Loops? Watisit? For those who do not know, loops are musical phrases or drum rhythms, most often in the form of audio files. These loops are often played by a single instrument. The goal is to superimpose them to create your music. It’s a bit like a Lego-style assembly game but for music. Despite their obvious usefulness, one of the risks is to find yourself with the same musical phrase as other titles. Not top level for originality.
Personally, I find the use of loops very useful in some cases. Let’s see how the use of loops can be interesting.
01 – IT’S ULTRA FAST TO SET UP.
What’s faster than selecting a bass line to add a guitar melody and a drums without even having to choose chords or notes. Loops have the advantage of requiring very little knowledge in music theory.
02 – IT IMMEDIATELY SOUNDS GOOD.
Even if you use a synth to make your musical phrase, you will need to make some adjustments so that it sounds good in your mix. Many loops are already treated; often even equalized and compressed. Which makes them sound very good. After setting up your different loops, you will still need to mix them a little bit but you will already have something very pro in terms of sound. You can even pitch them for more variations.
03 – THE OFFER IS HUGE.
There are an incredible number of websites where you can buy loops of any kind; like Loopmaster, Bigfishaudio, Soundiron, Producer Loops, Cymatics, Ghosthack or Looploft specialized in drum loops for the most famous ones. There are also some where you can find free ones like Looperman, Freesound or ccMixter. In short, if you compose with loops, you will not miss supply sources.
04 – IT WORKS IMMEDIATELY WITH ANY SOFTWARE.
Since a loop is neither more nor less than an audio file, it will be read the same from one software to another. This is less true for an instrument built into a DAW. Apart from the VST ones of course.
05 – IT’S AFFORDABLE.
Unlike some VSTs, loops packs are inexpensive. You can have hundreds for a few dozen euros. There are all kinds, in all musical styles.
06 – HYPER USEFUL TO WRITE AN IDEA.
Nothing faster than selecting a loop and placing it in your sequencer. You can go very quickly to ask the idea of a new title. In addition, listening to the loops can give you new directions to explore.
07 – YOU DO NOT ALWAYS HAVE A MUSICIAN HEREABOUT.
Adding a funky bass line that sounds good while you have no bassist or bass to even see anything to record is on the impossible side. The loops have this convenient: You can have almost any physical instruments and playing styles possible without the need to record anything.
Loops may have bad press for some composers or be seen as the paraphernalia of the amateur but they remain a good tool to start or make a title quickly.You will just be aware that if you want something original, you need to modify the loops.
I hope this list will be useful in your creations. Leave me a message in the comments if you liked this article, if you have any comments or if you have questions or topics that you would like me to talk about.
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