The Donner Circle Looper is a looper and drum machine pedal in one, which Donner markets as a one-person band: play guitar and drums at the same time. It is a digital unit, a 44.1kHz 24-bit looper and drum machine, with 100 drum grooves drawn from 10 unique music styles and 40 preset slots for saving your work1. It belongs to the family of looping pedals that pair phrase recording with a drum machine, alongside units like the Singular Sound BeatBuddy and the Flamma FF20 Looper & Drum Machine.
Controls and connections
The pedal carries two footswitches, a Left Footswitch and a Right Footswitch, each of which switches on or off. A Volume knob adjusts the play volume level of the Rhythm section; its default value is 5, which corresponds to no attenuation or increase to the original signal1.
| Connection | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Inputs | Two 1/4-inch unbalanced mono jacks | 1 Megohm impedance, 3dBu maximum input level1 |
| Outputs | Two 1/4-inch unbalanced mono jacks | 470 ohm impedance, 3dBu maximum level, 106dB dynamic, 20Hz~20KHz +0/-1dB1 |
| EXT CTRL | 1/4-inch TRS jack x1 | For an external stereo foot switch, DC 9V 300mA, power supply not included1 |
| USB | Type-B Micro USB | 1 |
Stereo operation is a matter of patching both channels: connect both the Left and Right inputs to set a stereo input1. The EXT CTRL jack takes an external stereo foot switch over a 1/4-inch TRS connection, with a listed power specification of DC 9V 300mA and no power supply included1.
Donner specifies a DC9V adapter with internal negative and external positive polarity and a current of 500mA or more. The adapter is not included with the pedal1.
Size and weight
The Circle Looper measures 99 x 121 x 56.5mm (W*D*H) and weighs 0.391KG, so it sits in compact-pedal territory on a board1.
What players use it for
Donner's product page carries owner comments that give a picture of how the pedal gets used. Stephen G. said: "I use it to lay down a quick background track to solo over. Also using it for composing." Angie Lewis said: "i use the looper in live ahows and love it." Dianne D. reported using it beyond guitar: "I play computerized keyboards. I wanted to see if would work with my keyboards and it does."1
Warranty
Donner backs the Circle Looper with a 1-year warranty, and states that within that period it will repair or replace your item free of charge1.
Videos
60 Cycle Hum
Nate's Gear Guide
The Loop Academy - JohnPaul Music UK
Questions
Is the Donner Circle Looper digital?
Yes. Donner describes the Circle Looper as a 44.1kHz 24-bit high-quality looper and drum machine, so the audio path is digital rather than analog. That sample rate and bit depth cover both the looping section and the drum grooves, and the pedal's spec sheet lists a frequency response of 20Hz to 20KHz +0/-1dB with a dynamic range of 106dB.
How many drum grooves does the Circle Looper have?
Donner lists 100 different drum grooves drawn from 10 unique music styles. The Rhythm section has its own Volume knob, which adjusts the play volume level of the drums. The default value is 5, which corresponds to no attenuation or increase to the original signal.
What power adapter does the Donner Circle Looper need?
Donner specifies a DC9V adapter with internal negative and external positive polarity, rated 500mA or more. The power supply is not included with the pedal, so you will need to provide your own adapter that meets that specification.
Does the Circle Looper work in stereo?
Yes. The pedal has two 1/4-inch unbalanced mono audio input jacks and two 1/4-inch unbalanced mono output jacks. To run stereo, you connect both the Left and Right inputs to set a stereo input, and the outputs carry the left and right channels separately.
What is the warranty on the Donner Circle Looper?
Donner gives the Circle Looper a 1-year warranty. Within that period, Donner states it will repair or replace your item free of charge.
Can I connect an external footswitch to the Circle Looper?
Yes. The pedal has an EXT CTRL jack, a single 1/4-inch TRS jack for an external stereo foot switch. Donner lists its power specification as DC 9V 300mA, and notes that the power supply is not included.
Sources (1)
- Circle Looper Guitar Pedal with Drum Machine Time Display Donner, donnerdeal.com
