Looping was once the realm of avant-garde rockers. Now Ed Sheeran uses it to craft his sold-out arena shows with minimal gear.

The Looper X ($1,300) is the latest in this lineage. This hefty 16-pound beast offers eight rubberized foot pedals and four gain knobs for crafting memorable moments live or in the studio. But its quirks—like the simple throughput on the auxiliary input—might leave you wishing for more.

Sheeran’s solo tours prove that with a looper, you can create symphonies from your guitar alone. Whether it’s a technical marvel or just background noise, this device is a testament to innovation in live performance.

While the Looper X might not fit everyone's needs—its one-size-fits-all approach is more of an attempt at versatility—it does offer a glimpse into the future of solo musicianship. Can looping change how we perceive live music? Only time will tell, but for now, it’s all about ready, set, record.