Sometimes the riffs are so good you've just got to hear them again! And sometimes, if you're playing a solo act, you need to be multiple musicians at once. It's times like these when looper effects pedals come in handy. Loopers are basically miniature recorders that can play back a sample again and again on demand - hence the name. They're a staple for musicians who include looping parts in their songs, or for rehearsals to play back that time you absolutely nailed your big solo so you can prepare yourself to do it again, live, when you hit the stage. A looper effects pedal is a powerful tool in the hands of a creative musician, so it's never too early to start planning how you can use one to your advantage.
There are plenty of loopers to choose from, so you can easily find a model that provides exactly the set of features you're looking for. Take the Digitech JamMan Express XT Looper for instance: it packs a lot of sophistication into its small chassis, with a true-bypass design and support for up to 10 minutes of looping in stereo. Its status LEDs are easy to see, and best of all, this looper includes a "Silent Clear" feature that mutes playback the moment you press to clear the loop - no more turning down the volume while you wait for it to clear.
Are you thinking, maybe, that just one looper effects pedal isn't enough? If so, you'll be happy to know that some of the leading pedal builders have been thinking the same thing. For loop-crazy musicians like you, they've created units like the Boss RC-300 Loop Station. Designed to cater to the phenomenon of "loop mania," as Boss calls it, this multiple looper supports three stereo tracks with automatic synchronization, plus an expression pedal to give you even more control over the performance of your guitar, bass, keyboard, or whatever instrument you care to plug into it - even a microphone, if you want some vocal loops in the mix.
From simple and straightforward record-and-play loopers to ultra-high-tech models that synchronize with companion equipment and allow you to loop sound samples stored on internal memory, the family of looper effects pedals definitely has a lot to offer. They're must-have equipment for solo performers and common sights on band pedalboards, too. In a nutshell, the results you get from looper effects pedals depend on the effort you put into them - literally!