Loop Pedal Question: BOSS RC-3

----I started looking around into loop pedals recently as a way to solve a few problems I've had with recording music and it seemed the RC-3 would be the best choice for me, but I wanted to ask about some of its functioning.
----Would I be able to, with the RC-3, record different instruments (bass, guitars, vocals) as loops, export them through the USB port, and reorganize them on the computer, basically as different layers of one track? Unfortunately, I blew the sound and recording capabilities on my laptop when I unknowingly ran a power amp directly into the mic jack, so just using my laptop to record is impossible. It still, as one would assume, recognizes audio files and allows me to edit them. I figured if I was able to use the RC-3 as a recording device, I could use my music software and treat each loop like I would any other recording, but I'm not sure if I'm overestimating the ability of loop pedals.
----Of course, I also plan on using it for the traditional functions, like using it when playing live and such. I'd be open to suggestions of other loop pedals if anyone thinks that they might be a better fit for what I'm looking for, although $300 might be my limit (which I know is not very much for a loop pedal).
----Any help is greatly appreciated!!!

I own an RC-30 , a Line 6, a Lexicon JamMan(rack) Boss DD-3 and Boss DD6 LOL ... I am , and have been for eons, a huge fan of looping .. ala Robert Fripp...

I love The RC30 but ..


Yes and no.
I know what yer getting at , its just that (unless they changed the pedal) most Loopers, Phrase Loopers (etc) WILL allow you to STACK "Tracks" of almost anything (me, just Git or Keys) you can put in them. Ya save them in order 1-10
Guitar Loop #1 fer5 example = 1
Key Loop = 2
and so on
You can even put them together BUT
and it is a big BUT

Ya dont want to stack diff stuff on ONE track IF its gonna be a recording, as ya get signal loss and its (loop) not meant as a MultiTrack as the sucka would be hard as hell to Mix (if Dr / Bs / etc..)

and IF
you rec a bass phrase/loop , a guitar... and so-on, separately, you will have to TimeStamp(Midi, etc) each track to its new location (studio) or the timing will be way off. the more tracks this way the easier "off" lol is.

So naw, i dont think ya wanna get inta that mess

Line 6 Makes a Killer Echo/Delay/Loop-er fer about 3-bills (on sale)
You KNOW the stats on the Boss units...RC-...

Other than them (JamMan = extinct) I dunno.. Personally I like the RC-30, but i put it between two Boss delays, as it is a Phrase Pedal first.

If it was me, I would snag a used Line-6 and a foot pedal (reverse echo, fade-in, etc) for it.
OR
a RC-3, RC-30 (etc)
and a Delay

Live, with a band,(or a loopers collective like AmPient Music)the RC, gets me in trouble, unless i have a long atmospheric loop on it, even then , in live situations it is a signal-hog in that you must play on top of yourself.
BUT if you wanna do the one-man band thang, (dr etc) the RC series would be a perfect fit)

so
w/ Band? - Line 6 (or Boss DD series delays)
Looping Live w/ Others - Boss RC
One-Man-band - RC series

but remember the RC series = Phrase loops you can build on (the Overdub function)

If Lexicon Still made the JamMan I'd say snag one (mebbe on Ebay?)

otherwise
I have found it more fun to use a delay(or lol three) AND an RC-30
so RC-30 DD-3(or 6) = my pick

The Line 6 is great as well and CAN loop a phrase, but gets a bit tedious at a show, as yer one foot stomp away from agony/silence/etc

Hope that Helped

RAWK!
Cs

That actually helped me out a ton; a lot of information in here I hadn't found in the dozen or so other forums I checked. Really appreciate it, thanks!