Arranging / Slicing audio trickery...

[ModuLR]

So I've been working on this Tracker type plugin for hacking loops and what not... and in the process I've kinda steped away from Tracktion for the past month, really keeping my focus on a few trackers and eXT (consider it research for the plugin).

Today I crack open tracktion and begin toying with ideas. Now, I've always known you can slice audio (cos I abuse that feature), but today I worked on a method for hacking loops in a way similar to Phatmatic (sorta).

Import your loop, then alt+drag it to lock it to the number of bars you want. Disregard the fact that it will change the pitch. Now slice your loop. Feel free to rearrange it as you wish. Use the fade in/out lines to act as an ADSR in a sense.. then select all the clips and select reset to original pitch from the lower panel. Sudenly you have your new beat timed to the correct tempo, and mantaining the original pitch like you'd get in phatmatik. Another thing to try, is slicing a bar loop into 1/16th's, then grabing the offset box, and shifting waveforms within the slice. Makes rearranging beats a breeze.

People are probably more than aware of this... and some of this I was already aware of, but I've been quiet around here lately.. so I felt like hearing my own voice..

[AD80]

Yeah the way Tracktion handles audio is pretty great. I wonder if T2 will support Rex.

[valley]

not much point if it doesn;t support grouping...

that's a hint, Jules...

[wibbleflex]

ModuLR, if you come up with a good plug to make beats I'd kill..erm pay good money for it

[jens]

Yes, that's part of my workflow

I call it 'manual recycling'

But the real fun begins when you start to add fx to the single clips and even change their speed/pitch individually, maybe reverse them, change their position pan them differently etc.

for thistune I only used one simple drum-loop and a few drum-synth bleebs.
But all the drum variation you hear (only starts after the first minute or so) is edited from the same loop

[ModuLR]

ModuLR, if you come up with a good plug to make beats I'd kill..erm pay good money for it

this is what I've been working on...



it's a sample mangler rack filter (which is the new focus of the building blocks--was Constructs, now Konstrux). It is more or less for mangling that would be recorded, then reintroduced into your project for editing, although you can use automatiion on the comps like mulch. It can slice (but not transient based) and reorder live... Been working on it really hard... a couple little things left, then the docs with proper release notes...

[Lunch Money]

Thank God you're writing docs. Looks like you've been working quite hard, though! Good stuff!

[rockstar_not]

ModulR,

I am currently using a demo version of T. (I'm even getting the acronyms!!!)

One of the things I wanted to do with T, is use loops, just like I do in Acid - mainly for drums and percussion. I can't program drums worth anything, so I rely on loop CDs to help me out.

Is there somewhere in the T manual that discusses what you talk about here:

Now slice your loop.

And what is involved in that? I really only want to do time stretching with no pitch shifting, of maybe 10 bpm higher or lower than the native bpm of a loop.

I was disappointed with all of the algorithms that are in the demo version of T. They all left audible artifacts that were distracting, whereas in Acid, I can go 10 bpm, and usually it doesn't bother me.

-Scott

[wibbleflex]

Looks interesting. I thought it might be a way to chop/program beats in Tracktion, but will give it a whirl.

[AD80]

I was disappointed with all of the algorithms that are in the demo version of T. They all left audible artifacts that were distracting, whereas in Acid, I can go 10 bpm, and usually it doesn't bother me.

-Scott

I think the best bet right now for stretching drum loops in T is to use something like Phatmatik Pro, or NI Intakt. Tracktion's algo is not ideal (I'm being generous there). Or you could always time stretch the stuff inside Acid and export it as a new wave. Of course nothing handles loops easier than Acid IMHO. Its likely that T2 will have a better time algo tho so its worth getting T1 for all the other great features and ease of use. Atleast it was for me.


PS: ModuLR, you're a savage beast!!

[Lunch Money]

I agree... the timeshift in Tracktion leaves something to be desired (though I hope they keep "timestretch classic" for screwing up my samples). Last night I installed CMuzys, which some people claim to use for beatslicing/timestretching, but I hated it more than words can say. (Sorry, Jo, though I know you won't read this anyhow. )

I also installed Live Delta, which came with my soundcard. Did a hell of a good job-- but I haven't taken the time to figure out how to export the stretched loop from Live back into Tracktion. No matter what, it'll be more cumbersome than native support, but it's still at least an option.

[edit: I forgot to mention earlier-- In fact, I had NOT ever tried slicing up a loop this way, though I was aware that it's possible-- you make it sound easier and friendlier to do, so I might have to give it a whirl]

Greg

[Jed]

Good tip! Thanks Mod

Cheers
Jed

[prupert]

Now slice your loop. Feel free to rearrange it as you wish.

This is the bit I don't get, how can you slice your loop? Do you make many copies of one loop and move around the start and end points, or what?????

[ModuLR]

just use the '/' shortcut and slice the audioclip... is that what you are asking? or it is a methodology type question?

[Lunch Money]

Indeed. The lovely, lovely "/" key is the tool you need. Just position your cursor (right down to sample-level zoom if you like) and boom. Slice-o-rama.

Note that since Tracktion does not currently ghost the clips (is that the right term?) each time you slice you are doing a sort of behind-the-scenes cut and paste of a separate "new" clip. You don't see this in action until you drag the handles and realize that the entire clip is still in there. But changes to the original clip will not affect your new instances.

Greg