Electro-Harmonix 2880 Super Multi-Track Looper Review

Summary

• Pros: The Electro-Harmonix 2880 has loads of great functions, familiar controls, and a great sound. You can easily transport your loops as .WAV files to your computer.
• Cons: A tad expensive, and if you want to use it live, you should get the extra Foot Controller. Some of the effects can only be applied to the whole mix rather than to individual tracks.
• Overall: A great looper. Plenty of memory, loads of opportunity to play around with your recordings, and also a great song-writing companion.

Check Current Price

• Amazon: 2880 Super Multi-Track Looper

Electro-Harmonix 2880 Review

The Electro-Harmonix 2880 is the older version of the Electro-Harmonix 45000. The 45000 doesn’t have much on the 2880, however, and you might still find a deal on the older model.

The Electro-Harmonix 2880’s instantly recognizable layout provides you a degree of familiarity. Even if you have never used a multi-track recorder before, its layout is simple. It has an impressive resume too. It offers CD-quality sound, in stereo or mono, lets you connect up to your computer to store loops, and will even help you keep your loops in time.

Each of the four channels has a dedicated level-fader and a pan-pot to control it’s volume. This allows you to arrange your own DIY stereo mix. There are also two extra faders. One is labelled “Dry Out,” which adjusts the pedals output level. The other is labelled “Mix Down,” which you can use to gain your desired sense of order (or lack thereof) in the mix when combining multiple loops. There is also another fader you can use to set or alter the tempo of your recordings.

The Electro-Harmonix 2880’s remaining features are accessible through buttons which surround the faders. They are easy to operate, so you don’t have to fiddle with any secret button combinations or in-depth manual reading.

Getting Started with the 2880

Getting going is pretty simple. Just hit the “New Loop” button, which sets the 2880 in Record-Ready mode, then tap the record button and let her rip. Once you’ve finished your riff or chord progression, just tap the “Play” button and the 2880 will start looping. It was also be ready for over-dubbing (adding new layers on top of your loop).

You can choose between recording in mono or stereo. The difference is that stereo mode will halve the amount of separate tracks you can record. If you tap the “Stereo Mode” button, you will record onto two tracks at a time. The benefit of this is that you can split your recording and adjust the individual levels and fades to personalize the stereo sound.

Memory

The Electro-Harmonix 2880 uses a Compact Flash Card for memory. It comes with a 1GB card, which is good for 31 minutes of recording time. The unit can take up to a 2GB card, which will give you 62 minutes. That’s over an hour of recording time in itself. The unit can also connect to a computer via USB, which means that, in reality, memory isn’t really an issue with the 2880.

Quantization

The 2880 also includes a “Quantize” feature. Activating it will give you a 4-beat count in, and at the end of the recording it cuts the loop in synch with your other loops. If you press “Play” in the last two beats of a bar, it will end after the bar is up. If you press it in the first two beats, the 2880 will cut your loop back to the end of the previous bar. But, if you’re trying to capture your own special brand of madness or just have immaculate timing, you can keep the Quantize feature off.

Adjusting the Tempo

The “Tempo” slider is the 2880’s time-keeper, unless you’ve got a MIDI clock set up for it to defer to. You can use it to set the tempo of the recording, as well as the unit’s metronome. So, if you record something with it set at normal tempo, you speed it up by pushing the slider up, and slow it down by going the other way. This also changes the pitch in semitone increments up to one octave. This means you can use “Tempo” slider to record your bass part with your guitar!

If you record a guitar part at normal speed, jack it up an octave and then play the bass part along with the playback, when you bring the slider back down, the octave and pace will drop, and you’ll have your bass-line. Also, you can mess around with it during recording to produce some wild effects, or gradually slow down or speed up the loop.

You can also do this with the “Octave” button, but it can only lower the pitch and tempo, and doesn’t work during recording. It seems a little redundant, but if you’re after a quick octave drop, it’s slightly easier than using the slider.

Reverse Playback

You can also play all of your loops in reverse. There are no prizes for guessing which button you press, though. The 2880 is so easy to use that I don’t even need to explain how the reverse feature is operated. The only time you can’t use the button is when you’ve recording a brand new loop.

Mixing Loops with the Electro-Harmonix 2880

The other major feature is “Mix-Down.” This allows you to create a mix of your four loops, working the pedal like a multi-track recorder. This comes in two separate forms, “Normal” and “Constant Tempo.” The difference is that “Constant Tempo” gives you the option of editing the mix using the “Tempo” slider. The “Mix Down” functions of the 2880 obviously suit its layout to a tee. Even if you’ve never used a multi-track before, you’ll have no trouble picking it up. Soon you’ll be adding sporadic bursts of high octane metal into ambient soundscapes for your own amusement, or spending hours perfecting the masterpiece of the day.

In use, the pedal works well. There is no hiss on the signal and no effect on your sound that you don’t tell it to do. The 2880 simply gives you a lot of tools to experiment with to create whatever type of music you want. It’ll be beneficial to your playing, as all loopers are, and it gives you lots of options to tweak your sound. You can sync up to a MIDI clock, so it is suitable for use in the studio. It’s also perfect for use at home, as it allows you to create a library of your own music on your computer.

Using the Electro-Harmonix 2880 Live

The 2880 falls down when it comes to live use, however. You would literally have to sit it in front of you on a chair so you could operate everything correctly, unless you buy the 2880’s Foot Controller. The controller has six pedals. These allow you to start a new loop, record, play, reverse, use the “Octave” function and select a track. Without the additional foot controller, the 2880 could be too hard to operate hands-free. So if that’s what you’re after, be prepared to shell out another hundred dollars for the controller.

Drawbacks

There are just a few gripes with the Electro-Harmonix 2880. For example, you are only allowed to store one loop on the device, even if it’s very short. This seems irrational, because it is a limitation on the memory of the card for no good reason. It prevents you from storing your loops as groups, meaning you have to mix your saved version into the “Mix Down” track.

There also could be more independence for the channels. “Reverse” and “Octave” should be applicable to an individual loop, as opposed to being applied to all loops. It could also do with a mute function for each loop, allowing you to bring in a new part more efficiently.

The 2880 is also missing the vital “Undo/Redo” facility. This means that any mistakes you make can’t be simply taken off without “Punching In” to edit or starting a “New Loop.” This is really only an issue in live recording situations, however.

Conclusion

Overall though, the Electro-Harmonix 2880 does a great job. Its faults are very minor, and have very little weight when compared to its features. The main fault is its difficulty in using it live, but you can always buy the additional foot controller. Where the 2880 really shines is as a home recording tool.

Where to Buy the Electro-Harmonix 2880

• Amazon: 2880 Super Multi-Track Looper

Electro-Harmonix 2880 Video