ProTools looping & session set up

[FlatlineNYC]

Need some serious help on exactly the best way to set up a protools session for using loops. I have already tracked all parts of about ten hip-hop instrumentals. The problem is that they are not perfect loops and therefor cannot be cut/pasted accordingly. - Also how should the session be set up as far as grids/bars beats? Thanks for helping!

[Relax]

it may be too late but did you record to grid? if not you have a whole lot of work ahead of you.

[FlatlineNYC]

I guess this is why i'm having such a hard time creating these loops within ProTools. I can track again though, not a problem. So i should set the tempo, set grid at 4/4, then record?

[themaestro]

depending on the system, you can record the loops, and use beat detective to generate the tempo and lock the loop into the grid. also, you can record the loop, making sure that the start and end of the region are correct for the loop, and use the tap tempo or process of elimination to arrive at a tempo. if that doesnt work for you, you can set the session tempo and use a time stretch or pitch shift plug to alter the looped section to fit into the grid. hope this helps...

[Relax]

Originally Posted by FlatlineNYC

I guess this is why i'm having such a hard time creating these loops within ProTools. I can track again though, not a problem. So i should set the tempo, set grid at 4/4, then record?

What are you recording from? I midi sync my MPC and Protools, set the tempo, add a blank bar at the beginning and record. You have the flexibility of moving things around much easier.

[filterayok]

in an emergencey like that, you COULD do this....

put your selector tool at the VERY start of the first kik---zoom in to make it sample accurate

now put the "loop playback" option on

now highlight an approximate 4 bars of your loop, starting from that FIRST kik, and hit play....didn't quite feel like a loop?? keep adjusting the end of your highlighted selection until you hit play and it loops around perfectly

now hit "apple D" as many times as you need

if your talking multiple trax, just hold "shift" and select all the trax you need, once you've found your "perfect loop", then apple D them all at once... hope that makes sense.....use the grid next time!

[FlatlineNYC]

I believe what you all said will work... As far as midi sync, it's pretty low end recording for this project - simply audio stream from a sequencer/synth. I guess just using grid mode and setting tempo according to the tune should work... I may have to adjust location a bit, but that's really not too much of a problem. Time to go and attempt to create decent loops from what has already been tracked. - Thanks for all the help - Nate

[signalflow]

using "identify beat" can also help in this situation, edit menu (apple i). trim the audio file from the first transient or down beat. use shuffle so the file snaps to 1|1|00. put it in slip mode. this is bar 1, beat 1. next, count the beats and find bar 2, beat 1 and identify that beat-2|1|00, make sure to zoom in to get right on the attack. in slip mode this allows you to freely place the cursor (unlike grid mode). then bar 3, beat 1 etc. soon, you'll see a bunch of different tempos in the tempo field-example, 87.56, 88.77, 86.95, 88.45 etc. the more beats you identify, the more you'll see an average tempo. if you think you're in the ball park, say 88 bpm's, change the tempo at 1|1|00 to 88, put it in grid and hit play. if your file has been trimmed correctly and you got the right tempo, your file should be locked in to the groove. make sure to erase all of the other tempo markers in the tempo field. click on them and hold then drag down to edit window. you'll see a small trash can appear, then let go of the mouse. if it's off a little, try 87 bpm's, 89 or 87.50 etc. once the beat is locked to the right tempo, editing should be seemless. dealing with hip hop drums, you should have no problem finding the tempo quickly. it might sound time consuming but it's not. just a few quick key strokes and you're there.
enjoy

[toolskid]

Originally Posted by FlatlineNYC

Need some serious help on exactly the best way to set up a protools session for using loops. I have already tracked all parts of about ten hip-hop instrumentals. The problem is that they are not perfect loops and therefor cannot be cut/pasted accordingly. - Also how should the session be set up as far as grids/bars beats? Thanks for helping!

this is not a problem in ANYWAY...

I havent got time to detail it all out online but pm me - I'll shoot you my number and you can call and talk through it if you want...

[Lawrence]

Originally Posted by FlatlineNYC

Need some serious help on exactly the best way to set up a protools session for using loops. I have already tracked all parts of about ten hip-hop instrumentals. The problem is that they are not perfect loops and therefor cannot be cut/pasted accordingly. - Also how should the session be set up as far as grids/bars beats? Thanks for helping!

I use PTLE but I don't do things like that with it. Let me explain how I'd do that in SX and maybe you can do something similar in PT.

1. Drop the drum loop at 0.0.0, play the song and use tap tempo to get close.
2. Zoom all the way into bar 8 (or if your loops are 4 bars then bar 4 etc.) in the grid.
3. Adjust the tempo of the song until the barline hits the end of the loop.
4. Play that loop (looped of course) and adjust the tempo by fractions until it's just right.

There you go. Takes about 2 minutes in SX. Once the drums are looping correctly drop in the rest of the loops to tracks, size them (snap them to a barline) so they copy and paste correctly.

I'm sure you can do the same in PT.

Lawrence