Free the Tone has introduced the Motion Loop ML-1L – a "revolutionary" short loop looper pedal that boasts a number of real-time processing effects, including pitch shift, delay and filter.
Promising a pedal packed with "unlimited potential", Free the Tone describes the ML-1L as a tool to be handled like a musical instrument, with a host effects that can be processed in real-time thanks to a dedicated DSP.
By continuously monitoring the input signal, and by incorporating both 32-bit fixed-point high-speed arithmetic and 32-bit floating high precision arithmetic processing, the Motion Loop is able to manipulate short loops in real time using a number pitch-shifting, delay and filtering effects.
These effects include a two-octave pitch shift, delay, filter, fade curve effect, reverse, soft clipping and slowdown. A Random effect also appears, which divides waveforms randomly to create totally unique short loops.
The pedal itself features two footswitches – On/Off and Preset – which engages the loop effect and allows you to switch between assigned presets.
Elsewhere, a Rate knob adjusts the sampling duration for the loop operation and an E.Level knob controls the balance between the original sound and the effect level.
A final filter knob appears, which – like many of the other effects on offer – can be assigned to third party expression pedals and control knobs to enable a hands-on approach to your processing.
Get The Pick Newsletter
All the latest guitar news, interviews, lessons, reviews, deals and more, direct to your inbox!
While this is all useful information, it's probably best to hear this intelligent pedal in action below to get a feel of what it can really offer.
A total of 128 user presets and 35 factory presets gives you scope for experimentation, and allows you to explore a number of seriously unique, totally configurable sounds.
The Free the Tone Motion Loop ML-1L lists for $350. Visit Free the Tone for more info.
Thank you for reading 5 articles this month**
Join now for unlimited access
US pricing $3.99 per month or $39.00 per year
UK pricing £2.99 per month or £29.00 per year
Europe pricing €3.49 per month or €34.00 per year
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Matt is a Senior Staff Writer, writing for Guitar World, Guitarist and Total Guitar. He has a Masters in the guitar, a degree in history, and has spent the last 16 years playing everything from blues and jazz to indie and pop. When he’s not combining his passion for writing and music during his day job, Matt records for a number of UK-based bands and songwriters as a session musician.
“A saturated reverb with a boingy, surf-like character – garage and lo-fi pedal junkies are going to flip over its seductively dark and grungy splash”: Anasounds La Grotte Analog Spring Reverb review
“An incredibly versatile tone shaping tool”: Supercool Pedals puts a new spin on the famed distortion box beloved by James Hetfield, Dave Grohl and Nuno Bettencourt