Pedals or Toppers?
These products have come from our own experiences using and performing with the RC600. There is nothing worse than watching a performer staring at their equipment on the ground, and loopers have a bigger challenge than others. It prevents you from engaging with the audience and detracts from your performance. Stadium pedals and toppers are the solution.
We often get asked which of these products is better. Obviousiy both are great, but here we try to explain some of the differences and similarities.
Why are there two designs anyway?
Initially there was only the pedal design which has been available for a few years now and is used by many people. The pedals however are molded to the shape of the front of the looper and can't be used on the top row of buttons. We wanted to provide a solution to that problem and looked to our old favorite - the legendary BOSS RC300 for inspiration. The Stadium toppers are modelled on those switches with the same size and spacing.
Of course we quickly realised that these toppers could also be used on the bottom row of buttons, which is why you now have two great options. You can even use both! Toppers on top and pedals below. Or you could use pedals for start buttons and toppers for stop buttons.
Usage
Both products make the buttons SOOOOOOOOO much easier to press. They are both designed to push directly down on the button at the perfect angle eliminating those annoying mis-hits. Being color coded, it is very easy to identify which button you are aiming for, without having to stare at your looper.
The pedal design has the extra benefit that it can be kicked from the front. The built in hinge causes the pedal to push straight down on the button every time. This is particularly good for loopers who like to stand as you are not always standing exactly where you need to be and realize you need to snap a loop.
Both allow the track status lights to be seen clearly. The pedals sit below the light so it is completely visible.
The topper has a hole in it which is aligned directly over the light. While this slightly obscures the edges of the status indicator, in low light it actually causes the topper to glow making it very easy to see during night time performances.
Many loopers like to play barefoot or in socks. (Not my thing but each to their own). Both products are ideal for playing without shoes. No more trying to use your big toe to press the right button.
What's wrong with Mushroom Style Toppers ?
Many people love traditional mushroom toppers and for some, this suits their needs already. You only have to scan the looping and guitar forums though to see the common issues that people have.
- They don't always engage the button properly because they hang over the side
- They fall off
- They can put an angle force on the button which can damage it over time
Stadium Pedals and Toppers don't have a those issues.
Installation
Stadium Toppers are easier to install than Stadium Pedals, no questions asked. They come with double sided tape and simply stick into position. They never move because they only have downwards force. On the front row, the topper also hooks under the steel rail on the RC600.
Stadium Pedals have many options for installation. They can be attached to the RC600 with double sided tape or they can be attached to your pedalboard in a number of different ways.
When attached to your pedalboard the RC600 can be easily removed, leaving the pedals on the pedalboard. Because the pedals are molded to the looper, this has the added benefit of holding your RC600 firmly on your pedalboard. You only need to attach the back of the looper and a small amount of Velcro (hook and loop) is sufficient. Although it takes a little longer to set up, this is a great option and provides great stability to your set up.
For the Stadium Pedals you will need to remove two of the rubber feet under the looper. You can easily just pull these off and put them in a drawer somewhere. They can just as easily be stuck back on if you ever want to go back (but no one ever does). If you are using Velcro to attach your looper to a pedalboard, it makes sense to pull off all the rubber feet anyway. It makes life much easier.
Colors
Stadium Pedals and Toppers both come in a range of 8 colors that you can mix and match to suit your workflow and style. Some people like to color co-ordinate their looping setup. Others like it lit up like a Christmas tree. The choice is yours.
If you operate in 3 track mode, it is a good idea to have all of your stop buttons the same color so it is always easy to pick out the stop button.
So which one should I get?
Sorry, but you guessed it ...... the choice is ultimately yours. Both have their strengths, some of which may be more important to you than others. Both are great solutions over either standard buttons or mushroom toppers.
Both are easy to use, but Stadium Pedals are probably the easiest. The Topper needs to be pressed on the top, while the Pedal can be hit from absolutely anywhere including kicking from the front.
If you want the overall easiest option, go with Stadium Toppers due to the ease of installation.
If you play on a beach ( yes we have a customer who plays on a beach! ) the Pedals can get sand in the hinge which can cause them to stick. They can't be taken apart and cleaned. So if you're a beach player, go with the Toppers, which can be disassembled and cleaned out if need be.
So there it is!
Good luck with your choice and always happy to hear your experiences, stories, thoughts and ideas on how to improve the products.
