Why should i add loops and not just browse files?

[fwsuperhero]

Hi,
Ive never got Tracktion loop thing.
1) Is there any reason why adding loops? it messes with my plugin browser.
2) Is audio file same as loop ? Will it be synced as a loop? Then i wouldnt add loop directory that messes with my plugins :]

3]I am almost sure preview of my loop was synced but it is not anymore.
I ve got sync checked in options, so i dont know what i do wrong
They are not synced even if i drag them into audio lane. Somebody with the same experience?

Thanks a lot

[fwsuperhero]

Nobody? Is there any better T forum than kvr?

Reaper and Renoise community is pro. Maybe tracktion is not? Maybe it is entry daw?

[pough]

I took some time to look into what I think your problem is, but if you would prefer a forum where the users are paid to answer questions, that might be a better option for you. This forum is periodically checked by TSC employees but other than that nobody is paid to answer anyone's questions. Feel free to insult everyone if you don't get what you want, though. It'll decrease your chances of getting answers, but increase your opportunities to complain. Some people like to complain, of course, and I don't want to get in your way if that's what you like to do.

1) If you don't want to add loops, don't add loops. If you do want to add loops, add loops. How does it mess your plugin browser? Please be specific if you need help with something.

2) Loops are audio files, but not all audio files are loops. Some of my collection of audio files are "loops" in that they can be looped but they have no extra slicing, length, or BMP information in them. Some of them have been processed to have slicing, length, and BPM information in them. Tracktion is able to use the extra information in the processed files. If there is no extra information in the files, even if they do "loop", Tracktion has no way of knowing what the BMP, length, or beat points are. (As far as I know.)

3) If your problem is that the loop files are un-processed you will need to tell Tracktion the details manually using the tools associated with clips.

For the record, I am not a pro. If in the future you don't want me to answer your questions even if I do know the answer, just let me know and I'll let the pros deal with it, instead.

[fwsuperhero]

Dont be so easily offended.
Tracktion doesnt have manual and i have asked this question till version 5. I have bad experience with tracktion knowledge base. This or any different tracktion forum isnt very deep. No tips or tricks, usually just technical and gui problems...
Also my english is not so good so i dont speak very polite.
But thank you for your answers.

1) When i add loop folder path then loops are under "search" submenu where my plugins are.
I know what loops are but i dont know why i should "make" a special folder for them. It is imho some old sampling paradigm / concept i dont get.

I prefer to find my audio files organized in folders... like tracktion does when you have loop folder path turned off and using file submenu. So why should turn loop folder on when

2) Tracktion doesnt detect audio files and add information? It should basicaly sync any file with information i preview. But i am very surprised that computer music and musicradar loops that are named like "hihatloop140bpm" dont have this information. Or there is something broken on my side.


I would love to see some developer to explain concept of loops and difference betweenm having them in search submenu and in file submenu. Thanks a lot

[fwsuperhero]

...dulicate post...

[whyterabbyt]

I prefer to find my audio files organized in folders... like tracktion does when you have loop folder path turned off and using file submenu. So why should turn loop folder on

The search function is generic; it'll search for anything that's 'specific' to tracktion, eg loop, preset, or plugins. You can selectively disable each of these from being searched at any time.
Do that by clicking on the little magnifying glass button on the search panel, which is a dropdown (hence the downwards triangle right beside it).
If you dont want to see loops, untick loops. If you only want to see plugins, untick loops and plugins. etc etc.

[aMUSEd]

I prefer to find my audio files organized in folders... like tracktion does when you have loop folder path turned off and using file submenu. So why should turn loop folder on

The search function is generic; it'll search for anything that's 'specific' to tracktion, eg loop, preset, or plugins. You can selectively disable each of these from being searched at any time.
Do that by clicking on the little magnifying glass button on the search panel, which is a dropdown (hence the downwards triangle right beside it).
If you dont want to see loops, untick loops. If you only want to see plugins, untick loops and plugins. etc etc.

It's a pity it doesn't retain your having unticked it though between sessions, I've basically disabled the loop database completely because it clutters up the search browser. I preferred it when the browser for loops and plugins/presets were separate.

[whyterabbyt]

I prefer to find my audio files organized in folders... like tracktion does when you have loop folder path turned off and using file submenu. So why should turn loop folder on

The search function is generic; it'll search for anything that's 'specific' to tracktion, eg loop, preset, or plugins. You can selectively disable each of these from being searched at any time.
Do that by clicking on the little magnifying glass button on the search panel, which is a dropdown (hence the downwards triangle right beside it).
If you dont want to see loops, untick loops. If you only want to see plugins, untick loops and plugins. etc etc.

It's a pity it doesn't retain your having unticked it though between sessions, I've basically disabled the loop database completely because it clutters up the search browser. I preferred it when the browser for loops and plugins/presets were separate.

Agreed. Presets for searches would be useful too eg, for everything tagged 'ambient' and 'Woodwind' containing the string 'quiet' that's a loop. Then you can set the 'default' search as the one it retains between sessions.

[fwsuperhero]

So... do you use loops?

Because folders can be organized like i want. I dont like to use same tags for plugins and loops or have to change filters everytime i open session.

And what about sync option? How i will find if the file has the information and tracktion behaves right (or the opposite)? Thank you

[tovokas]

For me, t7 automatically time syncs everything in both the loop browser and the file manager. All my files are either Rex rx2 files or Apple Loops: perhaps your files are in a format that Tracktion isn't properly detecting the recorded tempo?

And I agree, saving the search state (especially with the ability to have multiple browsers) would help the browser work for everyone.

[dRowAudio]

Thanks guys for answering most of the questions posed in this thread. I'll add a little more info where I can.

"Loops" is a rather loose term for audio files that sound good when played in a loop. The common opposite to loops are often called "One hits" and are things like drum hits, chord stabs, FX etc. In Tracktion we don't differentiate between the two in terms of the side browser.

For loops to be played in sync with each other or your Edit, they need to contain metadata about the pitch and tempo etc. If we don't have this info, they won't be synced. You can tell if this info is present by clicking on a file in the "Files" or "Search" browsers and looking at the description. If it has a number of beats, tempo, time sig or key it has the metadata. This info is read from the various files and varies between formats but is usually found in Acidised wav files, Apple Loops aiff files, REX files and Apple caf files. Most commercial loop libraries come in one or more of these formats.

We don't currently look at the file name for tempo etc. data but we might do in future as a fallback.


Whether you want to use the folder based "Files" browser or the tag based "Search" browser is up to you. It may be quicker if you know exactly how your loop libraries are organised to use the "Files" browser but the "Search" browser may be better if you just want to browse your whole library.
Imagine looking for every Amen break on your hard disk via the "Files" browser. However, type "Amen" into the "Search" browser and you can quickly cursor through them all. You can also tag them all with the 'beak' keyword if you like and quickly search all your 'breaks'.

Each browser has a different purpose and both have their merits. It's similar to how you use both Finder and Spotlight on the Mac. If they removed one of them a computer would be difficult to navigate.


We're aware the "Search" options aren't saved with the Edit right now, it's on the feature request list. The other key thing is that if the order of the search results was adjustable it would be possible to put the plugins at the top to avoid any loop search results showing first.

Please also be aware of the macro actions that can enable libraries. It's quite simple to set up three macros to show just Loops, Presets and Plugins e.g.

Code: Select all

Tracktion.showSidePanel ('search');
Tracktion.enableSearchLibrary ('loop', true);
Tracktion.enableSearchLibrary ('preset', false);
Tracktion.enableSearchLibrary ('plugin', false);
Tracktion.setSearchPanelText ('');

I hope this helps everyone!

[fwsuperhero]

Great answer, thanks a lot drow!

So right now i will turn loop option off for my sample forder because musicradar and computer music files dont have this information as it seems.
But i will have a folder for files that have this information. Or for files that i will render in tracktion and other daws (if they save informations about loop)


BTW do you have any tips for nice free loops with these metadata? I usually browse things like kvr, bedroom producer etc. but it seems i dont have any good described loops.

[gigazaga]

For what it's worth in my normal workflow I bookmark my loop library in the Files tab of the browser and don't use the Search for loops. I uses Search for plugins. I also find it annoying that the search preferences need to be reset for each search.