TC Helicon Ditto Mic Looper QSG EN

MP-75

Ditto Mic Looper

English Manual

Important safety instructions 1 Inputs, outputs, contro
EMC/EMI 1. Power input
Explanation of graphic symbols
About this manual 2 2. MIC jack – Micropho
Introduction 3. OUT jack – Audio ou
Setup
2 4. LOOP footswitch
5. STOP footswitch

3 6. LOOP LEVEL contro
7. USB port

3
Creating loops

4

Ditto Mic Looper English Manual – 2014-11-17

ols 8 Frequently asked questions 11
one input 8 11
utput 8 Footswitch LED state reference 11
8 12
ol knob 8 Updating the firmware 12
8
8 Technical specifications
8

Getting support
9

Product Ditto Mic Looper
Product (firmware) version 1.0
Document English Manual
Document version / date 2014-11-17

a

13. Unplug this appa
storms or when unu
Important safety instructions time.

1. Read these instructions. 14. Refer all servicing t
2. Keep these instructions. sonnel. Servicing is
3. Heed all warnings. paratus has been
4. Follow all instructions. such as power-supp
5. Do not use this apparatus near water. aged, liquid has b
6. Clean only with a dry cloth. have fallen into the
7. Do not block any ventilation openings. In- tus has been expo
does not operate
stall in accordance with the manufacturer’s dropped.
instructions.
8. Do not install near any heat sources such Caution
as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other
apparatus (including amplifiers) that pro- You are cautioned that
duce heat. cations not expressly a
9. Do not defeat the safety purpose of the po- could void your authorit
larized or grounding-type plug. A polarized ment.
plug has two blades with one wider than
the other. A grounding-type plug has two Service
blades and a third grounding prong. The
wide blade or the third prong is provided for ►►All service must be
your safety. If the provided plug does not fit personnel.
into your outlet, consult an electrician for
replacement of the obsolete outlet. Warning
10. Protect the power cord from being walked
on or pinched, particularly at plugs, con- ►►To reduce the risk of f
venience receptacles, and the point where not expose this appar
they exit from the apparatus. and objects filled with
11. Only use attachments/accessories speci- should not be placed
fied by the manufacturer.
12. Use only with a cart, stand, tripod, ►►Do not install this dev
bracket, or table specified by the
manufacturer, or sold with the ap-
paratus. When a cart is used, use
caution when moving the cart/apparatus
combination to avoid injury from tip-over.

Ditto Mic Looper English Manual – 2014-11-17

aratus during lightning Important safety instructions
used for long periods of 1

to qualified service per-
s required when the ap-

damaged in any way,
ply cord or plug is dam-
been spilled or objects
e apparatus, the appara-
osed to rain or moisture,
normally, or has been

any change or modifi-
approved in this manual
ty to operate this equip-

performed by qualified

fire or electric shock, do
ratus to rain or moisture
h liquids, such as vases,
on this apparatus.
vice in a confined space.

For customers in

EMC/EMI This Class B digital appa
nadian ICES-003.
Electromagnetic compatibility/
Electromagnetic interference Cet appareil numériqu
conforme à la norme NM
This equipment has been tested and found to
comply with the limits for a Class B digital de-
vice, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC rules.

These limits are designed to provide reasonable
protection against harmful interference in resi-
dential installations. This equipment generates,
uses and can radiate radio frequency energy
and, if not installed and used in accordance with
the instructions, may cause harmful interference
to radio communications. However, there is no
guarantee that interference will not occur in a
particular installation.

If this equipment does cause harmful interfer-
ence to radio or television reception, which can
be determined by turning the equipment off and
on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the
interference by one or more of the following
measures:

►►Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
►►Increase the separation between the equip-

ment and receiver.
►►Connect the equipment into an outlet on a cir-

cuit different from that to which the receiver is
connected.
►►Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV
technician for help.

Ditto Mic Looper English Manual – 2014-11-17

Canada Explanation of graphic symbols

aratus complies with Ca- Explanation of
graphic symbols
e de la classe B est
MB-003 du Canada. The lightning bolt triangle is used to
alert the user to the presence of unin-
sulated “dangerous voltages” within
the unit’s chassis that may be of suffi-
cient magnitude to constitute a risk of
electric shock to humans.

The exclamation point triangle is used
to alert the user to presence of impor-
tant operating and service instructions
in the literature accompanying the
product.

2

About this manual Introduction

This manual will teach you everything you need Thank you for purchasin
to know to make great loops with your new Ditto
Mic Looper. We’re super excited to b
a simple and powerful lo
This manual is only available as a PDF download
from the TC-Helicon website. If you can mic it, you can
and record anything and
Of course, you can print this manual, but we en- and everything… anythin
courage you to use the PDF version, which has
both internal and external hyperlinks. For exam- Thanks,
ple, clicking the TC-Helicon logo in the upper left
corner of each page will take you to the table of The TC-Helicon Team
contents.

To get the most from this manual, please read it
from start to finish, or you may miss important
information.

To download the most current version of this
manual, visit

tc-helicon.com/products/
ditto-mic-looper/support/

Enjoy your TC-Helicon product.

Ditto Mic Looper English Manual – 2014-11-17

Introduction

ng Ditto Mic Looper. Features

be able to bring you such ►►Automatic mic gain
ooping pedal. ►►Five minutes of looping time
►►Unlimited overdubs
n loop it. So get out there ►►Overdub undo/redo
d everything… anything ►►24 bit uncompressed high quality audio
ng and everything… ►►Save loops over power cycles

3

Setup Let’s get loopin’!

Ready… If you are in a hurry, chan

The Ditto Mic Looper box should contain the fol- you’re looking for in this
lowing items:
Operation
►►1 Ditto Mic Looper pedal
►►1 12 V / 400 mA power supply unit Power up Ditto Conn
►►1 “Quick Start Guide” sheet Mic Looper suppl

Inspect all items for signs of transit damage. In Record Tap th
the unlikely event of transit damage, inform the once.
carrier and supplier.
Switch to Tap th
If damage has occurred, keep all packaging as it playback again
can be used as evidence of excessive handling
force. Undo/Redo last Press
recording switch
Set…
Stop Tap th
►►Connect the power supply to Ditto Mic Loop-
er. Clear the loop Hold

►►Plug the power supply into a power outlet. Resume playback Tap th
►►Connect your microphone to the MIC input again

jack on the rear of the pedal using an XLR Mic Control
cable.
►►Connect the OUT jack on the rear of the pedal You can control Ditt
to your PA using an XLR cable. T­ C-Helicon’s Mic Cont
►►For more complex setups, see “Setup exam- connect a ­TC-Helicon
ples”. e 835fx microphone to D

Ditto Mic Looper English Manual – 2014-11-17 ►►To enable Mic Contr
LOOP footswitch whil
You should see the LE
to indicate the feature

►►To turn Mic Control of

Setup

nces are you’ll find what If you use a condenser mic and the unit seems to
overview. “do stuff on its own”, go through the Mic Control
process to ensure Mic Control is off. Mic Control
nect the included power should only be enabled if you are using a micro-
ly. phone supporting Mic Control.
he LOOP footswitch
. Mic Control features
he LOOP footswitch
n. Record / Play / Press the microphone button.
s and hold the LOOP foot- Overdub
h for 1.5 seconds. Stop Double-press the microphone
he STOP footswitch. button.
the STOP footswitch. Undo (during Press and hold the microphone
he LOOP footswitch playback) button while playing.
n. Undo (while Press and hold the micro-
stopped) phone button while playback is
to Mic Looper using stopped. Please note that audio
trol technology! Simply Stop and erase will be played back briefly before
the loop the last take is undone.
MP-75 or Sennheiser Erase Double-press and hold the mi-
Ditto Mic Looper. crophone button while playing.
Double-press and hold the mi-
rol, press and hold the crophone button while playback
le powering up the unit. is stopped. Please note that au-
ED blink a couple of times dio will be played back briefly
e has been activated. before the loop is erased. If you
ff, repeat the process. need to erase the loop silently,
use Ditto Mic Looper’s STOP
footswitch.

4

Setup examples Setup example 1:
Basic looping – no

MP-75 Basic looping

Ditto Mic Looper English Manual – 2014-11-17

o effects Setup

This is the most basic setup: your microphone,
Ditto Mic Looper and your PA.

g – no effects

5

Setup example 2: Place your vocal effect
Vocal effects before Looper. This will allow y
Ditto Mic Looper different sounds within th
simply by switching your

MP-75

Vocal effects befor

Ditto Mic Looper English Manual – 2014-11-17

Setup

pedals before Ditto Mic
you to create and record
he same looping session
r effects on and off.

re Ditto Mic Looper

6

Setup example 3: Place your vocal effect
Vocal effects after Looper. This will allow yo
Ditto Mic Looper and dynamically apply vo

MP-75

Vocal effects after

Ditto Mic Looper English Manual – 2014-11-17

Setup

t pedals after Ditto Mic
ou to record “dry” loops
vocal effects in real time.

r Ditto Mic Looper

7

1. Power input

Inputs, outputs, controls Connect the included po
Looper here.
231
2. MIC jack – Mic
6
7 This pedal has a standa
put. If you are not using
54 nect your microphone h
see “Setup examples”.

3. OUT jack – Au

This pedal has a standa
the OUT jack to your PA
necessary (most of the t
mixer channel trim for th
ing to your mixer’s instru
see “Setup examples”.

4. LOOP footswit

Use this footswitch to
functions of the pedal (r
redo). See “Creating loop

Ditto Mic Looper English Manual – 2014-11-17

ower supply to Ditto Mic Inputs, outputs, controls

5. STOP footswitch

Use this footswitch to stop loop playback or to
clear the loop.

crophone input 6. LOOP LEVEL control knob

ard XLR microphone in- Use the Loop level control knob to control the
g any vocal effects, con- level of your loops.
here. For other setups,
This control knob attenuates the signal – i.e., it
udio output turns the level down. If you turn the knob fully
to the right, the loop will be played back at the
ard XLR output. Connect same level it was recorded.
A using an XLR cable. If
time it’s not), adjust your 7. USB port
he correct level accord-
uctions. For other setups, Use the USB port to connect Ditto Mic Looper
to a computer to update the device’s firmware.
tch If firmware updates are released, you will find
them at
control all loop-related
record, playback, undo/ tc-helicon.com/products/
ps”. ditto-mic-looper/support/

For more information, see “Updating the firm-
ware”.

8

Overdubbing

Creating loops When you’re happy with
can start overdubbing.
Recording your first loop
To record another take
Important: On the following pages, operation LOOP footswitch again w
is described based on the default operation playing back. The LOOP
mode of Ditto Mic Looper (Record loop > Play- red, indicating you’re in R
back > Record overdubs). You can also use an
alternative operation mode. See “Setting opera- When you’re done, pres
tion mode”. once more to quit Recor

To start recording, press the LOOP footswitch Ditto Mic Looper will re
once. The LED will light up in red, indicating Ditto the original recording an
Mic Looper is in Record mode.
Please note that the l
At the end of the loop (for example, after eight never increase when o
bars), press the LOOP footswitch again. continue recording, you
tional overdubs. You ca
The LED will turn green, and Ditto Mic Looper dubs as you like – there
will repeat the loop continuously. The LED will
blink every time Ditto Mic Looper reaches the Undo (clearing the
starting point of the loop.
To undo the last take yo
Your loop can be up to five minutes long. it), simply press and ho
for 1.5 seconds or longe
Setting loop playback volume take both during playbac
stopped.
To change the playback volume of the loop you
just recorded, adjust the LOOP LEVEL knob. The LED will blink twice i
the last take will be cleare
The LOOP LEVEL knob only controls loop play- recorded takes will stay
back level – it has no influence on the signal from
your microphone.

Ditto Mic Looper English Manual – 2014-11-17

Creating loops

h your original loop, you Redo (restoring a previously
cleared take)
e (overdub), press the
while the original loop is If you have cleared (removed) the last take us-
P footswitch LED will turn ing Undo and you have changed your mind, you
Record mode again. can restore that take. To do so, simply press and
hold the LOOP footswitch for 1.5 seconds or lon-
ss the LOOP footswitch ger during playback.
rd mode.
The LED will blink twice in rapid succession, and
peat the loop with both the previously deleted take will be restored.
nd the overdub.
Using Undo/Redo creatively
length of the loop will
overdubbing. When you Undoing and redoing overdubs can be used
for more than just correcting mistakes. You can
will simply create addi- make your performance more interesting by re-
an record as many over- moving and bringing back sections. Here is a
simple example:
is no limit.
►►Sing a bass line (loop cycle 1).
e last take) ►►Use a Harmony pedal (for example TC-Heli-

ou recorded (i.e., remove con Harmony Singer) to create harmonies and
old the LOOP footswitch record these (loop cycle 2).
er. You can undo the last ►►Record a melody (loop cycle 3).
ck and when playback is ►►Press and hold the LOOP footswitch to clear
the last take, i.e., remove the melody. Impro-
in rapid succession, and vise or record something else.
ed (removed). Previously ►►Press and hold the LOOP footswitch again to
intact. bring back the previously cleared melody.

9

Stopping loop playb
recording and dele
Stopping loop playback/recording
To stop loop playback/re
To stop recording, press the LOOP footswitch erything you have record
once. STOP footswitch.

To stop loop playback, press the STOP foot- Please note that it takes
switch. loop is actually deleted.

The LED will start flashing in green to indicate The LED will turn off to in
that your loop is still in memory and ready for been deleted. At this poi
playback. ing loops from scratch a

Other than clearing th
can be undone), deleti
scribed in this section

Ditto Mic Looper English Manual – 2014-11-17

back/ Creating loops
eting the loop
Setting operation mode
ecording and delete ev-
ded, press and hold the (“Record loop > Playback > Record” overdubs
versus “Record loop > Record overdubs > Play”)
s three seconds until the
Looping means creating music in real-time. This
ndicate that the loop has process should be fun and intuitive. But one
int, you can start record- guy’s “intuitive” is another guy’s “weird”. This is
again. why we give you the opportunity to choose your
preferred method.
he last overdub (which
ing the full loop as de- Some musicians prefer this workflow:
cannot be undone!
1. Press a footswitch to start recording.
2. Press it again to switch to playback.
3. Press it a third time to create additional takes

(overdubs).
This is Ditto Mic Looper’s default mode.

Other people prefer this method:

1. Press a footswitch to start recording.
2. Press it again to switch from recording your

original loop to creating additional takes (over-
dubs) right away.
3. Press it a third time to go to playback.

With Ditto Mic Looper, you can choose your pre-
ferred method.

To switch to the alternative operation mode (“Re-
cord loop > Record overdubs > Play”), do this:

►►Power up Ditto Mic Looper while holding both
switches. Repeat the process to return to the
other mode.

10

Footswitch L
state referen
Frequently asked questions
Use this section as a refe
“Where should I place Ditto Mic sure what the current LE
Looper in my signal chain?”
LOOP footswitch LED…
To get the most out of your setup and the loops
you’re recording, place Ditto Mic Looper at the Off Device
end of your signal chain. This gives you the flex-
ibility to add parts with or without signal pro- loop in
cessing by simply switching effects on and off
as required. For more information, see “Setup Blinking green Loop
examples”.
record
“How much loop time can I get
out of Ditto Mic Looper ?” Green Loop

Ditto Mic Looper provides five minutes of loop- shortl
ing time.
reache
“What’s the maximum number
of overdubs that I can record?” Red Loop

Our guess is that you will tire out before Ditto Mic Blinking red Loop
Looper does. Ditto Mic Looper allows an unlim-
ited number of overdubs – so do your worst!

“I made a mistake – how
do I undo a part?”

Press and hold the LOOP footswitch on Ditto
Mic Looper while it is playing back your recorded
loop. The last part you recorded will be removed.

Ditto Mic Looper English Manual – 2014-11-17

LED Updating the firmware

nce Updating the firmware

erence when you are not TC-Helicon may provide updates for the built-in
ED status means. software of your pedal, the firmware. Updating
your TC-Helicon pedal’s firmware requires…
… ►►a computer running Microsoft Windows or
e disconnected or no
n memory OS X with a standard USB interface
in memory, playback/ ►►the DC power supply that came with the ped-
ding stopped
running (LED will blink al.
ly when LOOP end is
ed) Preparing the firmware update
recording
currently being erased 1. Download the newest firmware from

tc-helicon.com/products/
ditto-mic-looper/support/

There are updaters…
– for Microsoft Windows (these are ZIP ar-

chives containing the firmware installer)
and
– for OS X (these are disk image files con-
taining the firmware installer).
2. Unplug all cables (including the power sup-
ply) from your Ditto Mic Looper.
3. Connect the pedal to your computer using a
USB cable.
4. Hold down the LOOP footswitch.
5. Connect the power supply.
The LED will light solid green.
6. Release the footswitch.
Ditto Mic Looper will now be recognized as
an updatable device.

11

Technical spe

Applying the firmware update ►►Maximum loop length
►►Maximum number of o
7. Quit all MIDI-related applications (e.g. your ►►Dimensions (Width x d
DAW) on your computer and launch the firm-
ware updater you have downloaded in step 1. 135 mm x 113 mm x 5
5.31” x 4.44” x 2.13
8. In the firmware updater app, select “Ditto ►►Weight: 512 g / 1.13 lb
Boot” from the drop-down list under the ►►Input connector: XLR
“STEP 1” heading. ►►Output connector: XLR
►►Power input: 12 V DC,
If you are using Windows XP, select “USB Au- ►►USB connector type:
dio Device” from the list. ►►Controls:
►►Loop level knob
9. When the “Update” button under the “STEP 2” ►►Loop footswitch
heading turns green, click it. ►►Stop footswitch

The updated firmware will now be transferred Due to continuous dev
to Ditto Mic Looper. Wait for the progress bar fications are subject to
to reach 100%. When the update procedure is tice.
complete, the pedal will automatically restart.

Ditto Mic Looper English Manual – 2014-11-17

ecifications Getting support

h: 5 minutes Getting support
overdubs: Unlimited
depth x height): If you still have questions about the product after
54 mm / reading this manual and the FAQ page, please
get in touch with TC-Helicon Support:
bs.
http://tc-helicon.com/support/
R
, center negative
Mini-B USB

velopment, these speci-
o change without no-

12

 

Ditto Mic Looper English Manual – 2014-11-17

13