LiveLooper

Captures and controls up to 16 tracks of looping sound.

LiveLooper records and plays back up to 16 synchronized loop tracks. Each track can be a different length and a number of options are provided for starting and stopping tracks independently, or in sync with each other.

This contraption synchronizes to the global clock when using Sync to mode. Remember to press play.

See the Adjusting Contraption Properties section for information about using sliders, knobs, presets etc.

Related Contraptions

CanonLooper

Parameters

Instructions

Tracks

LiveLooper supports recording and playback of up to 16 tracks. Each track has a separate audio output. While recording, the input is played through to the track's output if the record monitor check box is checked. Once recorded, each track can be started and stopped independently, although they will always maintain synchronization with the other recorded tracks. The Property Editor contains a Track Grid, consisting of 16 columns. The grid contains information about each track and lets you control the tracks. The various indicators and controls in the grid are described below.

Clear

Use the Clear button , at the top of each column (except Track 1) to clear a recorded loop (during playback or while stopped). When you click Clear, a confirmation dialog pops up to ensure you don't accidentally delete a track. Holding down Ctrl on a PC, or Option on a Mac when clicking Clear bypasses the confirmation dialog and automatically clears the track.

Track 1 provides master timing information that the other tracks depend on. Once track 1 is recorded it cannot be cleared unless you click on Reset.

Length

The Length indicator displays the track's length as a fraction or multiple of Track 1's length. For example, a value of 2 indicates a track twice the length of Track 1, a value of 11/3 indicates a length that is eleven thirds of Track 1's length. If the length ratios are complicated, the value will be displayed as an approximate decimal value.

Location

Each recorded track displays a circular location indicator, which indicates the current playback position of each track (even if the track is stopped). This makes it easy to see when each track will reach the end of its cycle.

Status

The Status indicator displays an icon indicating the current status of each track, which can be one of the following:

The track is empty, no sound has been recorded into it.

The track will be the next track recorded. You can click the record button on any empty track to select it as the next track to record into.

The track is armed for recording. As soon as the next synchronization point arrives, the track will start recording.

The track is recording.

The track is recording but will finish recording and start playing as soon as the next synchronization point arrives.

The track is recording but will finish recording and stop as soon as the next synchronization point arrives.

The track has a loop recorded into it, but it is currently not playing, it is stopped.

The track is stopped, but will begin playing as soon as the next synchronization point arrives.

The track is playing.

The track is playing, but will stop as soon as the next synchronization point arrives.

Control

The Control button lets you control the activity of each track. When the track is empty, the Record button is displayed. Clicking on it will make the track the next one to be recorded (the Status indicator will reflect this).

Note: Recording is started and stopped using the Start/Stop and Next buttons at the top left of the Property Editor.

Once a loop has been recorded to a track, it can be started and stopped with the Control button. When the track is playing, the Stop button is displayed. Clicking on it will stop the track. When the track is stopped, the Play button is displayed. Clicking on it will start the track.

Note: Depending on the Enable mode, the track may not start or stop immediately.

Enable (Enable mode)

Each track has a pop-up menu to set its Enable mode. To access this menu, click on the button in the Enable row, at the bottom of each track's column. The Enable mode determines when each track will be started or stopped. This allows each track to be brought in and out of sync with Track 1, or with its own cycle (for example, always starting to play at the start of a cycle, and ending at the end of a cycle). The Enable modes and their abbreviations are described below.

Immediate (i) The track will start and stop in direct response to the Control button.

End of Track (t) The track will wait until the end of its loop before it stops or starts playing.

End of Sync Cycle (s) The track will wait until the end of the synchronization cycle before it stops or starts playing. See the description of the Sync to controls above for more information about the synchronization cycle.

End of Track 1 (1) The track will wait until the end of Track 1's loop before it stops or starts playing.

End of Composite Cycle ( c ) The track will wait until all tracks end simultaneously before it stops or starts playing. The length of the composite cycle depends on the lengths of different tracks. Depending on when you start recording each track it is possible for a composite cycle to never occur.

Relevant Example Files

The following files provide some examples of how LiveLooper can be used:

DrumLooper.amh & LooperJam.amh

To open the Example Files directory, go to the File menu, select Open, and double-click on the Examples folder. Read descriptions of the example files here.