perform different functions. The eight right-most footswitches correspond to the four tracks of a loop. See the Basic Operation chapter to learn how to use them.
5. Footswitch Indicators: These lights indicate the status of different functions (performed by the footswitch below each one). See the Basic Operation chapter to learn about them.
6. Master: Turn this knob to adjust the volume level of the outputs.
7. Phones: Turn this knob to adjust the volume level of the Phones output.
8. Aux: Turn this knob to adjust the volume level of the Aux input.

Important: The audio signal from the Aux input is routed directly to the outputs. It is also unaffected by the master volume or phones volume knobs.
Rear Panel

1. Power Input (19 VDC, 3.42 A, center-positive): Connect this input to a power outlet using the included power adapter.

2. Power Adapter Restraint: Secure the power adapter cable to this restraint to prevent it from accidentally unplugging.

3. Power Switch: Press this button to turn the Looperboard’s power on. Press and hold this button to turn the Looperboard’s power off.

4. Vent: Make sure this vent is unobstructed while using the Looperboard.

5. Inputs (XLR or 1/4”/6.35 mm, TRS): Connect your guitar, instrument, drum machine, keyboard, or other audio source to these inputs. You can enable or disable +48V phantom power for these inputs in the Global Settings page.
   Important: Only enable phantom power if your microphone requires it. Most dynamic microphones and ribbon microphones do not require phantom power, while most  condenser microphones do. Consult your microphone’s documentation to find out whether it needs phantom power.

6. Aux Input (1/8”/3.5 mm, TRS): Connect an optional audio source (e.g., smartphone, tablet, etc.) to this input. Use the Aux knob to control the volume level.

7. Outputs (XLR): Connect these outputs to the inputs of your mixer, active loudspeaker, etc. Use the Master knob to control the volume level. You can adjust the ground-lift setting for these outputs on the Global Settings page.

8. Outputs (1/4”/6.35 mm, TRS): Connect these outputs to the inputs of your amplifier, audio interface, mixer, etc. Use the Master knob to control the volume level. You can switch the level of these outputs between Amp and Line on the Global Settings page.

9. Phones Output (1/4”/6.35 mm, TRS): Connect stereo headphones to this output. Use the Phones knob to control the volume level.

10. Expression Pedal Input (1/4”/6.35 mm, TRS): Connect an optional expression pedal to this input.

11. MIDI In (5-pin DIN): Use a standard MIDI cable to connect this input to the MIDI output of an optional external MIDI device.

12. MIDI Out/Thru (5-pin DIN): Use a standard MIDI cable to connect this output to the MIDI input of an optional external MIDI device. You can set this output to be a standard MIDI output or MIDI throughput.

13. USB Type-B Port: Connect this USB port to a computer using a standard USB cable. This connection allows the Looperboard to send and receive the digital audio signal to and from your computer. You can also use this connection to import or export loops, individual audio files, backing tracks, etc. This connection is also used to update the firmware.

14. USB Type-A Ports: Connect USB flash drives to these USB ports to import or export loops to or from Looperboard.

15. SD Card Slot: Insert a standard SD/SDHC card into this slot to import or export loops to or from Looperboard.

Setup
Items not listed under Introduction > Box Contents are sold separately.

Basic Operation

This chapter describes some of Looperboard’s basic functions. Visit headrushfx.com to download the complete User Guide for even more information.

Overview

Timeline Page

Mixer Page Recording & Playing Tracks
The looper lets you record onto four tracks and store each set of four tracks as a loop. Each track can have up to 99 layers. You can record, play, and stop tracks independently of each other.
Tip: Looperboard’s internal memory can hold over 8 hours of audio at a time (all audio), but if you need more storage space, connect a USB drive or SD card to Looperboard and import or export loops to or from it.
Each track’s meter or waveform will use a color to indicate its current state:

• Red: recording or overdubbing
• Green: playing
• Blue: stopped or muted

Use the Meter page to adjust the volume levels of the tracks.
To show the Meter page, tap the meter icon at the top of the touchscreen.
To adjust the volume of a track, tap and drag the gray line at the top of a meter to adjust its level.
To adjust the volume of the main outputs, turn the Master knob.To record a track, press its •Rec/Play/Dub footswitch.
To finish recording and start playback of a track, press its •Rec/Play/Dub footswitch again.
To overdub on a track that is currently playing, press the •Rec/Play/Dub footswitch again.
Important: Before recording anything, set the input volume level by turning the Input (1–4) knob for each input you want to use.
Tip: Use the Global Settings page to set Looperboard to overdub immediately after recording a track (instead of just playing it).
To stop a track at any point, press its •Stop/–Undo footswitch.
To stop all tracks at any point, press the Start/Stop All footswitch when one or more tracks are playing.
To play a track, press its •Rec/Play/Dub footswitch.
To start playback of all tracks simultaneously, press the Start/Stop All footswitch when all tracks are stopped.
To undo everything you have recorded since you last pressed a •Rec/Play/Dub footswitch, press and hold the •Stop/–Undo footswitch for that track for approximately 1.5 seconds.
To re-add everything you just undid, press and hold the •Stop/–Undo footswitch for that track for approximately 1.5 seconds again.
You can use the Timeline page to view the waveforms of the tracks in your loop.
To show the Timeline page, tap the waveform icon at the top of the touchscreen.The time counter in the lower-left corner indicates the current playback position of the loop. The time counter in the lower-right corner indicates the length of the longest track in the loop. Both are displayed as minutes:seconds.deciseconds.
Track Modes
Located at the bottom of the touchscreen in Timeline View, the Track Mode selection provides 5 different modes for Looperboard to record, overdub, and play your looper tracks. Generally, each mode supports a different style of looping workflow. The best way to find out which Track Mode works best with your workflow is to experiment and have fun!
To set how the looper records, overdubs, or plays your tracks, tap a Track Mode button at the bottom of the Timeline page:
Important: You must select Fixed, Sync, or Serial-Sync track modes before recording or importing audio into your loop. Once you have recorded or imported audio, you can only select Serial or Free track modes.

1. Fixed Mode: Use this mode if you want 4 looper tracks with the same length. In this mode:
   • You can record, overdub, or play all looper tracks simultaneously.
   • All track lengths will be the same length as the first recorded looper track.
   • When you set a track to record, overdub, or play, it will happen immediately.

2. Serial Mode: Use this mode if you want to use each of the 4 looper tracks as a different section of a song (e.g., verse, chorus, bridge, and outro). In this mode:
   • You can record, overdub, or play on only one looper track at a time.
   • All looper tracks can be different lengths.
   • When you set a track to record, overdub, or play, it will begin when the playhead has reached the end of the loop and starts at the beginning again.

3. Sync Mode: Use this mode if you want 4 looper tracks with different lengths that always stay in sync. In this mode:
   • You can record or play multiple tracks simultaneously.
   • You must record track 1 first.
   • After the track 1 has been recorded, all other looper tracks must be the same length, or a multiple of its length.
   • If new tracks are shorter or longer than track 1, Looperboard will automatically quantize them to keep them in sync with track 1.
   • When you set a track to record, overdub, or play, it will begin doing so when the playhead has reached the end of the loop and starts at the beginning again.

4. Serial-Sync Mode: This mode is similar to Serial Mode, but it enables you to keep 1 looper track (e.g., a drum or percussion track) playing at all times while switching between different song sections on looper tracks 2, 3, and 4 (e.g., verse, chorus, and bridge). In this mode:
   • Track 1 and only one other looper track can be playing, recording, or overdubbing at the same time.
   • You must record track 1 first.
   • After the track 1 has been recorded, all other looper tracks must be the same length, or a multiple of its length.
   • Looperboard will auto-trim (or extend) the endpoints of the other looper tracks to always keep them in sync.
   • When you set a track to record, overdub, or play, it will begin doing so when the playhead has reached the end of the loop and starts at the beginning again.

5. Free Mode: This mode is useful for creating ambient soundscapes or for musicians who just like to break the rules! In this mode:
   • You can record, overdub, or play all looper tracks simultaneously.
   • All looper tracks can be different lengths.
   • When you set a track to record, overdub, or play, it will happen immediately.

Applying FX
On the FX Page, you can assign multiple effects (called FX Racks) at once to an audio input or looper track. Each FX Rack is made up of multiple effects that can be individually edited and toggled on the FX Rack edit page.
Important: Download the full User Guide at headrushfx.com to learn more about using FX Racks.To enter the FX Page, press the footswitch labeled FX, or tap the FX icon at the top of the touchscreen.
To add an FX Rack, tap the plus sign (+) in an empty slot.
To enable or bypass an effect, tap the footswitches labeled 1–4, or tap the On/Off button on the touchscreen.
To set the target audio for the effect, tap the dropdown menu in the FX Rack on the touchscreen. Select Inputs 1–4 or Tracks 1–4.
To change the FX Rack type, tap the FX Rack icon on the touchscreen. This icon is to the right of the target audio dropdown menu and looks like a guitar, drums, etc.
To change the settings for the FX Rack, tap the knob icon on the touchscreen.
To remove an FX Rack, tap the X icon on the touchscreen.
To assign FX parameters to an external expression pedal, tap the Expression button at the bottom of the touchscreen.
To exit the FX Page, press the footswitch labeled FX, or tap a different page icon at the top of the touchscreen.
Managing Loops
To save the current loop, tap the disk icon. Tap Save (if you have already saved it) or Save New Loop (if this is a new loop) to save it, or tap Cancel to return to the previous screen.
To create a new loop, tap the ••• icon, and then tap New Loop, or tap anywhere else to close the menu.
To load a new loop, tap and drag down on the top bar of the touchscreen, and then tap the loop name.
To edit the loop’s name, tap and drag down (or double-tap) on the top bar of the touchscreen, and then tap the loop name.
To delete a loop, tap and drag down on the top bar of the touchscreen, tap the ••• icon next to the loop you would like to delete, and then tap the trash can icon.
To move a loop to a different position in the loop list, tap and drag down on the top bar of the touchscreen, tap the ••• icon next to the loop you would like to move, then tap and hold the arrows icon and drag to the new position.You can use the Audio Routing page to control where your input, looper track, and output audio signals are sent. These settings are global settings (not per loop) so that you can quickly configure Looperboard to work best for your gear and performance settings.
To show the Audio Routing page, tap the ••• icon and then tap Audio Routing. To show the page for the inputs, tracks, or outputs, tap Input Setup, Track Setup, or Output  Setup respectively.
Input Setup
To adjust the level of an input signal, turn its Input Gain knob (1–4) on the top panel.
To adjust the panning of an input signal, tap its Pan slider and drag left or right. You can enlarge this slider to make more detailed adjustments by double-tapping.
To select an output to directly monitor the input signal, tap the desired Output 1–4 button or the headphone icon under Direct Monitor. Audio signal from the input will be sent directly to the selected output(s). Use the Master and Phones knobs to adjust the output volume level of the outputs and phones, respectively.
To stereo link your inputs if you are using a stereo audio source (e.g., drum machine, keyboard, etc.), tap the On button for Inputs 1+2 and/or Inputs 3+4 under Stereo Link on the right side of the touchscreen. Tap the Off button to disable stereo link. Monitor Setup
You can use the Monitor Setup page for listening to your inputs while recording, overdubbing, and playing back loops. You can control the level of each input, as well as which output that you would like to monitor to them on.
To adjust the monitor level of an input, tap and drag the gray line at the top of its meter.
To select an output for monitoring, tap the desired Output 1–4 button or headphone icon below an input meter. Track Setup
To route an input to a looper track, tap the desired Input 1–4 button. When Stereo Link is enabled, Inputs 1+2 and/or Inputs 3+4 will be selected together.
To select a track output mode, tap the Mono (monoaural) or Stereo (binaural) buttons.’
To route a track to an output, tap the desired Output 1–4 button. If the output mode is Stereo, Outputs 1+2 and/or Outputs 3+4 will be selected together.To route a track to the phones output, tap the headphone icon at the bottom of each track. Use the Phones knob to adjust the output volume level.
To route the click to an output, tap an Output 1–4 button under Click on the right side of the touchscreen. Tap the headphone icon to route the click to the phones output. Use the Master and Phones knobs to adjust the output volume level of the outputs and phones, respectively.
To select routing for the stereo backing track, tap the 1+2 or 3+4 buttons under B. Track Output on the right side of the touchscreen. Tap the headphone icon to route the backing track to the phones output. Use the Master and Phones knobs to adjust the output volume level of the outputs and phones, respectively.
Output Setup
To adjust the output level of an individual output, tap and drag the gray line at the top of its meter. Using Other Functions
Press the Function footswitch to show the Functions page in the touchscreen. The footswitch indicator will be lit orange.
To select a function, press the corresponding footswitch (labeled on the top panel in orange) or tap it on the touchscreen.
You can access these functions by using their corresponding footswitches or tapping the respective icon on the touchscreen:

• Length: Select this function to multiply or divide the length of all tracks.
• Speed: Select this function to multiply or divide the speed and pitch of all tracks.
• Reverse: Select this function to reverse the playback direction of one or more tracks.
• Fade: Select this function to create a fade-out on one or more tracks.
• Transpose: Select this option to shift the pitch of one or more tracks up or down in semitones.
• Peel: Select this option to permanently delete the top-most layer from a track of the loop. You can use this function to strip the track all the way down to its original layer!
• Bounce: Select this option to copy one or more tracks of the loop to a single track, creating available tracks in your loop.
• Clear: Select this option to delete the entire contents of a track.

You can access these functions by using their corresponding footswitches only:

• Loop Select: Select this function to load a different loop.
• Backing Track: Select this option to control the backing track feature.
• Tuner: Select this option to use the built-in tuner.
• Exit: Select this option to return to the previous page.

To exit the Functions page, press the Exit footswitch.

Technical Specifications

All specifications are measured at 20 kHz bandwidth. Specifications are subject to change without notice.

150 II source, unweighted)
Max Input Level| +13 dBu
Sensitivity| -46 dBu
Gain Range| 59 dB
Inputs 1-4 (balanced 1/4– /6 35 mm –ms or unbalanced 1/4– Ts)| Frequency Response| 20 Hz – 20 kHz (±0.2 dB)
Dynamic Range| 111 dB (A-weighted)
Signal-to-Noise Ratio| 110 dB (1 kHz, +4 dBu, A-weighted)
THD+N| 0.003% (1 kHz, +4 dBu, -1 dBFS)
Max Input Level| +20 dBu
Input Impedance| 1 Mil
Sensitivity| -20 dBu
Gain Range| 40 dB
Main Outputs 1-2 (Impedance- alanced 1/4′ / 6.35 mm TRS)| Frequency Response| 20 Hz -20 kHz (±0.2 dB)
Dynamic Range| 113 dB (A-weighted)
THD+N| 0.003% (1 kHz, -1 dBFS)
Maximum Output Level| +20 dBu
Output Impedance| 100 fl
Main Outputs 3-4 (balanced XLR)| Frequency Response| 20 Hz – 20 kHz (±0.2 dB)
Dynamic Range| 113dB (A-weighted)
THD+N| 0.001% (1 kHz, -1 dBFS)
Maximum Output Level| +20 dBu
Output Impedance| 100 a
Headphone Output (1/4″ / 6.35 mm TRS)| Frequency Response 20 Hz – 20 kHz ao.2 dB)
---|---
Dynamic Range 112 dB (A-weighted)
THD+N 0.008% (1 kHz, 10mW per channel Into 32)
Maximum Output Level +20 dBu (unloaded)
Power Output 100 mW RMS (per channel Into 32 fl)
Output Impedance 32 a
Aux Input (stereo 1/8″ / 3.5 mm TRS)| Input Level 2.0 Vrms (+8.22 dBu)
USB/SD Storage Support| File Systems exFAT (read & write) (recommended)
FAT32 (read & write)
NTFS (read & write)
EXT4 (read & write)
HFS+ (read only)
File Types Format AIF/AIFF, WAV
Sampling Rates: 44.1, 48, 96, 192 kHz Bit Depths: 16, 24, 32 bits
Display| (1) full-color LED-backlit display with touch interface 6.9″ / 176 mm (diagonal) 5.9″ x 3.7″ / 150 x 93 mm (width x height)
Footswitches| (12) footswitches with color LEDs
Knobs| (1) 360° navigation/data encoder with push-to-enter function (4) input volume knobs
(4) master volume knob
(1) phones volume knob
(1) auxiliary volume knob
Connectors| (4) XLR/TRS 1/4″ (6.35 mm) inputs
(1) 1/8″ (3.5 mm) stereo input (auxiliary device)
(1) 1/4″ (6.35 mm) TRS input (expression pedal)
(2) XLR outputs
(2) 1/4″ (6.35 mm) TRS outputs
(1) 1/4″ (6.35 mm) TRS output (headphones)
(1) 5-pin MIDI input
(1) 5-pin MIDI output
(2) USB Type-A ports
(1) USB Type-B port
(1) SD card slot
(1) power adapter input
---|---
Power| Connection        DC power adapter input
Input Voltage      19 VDC, 3.42 A, center-positive
Dimensions (width x depth x height)| 20.16″ x 12.24″ x 3.0″ 51.2 x 31.1 x 7.6 cm
Weight|  12.13 lb. 5.5 kg

Trademarks & Licenses
HeadRush is a trademark of inMusic Brands, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.
SD is a registered trademark of SD-3C, LLC.
All other product names, company names, trademarks, or trade names are those of their respective owners.

herdrushfs.com
Manual Version 1.1

References

• Cutting Edge Guitar Processors and Speakers | HeadRush FX

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