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Looper's Delight
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Per Boysen's wish list for a software based looper is just an incredible vision......................I don't think I could add anything to it. Nice work, Per........................I love the idea for a bookmarkable history and for a step sequenced and perhaps a groove quantifiable approach to the loop.................the filtering idea has me itching to try out Cubase SX just for the step filtering function. The ability to 'call up' such a set of parameters would be incredibly useful, musically. I personally love the time stretch features of the Repeater and would only add that it would be cool to add two octaves up and two octaves down repitching of the loops (the Repeater sadly eliminated the second octave up). Someone should make this thing a reality: Andy? Matthias? Kim? anyone? Of course, I realize that I, as a non-programmer, haven't the faintest clue about how difficult it would be to develop such a thing but I wonder how many looping programmers on this list would be into volunteering to develop individual parts of such a wish list looper under the guidance of one or two or three individuals. Hell, it could be sold with the profits being used to compensate the programmers for their dedicated work and, perhaps, to help pay for this site Pie in the Sky? You tell me. Rick Per wrote: First I'd like to state that the "future looper" of my dreams is a software based plug-in, AU and VST compatible. Speaking about features I think the EDP almost has it all (why don't you Aurisis people put out a SoftPlex? It would be a hit!). However in a software version a lot of cool things could be added, like interesting applications of pitch transposing and time stretching. Another goodie that comes with software is the ability to throw in many "history" functions. Not only, as in traditional loopers, a history of overdubbed layers, but also a history of just about any action the player performs. And think about how powerful a "bookmark" function would be! Simply kick the "bookmark button" whenever your looping sounds good to you and then you can step back later along that "favourite bookmarks history" if you want. "Bookmarks" here working as EDP loops when running the EDP with RAM divided into many loop slots. Step based I would also like to have the looper step based according to a chosen "grid" (16 steps for 4/4 or maybe 10 if you want to play in 5/4 with an 8 note resolution). The grid should be completely user definable, maybe even affected by "groove quantising" (like ReCycle or pHATmatic Pro running under Logic. With the ability to use, export/import, the same groove quantize maps as the host application uses for midi or audio). Kind of the way Loop IV now can divide a loop into segments according to the 8ths/cycle setting, but in my vision it should also be possible to use the steps/slices/segments for different filtering, re-pitching, reversing and just about every usual loop mangling technique. One application could be to drive a filter for "step sequenced dynamical filtering" of the loop (like the Step Filter in Cubse SX and others). You should also be able to save all grid/step sequencing parameters as "pre-sets", to be instantly recalled by midi commands. Just think about setting up bass lines and melodies by re-pitching different 32 note segments of the loop! Then you could start out with looping a drone and then kick in the preset for "funky sub dominant". Transpose short segments up/down one or two octaves. Or apply a simple "random segment shift" function to have the loop play back segments in a different order. Opens up a lot of interesting possibilities. When running the looper as a plug-in under a host application many traditional problems are instantly solved. Like for example "combining two loops of different lengths". You can achieve this by opening two instances of the SoftPlex on two different host tracks, controlled over two different midi channels. Record loop one, change track and record loop two - now to a different loop length (and maybe you like to apply a different grid to this second loop as well? Some chances for poly rhythmic fun here ;-). If you run a FCB1010 into a laptop with a host application (SX, Logic, Ableton...) you don't have to bother with the FCB inability to assign different midi channels to different banks. Use the same bank and have the host software change the incoming midi to the right channel. Many host programs give you the ability to "change active track" over midi as well. Just one final not on "latency". I don't see it as a problem if the players actions are implemented into the loop on the next loop round. Then the computer has enough time to compensate for hardware latency. You don't need "software monitoring" for a looper. This is not a complete "wish list", just a bunch of loose thoughts hacked out on a Sunday Afternoon Segment ;-) Best wishes Per Boysen ------------- www.boysen.se www.looproom.com