Meet the Raspberry Pi-Powered Loop Switcher That Rivals Pro Gear

As guitarists progress in their skills, they eventually move on to more advanced playing techniques that allow them to create unique sounds. One of these techniques involves the use of a loop switcher. These devices act as a central hub for guitar pedals, allowing musicians to organize, manage, and bypass multiple effects pedals via individual, dedicated loops.

Redditor raspibotics recently got into guitar pedals and realized that using a loop switcher was the next logical step to take. As an engineer, raspibotics made the decision to hack together a custom loop switcher rather than buying a commercial device. We sure are glad about that, because this DIY build looks nicer than anything you’d ever find on a store shelf.

At the core of the prototype is a Raspberry Pi Compute Module 5 mounted on a custom carrier board. The system pairs traditional relay-based analog switching with the flexibility of a modern touchscreen interface, creating a hybrid solution that blends classic pedalboard hardware with digital control. The touchscreen makes it easy to visualize and manage signal chains, something that can become complicated once multiple pedals are involved.

The custom PCB supports five mono loops and a stereo loop, all of which can be reordered in software. Dual inputs allow players to switch between guitars using an A/B selector, while two independent signal buses open the door to more advanced routing such as wet/dry or parallel effects chains. A built-in mixer lets users blend those buses together directly inside the device.

Because the controller runs on a Raspberry Pi, it can also handle digital processing. One particularly interesting feature is a “virtual loop” that inserts software effects anywhere in the chain. This makes it possible to run amp models, digital effects, or a tuner alongside physical pedals without needing additional hardware.

The project also includes MIDI support and expression/control inputs, making it compatible with modern pedalboard setups. While the hardware is already functional, raspibotics is currently focused on refining the software—especially a drag-and-drop preset editor that would make building complex signal chains far easier.

With plans to eventually open-source the software, this touchscreen loop switcher could become a powerful DIY platform for guitarists who want total control over their pedalboards.