Looping - Is this possible?

jamester · 11-01-2007, 01:20 AM

Would it be possible to set a track to ignore selected regions, for purposes of loop recording? IOW, have say a four bar drum loop selected as a region and the transport set to Repeat, while jamming away over it on another track which is just recording normaly?

I suppose this would create the need for a second (sub)cursor, as the primary cursor would follow the looped region. This is one thing I loved Live for, as far as its non-linear approach: Sure you can drag a loop out for a million measures and then jam over it, but this takes it to the next level - where you can build up small multi-track grooves and then jam over them indefinitely.

Any thoughts?

happymonkey · 11-01-2007, 02:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamester

...Any thoughts?

Many... but this would be an amazing feature and I can think of several times within the past week alone where this would have been a godsend.

Since loops could be any length, and may not have starting points that line up with each other, each loop section would need to have its own independent cursor. And you could also have right click options on each loop for logic to.....

1: "on playback stop looping at end of longest recorded track"

2: "on playback stop looping at x:xx" (user determined time or beat)

3: "fade by x:xx (user determined time or beat)" or "no fade" at end

Maybe we can call it "free looping".

++1

hm

ArdeII · 11-01-2007, 03:31 AM

If I recall right Cubase has this kind of feature, but somehow I have never used it. Maybe it was too difficult or I was too stupid to use it.
If Reaper had this kind of feature and it were very simple to use I would give +1 for it

Darko Veble · 11-01-2007, 08:37 AM

+1 for the pattern paradigm.

beatbybit · 11-01-2007, 08:43 AM

+1 for stepping out from the "time-linear world".

http://www.cockos.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8196

Tallisman · 11-01-2007, 09:03 AM

yes this sound great...

++1

t.

jamester · 11-01-2007, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamester

I suppose this would create the need for a second (sub)cursor, as the primary cursor would follow the looped region.

Thinking more about this, I'd flip it: have a specific "looping region", while the primary cursor follows the linear track. That makes more sense to me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by happymonkey

Since loops could be any length, and may not have starting points that line up with each other, each loop section would need to have its own independent cursor.

That's taking my idea to the next level!

Honestly, I'd be happy enough with the ability to loop a standard region - I'm thinking more of the region looping than the actual loops themselves. Once you start getting into each loop having autonomous start/end points, you're really getting into Live territory and I imagine some intense coding would be required.

I'm thinking simply for now:
1) Highlight a region, select "Loop playback of region" from right-click.
2) Arm a track to record, select "Ignore region playback" from input/monitoring options.

happymonkey · 11-01-2007, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamester

...Once you start getting into each loop having autonomous start/end points, you're really getting into Live territory and I imagine some intense coding would be required....

Yeah, I agree, but it would be freaking AWESOME.........

hm

Diogenes · 11-01-2007, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beatbybit

+1 for stepping out from the "time-linear world".

Noooooo!!! If that happened you'd rip the very fabric of the space-time continuum and we'd all be reduced to basic molecules!

D

beatbybit · 11-01-2007, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diogenes

Noooooo!!! If that happened you'd rip the very fabric of the space-time continuum and we'd all be reduced to basic molecules!

D

wow, this sounds exciting!!

when should i try this out?
(i promise my left hand gonna lay on the CTR+Z)

(seems that Logic, Cubendo, Sonar, Samplitude (?), FL, Reason, Live etc has some kinda "black holes" hardcoded then?..

)

and..

..ohh, Reaper has a small break in its time linear shield. called "MIDI items"..

happymonkey · 11-01-2007, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diogenes

Noooooo!!! If that happened you'd rip the very fabric of the space-time continuum and we'd all be reduced to basic molecules!

D

On the bright side, I wouldn't have to go to work tomorrow...

hm

Diogenes · 11-01-2007, 12:17 PM

Ahhh... GOOD point HM...

On a serious note, I do think this is a good idea. I'd also like a "Play order list" or similar where I could layout regions and then say OK Reaper! Play Verse1, Chorus2, Verse3, Break1, Chorus1, etc... and it would obediently fulfill my wishes. Of course, I'd want renders to follow suit as well.

D

PS beatbybit? I don't think your molecules could react fast enough to Crtl+Z... good thought though...

happymonkey · 11-01-2007, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diogenes

...I'd also like a "Play order list" or similar where I could layout regions and then say OK Reaper! Play Verse1, Chorus2, Verse3, Break1, Chorus1, etc... and it would obediently fulfill my wishes. Of course, I'd want renders to follow suit as well....

Hadn't thought that far ahead with this, but a play order list as described would be SWEET!!

Another cool feature I just thought of would be to apply temporary effects or playback rules to individual loop sections without changing the original waveform - like reverse play for instance..... Can you imagine how insanely out of control (in a very good way) this could get??? I've never used Live, but with stuff like this, Reaper could probably outperform that too.....

I bet Justin's reading this thread thinking "Oh crap... now they want me to do what???"

hm

Tallisman · 11-01-2007, 12:57 PM

this sounds a lot like recording in Live using the Session View.

rrroscar · 11-01-2007, 01:02 PM

Even better if reaper could take that Loop/Play Order List and explode everything to a full time-line, so you could nitpick it all together when form and pattern recording/programming is finished. And then record full tracks of stuff, chop it all up in regions again and reassemble if you need to. Lather, rinse, repeat...
That's something I've always wished for in EnergyXT 1.x (and is waiting for in XT2, so far in vain).

jamester · 11-01-2007, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by happymonkey

I bet Justin's reading this thread thinking "Oh crap... now they want me to do what???"

Heh, that's why I'm trying to keep it simple - for now! ;-)

Indeed this stuff is Live's bread-and-butter, but both this and the "play order tracks" (like Cubase has, and I want also) are at least an introduction into some non-linearity for Reaper.

I'd love to see these two things implemented. With these I'd be uninstalling Live permanently!

happymonkey · 11-01-2007, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rrroscar

Even better if reaper could take that Loop/Play Order List and explode everything to a full time-line.....

How 'bout if it explodes to a full timeline in a separate instance of Reaper so you could then save the result as a new project or even work on the two sessions side by side - original and extra crispy?

hm

happymonkey · 11-01-2007, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tallisman

this sounds a lot like recording in Live using the Session View.

Makes me want to check out Live then.....

hm

Tallisman · 11-01-2007, 01:10 PM

also... the playorder track in C4.1 is NO MORE....
the arrange track in in its place and praise the lord...!

yup, it got mo'better!

go figure!

.t

happymonkey · 11-01-2007, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamester

Heh, that's why I'm trying to keep it simple - for now! ;-)

Yeah, but you know how stuff snowballs around here....

Simple is a good place to start though. 'Ya gotta learn to walk before you can rip holes in the time and space continuum...

hm

Tallisman · 11-01-2007, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by happymonkey

'Ya gotta learn to walk before you can rip holes in the time and space continuum...

hm

i am thinking you have mistaken.. just look at reaper for ample proof

happymonkey · 11-01-2007, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tallisman

i am thinking you have mistaken.. just look at reaper for ample proof

Well, I've seen the screenshot of the original beta version...

....there WAS a little bit of walking at one time.....

hm

Tallisman · 11-01-2007, 01:54 PM

ok.
I stand corrected!

thanks for sharing.

.t

edit... my have we come a long way!!!