Larger than many of the pedals looked at so far, this M-Vave Looper pedal offers a couple more features and effects than some of the other pedals in this price range. Encased in an aluminum alloy housing, this looper offers 3 memory locations that can each be a maximum of 5 minutes, although there is also a maximum of only 11 minutes total storage time. This apparently means that if you have a couple memories that already each have a 5 minute track saved, the 3rd memory should only be able to be about 1 minute long. (This remains to be verified). Despite this odd limitation, the three tracks can actually be used just like 3 seperate tracks in single mode on a much more advanced loop station, albeit you’ll have to actually reach down to ‘flip the switch’ to acceess the next track, which will start at the end of the current track.
The USB connector allows for computer file transfer via an available editor app. (USB cable is supplied). You can power this looper thru it’s USB connector, or with a standard power adapter (NOT included).
A track speed switch allows you to play any of the tracks at normal speed, half speed or double speed. Being an actual toggle switch, you should be able to change your playback speed on the fly as you wish, and the possiblility exists that you could accidentally hit the toggle with your foot, and change your track speed unintentionally. With this pedal, depending on which speed-level you start recording on, selecting the other speeds afterwards can result in either 4 times the original speed, or 1/4 of the original speed. This allows a little for-thought to result in more advanced creativity options.
A ‘Ready-Record’ function allows you to opt for recording to begin as soon as you hit a note on your guitar. So, you can preset your looper to be armed for recording, and it will wait until you to begin playing at a volume above your (preselected) level. This is a very handy feature that most other manufacturers simply call ‘Auto-Record’.
Having a single foot switch, all the standard operational functions work pretty much the same as most other pedals of this category:
Record/Play/Overdub/Undo-Redo/Stop/Clear are all accessed with either a single press, a ‘press & hold’, or ‘double-press’ while the track is either playing or stopped.
All in all, this odd looper pedal really does offer quite a bit for it’s price point!!
Check Guitar Center for used M-Vave Loopers
Check Reverb.com for used M-vave Loopers
