loops - what do you do with/to them

[Sascha Franck]

I don't know about the other ones, but MicroDicer is capable of loading rex, rx2 and plain .wav loops to work with.

It doesn't have any built-in FX or filters, but with the ability to assign slices to more than one key and each of those keys assigned to one of 4 stereo outputs, you really don't lose anything as far as flexibility goes.

Yeah - especially along with the ability to drag and drop slices to other apps it looks like a real winner.
Just downloaded the demo, will see how well slicing works (as that's the main deal about it).
The price surely is REALLY nice, especially if you allready have a loop library of some sorts.
Also, previewing of REX files in host tempo is just cool - so far I have only been able to do that in Logic, so I was somewhat lost when using SX. Could be a great solution... just wtf, I allready have 3 slicers and there's another thing I may not talk about yet coming on as well. Guess I just love slicing

[whyterabbyt]

What do I use loops for? That depends on the kind of loop it is. But if you mean rhythms, then underpinning the foundations of a track and giving it a pulse. Or if not, then as an accent, or 'landmark' within the track.

Do I use premade loops? Yes. Sometimes. I also sometimes start from presets on my synths. That doesnt mean they wind up recognisable though.

How do I use them? Mangle the f*ck out of them usually.

No, really, how do I use them? Ummm, okay, then. Some of the loops I use arent necessarily rhythms. I often think of them more as 'spot effects', really. Usually, its enough to use Sonar's built-in ACID looping, and whatever effects are needed to carve them into shape.
Rhythmic loops might wind up treated the same way, but generally, they wind up in a beatslicer (PPro or Dicer), so I can route different 'parts' to different tracks and process them separately. And boy will I process them. Notwithstanding the fact that something like PPro has a fair amount of processing it can do on a 'slice', I'll still often add half a dozen effects to one output, again, to carve them into shape. And I'll pull the MIDI into Sonar, edit the note order and timing, and loop that with some MFX-based 'humanisation' to take add some subtle life into the velocity and timing in the looping part. I may even bounce that MIDI down and hand-edit it for more 'feel' or whatever. Another thing I like to do on rhythmic loops, to pull away from the original 'feel' is use a rhythmic effect (Beatburner, Gat'R, Anarchy Rhytms or somesuch) on an aux bus, and impose a secondary rhythm over the top of the loop.

[soulata]

hi again

this thread is doing great I see .

I have to add what I forgot in the beginning, I don't do much of a "far out" stuff, my music is fairly usual (think porno-jazz, jazz, funk) so I wouldn't use much processing anyway.

does that give anyone a clue how to add something useful to that?

k

(Sascha thanks, that was an opener)

[pHz]

heehee ...

... having fun here with some low tech loopery (while rediscovering the joys of energyXT) ... dumping loops into eXTs sequencer comp and using a quick-n-dirty slicing technique (alt-click to split the loop) before manually rearranging the audio by dragging / copying and then dumping the whole thing through a raft of effects ...

... so while i have pPRO / dicer / microdicer / live4 sometimes the simple things are all you need ...

slainte rob

[Sascha Franck]

Soulata, for that style of music, just get yourself some proper loop CD(s), or just collect some loops from the web if you got the time.
Then think about MicroDicer - I just tried the demo some minutes ago, and while the comment I posted in the thread might look a bit harsh, I'm sure Jon, cool dude that he is, will sort those issues out.
Along with the DR-008 you will be very happy!
This combo should also still be a great choice should you ever think about something more experimental.

Btw, which host are you using? SX for instance has quite some good stuff to offer regarding loop slicing or tempo matching as well.
I just don't use it because I prefer having MIDI access to my sliced loops.

pHz, does EnergyXT allow for automatic slicing as well? And if so, how does it compare? Good transient detection?

[Roland Babbage]

Just wanted to add a little thought here

Soulata, you mentioned that you've tried playing with the recordings of your real drummer and that usually the snare sounds wimpy or something is wrong

Well, this is one area where the whole digital audio and/or loop slicing thing can work wonders. Why not substitute or layer a more meaty sounding snare?

By the way, did the old drummer explode?

[pHz]

pHz, does EnergyXT allow for automatic slicing as well? And if so, how does it compare? Good transient detection?

do you know sasch ... id never actually thought about this (as i said im only just getting back into energyXT after a while away from it - SO much has changed !!! ) ...

... the sequencer in energyXT itself doesnt slice but its new(ish) integral sampler comp does ... and having just investigated it for the first time it autoslices too (has all the other usual tricks like slicing on note divisions etc too) ... and from my initial quick test just now it does it bloody well too ...

... gut reaction from this initial tryout suggests to me that its transient detection is at least as good as that of pPRO and since its inside the sampler each slice is automatically mapped to MIDI as you slice and dice ... supports MIDI drag-n-drop into energyXT sequencer / MIDI comps too ...

... why the f**k did i just buy shortcircuit again ???

(ARSE !!! )

slainte rob

[Sascha Franck]

... gut reaction from this initial tryout suggests to me that its transient detection is at least as good as that of pPRO and since its inside the sampler each slice is automatically mapped to MIDI as you slice and dice ... supports MIDI drag-n-drop into energyXT sequencer / MIDI comps too ...

Wow, that's just sounding REALLY good!
Maybe I'll finally make EXT my personal x-mas present.

[pHz]

... gut reaction from this initial tryout suggests to me that its transient detection is at least as good as that of pPRO and since its inside the sampler each slice is automatically mapped to MIDI as you slice and dice ... supports MIDI drag-n-drop into energyXT sequencer / MIDI comps too ...

Wow, that's just sounding REALLY good!
Maybe I'll finally make EXT my personal x-mas present.

to be honest ... for the money sasch ... its worth it just to play around with for a laugh ... the fact jorgen has packed SO much power into the thing (once you understand the energyXT way of doing things) is really a bonus ...

slainte rob

[3*s]

slice n dice em

I stir fry my loops. I might add a pinch of salt for zest.