Stumbled upon this forum thread today
https://www.muffwiggler.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1650258 It's for eurorack but I think CV triggers could easily be replaced by stompswitch for record and play, and the vactrol with a pot. ISD1820 PCBs can be found on Aliexpress for as little as 1.50! Crazy cheap for a lofi sampler.
The only part of the discussion I don't get is the part about the DC bump?
http://www.bugbrand.co.uk/bugbrand_old/images/circuits/looper_analogue_v1.jpg What is this diagram isolating? How could it be integrated into this?