How I Use the DITTO X4 Looper Pedal for Live Solo Acoustic Gigs

[@michaelhozz7358]

35+ year full time musician here. I’ve had a few loopers in my time. I had the tiny ditto for solo gigs, totally agree…that dbl click is awful! I just purchased the ditto 4, had a couple questions, searched YT and found this vid. You answered all my questions and I thank you for that!

[@jasonstallworth]

Awesome to hear that and you'll love this looper! This one, unfortunately stopped working but it gave me a solid couple of years. I'm using the regular Ditto as a backup and looking to get the Ditto X2 (same as X4 with a stop button, but without the other features)

[@filipzo]

Hi there! I've been using the Ditto x4 for quite a long time and I would like to share something I learned. Midi works for both clock sync and cc messages. I use MIDI every day because I clock sync the Ditto to drum machines, synths, and pedals (such as delays). It works great. In the back, some dip switches let you customize the behavior of the Ditto x4 (start/overdub/stop or start/stop/overdub... things like that). Another thing to keep in mind is that when you play in SYNC mode loop 1 and 2 are synchronized and loop 1 sets the "length multiplier" for loop 2. For example, if loop 1 is 4 bars long, loop 2 must be 4 or 8 or 12, and so on... (you CAN'T record a 6 bars loop 2). The dip switches also let you decide if you prefer to start and stop at any time OR at the beginning and end of a cycle no matter when you click the switch (very useful when you have long loops and you want to play with other pedals in the meanwhile: simply press the switch and it will arm the track... it will actually start recording at the beginning of the cycle!). Cheers have a nice day everyone

[@jasonstallworth]

Thanks for sharing this

[@nonyabizniss3292]

I saw a a video with Joe Bonamassa about his pedals. He puts plumbing O-Rings under his knobs to prevent them from moving. Just thought I would mention it since you said your knobs were moving.

[@jasonstallworth]

That's a great idea and I just may do that! I moved it by accident again yesterday at a gig!

[@DeanMatthewMusic]

Love your videos. I am just getting back into playing out live and learning a bunch.

[@jasonstallworth]

Awesome to hear you’re getting back out there

[@barbarabergenty1413]

More looper how to and what you are doing live! Many thanks

[@jasonstallworth]

I’ll have something with a new looper coming soon!

[@rodolfonaya7232]

Thank you very much for your excellent tutorial. You are talented, honest, sincere and your video is very, very useful. I have subscribed and would be interested to hear your stage experiences and tips. Thanks again and congratulations for your shows

[@jasonstallworth]

Thank you! I also have a playlist for live gig tips on my channel

[@miguelbarbedo6419]

Thanks. Jason. Great feedback about the pedal. That was helpful. Keep up great music coming up, the world needs it more than ever.

[@jasonstallworth]

You're welcome and I have more coming...I'm planning to pick up the Ditto X2 soon

[@Okheerz1]

Like your vibe. Nice tips. You are a better soloist than other loopers on here w more confidence.

[@jasonstallworth]

Thank you, it definitely takes getting used to. I try to keep things simple, too

[@triplescale]

I have the old TC Flashback x4 pedal laying around and I will use it as a looper. It has a dedicated REC, PLAY/PAUSE, UNDO/REDO and "play once" button. Thanks for the video!

[@jasonstallworth]

Yeah these loopers come in handy!

[@djohanesen]

Great video buddy. I have the Ditto x2 on a mini board I created for small space gigs. I like that one. I totally agree with you on the dedicated stop button. I have the digitech jammman stereo looper as well and only use about the same 30% of the capabilities myself. Live loop, vokume conttol, stop button and I'm good. Now if I could only solo as well as you can. Lol. Love your videos man. Great stuff.

[@jasonstallworth]

Dude, it’s great to see you on here! Yeah, I am thinking of getting the X2 as it seems more simple than the X4. I really have to keep things simple on stage!

[@djohanesen]

@@jasonstallworth Same for me man. Nice and easy. Tuner, Octave pedal, small delay with a boost and the looper and that is it. I think you would like the X2. It has an occasional hiccup but I have had mine a few years and it works pretty well. You probably know this, but it also has the stereo in and out. I use mine with a percussion mic for looping some instrumental stuff. Love your videos man. Killer playing, great info and your overall positive and honest vibe really shines through in what you do.

[@jnparesa]

Great video sir! I just started messing with a Looper!

[@jasonstallworth]

This is a great looper though I still accidentally click the wrong buttons at times, but that’s my own fault! 😂

[@johnl4peace]

Thanks so much. This will really help me decide to stick with my Boss RC-30 or give the Ditto X4 a try. Wish I could play as well as you!

[@jasonstallworth]

This Ditto is great mainly for the dedicated stop button (for me, anyway!) I’m looking into the Ditto X2 as it’s more simplified

[@evilrhoades7823]

Thank you Jason. This is awesome!!

[@jasonstallworth]

🙏 🤘

[@johnmcelroy7726]

thanks alot for your work i myself at the age of almost 67 Irish man liveing in Germany and still live on the road with 50 % Irish and the rest mix from A too Z .at home i use the trio + Band creator live a we bit mainly cause i couldnt hear things ontill i moved to inears so now im going to do a bit more live,love your work see ye all the best John

[@jasonstallworth]

Thank you and it's awesome to hear that you're out there doing it! I've considered in ears but just got the EV Evolve 50M portable column system for my live solo gigs. Video to come!

[@george6036]

Great job on the video! I just bought one of these units on ebay. You mentioned about playing in Florida I wish I knew where you were because I'm in Florida also and I'd like to come and hear you. Oh and by the way I can tell you're a good dude!

[@jasonstallworth]

It's a cool pedal! I keep my schedule posted on my website here: www.jasonstallworth.com/

[@eggybaby84]

great video, hey to avoid tapping the FX switch, Icut a short piece of PVC and hot glue it around the switch (that’s what I did on mine!)

[@jasonstallworth]

That’s a great idea! I’m looking to get the Ditto X2 soon

[@acousticmonkey2209]

Great video and food for thought. Like you I struggle with the double click to stop my looper pedal and find I'm either to late and have extra sounds, or too early and cut off beats😄

[@jasonstallworth]

That dedicated stop button changed everything for me!

[@teknomanning]

Thank you. All your mistakes I want to do .👌🏿😊😊 I’m an old geezer experimental git guy so thanks!

[@jasonstallworth]

🤘

[@BryanBowser]

What is cool about having stereo connections is you can connect a bass in one channel and a guitar in another. The outputs are separated and can connect to different sources or channels on a mixing board.

[@jasonstallworth]

That's a cool feature!

[@BryanBowser]

Do you get lag when you overdub? I tap my guitar to set up a rhythm. If I tap on an overdub, it's off and it's noticeable.

[@dprice5280]

I use fade fx quite often, also use stereo out to go to two guitar amps.

[@jasonstallworth]

🤘

[@katz5434]

Great detail in the intro content, thanks Jason

[@jasonstallworth]

Thank you. I’m planning to get the Ditto X2 soon

[@BlueCollarLogic]

Just ordered one of these this morning. I wish I'd watched this video first. I might have opted for the simpler version. Couldn't stand the original Ditto, as the double-tap is so unnatural. Also, every time I would delete a loop, it would play briefly. ?? Can't have that on stage. Oh well, my x4 is in the mail. I'm sure I'll dig it. Thanks for the tips.

[@jasonstallworth]

You’ll like the X4 way more than the original!!

[@GuiltySouls]

Great video! Great personality too. All the best to you.

[@jasonstallworth]

🤘

[@christianr.8885]

Great demo and explanation 😊

[@jasonstallworth]

🙏🏻

[@tonyDa2Lo]

Great video! I'm looking for another looper to use so my Boss 500 can do effects when needed. Was at guitar center today and they haven't had any in for a while. Side note- I'm picking up the EV-30 tower on Friday! Can't wait... Seen ur vids on the EV and the have so much power and options.. thanks again, brother! Da2Lo

[@jasonstallworth]

Yes, that EV is such a nice system! And you'll like this X4 looper!

[@charleschastain829]

Your awesome Jason!!!!

[@jasonstallworth]

🙏 🤘

[@garethc3448]

Love this man.

[@jasonstallworth]

🙏 🤘

[@7139Harry]

Excellent ! Thanks !

[@jasonstallworth]

🙏

[@leonbanks719]

great stuff man

[@jasonstallworth]

🙏

[@oscarm4154]

Brave to use it live. So many faulty bricked x4 pedals. Internal cardslot issues and freezes

[@jasonstallworth]

I’ve used this pedal live (2-3x a week for 3-4 hour shows) for about 3 years now. I recently had an issue with the power supply input so I’m using the regular Ditto for now

[@1madcracker]

I realize this video is about the ditto looper but I couldn’t help but note you have 2 Mic mechanics on your pedal board. I use one myself but i’m wondering why you have two of them.

[@jasonstallworth]

My wife sings a few tunes with me here and there. But I actually haven’t used these pedals in over a year (actually gave one to a friend). They’re great pedals but wanted to simplify my setup so I’m just running my vocal mic direct through my soundboard and using the compression and reverb on those channels

[@codycalvert6882]

Yeah the double stomp to stop the loop has to be the worst idea in history of pedals 😂. I have the same problem with my boss loop, I had to buy an external stop switch for it.

[@jasonstallworth]

I’m glad other folks had issues with this and not just me! lol

[@mrtn2842]

I almost bought this , wish I had now ..

[@jasonstallworth]

Towards the end of the video, I talk about why I may part ways with this one and what I may get instead!

[@dimahunter1797]

Would you make a video with your opinion about mono/dual mono/stereo guitar rig? There are many guitar effects in stereo.

[@jasonstallworth]

I only use mono. I don't use a lot of effects beyond reverb and a little delay for my leads (same of vocals). I have a video on my live pedalboard setup here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pIuZmIqabduKg9U

[@TetrarchJefffreak69]

That looks cool Jason I'd like to have something like that something to help me be more coordinated to 👍🆒

[@jasonstallworth]

Yes it’s a good tool to practice with as well! It will help you get your rhythm timing down recording those loops and help you come up with more ideas for soloing. So it’s like a 2 for 1

[@draco2429]

Hello. Thanks for your video. A query. I'm not interested in the Fx button either. Would there be a way to assign another function, such as stopping loop2 individually or restarting both loops?

[@jasonstallworth]

Yes you can assign different effects and one of them is nothing (right up the middle). The problem I have is sometimes I accidentally move that setting with my foot! I’m probably going to get the X2 and it’s more simplified and has the dedicated stop button

[@skipsmith743]

jason thanks .. well done on the info.... if you like crazy good looping check out this one man band matt bolton... i think you would get a kick

[@jasonstallworth]

Yeah this is a great pedal though I'd prefer the X2 as I mentioned. I don't care to get into crazy looping. I just like to loop a rhythm to solo over. It's become a big part of my shows.

[@TheMcA80]

Can you input mono but output stereo , eg to desk & also to an amp or monitor ?

[@jasonstallworth]

I believe you would need to input stereo in order to output stereo. I've never used this feature. I also believe you could use the stereo output for two guitars running through 2 channels

[@cubby6708]

Does this or any other pedal loopers auto quantize or is at all just practice ?

[@jasonstallworth]

It's practice. The two can sync up but it's not perfect

[@bobburnett1691]

Can you show me some loops with that Johnny Cash sound ??

[@jasonstallworth]

I don’t use any prerecorded loops…just loop a rhythm live so I can solo over it

[@ShineOnDude]

I got a.ditto.x2 jam with the microphone so I can loop I'm some.mouth or drum kind of rythem.

[@jasonstallworth]

🤘

[@cezarsantana]

I got an X4 lately because of the 2 channels. But I've been having a real hard time to make this thing sync. I record track one for ex., and if I try to hit the guitar percussively on the other channel, things are totally out of sync. Let me clarify I'm an experienced looper and have a very solid timing...it works a little better when I overdub tracks on the same channel but the whole idea is to be able to use the 2 channels freely and creatively. Anyone else with the same issue? Any possible solutions? Thanks in advance!

[@jasonstallworth]

I’ve never messed around much with the two loops. I originally only wanted time Ditto X2 because of the dedicated stop feature but found this X4 for a good price at my local shop (Replay Guitar Exchange in Tampa).

[@cezarsantana]

@@jasonstallworth Thanks for a prompt reply. I love the sound quality and the big buttons of the X4, but I'm pretty frustrated with the fact that the tracks don't sync well...if I want just one channel, there are lots of other options out there, better and smaller. Just my thoughts...btw, I'm in Florida too, playing mainly in Miami and Broward : ) Thanks brother!

[@TheMcA80]

The mode tab on back may be the problem ?

[@TheMcA80]

You can have sync mode synced or unsynced . Make sure they are all down by default

[@ruddmedia]

bro i havent talked to you in a minute but tbh get the tonex pedal and tonex period if you dont already! peace

[@jasonstallworth]

I’ll have to look into that and see where I can try one out. For solo gigs, my POD Go does the job. But for metal, I’m looking at the new Blackstar Amped 3

[@ruddmedia]

@@jasonstallworth blk str is pumping out some good stuff bro i hear ya! but i have tonex and man its something else!

[@charleschastain829]

Oh looper, how did I make it without you, Oh looper, I've been out here so long I feel like a real trooper, oh looper, Come around once more, oh looper I'm totally lost without you, oh looper Just get looped and everything is fine, Oh looper, I go to sleep and your in my mind oh looper ... 😂 sorry about the wierd al yanko

[@jasonstallworth]

😀 🤘