HEADRUSH Looperboard User manual

User Guide
(English)
Version 2.0.0

2
Table of Contents
Introduction ..................................... 3
Box Contents................................ 3
Support......................................... 3
Features .......................................... 4
Top Panel ..................................... 4
Rear Panel .................................... 5
Setup ............................................... 7
Operation ........................................ 8
Overview ...................................... 8
Recording & Playing Tracks.........10
Looper Modes ................................ 12
Importing Audio .............................. 14
FX Racks ..................................... 15
Applying FX...................................... 15
Editing FX......................................... 16
Footswitch Assignment .................17
Expression Pedal Assignment ..... 18
Managing Loops..........................19
Loop Settings ................................. 20
Storage............................................ 25
Audio Routing ............................. 26
Input Setup .....................................26
Monitor Setup................................. 27
Track Setup .................................... 28
Output Setup..................................29
Functions .................................... 30
Backing Track Player .................. 34
USB Connection ......................... 35
Transferring Files and Settings ....35
Recording .......................................36
External MIDI Control.................. 37
MIDI Clock Receive ....................... 39
MIDI Clock Send.............................40
Global Settings............................ 40
Appendix ....................................... 45
Technical Specifications.............. 45
Trademarks & Licenses .............. 47

3
Introduction
Box Contents
Looperboard
USB Cable
Power Adapter
Software Download Card
Quickstart Guide
Safety & Warranty Manual
Support
For the latest information about this product (documentation, technical specifications, system
requirements, compatibility information, etc.) and product registration, visit headrushfx.com.
For additional product support, visit headrushfx.com/support.

4
Features
Top Panel
1
2
5
4
5
4
5
4
5
4
5
4
5
4
5
4
5
4
5
4
5
4
5
4
5
4
678
3333
1. Touchscreen: This full-color multi-touch display shows information relevant to the HeadRush
Looperboard’s current operation. Touch the display (and use the hardware controls) to control
the interface. See Operation > Overview to learn how it works.
2. Encoder: Turn this encoder to scroll through the available menu options or adjust the parameter
values of the selected field in the display. Push the encoder to confirm your selection.
3. Input Gain: Turn these knobs to adjust the independent gain level of each input.
4. Footswitches: Use these footswitches to perform different functions. The eight right-most
footswitches correspond to the four tracks of a loop. See the Operation chapter to learn how to
use them.
5. Footswitch Indicators: These lights indicate the status of different functions (performed by the
footswitch below each one). See the Operation chapter to learn about them.
6. Master: Turn this knob to adjust the volume level of the outputs.
7. Phones: Turn this knob to adjust the volume level of the Phones output.
8. Aux: Turn this knob to adjust the volume level of the Aux input.
Important:The audio signal from the Aux input is routed directly to the outputs and cannot be
used for recording directly to a looper track. It is also unaffected by the master volume or
phones volume knobs.

5
Rear Panel
1
2
3
4
5555
6
7
8
910 11 12
13
14
15
1. Power Input (19 VDC, 3.42 A, center-positive): Connect this input to a power outlet using the
included power adapter.
2. Power Adapter Restraint: Secure the power adapter cable to this restraint to prevent it from
accidentally unplugging.
3. Power Switch: Press this button to turn the HeadRush Looperboard’s power on. Press and hold
this button to turn the HeadRush Looperboard’s power off.
4. Vent: Make sure this vent is unobstructed while using the HeadRush Looperboard.
5. Inputs (XLR or 1/4”/6.35 mm, balanced): Connect your guitar, instrument, drum machine,
keyboard, or other audio source to these inputs. You can enable or disable +48V phantom
power for these inputs in the Global Settings page.
Important: Only enable phantom power if your microphone requires it. Most dynamic microphones
and ribbon microphones do not require phantom power, while most condenser microphones do.
Consult your microphone's documentation to find out whether it needs phantom power.
6. Aux Input (1/8”/3.5 mm, TRS): Connect an optional audio source (e.g., smartphone, tablet, etc.)
to this input. Use the Aux knob to control the volume level.
7. Outputs (XLR): Connect these outputs to the inputs of your mixer, active loudspeaker, etc. Use
the Master knob to control the volume level. You can adjust the ground-lift setting for these
outputs in the Global Settings page.
8. Outputs (1/4”/6.35 mm, balanced): Connect these outputs to the inputs of your amplifier, audio
interface, mixer, etc. Use the Master knob to control the volume level. You can switch the level
of these outputs between Amp and Line in the Global Settings page.
9. Phones Output (1/4”/6.35 mm, TRS): Connect stereo headphones to this output. Use the
Phones knob to control the volume level.
10. Expression Pedal Input (1/4”/6.35 mm, TRS): Connect an optional expression pedal to this input.
11. MIDI In (5-pin DIN): Use a standard MIDI cable to connect this input to the MIDI output of an
optional external MIDI device. See External MIDI Control for more information.
12. MIDI Out/Thru (5-pin DIN): Use a standard MIDI cable to connect this output to the MIDI input of
an optional external MIDI device. You can set this output to be a standard MIDI output or MIDI
throughput in the Global Settings page.
13. USB Type-B Port: Connect this USB port to a computer using a standard USB cable. This
connection allows the HeadRush Looperboard to send and receive the digital audio signal to and
from your computer. You can also use this connection to import or export loops, individual audio
files, backing tracks, etc. See USB Connection for more information.
This connection is also used to update the firmware. Visit headrushfx.com to check for available
firmware updates.

6
14. USB Type-A Ports: Connect USB flash drives to these USB ports for additional storage. You
can save and load loops with the connected USB flash drive, as well as record loops directly to
the flash drive itself. See Storage for more information.
You can also play backing tracks directly from the USB drive. See Backing Track Player for
more information.
Lastly, you can connect class-compliant USB devices to these USB ports for external MIDI
control. See External MIDI Control for more information.
15. SD Card Slot: Insert a standard SD/SDHC card into this slot for additional storage. You can
save and load loops with the connected USB flash drive, as well as record loops directly to the
flash drive itself. See Storage for more information.
You can also play backing tracks directly from the USB drive. See Backing Track Player for
more information
Important: To avoid file loss or damage to your media, only disconnect USB and SD storage
devices from HeadRush Looperboard while it is powered off. Alternatively, go to the Storage
page and then tap the storage device’s eject icon.

7
Setup
Items not listed under Introduction > Box Contents are sold separately.
Guitar
PA
Loudspeakers
or Mixer
Amplifier
Computer
Headphones Power Outlet
Drum Machine
Keyboard
SD
Card
USB
Drive
Microphone

8
Operation
This chapter describes some of HeadRush Looperboard’s basic functions.
Overview
Timeline Page
Mixer Page
This is the length of
the longest track in
this loop.
This is the current tempo, which
you can change by pressing the
Tempo footswitch at the desired
speed, or by tapping here and
turning the encoder.
Tap here to access the
navigation menu.
Each lane displays the track’s recorded audio
Tap here to save
the loop.
This is the name of the loop.
This is the current
playback position.
The track info
boxes show each
track’s name,
number of bars,
and the number of
recorded layers.
Double-tap the
track name to
change it.
This is the
Looper Mode
indicator.
Touch and drag
these sliders to
adjust the balance
of each track.
Double-tap to
enlarge the slider
for fine
adjustments.
These meters show
the volume level of
the tracks as they
play. Tap and drag
the white line at
the top of a meter
to adjust the
volume level of a
track.

9
Navigation Menu
On the Navigation Menu page, you can tap an icon to quickly navigate to HeadRush Looperboard’s
features:
•Timeline: Tap here to access HeadRush Looperboard’s timeline performance view.
•Mixer: Tap here to adjust volume and panning of looper tracks, the click track, and the backing
track.
•FX: Tap here to assign and use the built-in FX.
•Function: Tap here to access the features of the Function footswitch.
•Loop Settings: Tap here to adjust the available settings that can be configured per loop.
•New Loop: Tap here to discard the current loop and create a new loop.
•Load Loop: Tap here to load a previously saved loop.
•Audio Routing: Tap here to adjust HeadRush Looperboard’s audio routing settings.
•Backing Track: Tap here to access the backing track player feature.
•Tuner: Tap here to access the tuner feature.
•Storage: Tap here to view available storage and to select a target storage device.
•Transfer: Tap here to enter USB Transfer Mode and transfer files to/from a computer.
•Global Settings: Tap here to adjust the available settings that can be adjusted globally.
•Firmware Update: Tap here to enter Firmware Update mode.
This indicator shows the amount of space used
on the currently selected storage device.
Tap here to return to
the previous page.

10
Recording & Playing Tracks
HeadRush Looperboard lets you record audio onto four tracks and store each set of four tracks as
a loop. Each track can have up to 99 layers. Each track can be a minimum of 1 second long, with
no maximum length limit. You can record, play, and stop tracks independently of each other
depending on the loop mode and other settings.
Each track’s info box, meter, and/or waveform will use a color to indicate its current state:
•Red: recording or overdubbing
•Green: playing
•Blue: stopped
Use the Timeline page to view the waveforms of each track’s recorded audio in your loop.
To show the Timeline page, tap the Navigation Menu icon at the top left of the touchscreen,
then tap the Timeline icon.
Use the Mixer page to adjust the volume levels and panning of each track.
To show the Mixer page, tap the Navigation Menu icon at the top left of the touchscreen, then
tap the Mixer icon.
To adjust the volume level of a track, tap and drag the white line at the top of a meter.
To adjust the volume of the main outputs, turn the Master knob.
The left time counter in the bottom bar of the Timeline and Mixer pages indicates the current
playback position of the loop. The right time counter in the bottom bar indicates the length of the
longest track in the loop. Both are displayed as hours:minutes:seconds.centiseconds.
Tip: You can tap the Function footswitch twice to quickly return to the Timeline page from any other
HeadRush Looperboard page.

11
To record a track, press its •Rec/Play/Dub footswitch.
Important: Before recording anything, set the input volume level by turning the Input (1–4) knob for
each input you want to use.
To finish recording and start playback of a track, press its •Rec/Play/Dub footswitch again.
To overdub on a track that is currently playing, press the •Rec/Play/Dub footswitch again.
Tip: Use the Global Settings page to set HeadRush Looperboard to overdub immediately after
recording a track (instead of just playing it).
To stop a track at any point, press its •Stop/–Undo footswitch.
To restart a track's playback, press its •Stop/–Undo footswitch again.
To restart a track and immediately start overdubbing, press its •Rec/Play/Dub footswitch.
Tip: Use the Global Settings page to configure HeadRush Looperboard to restart a track’s
playback without overdubbing when pressing the •Rec/Play/Dub footswitch.
To stop all tracks at any point, press the Start/Stop All footswitch when one or more tracks are
playing.
To start playback of all tracks simultaneously, press the Start/Stop All footswitch when all tracks
are stopped.
To undo everything you have recorded since you last pressed a •Rec/Play/Dub footswitch,
press and hold the •Stop/–Undo footswitch for that track for approximately 1.5 seconds.
To re-add everything you just undid, press and hold the •Stop/–Undo footswitch for that track for
approximately 1.5 seconds again.
To peel the most recent layer of a track, hold the •Rec/Play/Dub footswitch for approximately 1.5
seconds.
Important: If a track only has 1 layer, performing the undo function will clear the track, and the layer
cannot be restored.
Tip: Use the Global Settings page to customize the hold functions for the •Stop/–Undo and
•Rec/Play/Dub footswitches.

12
Looper Modes
HeadRush Looperboard provides 5 different
Looper Modes to record, overdub and play your
looper tracks. The currently selected Looper Mode
is indicated in the bottom right of the touchscreen
in the Timeline and Mixer Pages.
Generally, each mode supports a different style of
looping workflow. The best way to find out which
Track Mode works best with your workflow is to
experiment and have fun!
To set how the looper records, overdubs, or
plays your tracks, tap the Looper Mode tab on
the Loop Settings page and then select a mode.
You can access this setting quickly by tapping
the Looper Mode icon in the Timeline or Mixer
Pages.
Tip: Set your Looper Mode before recording or importing any audio into your loop. While you may
be able to change the selected mode after recording, your options may be limited.
1. Fixed Mode: Use this mode if you want 4 looper tracks with the same length. In this mode:
•You can record, overdub or play all looper tracks simultaneously.
•All track lengths will be the same length as the first recorded looper track.
•When you set a track to record, overdub or play, it will happen immediately.
2. Serial Mode: Use this mode if you want to use each of the 4 looper tracks as a different section
of a song (e.g., verse, chorus, bridge and outro). In this mode:
•You can record, overdub or play on only one looper track at a time.
•All looper tracks can be different lengths.
•When you set a currently playing track to overdub, it will happen immediately.
•When you set a currently stopped track to play or record/overdub, it will happen as soon as
the currently playing track reaches its end and stops. When a track is armed for playback or
recording/overdubbing while another track is playing back, the corresponding LED will flash
green or red, respectively.
3. Sync Mode: Use this mode if you want 4 looper tracks with different lengths that always stay in
sync. In this mode:
•You can record or play multiple tracks simultaneously.
•You must record a primary track first.
•After the primary track has been recorded, all other looper tracks must be the same length,
or a multiple of its length.
•If new tracks are shorter or longer than the primary track, HeadRush Looperboard will
automatically quantize them to keep them in sync with the primary track.
Tip: You can change how tracks start and stop in Sync Mode in the Track Start/Stop tab of the
Loop Settings Page.

13
4. Serial-Sync Mode: This mode is similar to Serial Mode, but it enables you to keep 1 primary
looper track (e.g., a drum or percussion track) playing at all times while switching between
different song sections on looper tracks 2, 3 and 4 (e.g., verse, chorus and bridge). In this mode:
•The primary track and only one other looper track can be playing, recording or overdubbing
at the same time.
•You must record a primary track first.
•After the primary track has been recorded, all other looper tracks must be the same length,
or a multiple of its length.
•HeadRush Looperboard will auto-trim (or extend) the endpoints of the other looper tracks to
always keep them in sync.
Tip: You can change how tracks start and stop in Serial-Sync Mode in the Track Start/Stop tab
of the Loop Settings Page.
5. Free Mode: This mode is useful for creating ambient soundscapes or for musicians who just like
to break the rules! In this mode:
•You can record, overdub or play all looper tracks simultaneously.
•All looper tracks can be different lengths.
•When you set a track to record, overdub or play, it will happen immediately.

14
Importing Audio
In addition to creating loops using input sources, you can also import a .WAV or .MP3 audio file
(such as a recorded drum beat) directly into an empty looper track.
To import an audio file:
1. While viewing the Timeline Page, tap the
Import Audio icon on any empty track.
2. Select a source by tapping one of the icons
in the left column of the browser:
•Factory: This is a collection of over 300
exclusive drum and percussion loops
provided by HeadRush.
•Internal: This is the internal storage of
HeadRush Looperboard.
•USB 1/USB 2/SD: These sources will
appear if you have external storage
connected to the respective ports on the
rear panel of HeadRush Looperboard.
3. Use the touchscreen to navigate through
folders, as necessary. You can search for an
audio file in a folder by tapping in the search
field in the top center of the touchscreen,
next to the magnifying glass. Tap the Xicon
to clear your search.
4. Select a file, and then tap the Play button if
you would like to preview the audio file, or
tap the Import button to load the audio file
into the looper track.
5. After tapping the Import button, a dialog will
appear with up to 3 options:
•ADJUST BPM: This will change your
loop’s tempo to match the automatically
detected tempo of the imported audio
file.
•MATCH BPM: This will change the
imported audio file to match the current
tempo of your loop.
•AS IS: This will import the audio file
without changing the tempo of the audio
file, or the tempo of your loop.
6. You may also need to indicate the number of
bars of your imported file. You can tap the
Play icon to preview the file for reference, if
needed.

15
FX Racks
Applying FX
On the FX Page, you can assign multiple effects (called FX Racks) at once to an audio input or
looper track. Each FX Rack is made up of multiple effects that can be individually edited and toggled
on the FX Rack Edit page.
To enter the FX Page, press the footswitch labeled FX, or tap the Navigation Menu icon at the
top-left of the touchscreen, and then tap the FX icon.
To add an FX Rack, tap the plus sign (+) in an empty slot.
To enable or bypass an FX Rack, tap the footswitches labeled 1–4, or tap the On/Off button on
the touchscreen.
To change the FX Rack type of an existing FX Rack, tap the FX Rack icon on the touchscreen.
This icon looks like a guitar, drums, etc.
To change the settings for the FX Rack, tap the knob icon on the touchscreen.
To remove an FX Rack, tap the X icon on the touchscreen.
To customize the footswitch assignments of the FX Racks, tap the Footswitch Assign button at
the bottom of the touchscreen.
To assign FX parameters to an external expression pedal, tap the Expression Pedal Assign
button at the bottom of the touchscreen.
To exit the FX Page, press the footswitch labeled FX,or tap the Navigation Menu icon in the top-
left corner of the touchscreen.
A
dd
FX Rack
Edit FX Rack
Enable/Bypass
FX Rack
Remove
FX Rack
Change FX
Rack Type

16
Editing FX
To enable or bypass the full FX Rack, tap the Enable/Bypass button in the top-left corner of the
touchscreen, underneath the back arrow.
To change the FX Rack type, tap the FX Rack drop-down menu, and then tap the FX Rack type
you would like to load.
To load a factory or previously saved FX Rack preset, tap the Preset drop-down menu, and then
tap the preset you would like to load.
To save your settings as an FX Rack preset, tap the save icon in the top right corner of the
touchscreen.
To set the target audio for the FX Rack, tap the target dropdown menu and then select Inputs 1–
4 or Tracks 1–4. If you have previously named your loop’s tracks, the new names will appear
instead of Tracks 1-4.
To enable or bypass individual effects within the FX rack, tap the Enable/Bypass buttons
located under each individual effect’s name.
To view and adjust an individual effect parameter within the FX rack, tap the individual FX rack’s
name, and then tap and drag a parameter slider in the lower section. You can also tap the
parameter slider and then turn the encoder for fine adjustment.
Load Preset
Enable/Bypass
FX Rack
Return to FX Page Save PresetChange FX Rack Type
Enable/Bypass
Individual FX
Individual FX
Parameters
A
ccess
Individual FX
Parameters
Change Target

17
Footswitch Assignment
On the Footswitch Assign page, you can modify the functions of HeadRush Looperboard's
footswitches in an FX Rack.
To select the FX Rack controlled by the footswitch, tap the icon that shows the name of the FX
Rack (e.g., Vocal, Guitar, Lo-Fi), and then select the new FX Rack to control. To hide the selections,
tap the block with the name of the FX Rack again.
To change the footswitch's LED color, tap the Show LED Color icon on the top right corner of
the FX rack to view the selectable colors. Tap to select the color, and then tap the Xicon to hide
the colors.
To change the trigger behavior of the footswitch, tap the block that says either Toggle or Hold
(momentary). The text shown will be the behavior of that footswitch.
To assign a footswitch to enable/bypass all active FX within an FX Rack, tap to select the ALL
FX block for the footswitch.
To assign a footswitch to enable/pass individual FX within an FX Rack, tap to select the desired
individual FX blocks for the footswitch.
Trigger
Behavior
Select FX Rack
A
ssign All or
Individual FX
to Footswitch
Return to FX Page Show LED Color Settings Select LED Color

18
Expression Pedal Assignment
In the Expression menu, you can assign up to 4 parameters, volume or panning controls to your
connected expression pedal.
To assign a parameter to the expression pedal, tap the + sign in an empty slot, and then select
an FX Rack, looper track volume or looper track panning parameter to assign.
To change the range of the assigned parameter, tap the Range button. Tap the LO or HI % for
the parameter, and then use the encoder to adjust the value.
Change Parameter Range
Assign Expression Parameter
Unassign Parameter

19
Managing Loops
To create a new loop (and discard unsaved changes), tap the Navigation Menu icon, and then
tap New Loop icon.
To save the current loop, tap the Save icon in the top right corner of the Timeline, Mixer, or
Navigation Menu pages. Tap Save (to save over the existing file) or Save New Loop (to save the
loop as a new file), or tap Cancel to return to the previous screen. A save browser will then appear
for you to select your desired target storage device and folder for saving.
Note: When saving to a storage device using the exFAT or FAT32 file system, the maximum file
size for saving .WAV files is 4GB (about 6 hours and 11 minutes of audio). If you are saving to a
storage device using the FAT16 file system, then the limit for saving .WAV files is 2GB.
To load a previously saved loop, tap the Navigation Menu icon, and then tap the Load Loop
icon. The Load Loop browser will then appear, where you can locate a loop and then tap the Load
button to load it.
You can also Delete or Rename a previously saved loop in the load loop browser by tapping the
loop name, and then tapping Delete or Rename buttons accordingly.
Tip: You can search for a Loop in a folder in the Load or Save Loop browsers by tapping in the
search field in the top center of the touchscreen, next to the magnifying glass. Tap the Xicon to
clear your search.
Tap to save
y
our loo
p
Navigation
Menu
Tap to create a new loop
Tap to load an existing loop

20
Loop Settings
Use the Loop Settings page to configure the settings for an individual loop.
To show the loop settings, tap the Navigation Menu icon in the top-left corner of the
touchscreen, and then tap the Loop Settings icon.
Tempo and Click Tab:
Tempo: This setting determines the tempo of the loop. Tap the BPM on the touchscreen,and
then use the encoder to set the current loop's tempo, from 30–280 BPM.
Time Signature: This setting determines the time signature of the loop. Tap the time signature,
and then use the encoder to set the time signature of the current loop: 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, 5/4, 6/4,
7/4, 5/8, 6/8, 7/8, 8/8, 9/8, 10/8, 11/8, 12/8, 13/8, 14/8 or 15/8.
Click: This setting determines the function of the click track. Set to Rec to enable while
recording and overdubbing, or set to Play+Rec to enable when playing or recording and
overdubbing. Set to Off to disable the click.
Count-In: This setting determines how the count-in feature functions. Set to On to enable the
count-in before a loop starts to play, record or overdub. Tap the Bar value on the touchscreen
and turn the encoder to adjust the number of measures for the count-in. Set to Off to disable
the count-in.
Looper Mode Tab:
Looper Mode: Choose one of the five available Looper Mode settings on this tab for your loop.
For more information about the Looper Mode settings, see the Looper Modes chapter of this
manual.