Backing tracks, loopers, etc for home practice

[Simon Barden]

I bought a Trio+ and I really don't like it. It's quite fiddly to set up and use, and I don't like the sounds it makes or the patterns it picks, everything is generally far too complex or just 'wrong' sounding. I should probably have another go with it, but can't be arsed. And IIRC, you need to set up a pattern before you can use the looper, you can't use the looper on its own.

[dave.king1]

I've been using BIAB since early 2018 and think it's brilliant for building songs.

Roughly 70% of the tracks in the link in my Sig are built in BIAB, we build the backing, load into the DAW, lay down the vocals and then I strip out the guitars & bass to lay down human stuff.

From 2019 onwards BIAB opens as a VST in the DAW of your choice.

BIAB Pro is the most basic version but is more than enough for most, I use the Ultra package.

Note. Realband is not available in the Mac version

[jugglindan]

It's a bit (lot?) more expensive than the Nux unit, but the BeatBuddy gets some good reviews. I have never tried one though. And a cheaper option if you just want some drums without the looper is this Mooer pedal.

I haven't used either though. My only experience is with the Trio, playing stuff off the PC, and for a while I was using a Zoom MRS-8. As well as an 8-track it is also a programmable drum machine with a bunch of built-in rhythms. The pads on bottom left are touch sensitive inputs for the drums. I still have it but it sits in a box. The interface is clunky to use and all recording is to SD card with a very painful method of getting tracks off the thing into a computer. I ended up using it as an excessively complicate metronome.

I would give the thing away if someone wanted to cover the postage cost.

[McCreed]

Sorry, a bit off topic but...

I used to have the MRS-4. It was good for what it was back 14 years ago, but it was a pain transferring files & formats.

I now have the Zoom R8 which is much better and it will transfer straight to my laptop and also has an interface.
I know there are heaps better set ups and gear, but I'm pretty crap as an engineer. It suits my needs well enough.
Use the R8 as a capture device and mix with Audacity on the LT. It has very good drum patterns and sounds which is a bonus.