I want to simulate a loop pedal- on my computer

dreammusic · 7th February 2008

Hi all,

Loops figure heavily in my personal recordings- I basically pile lots of notes and sounds on top of each other. It gets pretty dense. So far I've been severely limited by my effects box (digitech rp150) which can't do more than 5 secs of delay. I want at least 20 seconds, but don't really have the cash to get a full fledged loop pedal.

I'm wondering if there's any software out there that can simulate, in real time, exactly what a loop pedal can do. I do have Pro Tools 7 and know that I can create loops with it (or any other recording software), but I don't know of a way to do it seamlessly. I don't want to have to break my "flow" by contantly starting and stopping record. A cheap or free plugin for Pro Tools would be ideal (I have a VST to RTAS converter), but I'd be OK with anything that does the trick.

It seems like it would be a problem for a computer to handle loops and recording simultaneously, but if a 300 dollar effects box can do it, why shouldn't my PC be able to? I can always record in lower quality if the going gets tough, right?

Thanks

Note: If it means anything, I am running a Pentium D 2.8 GHz dual core (over 2 years old) with only 1 GB of ram, and recording through an Mbox 2.

d.dot · 7th February 2008

i dunno. This maybe?
Welcome to Electrix

ewegogetemtiger · 7th February 2008

Yep, REAPER can do this. A guy on the forum two weeks ago created a macro for doing just this

server is down at this moment [7am] but here is the link
WTF??!! i finally figured out how to do NON STOP loop recording (Ableton Live style). - Cockos Confederated Forums

aeonsound · 7th February 2008

Angstrom's Plugins: AngstroLooper

might be what you're after...

dreammusic · 7th February 2008

Software Based Looping Programs

What do you guys thing of all of these? Any which might be good for me? I've heard great stuff about Ableton, but I don't know if you can do the kind of stuff I'm looking for on it.

I'll look into all the suggestions.

aeonsound · 7th February 2008

Quote:

It seems like it would be a problem for a computer to handle loops and recording simultaneously, but if a 300 dollar effects box can do it, why shouldn't my PC be able to?

it can do it

it's just a matter of finding the best solution.

what *exactly* do you want to do? record at the same time as looping previously-recorded parts?

ableton is very good at working with loops. check out the demo videos on the ableton site (perhaps the one by Kid Beyond would be a good start).

Joe Porto · 8th February 2008

I'm not sure what DAW you use, but in Logic, you simply define the region, record your loop and hit the "L" button. This creates recurring loops of that track. You can then convert the loop to audio regions for editing later. It can be done without ever stopping the transport.

I would think that any DAW can do it. It's just a matter of knowing the procedure.

octatonic · 8th February 2008

Or you can use Mobius (PC) or Sooperlooper (Mac).
They are fully featured loopers with more features than you get in a pedal.

I still use pedals and racks for gigs but I do a lot of work with both of them.

dreammusic · 8th February 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by aeonsound

it can do it

it's just a matter of finding the best solution.

what *exactly* do you want to do? record at the same time as looping previously-recorded parts?

ableton is very good at working with loops. check out the demo videos on the ableton site (perhaps the one by Kid Beyond would be a good start).

Record loops over loops, until I have dozens playing at the same time. Ideally I'd just put in a repeat time (eg 5 seconds) and start playing. Can Ableton do that?

balaperdida · 8th February 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by dreammusic

Record loops over loops, until I have dozens playing at the same time. Ideally I'd just put in a repeat time (eg 5 seconds) and start playing. Can Ableton do that?

That what Ableton is all about! Watch the Kid Beyond video on this page.

Ableton - Movies

Note: you'll need a midi foot-controller to simulate your boomerang experience.

initialsBB · 8th February 2008

You can't overdub in Live though which sucks. So it's not really like any pedal looper out there.

balaperdida · 8th February 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by initialsBB

You can't overdub in Live though which sucks. So it's not really like any pedal looper out there.

Could you say more? I've used a boomerang, a regular delay and a one of those red Boss looping pedals, and there's nothing I can't do in Live that I could do with those pedals -- including playing stuff backwards. The secret is making key-command shortcuts, so you can get exactly what you want out of each pass, then mapping those shortcuts to your MIDI foot-pedal.

Wow... I just sounded like a Reaper fan! Sorry!!!

Chuck Wool · 8th February 2008

Freewheeling is free and available for Mac & Linux
Freewheeling

A lil touchy-feely but it looks simple enough and useful.

Tibbon · 8th February 2008

Nothing that couldn't b edone in maxmsp, or csound (free)

dreammusic · 11th February 2008

I'm having tons of trouble doing this within Pro Tools. The major issue is Pro Tools requires all of these be used as plug ins, not standalone. Any experience with this?

mdme_sadie · 11th February 2008

Ableton Live is designed for what you want to do. Go download the demo.

It's whole interface is about loops. Just set up a number of tracks (as many as layers you'll expect to want/need), use the arrow keys to select an empty cell, hit the enter (or set a midi control note for this) to start/stop recording (play will carry on) and it will just carry on looping that cell now. Hit the arrow to go over to the next track, record something there same way (hit enter to start the loop, and again to stop, while everything carries on playing) etc. If you want to change just one looped part that's easy enough just use another cell empty on the same track and record into that, you can then switch between the new/old loop. I believe you can even record the whole process while you're doing it into a master session, add effects in as you want on each track... the thing is designed for playing and looping in live situations. Protools, Logic, the rest are not.

rodolfo · 11th February 2008

Try Usine.

http://www.sensomusic.com/

Rods

dreammusic · 11th February 2008

I can't use Ableton because I record in a separate room. I just need something where I can input the delay time, level, and repeats and go. I dled this VST called Ellotronix XL and got it to work as an insert in P Tools but I'm finding it very unwieldy.

supaheef · 11th February 2008

Guitar Rig 3 could do this for you. Has 2 loopers in it, which can be controlled independently by the included floorboard. I have tried this personally and it works great. Gives you fast access to effects and presets too.

Ableton Live could do an amazing job - very powerful for live use (hence the name, I guess). You could use a MIDI foot controller, but you may have to change your mental work flow as it doesn't quite function the same way as a hardware loop pedal BUT it can do a whole lot more too.

heath.

trmb · 13th April 2010

You may want to take a look at Infinite Dub,
Infinite Dub

This should allow you to simply import some base loops such as drums or bass, then record your own loops on top of that.

7th February 2008	#1
dreammusic Gear Head Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 31 Thread Starter	I want to simulate a loop pedal- on my computer Hi all, Loops figure heavily in my personal recordings- I basically pile lots of notes and sounds on top of each other. It gets pretty dense. So far I've been severely limited by my effects box (digitech rp150) which can't do more than 5 secs of delay. I want at least 20 seconds, but don't really have the cash to get a full fledged loop pedal. I'm wondering if there's any software out there that can simulate, in real time, exactly what a loop pedal can do. I do have Pro Tools 7 and know that I can create loops with it (or any other recording software), but I don't know of a way to do it seamlessly. I don't want to have to break my "flow" by contantly starting and stopping record. A cheap or free plugin for Pro Tools would be ideal (I have a VST to RTAS converter), but I'd be OK with anything that does the trick. It seems like it would be a problem for a computer to handle loops and recording simultaneously, but if a 300 dollar effects box can do it, why shouldn't my PC be able to? I can always record in lower quality if the going gets tough, right? Thanks Note: If it means anything, I am running a Pentium D 2.8 GHz dual core (over 2 years old) with only 1 GB of ram, and recording through an Mbox 2.

8th February 2008	#7
Joe Porto Lives for gear Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Maryland, USA Posts: 1,387	I'm not sure what DAW you use, but in Logic, you simply define the region, record your loop and hit the "L" button. This creates recurring loops of that track. You can then convert the loop to audio regions for editing later. It can be done without ever stopping the transport. I would think that any DAW can do it. It's just a matter of knowing the procedure. __________________ www.joeporto.com

8th February 2008	#8
octatonic Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: London Posts: 5,429	Or you can use Mobius (PC) or Sooperlooper (Mac). They are fully featured loopers with more features than you get in a pedal. I still use pedals and racks for gigs but I do a lot of work with both of them. __________________ Regards, Jim Richmond "I don't go to mythical places with strange men." Douglas Adams

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7th February 2008	#2
d.dot Lives for gear Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 529	i dunno. This maybe? Welcome to Electrix

7th February 2008	#3
ewegogetemtiger Gear addict Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 391	Yep, REAPER can do this. A guy on the forum two weeks ago created a macro for doing just this server is down at this moment [7am] but here is the link WTF??!! i finally figured out how to do NON STOP loop recording (Ableton Live style). - Cockos Confederated Forums

7th February 2008	#4
aeonsound Lives for gear Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 716	Angstrom's Plugins: AngstroLooper might be what you're after...

8th February 2008	#11
initialsBB Lives for gear Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: LA Posts: 2,113	You can't overdub in Live though which sucks. So it's not really like any pedal looper out there.

8th February 2008	#13
Chuck Wool Gear nut Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 76	Freewheeling is free and available for Mac & Linux Freewheeling A lil touchy-feely but it looks simple enough and useful.

8th February 2008	#14
Tibbon Lives for gear Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Boston/MA Posts: 4,774 2 Reviews written	Nothing that couldn't b edone in maxmsp, or csound (free)

11th February 2008	#15
dreammusic Gear Head Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 31 Thread Starter	I'm having tons of trouble doing this within Pro Tools. The major issue is Pro Tools requires all of these be used as plug ins, not standalone. Any experience with this?

11th February 2008	#16
mdme_sadie Lives for gear Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 958 1 Review written	Ableton Live is designed for what you want to do. Go download the demo. It's whole interface is about loops. Just set up a number of tracks (as many as layers you'll expect to want/need), use the arrow keys to select an empty cell, hit the enter (or set a midi control note for this) to start/stop recording (play will carry on) and it will just carry on looping that cell now. Hit the arrow to go over to the next track, record something there same way (hit enter to start the loop, and again to stop, while everything carries on playing) etc. If you want to change just one looped part that's easy enough just use another cell empty on the same track and record into that, you can then switch between the new/old loop. I believe you can even record the whole process while you're doing it into a master session, add effects in as you want on each track... the thing is designed for playing and looping in live situations. Protools, Logic, the rest are not.

11th February 2008	#17
rodolfo Gear interested Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 9	Try Usine. http://www.sensomusic.com/ Rods

11th February 2008	#19
supaheef Gear maniac Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: In a small box full of flashing lights - Brisbane, Australia Posts: 270	Guitar Rig 3 could do this for you. Has 2 loopers in it, which can be controlled independently by the included floorboard. I have tried this personally and it works great. Gives you fast access to effects and presets too. Ableton Live could do an amazing job - very powerful for live use (hence the name, I guess). You could use a MIDI foot controller, but you may have to change your mental work flow as it doesn't quite function the same way as a hardware loop pedal BUT it can do a whole lot more too. heath.

13th April 2010	#20
trmb Gear interested Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 2	You may want to take a look at Infinite Dub, Infinite Dub This should allow you to simply import some base loops such as drums or bass, then record your own loops on top of that.