Is THIS the BEST Backing Track Pedal? - idoru - P1

[@christopherabbey4054]

I’ve been using the Idoru-1 for six months now and I really like it. I used to use a Boss RC-600 for playing backing tracks through different outputs (overkill, I know!), and it worked fine - it was just rather cumbersome, and also I found that transferring files took ages. Once you know your way around the Idoru-1, it’s simple to operate, works smoothly and reliably, and since it uses SD cards, I don’t have to carry it back and forth on the tram between our rehearsal space and home - I just take an updated SD card to rehearsals whenever I’ve added new songs. The ease of adapting setlists on a PC (we have a different one at each gig) is one of the key features for me. I use the MIDI output to automatically switch guitar sounds on my Headrush MX-5 whenever they change in quick succession (e.g. on Moonlight Shadow) - that’s one less thing to worry about, especially with my clown feet! I can really recommend the Idoru-1.

[@JohnPaulMusicUK]

Brilliant. And thank you for sharing this. That’s an interesting journey and brilliant that the iduro-P1 has filled that gap. 👍🏻

[@phillipdumond600]

Thanks for the review. Have you tried connecting your RC300/ 600 via midi? Maybe drums and bass tracked on the device and live loop the rest? Just a thought....

[@JohnPaulMusicUK]

Yeah that a great (but expensive) option but you are right. That could totally work. The midi clock would have to be set by the P1 and the looper follow that. Also the BPM will need to be in there to send that information out. That would work quite nicely. 👍🏻

[@ladukie69]

Great device. How can I change quickly between 250 songs (live) from A-W or P to B? I can't get my eyes on the scroll menu all the time while I performing a song.

[@christopherabbey4054]

Well, if you know the number of a song in your setlist/index, the knobs scroll very quickly. I only have about 40 songs on our Idoru-1 and it takes up to about 1½ seconds to change manually.

[@ladukie69]

@@christopherabbey4054 by hans or by foot?

[@JohnPaulMusicUK]

So Christopher is right and that would initially be by hand with the dial. However the answer could also be midi with a midi pedal controlling the next or previous on your pedal. You could potentially program up to ‘scroll’ through the list. But yeah.. you would have to remember (roughly) where they are. I would like to see a way to search, maybe with an iPad or an app and it manually loads the song based on the search but that would mess up the setlist.

[@bamber2808]

Can you upload pre-made backing tracks to the idoru?. I guess you can if they are in WAV format?

[@markstarlin]

I like the concept and have considered buying one for about a month. But I don’t need to mix six-part backing tracks. If I could select and play six seperate song parts (loops), like verse, chorus, bridge, solo, or A, B, C, etc, that would be more interesting to me for on the fly arranging (my RC-600 can do that already but it is limited to 99 songs/memories.) Otherwise a smaller (less expensive?) pedal that played stereo tracks (24-bit, please) with a (two jack) stereo out would work for me. As long as it has MIDI and I can select songs via MIDI PCs. I change presets on my FM9 and RC-600 via MIDI when I select a song in BandHelper. Being able to select backing tracks via MIDI on a dedicated backing track pedal would be great for me. 
 I second the USB-C comment and Bluetooth MIDI connectivity. I don’t really want to deal with SD cards at all. A built-in SDD drive would be preferable to me.

[@christopherabbey4054]

Having used both the Idoru-1 and the Boss RC-600, I’d recommend sticking with the latter for your needs as the Idoru-1 isn’t designed for switching from verse to chorus to bridge on the fly. Do you really need more than 99 songs/memories?

[@markstarlin]

@@christopherabbey4054 It is surprising how many songs you can accumulate over time when you do both originals and covers. But I have decided to go with having BandHelper play backing tracks (I start and stop them via Bluetooth MIDI and run an audio cable from my iPad to my mixer.) That gets them off my RC-600 and onto my iPad, and it is far cheaper than $500 for an Idoru (if I could buy one.) I still like the idea of a smaller stereo version of Idoru. I like the pedal format and starting and stopping songs by footswitch.

[@markstarlin]

@@christopherabbey4054 It is surprising how many songs I have accumulated by playing originals, covers, and instrumental jams. I haven't reached 99 yet, but I know I will eventually. And, as you mentioned, importing audio into the RC-600 is a pain. The RC600 Editor (a third-party app because Boss neglected to make a software editor) makes it easier, but it is still a hassle. I decided to have BandHelper play stereo audio backing tracks (directly to my mixer) and trigger them via a Bluetooth MIDI pedal. But I think if Irodu made a pedal with just 24-bit stereo audio out, it could be popular with the looper crowd. I can see how a band might want a six-part backing track for using live, but I don't think many solo loopers would. I think more would just like being able to play backing tracks by stepping on a pedal, keeping the backing tracks off their looper. Anyway, it looks like a solid product for what it does.

[@Essyinfo]

Does a zoom livetrack not do the same? Or a gigcaster? Then you have the mixer and if you want to change tracks you program a midi footpedal and it would cost less. Also it would be better resolution

[@maxammo6282]

Yeah I think I kind of like the metal tank chassis better than plastic zoom chassis. Apparently you didn't watch the whole video because the mixers built right into this thing. 🤓

[@HRJ1411]

Zoom R24 does same sort of thing, apart from doesn’t have midi, but most of your improvement suggestions are already on R24

[@JohnPaulMusicUK]

The R24 might get a bit broken if you stomp on it. 🤣 only joking.. but yeah.

[@ayeapprove]

I like how compact it is, but I'd rather use a subnotebook + 6 channel interface and run a full DAW like reaper on it + control it via OSC. I can still change routings, pitchshift and adjust midi commands. But I see a benefit of just having to bring one unit that does most of it.

[@JohnPaulMusicUK]

That’s fair enough. And that it always an option. It totally depends on what your doing but if your not changing the dynamics of the sound and looking for a multi-track playback machine, this is excellent and as you say, a LOT less equipment. 👍🏻

[@loumonyu6558]

A smaller and cheaper version would be nice, similar to the Ammoon Pock Loop but without the looper, just the banks. It should allow toggling through channels on the footswitch, like the P1.

[@RubyDimasStudio]

Need to upload every individual parts, bass , drum etc. for each song

[@christopherabbey4054]

Well, you don’t have to - you could also transfer a suitable mix (e.g. minus vocals and guitar) onto a stereo pair of tracks. But of course, then you couldn’t adjust individual instruments. I like being able to adjust the bass guitar and the drum tracks separately on the mixing desk depending on the acoustics of the venue -or on how we happen to feel at the time!

[@JohnPaulMusicUK]

This is excellent. 👌

[@TheTimeProphet]

Personally I like the idea, but I would like a bigger screen. The characters are limited. Would be nice if you could attach a keyboard so you could search for a song.

[@JohnPaulMusicUK]

Still like the idea of a companion app to search for the songs and have a mixer etc. not taking anything away from the P1’s capabilities.. just being able to use it in a functional way. Looking at Touch OSC as a possible answer to help control it. 👍🏻

[@maxammo6282]

I wonder why they only went 16 bit. SMH

[@JohnPaulMusicUK]

Could be due to limitations? 🤷🏻‍♂️ Hopefully that could be resolved. Would be good. 👍🏻

[@maxammo6282]

@@JohnPaulMusicUK Regardless I can't wait to get my hands on this. I'm going to match it up with a little rack mount mixer.

[@randymccoy2527]

I'm happy to see a new device trying its hand in the looper backing back ring, however for $700 CDN a screen that archaic is an instant no buy. Quad cortex changed everything. Color touch screens are standard now. We can't go backwards.

[@christopherabbey4054]

I’ve had a Idoru-1 for half a year and I can’t see how a colour screen or a bigger screen would help. In a rehearsal or a live situation, all you need to see is the names of the songs and what’s cued up next. What else do you need to know? Transferring songs and compiling and rearranging setlists etc. are all done on your computer.