Home Forums Help/Technical Questions Serious Problems with 2880 Multi Track Looper

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  • #79905
    dotcom
    Member

    Hello,

    i recently bought the 2880 (with foot-controller) at thomann and it seems like the perfect device for me…on the one hand i play guitars with a drummer and want to use the looper to “pimp” our soundscape. On the other hand I’m into electronic music (full digital music) and use the 2880 as a MIDI-slave…so basically i need all features of this product!…but i’m having serious trouble with the 2880…it is the 3rd (!!!) I’m trying!

    1)
    the first problem is, that my macbook (Mac OS 10.6) and 4 other PCs with different OSs don’t recognize the Card inside of the 2880 via USB (if i use an external card reader, no problem)…though it should be an automatic detect referring to the manual. i traded the device at thomann but the second one had the same problem with usb…the third one finally functioned!…ok, problem solved, i thought…

    2)
    with my band i discovered, that the 2880 is definitely not suitable for live action…sometimes (relatively often) the buttons of the foot switch as well as the buttons on the 2880 itself don’t respond…the loop continues playing, but i cant stop the recording process nor the playback, nor track change! also the 2880 often “crashes” when using octave- or reverse-buttons in playback mode! Only turning of the power or multiple pressing of the play button “helps” …this happens so often that i fear using this device in live situations! …i simply can’t rely on it….which is very sad for a 600euro device!

    Do you know these issues? …maybe a new firmware-upgrade could fix this? …how can i check, what software is running on my 2880

    I hope you can help me, cause the 2880 seems to be the solution to many demands i have in music equipment…it has many powerful features i’d love to use, but obviously not when behaving and crashing windows95-style!

    thenk you and best regards,
    Johannes Nowak

    #93816
    diblet
    Member

    sorry to hear of your problems. i have been using the 2880 for some time now, and i have not run into the problems you are facing. i would guess there are issues with the unit you have – it doesn’t seem to be working properly

    i would see if i could get the unit replaced (again)

    #109386
    San Patricio
    Member

    My 2880 is also misbehaving. I’m having the same problem with the memory card. Did you say you replaced the card and found one that works with the usb connection? If I caught that right, please tell me what type of card it was, so I can get one.
    I’m also having unpredictability issues with mine , mainly in that the mixdown track keeps cutting out on me!
    Well, hopefully, we’ll both be able to get our 2880s functioning properly because I really like it and it’s integral to the type of performance that I’m doing.

    #108970
    misterfreak
    Member

    I am having the same problem with the CF card. My PC will not recognize.

    #105803
    Cryabetes
    Participant
    Quote:
    My 2880 is also misbehaving. I’m having the same problem with the memory card. Did you say you replaced the card and found one that works with the usb connection? If I caught that right, please tell me what type of card it was, so I can get one.
    I’m also having unpredictability issues with mine , mainly in that the mixdown track keeps cutting out on me!
    Well, hopefully, we’ll both be able to get our 2880s functioning properly because I really like it and it’s integral to the type of performance that I’m doing.

    dunno about the memory card issues, but the mixdown, you aren’t turning down the mixdown fader while recording, are you? do you have problems playing back something from just the mixdown fader (take a loop you successfully/no issues recorded a master track to and just play back the master- if you are having troubles with that, it might be a faulty slider- send it in for repair)

    also OP- check the cable you’re using for the footswitch, make sure it’s not faulty/busted/whathaveyou- mine works great and i’ve never had problems with it.

    #110525
    Tomek
    Member
    Quote:
    with my band i discovered, that the 2880 is definitely not suitable for live action…sometimes (relatively often) the buttons of the foot switch as well as the buttons on the 2880 itself don’t respond…the loop continues playing, but i cant stop the recording process nor the playback, nor track change! also the 2880 often “crashes” when using octave- or reverse-buttons in playback mode! Only turning of the power or multiple pressing of the play button “helps” …this happens so often that i fear using this device in live situations! …i simply can’t rely on it….which is very sad for a 600euro device!

    Do you know these issues? …maybe a new firmware-upgrade could fix this? …how can i check, what software is running on my 2880

    I hope you can help me, cause the 2880 seems to be the solution to many demands i have in music equipment…it has many powerful features i’d love to use, but obviously not when behaving and crashing windows95-style!

    thenk you and best regards,
    Johannes Nowak

    Hi Johannes,

    I have the same kind of problem playing live with the foot controller: it’s not reliable at all. First the loop playback sometimes starts later than the actual start, meaning you can’t really hear if the loop’s ok or not, and even worse, the new loop switch I usually use to start the loop playback sometimes doesn’t respond at all so I can’t loop anything (or the loop is fucked up anyway).

    I’m also pretty interested knowing the firmware version, as I would switch to a midi footcontroller solution (don’t like it but could be more reliable after all).

    Is it a hardware problem, or a conception problem ?

    ps : I must precise I’m using loopers for ten years, have a Line6 DL4, a Line6 Echopro (unfortunately for the 2nd time out of order), an Eventide time factor (more for delays), also tried digitech Jamman and Boss RC20, and never ever had this sort of problems while looping.

    #110534

    I’ve been live looping (Guitar/Vox/Vocoder) with drummers, DJ’s, and complete bands for the last 3 years. I’ve been all around all the different live looping options. And based on what I’ve learned, and what I’d like to be able to do live, I wouldn’t recommend the 2880 (Sorry EHX).

    Don’t get me wrong, I love Electro Harmonix, and all the pedals they make. I just found out my HOG has arrived, and can’t wait to go pick it up. But when it comes to looping, especially live, I only have one thing to say ; Ableton. And if you’re already using computers (MacBook w/Snow Leopard 10.6) this shouldn’t be a problem.

    However, I suggest you check out JackRouter/JackPilot. I use this app to run audio between my soundcard, Ableton, and back again. This enables me to keep latency around 5ms (in/out) combined. I wasn’t able to perform live with the Coreaudio drivers. Too much delay. Once I found this little app (www.jackosx.com) all my problems where solved.

    Hope that helps. Sorry I can’t fix yer 2880;)

    Matt
    http://www.reverbnation.com/theghostmachina

    #110535
    Tomek
    Member

    Yes, I completely get what you’re saying. The thing is I want(ed) to keep things basic, and not take my laptop on stage for some live rock projects (it’s ok for others more electro-orientated). But well, I guess you’re right, if EHX don’t make any effort on the foot controller, I’ll turn to use something else, alas.

    One thing I must add is the non-intuitive loop recording & playback compared to most of the loop devices: hitting 2 buttons to be able to record sthg is neither fast nor intuitive, same for looping without overdubbing: when others play loop when you press the play button, you have to press new loop (!!!) to play the loop. I have it for nearly 2 years and I stillpress the wrong button quite often.

    Oh, and thanx for the tip about jackosx (I already know btw) for low latency ;-)

    #110851
    twilly
    Member

    Make sure your formating your CF card correctly, there are posts on the forum on how to do that.

    There is an updated software version 1.5 that includes fixes for midi, you can download it on the product page.

    I’ve never had any of the issues that you’ve had, I’ve been pleasantly pleased with my 2880 and I use it as a midi slave with an alesis sr-18 drum machine..

    Tom

    #117291
    goatsbrain
    Member

    Ive figured out why people are having problems with the 2880 foot controller….. Bad switches… I have had the same problem with the play button or any buttons needing to be pushed multiple times for it to work…. and sometimes none of the buttons work. Well after several hours of trouble shooting (I got tired of exchanging the foot controller. Which I did multiple times.) I realized one of the switches was catching.. If it did catch, it would disable all the other switches or make them behave oddly.. Well, I unsoldered the switch, took it apart, and I realized that the switch was not properly lubricated… So I applied the proper lubrication, put the switch back together and soldered it back to the foot controller. It worked like a charm… It looks like EHX was getting some bad switches from their supplier. I would not recommend anyone try to fix the switch though, it was a pain… Just buy a new switch and swap it out for whichever one is not triggering unless stomped on multiple times… Jeez its nice to have this headache figured out….. What a pain in the ass……

    #118518
    vinz
    Member

    Yes thanks goatsbrain!!!!
    I just changed the 6 switches and it works now!
    Such a shame to use so bad switchers for a so good gear….
    I had to spend 50eur for the switches, but now it workd fine!!!
    Please EHX change that!!!
    however I’m happy now
    the 2880 is amazing
    cheers

    vinz

    #124887
    Stryker 1984
    Member

    Hey I know this thread is old, but I thought I’d share. I was having the same issue with the none functioning switches. I just took the backing plate off the foot controller and found all the switches have open slots on the bottom of them that you can spray electrical cleaner and lube. Spayed the cleaner and operated the switch a few times and the repeat with the lube. Put it back together and it’s good as new!

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