How To Update Ditto X4 Firmware

December 11, 2017

Pedalurgy: All the Ditto X4 looper pedal tricks.

To keep things practical, these tricks cover all the things y'all tin practise with your TC Electronic Ditto X4 looper without having to connect it to a computer or a MIDI output.

A few things to note:

• This article also assumes yous know the basics of how to use your Ditto X4 looper.
• Terminology: A loop is made from layers. Tap and film are a quick press and release of the switch. Hold generally means to concur until the activity happens.
• With FX, you can play dorsum both loops in reverse, at double pitch or half pitch. This commodity covers the more advanced technique of recording an private loop layer in opposite or at a unlike pitch. Information technology'south a footling more complicated to do, merely it gives you much more flexibility for mixing pitches and directions in loops.
• Unless noted, all effects are done with the iv DIP switches on the dorsum of your Ditto X4 in the default downwards position.
• Make certain you're updated to the latest Ditto X4 firmware.
• The Ditto X4 is designed for guitar, but these techniques work with most instruments and vocals.

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Alphabetize.

• Seamless loops
• Record different length loops
• Hide a loop layer
• Stack effects
• Fade-in loops
• Stutter on beat
• Create bass
• Create high harmonies
• Transpose
• Record in contrary
• Backwards vocals
• Tape fast-forward effect
• Marching beat
• Handclaps
• Frippertronics
• Tape echo
• Double delay
• Instant reverse delay
• Wow echo
• Keeping a constant rhythm as layers decay
• Stereo from mono
• four-track recorder
• Record your performance
• Tips

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How to create seamless loops.

When you begin a recording cold at that place are no dying notes or reverb and ambient tails at the outset. This can make an precipitous seam when the loop recycles. The method below smoothes out expressionless spots at the starting time and ends:

• On your instrument, play the passage 3 times and record just the middle passage.

The loops on the Ditto X4 have a two-millisecond overlap where the terminate of the loop fades out and the start of the loop fades in. This is designed to seamlessly play back a loop when recorded correctly.

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How to record different length loops.

1 of the best features of the Ditto X4 is that Loop i and Loop 2 tin can be perfectly synced, simply different lengths. In the Sync mode, The start layer of Loop i volition fix the timing to say, four seconds. The first layer of Loop two will and then be four seconds (or a multiple of that) and then viii, 12, 16, 20 seconds, etc. This gives you the ability to gear up a brusk rhythm pattern on Loop 1 and use Loop 2 for longer loops or total songs.

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How to hide the last layer with undo and redo.

You lot can disengage and redo the concluding layer of both loops by briefly holding the footswitch during playback. This is keen for catching your flubs, merely also lets you lot utilize undo to store the terminal recorded layer in digital limbo and call it back upwards later in the vocal by briefly holding the footswitch during playback.

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How to stack effects.

You tin can utilise multiple effects at once on the Ditto X4.

• Play a loop and tap the FX footswitch to engage the first event.
• Turn the FX knob to another effect.
• Tap the FX pes-switch once more to appoint the second issue.

Y'all tin undo each effect by tapping the FX footswitch when the FX knob is in that position. The quickest style to remove all effects is to tap the Stop footswitch to stop playback and concord the FX footswitch for ii seconds.

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How to fade-in loops.

The Fade upshot can fade in the loops only like it fades them out:

• Set FX knob to Fade.
• Play the loop and tap the FX footswitch. The loop will fade out and the LED above the FX footswitch volition flicker quickly.
• Tap the FX footswitch and a loop that's playing volition fade in.

The fade-in of a pad or rhythm loop tin be useful for building intensity. Note that the fade affects both loops and the Backing Track so you can't fade these individually.

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How to stutter on shell.

The Concord effect stutters a small-scale section of the loops that are playing. When in the Hold mode, the FX pes-switch also acts as a tap-tempo control to set the length of the stutter. Tap the FX footswitch to the rhythm of the loop a few times. Now during playback when y'all agree the FX pes-switch to stutter, it will repeat in rhythm with the loops. Note that the Hold outcome suspends the loop during the stutter and takes up where it left off when you release the footswitch.

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How to create bass.

It's the contrary of what it seems, but when you tape while playing back existing loops with the Double consequence, your last loop will be an octave lower on normal playback. Note that you'll need to play twice as fast and your timing will only be half as accurate when recording at double speed. Besides, recording at different speeds can only be washed on the 2nd loop layer or afterwards.

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How to create loftier harmonies.

Information technology's the opposite of what it seems, simply when y'all record while playing back existing loops with the Half issue, your last loop will be an octave college on normal playback. You have twice the space to play in when recording at half speed, but don't play excessively. Verbose, sped-up passages tin can get annoying quickly. Sped-up parts also sound best when recorded at a slightly lower volume. Note that recording at different speeds can only exist done on the second loop layer or after.

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How to transpose.

The ii opposite effects below audio best when you transpose the tune, timing and words to learn to play or sing them backwards.

• Tape the passage you want to transpose as a loop.
• Set the FX knob to Reverse and tap the FX footswitch.
• Tab out the notes, timing or vocals equally you hear them.

This mode when reversed, the effects will come out more harmonious.

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How to record in reverse.

To get the tune to come out right for the backwards effect, y'all need to literally play the tune backward while recording with the Reverse issue engaged. And then on normal playback, your last layer will audio reversed with the tune normal.

• Follow the steps above for transposing.
• Turn the FX knob to Reverse and tap the FX footswitch.
• When you tape, play the transposed tune over the reversed existing loops.

On normal playback, only the last layer volition be reversed. Notation that recording in reverse tin only be done on the second loop layer or later.

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How to create backwards vocals.

This eerie event was used past Radiohead on Like Spinning Plates and John Lennon's chant of "Paul is a dead man, miss him, miss him, miss him" at the stop of I'm And so Tired. The cool thing is that this effect can be done alive with the Ditto X4. Substantially you record the song loop in what sounds like gibberish, merely on playback it volition come out as bizarrely-affected English:

• Follow the steps above for transposing.
• Turn the FX knob to Reverse and tap the FX footswitch.
• Record the transposed lyrics with some elementary accessory.

When you tap the Loop 1 foot-switch to stop recording, the loop volition immediately play backwards. This can be a dazzling outcome with you sing gibberish and it'southward immediately repeated equally this creepy (but intelligible) passage with the accompaniment playing in reverse. The minimal accompaniment of a shaker or unproblematic chords helps to give the effect a sharper contrast and more haunting quality. This has it'due south strongest stage bear upon if the passage is short, like a vocal prelude. Merely it tin as well be used to record the chorus of a song.

Every bit a variation, this effect can be fifty-fifty more impressive if you tape three harmony layers backwards before playing them dorsum in reverse.

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Tape fast-forwarding effect.

While recording a loop, if you engage the Tape Stop outcome with the FX footswitch, the slowdown gets recorded. When the loop plays, the Tape Stop effect will sound similar a tape recorder being fast forwarded. Note that this effect just works on the second layer of a loop or later.

Hear it

Dorsum to alphabetize.

How to create a marching shell.

This simulates 100 people marching. It uses uncomplicated chunking (mute the strings with the fret hand while strumming.)

• Prepare the Disuse knob to 3pm.
• Tap Loop ane to lay down your showtime layer and slowly chunk up and down.
• Set FX knob to Double and tap the FX human foot-switch. The speed with be twice as fast.
• Record multiple layers chunking in rhythm to the original loop.
• Tap the FX footswitch to return to normal speed.
• Return Decay knob to 5p.

The higher-pitched commencement layer volition fade out and the lower-pitched subsequent layers will be at varying book levels, giving depth. For more variance in the tone of the stomps, identify your muting hand at diverse spots on the strings as you chunk.

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How to create "handclaps."

This simulates a mitt-clapping choir. It uses simple chunking (mute the strings with the fret paw while strumming.)

• Ready the Decay knob to 3pm
• Tap Loop 1 to lay down your start layer and chunk out the rhythm.
• Set FX knob to One-half and tap the FX footswitch. The speed with exist one-half as fast.
• Tape multiple layers chunking in rhythm to the original loop.
• Tap the FX foot-switch to return to normal speed.
• Return Disuse knob to 5p.

The lower-pitched first layer volition fade out and the higher-pitched subsequent layers volition be at varying book levels, giving depth. For more than variance in the tone of the claps, place your muting hand at diverse spots on the strings. This effect sounds best with a long and present reverb.

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How to practice Frippertronics.

Duplicate Robert Fripp'south technique that's the cornerstone of ambience music. This substantially creates a high-feedback, four-second delay akin to early, two-tape-auto Frippertronics:

• Gear up the Decay knob to about 2p. This will gradually fade before loops.
• Without playing anything, tap the Loop i footswitch to record four seconds of silence and tap the Loop 1 footswitch once more to end. This sets the loop timing.
• Tap the Loop 1 footswitch to record.

Sounds will proceed to layer with early layers slowly fading out until you end the loop.

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How to create tape echo.

With this trick, the loop length determines the delay time and Decay knob determines the amount of feedback. Arrange recipe to your liking:

• Set the Decay knob to about 4p.
• Without playing annihilation, triple tap the Loop ane pes-switch to record a snippet of silence.
• Tap the Loop one footswitch to record with repeat.

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How to create an ambient double delay.

This trick uses both loops to create two echo chambers with dissimilar lengths. You feed the echo chambers separately past tapping the Loop one or Loop two footswitch.

• Set style to Sync.
• Set the Disuse knob to about 4p.
• Without playing annihilation, triple tap the Loop 1 footswitch to record a snippet of silence.
• Play Loop 1.
• Without playing anything, triple tap the Loop 2 footswitch to tape a slightly longer snippet of silence.
• With both loops playing, tap either the Loop 1 or Loop 2 footswitch to start recording. Tap the other to shift recording to that loop.

A variation is to ready Dip Switch 3 on the back of the Ditto X4 to the up position before you outset. This puts the echoes out of sync.

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How to create an instant-reverse filibuster.

This works best flor reversing 1 or 2 bar-long solos. The delay gets reversed every time you tap the FX footswitch.

• Set the Disuse knob to nigh noon.
• Set the FX knob to Reverse.
• Without playing anything, tap the Loop 1 footswitch to record i-2 bars of of silence.
• Tap the Loop 1 footswitch once again to record with echo.

Starting time playing and you go a prissy long delay. Every time you lot tap the FX footswitch on or off it plays in reverse until you tap again.

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How to create a wow echo.

This combines the Tape Echo trick with the Tape Stop event. Each time you stop and start the effect, yous become echoes of pitch dying and reviving:

• Set the Decay knob at 3p.
• Without playing anything, triple tap the Loop 1 foot switch to record a snippet of silence and start recording over meridian of information technology.
• Set the FX knob to Tape Stop
• While playing, tap the FX foot switch in one case to cease and a second later, tap once again to start.

The result is greatest when yous keep playing and quickly offset the issue once more earlier it'due south completely stopped. In one case y'all've recorded the initial snippet and starting time recording once more overtop, you lot tin add the Double upshot to halve the length of the delay for a more pronounced effect. In that location volition be a few beats at double pitch earlier the loop returns to normal speed.

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How to keep a abiding rhythm while new layers decay.

The ability to control the decay of your loops on the Ditto X4 is useful for evolving your performances, simply sometimes you desire a constant (like a rhythm loop or harmony pad) that'south non affected by the decay. This is uncomplicated to exercise by creating a Bankroll Track, which is stored in a divide memory from the loop and isn't afflicted past the Disuse function like the loops are:

• Tape your rhythm loop or harmony pad on Loop 1.
• Movie the Shop switch for Loop one up to convert the loop to a Bankroll Track. The LED volition flicker while storing.
• Prepare the Decay knob to between 12n and 3p.

The looper will now automatically set the length of your new Loop 1 to the Backing Rail and Loop 2 to a multiple of that. The loops will fade over time, while the Bankroll Runway maintains a constant volume. To delete the Backing Runway, hold the Shop switch for Loop ane upwardly.

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How to create a stereo performance from mono.

If looping the mono output of your pedalboard, you can record into each channel of the Ditto X4 individually in a different layer by switching your input plug from the Mono Input to the Stereo Input channel. On stereo playback (must have both Output jacks continued) yous'll have discreet sounds in each aqueduct. This can be use for recording a left-and-right harmonies, doubling guitars or dividing stereo-recorded tracks into mono in your DAW. To exercise this easily live, use an A/B switcher like the JHS Mini A/B just before the Ditto X4 in the pedalchain to quickly alter the channel the audio is assigned to.

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How to utilise Ditto X4 as a 4-track recorder.

Y'all tin can utilise the Ditto X4 as a archaic 4-rails recorder with no looping involved. I'll note up front that this isn't the ideal apply if the X4, merely it does work for creating songs up to six minutes in length. To mixdown directly from the Ditto X4, you'll need to connect the output(south) to a mono or stereo recorder. Make sure your Ditto X4 is in Sync mode before you begin recording.

1. Record Rail ane and Track 2 on Loop 1 and Loop 2 . You're not looping, so you can do count-offs and let notes die at the finish of the song. It's best to make the loops the same length.
2. Make Loop one and Loop 2 Backing Tracks . Motion-picture show up on the Store switch associated with each loop. This erases them from the loopers. Whatever new loops created will exist the same length as the Backing Tracks. (To adjust the volume of a Backing Track, turn the associated loop book knob while property down the Shop switch.) Notation that the Loop 1 or Loop two volume knobs now becomes the chief volume for both the loop and the Backing Track assigned to that looper.
3. Record Track three and Rail iv on Loop 1 and Loop 2 .

• Tap both looper footswitches at the same time to commencement playback.
• Tap Loop ane to record Rail 3 . Employ the Stop footswitch to end.
• Tap both looper footswitches at the same time to start playback.
• Tap Loop 2 to tape Rails iv . Utilise the Cease human foot-switch to end.

Mixdown. Again not ideal, simply you lot can mix down the four tracks to a mono or stereo recorder plugged into the output jacks:

• Remove annihilation plugged into the input jacks for cleanest mixdown.
• Set up your loop and Bankroll Track levels to where you similar them.
• Start your recorder.
• Playback both loops simultaneously.

Exporting tracks to DAW. You lot'll get much more control over mixdown by mixing the iv private tracks in a DAW. Just getting the private tracks out of your Ditto X4 is cumbersome:

• Connect your Ditto X4 to your desktop past USB. Information technology will show as a drive.
• Re-create the .AIFF or the .WAV files in the TRACK1 and TRACK2 folder.
• Change the file names to something more appropriate.
• Disconnect the drive.
• On the Ditto X4, erase the Bankroll Tracks by holding upwardly the Store switch upwardly for a few seconds.
• Make Track iii and Track four Backing Tracks by flicking up on the Store switches.
• Connect your Ditto X4 to your desktop by USB again.
• Re-create the .AIFF or the .WAV files in the TRACK1 and TRACK2 folder.
• Alter the file names to something more appropriate.

(I did say it was cumbersome.)

You now have four discreet mono or stereo tracks to work with in your DAW. I find it somewhat easier to export by recording the individual tracks with the TC Electronic WireTap Riff Recorder mentioned below.

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How to tape your performance.

You can export both loops from your Ditto X4 via USB to your desktop, but this limits you to the raw loops and won't capture performance, effects and layers hidden with the undo fob. The easiest style to record your live-looping performance (consummate with furnishings and mixes) is to stick a TC Electronic WireTap Riff Recorder pedal betwixt your Ditto X4 and your amp. This tiny pedal is can capture an hours-long performance with the tap of a pes-switch in 24-bit mono. You can also use the WireTap to tape the individual loops (both with and without the undone layers) and Backing Tracks created on the looper. This gives you upward to six tracks to work with in your DAW instead of ii.

You can also utilise this technique to record private instrument parts of a song by playing the basic rhythm on Loop 1 and recording upward to 6 minutes or parts on Loop 2.

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A few more quick tips:

• Default position for the Decay knob is 5p. Otherwise your existing layers will fade with each new layer recorded.
• With each layer, y'all add more hiss and hum from your effect chain. For cleaner loops, put a noise gate (such every bit the MXR SmartGate) simply before the Ditto X4.
• To get rhythm right, use a metronome (not in the mix) when recording the first layer and tap your foot throughout.
• Substantially you're your own recording engineer, then mix as yous become. Playing a petty more gently or backing off your axe volume when needed will help the most of import layers stand up out as opposed to getting lost in the mix.
• When recording vocals, use headphones and kill all speakers and amps.
• At double and half speed your effects change speeds too. So to double speed your phaser will motion twice as fast. At half speed the "room" of a spring reverb will sound twice a big and you'll exist able to hear the individual reflections.

If you have Ditto X4 tips, share them on my Twitter.

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About the TC Electronic'south Ditto X4. 5 years ago, TC Electronic's original Ditto looper popularized looping with its intuitive, 1-footswitch interface on a loftier-quality, 24-bit looper with five minutes of loop time. (It's nonetheless a height-ten-selling pedal today.) The Ditto X4 maintains that dead-simple, one-footswitch performance for recording, looping and playback, while calculation stereo, a 2nd loop and ability to play backing tracks and eight furnishings. It essentially makes this looper its own instrument for both live functioning and recording.

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