Carl Wockner - Best Looper Settings (Live Looping Setup)

My Headrush Looperboard Settings
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Website carlwockner.com.au/
Facebook / carlwocknermusician
KZbin Channel - / carlwockner
Equipment List: -
MICROPHONES
Shure Beta58
GUITAR
Maton EMD6
PEDALS
Tuner = Boss TU-3
Octave = Boss OC-3
Volume Boost = TC Spark
Overdrive = Wampler Tumnus
Mic Mute = Stompbeat Mic Mute
Multi = Line 6 HX Effects
Vocal FX = Boss VE-500
Loopstation = Headrush Looperboard`
Expression Pedal = Mission Engineering Exp
Bluetooth Page Turner = iRig Blueboard
Wireless Guitar Setup = Shure QLXD4
EXTRAS
Beat Sample Hits = Maschine Mikro Control Pad
Wireless In Ear = Shure PSM600
In Ear Monitors = Alclair Audio Spire Custom Molded
Pedal Board Case = Pelican Air case
Carl…ness.
Recently awarded “MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR 20/21” for the QLD Prestige awards - Carl Wockner is a straight-up SAVAGE! (the good kind).
Latest single “Fool’s Gold” is a delicate balance of organic-acoustic POP mixed with singer-songwriter lyricism and honesty, which is exactly what you get when you’re first exposed to Carl Wockner, especially in a live setting.
Determined to pave his own path in modern music - Wockner uses multi-instrumentalism and dynamic production to take listeners on a journey through multiple genres and sonic excitement, all while telling a story.
“Recent singles of 2020 END OF ME, PAINT THE AIR, STEREO, CMB have been a collaboration with pop producer Ben Flanders. We added specific ingredients of Pop production with REAL acoustic guitar, hits, taps - vocal trills and voicing. These were all incorporated INTO the beat to give a nice earthy presence, and we even added Kazoo (on Better) just because.. I really feel like we just straight up need more kazoo in our lives!”
Carl Wockner was named the first and ONLY Australian artist to ever win Top Honors at the International Acoustic Music Award’s 2015 (USA), along with top of the AAA category for the release of his album Crayon Days with producer Michael Flanders in Nashville TN. Wockner has skipped up the charts with his first two single releases receiving high rotation to national radio in both Australia and USA which landed the title track into the International Billboard Charts. The same album has received a 2016 IMA (Independent Music Awards) Finalist nomination for Best Adult Contemporary Album. It was following this recent success that Wockner relocated his family to Nashville TN, USA as a strategic move for his evolving career.
Sept 2019, Carl was featured for an entire episode of “Backstage Marquee” a syndicate show aired across the USA featuring original artists set to be ‘the next big thing.’
Sept 2018 Wockner performed LIVE on National USA Television. The show HLN on the CNN Network for the segment “The Weekend Express,” featured Carl’s original songwriting and performance as a showcase taste of Nashville / Music City.
His rare “Live Looping” style solo performance matched only with his signature vocals and unique acoustic guitar work renders Carl in a league of his own. The live shows have been recognized throughout Australia and USA with multiple headliner performances at festivals and touring, and Wockner is now rumoured as one of the busiest musicians in Nashville, TN - aka “Music City.”
Since landing in Nashville, Wockner has released two EP’s including a Christmas release with the favoured “Santa Selfie.” Currently his latest single “Better” is noted as the best studio representation of his signature live performance style.
There’s something about Carl Wockner’s music that simply exudes peace. The peace you feel when you’re humming along to a nostalgic track, or the peace you feel when you just know everything’s going to be ok. However you connect with Carl’s music, you would agree this he is definitely onto something.
Carl’s first EP, the self-produced, recorded, mixed (all in his lounge room) Acoustic…ness, was released in 2011 to an overwhelmingly positive response. Single “Pictures” received airplay on Hot 91 FM and ZINC FM, the latter of whose DJ’s referred to him as “the man with the big hair and Golden Tonsils.” Carl was also named a finalist in three categories at the 2012 and 2013 MusicOZ awards: Acoustic Singer/Songwriter, Blues and Roots, and Pop.

[@michaelhuynh4130]

Hey Carl, really appreciate you going into all this detail. Love to geek out about this stuff and this info helps greatly. This is going to be a video I'll keep coming back to reference!

[@Acoustribute]

Thanks for sharing a little more in depth look under the hood of your set up. Definitely going to tinker with the EQ range you mentioned to boost my beat box sound. Made sense to me as your BB tone is crisp.

[@williamkitchin9946]

Thanks for sharing Carl!

[@gregs2466]

I play guitars and in just the past 5 months, I have bought 9 pedals and a very large pedalboard. I just like making noise and checking them out. Watching you explain how you do your pedals almost caused me to have a panic attack, LOL! I watch your posts and you just blow my mind on how you do it all and make it sound so good. You are certainly different on the stage, but I like you a lot!

[@carlwockner]

Thanks mate!

[@zenaticharlotte6152]

Nice vid. The other one i was expecting… with the effects one 😉 That’ s so interesting, and for me who is into looping (i have a boss rc 600), i’ll try your way of setting loops. Thanks a lot. You’re doing a great and i love what your’re doing 🎸🎵

[@Pimployacoustic]

I just interesting in playing alone with loop but the setting all of effect i need is really hard to decide to buy it thank you for sharing!

[@nesiansoulallstars]

Love your setup. This is a lot of amazingness!!! Can I buy this instructions in a PDF manual🙏🏽🙏🏽

[@cloudjarmusic]

Brilliant! thanks for this!

[@TravisRocco]

Just Purchased your True Fire course. Awesome job!

[@carlwockner]

Thankyou mate!!

[@hedblom]

Hi Carl! Really love your videos and playing. Gives me a lot of inspiration. Think you have a great sound, thinking about the guitar. Are you using built in compressor, preamps, eq for the guitar or do you record it clean with the fx on the board? I have the rc600 and i use the built in fx for compression, eq and reverb. Anyhow, that means that compression and eq will end up in the end of the chain.

[@leohkharlo5966]

Hi Carl, just want to thank you for inspiring me to be better at live looping! May I ask where you get the xlr switcher? Thanks mate!

[@Moanzy]

Ahh! Some insides of how you use the Headrush Looperboard! This pedal is more complex than rocket sciences, I tell you. Do you have a template of your settings Carl? Would love to see it in detail

[@carlwockner]

Yessir! It’s crazy. I only have 2 templates. They are both exactly the same settings except 1 is fixed loop and the other is on Sync mode for different time measures. That’s it

[@bennyhill3505]

Nice one dude. You gotta be smart to operate this and sound good too. People just don't understand..👊🏿👊🏿

[@carlwockner]

Thanks mate

[@Itsfabianorivera]

Hi there Carl. I’m currently really torn on which looperboard to get. I currently have a Rc-300 and am wondering if it would be smart to upgrade to the 600 or go with the headrush looperboard. That being said, I’m worried about it being discontinued. Are you worried at all about this? Also, I currently use a helix for all my tones, but I have asked the question if the headrush would be a great all in one unit for my acoustic gigs or just combine both.

[@kyleabner]

hey man, what pedal are you using for the xlr switch? i want the same thing but cant find it. keep rocking out dude!

[@JohnPaulMusicUK]

Great video! 👏 👏 👏 0:53 squeaky 😬

[@carlwockner]

Thanks mate! haha - I barely hear it!

[@gwenmusicien]

hello Carl, love your videos, helps me a lot for my set ups and live gigs. i've tried an A/B XLR switch for the microphone, which didn't have any visual indicator to tell me on which channel(A or B) i was on. Yours seems to have this visual indicator. Could you give me the references of that XLR switch you're using please ? Thanks again !

[@carlwockner]

Thanks mate:) mines a custom but Radial DM1 or ProCo panic button are great options:)

[@gwenmusicien]

@@carlwockner Thanks for your quick answer ! i'll check this out

[@bradtindall2588]

Thanks for sharing. Fellow looper here. Curious what you are listening to in your in ears... is it the exact same as you send to front of house? or do you listen to an aux mix with less reverb and the vocals louder to monitor your singing.... thanks! - Brad

[@carlwockner]

Thanks! almost identical to FOH. A little less vocal, and loop mix but essentially the same.

[@martinballew8094]

Another question (sorry)! I just got my new Small Bear switches to replace the ones that are going out (which is just about all of them). Any pointers or things to look out for?

[@carlwockner]

Fantastic, I love those switches. Just be careful when taking apart the board. You’ll need to file a small tooth off the side of the footswitch hole (you’ll see) but apart from that it’s a careful solder job and simple replacement🤙🏼

[@martinballew8094]

Great vid, Carl! Tanks! QuestionI asked on the HRLB Facebook page, which so far no one has been able to answer yet...When I turn my HRLB on it always opens to a blank session that is saved with the input and monitor inputs turned up full blast, so if I forget (which I do sometimes), and she's plugged into a live monitor or FOH system, it of course makes for a really loud and jarring feedback that leaves everyone looking at me with total disdain (nobody wants to be that guy)...Fortunately it's only happened once live, and in a rehearsal with my other bandmate, and our friend...I can't see how to change and save the settings on that blank session, because it will never open to that newly saved session anyway. It'll just go back to the same blank new session with the settings saved the same way prior...(Does that make sense?) Anyway...Might you know how in the Wide World of Sports I might go about fixing this so the blank session has the inputs/outputs all turned off whenever I turn in my HRLB?!!! It is super annoying, especially when it's the first thing before you start playing music and now you've got that ringing in your ear for the next couple of hours from the feedback..."HELP!" Tanks! U RoK! 🤟😎

[@carlwockner]

Hey mate, that’s very strange! Mine opens to a blank session but it’s based off the settings of my default one. I’m sure there has to be a way to change it - I’d contact customer support to see if there’s something u need to do. Is the firmware up to date?

[@martinballew8094]

@@carlwockner Hmmm...I'm curious what you mean by your "Default one"? How do I make a default? I contacted customer service, but...crickets, thus far...And yes, it's been updated to the latest firmware...I'll let you know what HR says if they get back to me. Thanks again!

[@carlwockner]

@@martinballew8094 I guess my default is just a blank session when I turn on the looper. It’s strange that your volumes are all different??

[@sebastienjessu6003]

Hey Carl, thank you very much for this video! Do you use un DI radial Pro D2 also in this case, with the Headrush? sorry for my english..

[@carlwockner]

Hi! No I dont need a DI as the signal is already balanced outputs from the Headrush Looper.

[@sebastienjessu6003]

thanks a lot! i love what your’re doing @@carlwockner

[@nesiansoulallstars]

Hey Carl does that one strymon pedal power supply power everything or do you have multiple power supplies?

[@carlwockner]

Powers everything except the Headrush looper since that needs 19v

[@BlakeHarper99]

I still don’t know the difference between mono and stereo. Iv just been told to use mono all the time

[@Acoustribute]

Hey Mate, Have you had your effects pedals at any point going through the effects loop of any of your devices? I was wondering because I reconfigured my effects pedal chain (yellow compressor - TC Electronics Harmony Singer - Tuner - TC Mini Spark - Boss Oct - Tumnus Wampler) to go through the effects loop of my Audio Sprockets Tonedexter and out of it's DI into the HRLB. The signal (from the Tonedexter) is much more stronger and the tone is fuller this way but the Tumnus Wampler has lost its grit. Could it be that it's not really designed to be used in an effects loop?

[@carlwockner]

Hey mate, so what you're actually doing is running a balanced signal chain of pedals into the Tonedexter (TD) then a balanced signal to the DI and into the Looper. This would work fine, BUT the audio quality would be no different apart from it being louder and balanced. Which would only be noticeable if you had a super long unbalanced cable between the TD and the Looper. All youre doing by adding a DI is creating a louder balanced signal to send to your looper which is designed to accept both balanced or unbalanced inputs. All this to say there will be no audible tone difference apart from the volume, which you would just adjust anyway to end up being the same input signal volume to the looper. The tumnus is designed to have an unbalanced and unboosted signal so be sure to have it early in the effect chain. But I would remove the DI from this setup as you don't need it - just run unbalanced out of the TD into the looper.

[@Acoustribute]

@@carlwockner Thanks

[@HarrisLoops]

Hey Carl, great video as ever, i see you have no extra knobs (caps) on the buttons on your looperboard anymore, have you replaced the switches? If so, can you please link me to which switches to buy, there are plenty that do the same thing but I don't want to buy new ones and still have the same problem of the button not always working or even double clicking sometimes.

[@carlwockner]

Hey mate, yes replace the switches - the standard ones suck. I got mine online from small bear. But you can literally get them from any online or local pedal builder store. They are just “Soft Touch, Momentary ON normally open” footswitches. You need to be capable of soldering and have a basic understanding of care when fixing electronics/ pedals and you’ll be fine. But you do void the warranty on the pedal I believe.

[@HarrisLoops]

@@carlwockner Thanks mate, i'll order some online as there's no one here on the Sunny coast that sells them, then get stuck into it

[@HarrisLoops]

@@carlwockner All done and dusted, it works perfectly now, thanks for your advice mate, great to see you doing so well over there

[@ezequielkofman5015]

@@HarrisLoops hey harris, are you talking about the start /stop/undo knobs? for what u replaced them? best Ezequiel

[@HarrisLoops]

@@ezequielkofman5015 yeah, you can get replacement switches

[@tom-music-eu]

Hi Carl, I`m looking for your XLR switch but I can't find it. It is not in your pedal list. Can you tell me what brand and model it is please ? Best, Tom

[@carlwockner]

It’s a custom sorry mate. But radial and pro co do some good xlr switcher options

[@tom-music-eu]

@@carlwockner if it's `Carl custom made` then you better start a company `cause that's the best xlr switch I ever saw: just a switch without any extra functions nobody needs, and with light so that I can always see `where I am´ when I forgot which function is active while I'm playing. Tell me when you start to sell these switchers `cause I'll be your first customer :)

[@tom-music-eu]

@@NickRivers cool, thank you. I will get one of those.

[@davemoore843]

Was your job application to NASA unsuccessful then? Great stuff this. I'm like a drunk octopus just on an RC5!!

[@NickRivers]

Do you find issues with the headrush coloring your tone through the outputs (even with 0 headrush fx on)? And if so how do you fix this? My looperboard seems to add smal distortion. I have my gain for guitar set so that it comes in around -5 db. Thanks man

[@carlwockner]

Hey mate, it shouldn’t change the tone at all! Mine is no different - check the inputs/ cables and make sure the gain is not boosted too much. How do you know it’s -5db? That’s actually pretty hot for a guitar input.

[@NickRivers]

@@carlwockner I bet that’s my issue then, probably too hot. I just sat on the ground playing and watched input gain at around that. I’ll go for lower input gain and maybe that’ll help. I REALLY appreciate the response, thanks man

[@carlwockner]

@@NickRivers basically just be sure your guitar signal is not volume boosted by any pedals/ di’s / preamps etc prior to going into the headrush. That still shouldn’t matter much but the cleaner and more u it’s the signal can get the better the tone

[@NickRivers]

@@carlwockner Thanks so much man, I really appreciate the help!

[@Diego73P]

sorry I did not understand the outputs and rooting ... physically you go out with jacks from the output 1/2 with voice, mpc, guitar stereo separates from the 3/4 output of only the guitar (and you go with 4 cables to the mixer?) or output 1/2 go back in again in the looper to then exit from 3/4 using the internal mixer? I did not understand this very important step Carllllllllll !!!

[@carlwockner]

Yes all the live inputs go directly out the outputs 1-2, and anything that I loop goes out the outputs 3-4

[@Diego73P]

@@carlwockner Ok so go to the external mixer so separate to have control over the live and recorded volumes in a more independent way, this is the reason? super thanks Carl

[@carlwockner]

@@Diego73P The volumes and EQ will be very similar, but it allows you to mix the live instrument volume separate to the looped volume of everything. yes.

[@Diego73P]

@@carlwockner I don't know how to thank you for this precious information, given by a great artist, given by a person who shares knowledge in favor of music ... dirty misery you are good at doing everything, singing, playing, beatboxing, building your way i songs that are more interesting than the originals! Thanks Carl

[@ezequielkofman5015]

Carl, a quick question, I see that are pedals attached directly to the looperboard covering the knobs, so how u can control the action of those knobs?

[@carlwockner]

I set them and don’t touch them as they’re just preamp volumes. That’s why I have them covered so I don’t bump them🤙🏼

[@ezequielkofman5015]

@@carlwockner thanks :) and then just velcro and the pedals on the looperboard?

[@jeremymorrisonmusic]

@@carlwocknerwhat do you set those inputs to?

[@carlwockner]

@@jeremymorrisonmusic it all depends on your gain. I set my gain level with the signal in the mixer so at full strum on my instrument hits a few db under the unity line. Hope that helps. If I give you the number where I set the know it wouldn’t help. It’s like saying “where do you set the hot water tap in your shower?” It all depends on the water pressure (volume of your preamp, how hard you play, different pedals settings etc) Hope that helps

[@jeremymorrisonmusic]

@@carlwockner totally makes sense. So you run looper out to a mixer and set gain on mixer lines for each instrument or vocals correct? Then you run mixer to your speakers?

[@ekpahadiladka]

Hi Carl! Thanks for the video. I’m curious why you route all your inputs to outputs 1-2 and tracks to 3-4? And also the FX pedal, is it good for acoustic guitars or just electrics? Thank you again. Please answer when you can. Happy looping ❤

[@TravisRocco]

Hey Carl! Hoping you have a solution or know what I'm doing wrong in the set up or settings!! I bought the Dunlop Mini volume pedal like you have (for the purpose of just setting all track volumes to be controlled with the pedal to go from volume 0 to 100). Basically a fail safe if anything goes wrong especially just starting out using it. I am running my guitar cable from the Dunlop mini pedal OUTPUT into the EXP PEDAL input on the headrush. In the "FX track" parameters I'm setting the Dunlop pedal to be used to control the "Track Vol" from a low of 0 to high of 100. I can get the sound to turn all the way down but it will barely move the volume up any (goes to -30 when I push the Dunlop halfway to the toe and then past halfway it goes back down to the no volume). Any ideas?!?!? Thank you!!

[@carlwockner]

You need to plug into the AUX output in the Dunlop🤙🏼 it’s a dual pedal so the input and output are a passive volume and the exp part are the aux output🤙🏼

[@TravisRocco]

@@carlwockner I tried it in the AUX output and nothing moves, no response. Only thing that makes the volume move a little (barely) on any track is from the Dunlop "OUTPUT". Any setting i have to change? Can't imagine its a bum brand new Dunlop pedal. hmmm

[@carlwockner]

@@TravisRocco are u using a TRS cable?

[@TravisRocco]

@@carlwockner don’t think so is that what I need?

[@carlwockner]

@@TravisRocco yessir that’s the problem then. It needs to be a TRS to TRS

[@pierrebertaud4759]

hi carl very interesting but i ask myself how you mix each instrument ? specialy direct sound because everything goes out 1&2 i have guitare ,pad , and key board maybe you mix directely in the looperboard sorry for my english ;)

[@carlwockner]

Hi, yes I mix the volume with the input control on the headrush Looperboard. 🤙🏼

[@pierrebertaud4759]

@@carlwockner hey thanks for answer me but heum no is not my question sorry ;) how do you send each instrument on the mixer? i talk about external mixer before the speaker ! sorry

[@pierrebertaud4759]

you know for mix frequency , hi mid low blabla stuff like that ect ......

[@carlwockner]

Oh, well I send my guitar and loop mic direct to the headrush looper, then I send my looper direct into my mixing console. All the EQ is mostly flat, I usually just take about -2db at 160hz and at around 500hz for the loop mic and I mix my main vocal microphone to suit my voice.

[@pierrebertaud4759]

@@carlwockner EQ in the looper or in your mix console ? hum hum ;)

[@clintmorgensternmusic5972]

Does the drum/rhythm track do intros/outros and fills?

[@carlwockner]

I don’t have a drum track, it’s all recorded live in the looper. You might be thinking of a drum machine? They do that sort of thing🤙🏼 hope that helps

[@clintmorgensternmusic5972]

@@carlwockner okay yeah, but the looper board has a drum machine on board correct? Does the onboard drum machine do intro and fill drum patterns? Thanks in advance!

[@carlwockner]

@@clintmorgensternmusic5972 I don’t believe the headrush Looperboard has any drum machine or samples on it. You can import wav files though. I know some of the older loop pedals like the rc300 had about 10 very basic drum beats but I’m not sure about intros and outros

[@clintmorgensternmusic5972]

@@carlwockner ah gotcha. Thanks again. Great music by the way!

[@joshiprabhas]

Yes and ed Sheeran used to just use a rc 300, 1 small Martin and 2 mics

[@carlwockner]

not sure what your point is, but I also did that many years ago - and just like Ed and so many other loopers, my setup has evolved too🤙🏼

[@Zwierzak]

Hi. What is this expression pedal? So small 🤔

[@carlwockner]

just a dunlop mini expression pedal. DVP4 I believe

[@Zwierzak]

@@carlwockner thanks 👍

[@mikeshanermusic]

👍That's great, now lets see ya sink a putt. lol!!

[@jamesaubry752]

Carl, can you tell me which XLR AB/O you’re using for your microphone please? I bought one recently and it seems a bit crap :(

[@carlwockner]

Its a custom one - there are plenty of options out there - the Radial DM1 or the Pro co Panic button are good choices.

[@jamesaubry752]

@@carlwockner thanks a lot man!