Loopy Pro: Create music, your way.
What is Loopy Pro? — Loopy Pro is a powerful, flexible, and intuitive live looper, sampler, clip launcher and DAW for iPhone and iPad. At its core, it allows you to record and layer sounds in real-time to create complex musical arrangements. But it doesn’t stop there—Loopy Pro offers advanced tools to customize your workflow, build dynamic performance setups, and create a seamless connection between instruments, effects, and external gear.
Use it for live looping, sequencing, arranging, mixing, and much more. Whether you're a live performer, a producer, or just experimenting with sound, Loopy Pro helps you take control of your creative process.
Download on the App StoreLoopy Pro is your all-in-one musical toolkit. Try it for free today.
Comments
good idea,
I will look into Group The Loop after checking possibility with Pro L7 Live Looper
Not multiple instances on that afair...
any news on loopy pro
Thanks! I was hoping it was Auv3. it's only a host for Auv3
@Tamir_Raz_Mataz Did you try BeatMaker 3. It offers a Clip Launcher view (Scenes) and per channel fx/audio routing...
It's what I said and only after seen others recommending non-AUv3 apps...
If you are only using AUv3fx maybe you should look twice before going sad
You have more tick boxes than lacks but it requires think differently than uberrouting AUM/AB3...
I can't believe this topic is coming over and over on this forum for at least 3 years since I read it and yet no one filled this market gap. Common, Ableton Live's success is based on its grid scene-type sequencer and "magic" time-stretching (you drag n drop a loop and it syncs globally, usually with success). I know (high-quality) time-stretching algorithms costs some money, but still there are iOS apps having it so it's not a dealbreaker.
To sum it up, there is currently no solution that would have it all. But the closest is one of Roland Zenbeats and Beatmaker3, both of them not AUv3 but basically full DAWs.
Roland Zenbeats
+ has the grid
+ has time-stretching
+ has MIDI mapping (not sure how they work if you want to map them e.g. to Launchpad though)
- there is nearly zero loop editing options
- unsure about time-stretching quality, seems like the "basic" so may mangle stuff
Beatmaker3
+ has the grid
+ also offers high-quality time-stretching
+ hands down the best sampler among iOS DAWs (only some dedicated samplers or audio editors are comparable)
- grid is not MIDI mappable
- you need to use the sampler and trigger loops as notes, the "pure audio" track has very limited options, but then you don't see the waveform in the grid and if you want to use samples within one track, you need to name every pattern and generally it's "hidden" a one layer under
- happens to crash when manipulating samples (trimming, reversing etc), checking the option to load samples from disk crashes it virtually every time (I am afraid this is true for any iOS app, just I have the most experience with BM3)
If you can sacrifice direct MIDI mapping on the grid, BM3 is far more superior. My setup with AKAI APC40 is to use its grid buttons as triggers for the currently focused bank, sometimes it's handy. But obviously, for scene / pattern switching I need to use the iPad directly. Not great, not terrible.
Yes but for looping duties both of these are bit overwhelming. The only solution with all the "needs" seems the @espiegel123 loopy+AB3 approach (and not sure if something keeps out) but also there's the simplification workflow expressed in some ways such one app, one iPad (getting more than two devices just to avoid hosting too much through AB/AUM) or directly working with stems ala arranger-like setups etc.
For me dedicated outputs are unnecessary (for me I repeat) so I build basic things in BlocsWave (but it's possible to start with midi app but exporting into audio) so later I export into other places. Looping is an extra over arrange-like workflow (which over just playing a stereo backtrack, let user some control but not too much mess)... Do you see what I'm pointing?
To play music on stage it depends on your priorities from the most stable and easy to the most experimental and messy it's up to the user. The thing is simplifying you can find solutions already available but when user needs go messy then struggles into make things work... but again it depends on the goal. When user does music just for the pleasure of play for him/herself it's infinte/endless as its inner process... but when you are focusing on a possible crowd then music should be the top priority IMHO...
Developers work for users in mind (and sometimes for themselves without any kind of market focus) so sometimes the crowd focus (end goal if you want) is not relevant or take in consideration...
Ableton live for iOS?
No, thanks. I hate it even on desktop... xD
Personal preferences aside, AL's success is undeniable, so obviously there is a market for such software. Not matter if you personally like it or not. I always disliked it for composing too, but it's still great for what it was in its infantry - a grid loop player. I believe this is also a main reason of its success. I know many "pro" musicians who use AL only in a deadly simple way: load their loops, cut into scenes, shuffle around if needed, add some simple effects on tracks like filters and delays, MIDI map everything on a controller (or use an AL-ready controller) and voila, you can play an hour long live set. Simple
And of course, some people who got used to it for live playing asked why not directly create stuff in the same software? That's obviously very convenient.
Maybe it also depends on your music type, AL is definitely better suitable for electronic music. There are many simpler options for singers, instruments players or live bands, although I also know some bands that use AL in their gigs, because the core of it is actually pretty simple.
I believe AL managed to mix well both from "simple and stable" to "experimental and messy" - you can go deep if you want to, but it's not overwhelming if you just stick with the basics. I believe something like this is totally achievable on iOS (it does not need to be full DAW, there are tons of features you can skip), just it's probably safer for developers to bring yet another synth / sampler / effect suite / ... as the appoholics will buy it anyway, sooner or later
As for the focus on users rather than "crowd" - I believe this is because people still don't consider iPad apps as really professional (for some good reasons) and only professionals really care about the "crowd" that much. On the other hand, I am hobbyist too, and to me it is a lot of fun to play "like a pro", but maybe I am only an exception
Lot's of contradiction but I see the point.
The point is if you make bits from ableton you can get covered those users (which are different, that's the contradiction) and since iPads aren't seen as professional tools (people asking for Ableton or Logic on an on) you have a trouble as developer if you want to sell professional tools (look at BM3, NS2, Zenbeats, Auria... complaints) for a target which isn't at the platform you choose...
Of course it's my opinion and a matter of taste but at the same time it's a answer about how the hell nobody thought on this or that app... nosense. Those who thought in a professional (true) aside passion for the platform realise that it's not worth just focus on iOS/iPadOS (those like korg or roland have full strategy behind their proposals and it doesn't makes them a success everytime). Another great example for that could be djplayer which being maybe the best option for DVS at the moment isn't the most popular since very few djs are going to use an iPad to dj (most users are stuck on analog vinyl so in the best case a macbook...). Traktor jump into the ecosystem... for free (but as a hardware strategy as usual) but also making the new traktor cross-platform etc.
Backing on topic... Ableton simplified isn't Ableton like Logic simplified isn't what people asking for Logic on iPad Pro wants too. Other question, which I try to point, is if Logic or Ableton are truly necessary and will be ergonomic to play on iPads.
We don't need Ableton or Logic as is but even the market for Ableton or Logic on iPads ask for something like this so figure how hard from the POV of Ableton/Apple could be to deliver something very few are asking for and at the same time deliver what truly will gain users to the platform... think in garageband as iOS Logic and Launchpad app as Ableton on iOS. Other proposals aren't profitable (that's include Korg Gadget or Roland Zenbeats which probably are near but not so popular like Ampify apps).
Audiobus users are a niche (early adopters), not the standard.
I recommend the whole talk but to understand about adopting technologies and profit look at 10:54 time of the talk.
Maybe there is a market for AUv3 looper or clip launcher but as L7 (and others before as ReSlice or Beathawk) pointed memory issues with multiple instances makes them unreliable until possible (and it seems Apple themselves doesn't take to serious AUv3 in iOS/iPadOS fixing the issues and documenting properly the SDK) so good luck seems the right answer.
Garageband is the nearest to Ableton on iOS (and now in macOS).
So offtopic end...
I couldn’t find any other available solutions. So I ended up buying MultitrackRecorder desperately to solve my need.
I’m giving it a try.
Only problem when changing a preset gets it out of sync.
I know this is an old issue, I keep searching and finding “this is an old issue” comments...
I find it hard to believe that there’s isn’t a decent, solid, simple AUV3 file player. Sure there’s samplers, loopers, 4 pockets MultiTrack, but I haven’t found 1 that just works... let me explain a use case. This would be for a dawless alternative, like AUM.
It’s called a SONG. Sometimes, seems like in the old days, songs had PARTS. Intro, Verse, chorus, (hateful) middle8 , and so on. The MIDI part is sort of taken care of with the likes of Xequence, LK, Drambo... you have midi patterns that you change on demand or with some sort of song mode in your plugin.
But audio... I’m talking a 1-bar loop, I’m talking vocals, a guitar or bass part that goes on for a whole verse or chorus... I’ve tried many, and no solution seems to work. Would love it if someone could provide a valid solution,
Prerequisites:
In my project I use LK to switch parts, changing midi sequences and midi control the file player/sampler. Here’s mi findings.
An audio clip player like the ones in BM3, Zenbeats or even GarageBand, in AUV3 format. How come it doesn’t exist?
Maybe Auditor AUV3 file player or Koala Sampler (IAA only)
https://apps.apple.com/pt/app/auditor-audio-editor/id1248284381?l=en
https://apps.apple.com/pt/app/koala-sampler/id1449584007?l=en
It doesn’t exist because iOS music app development isn’t profitable for most developers. So, most of the really cool apps are things that developers build because they need its functionality, or they can build it quickly by repurposing code they have around...or because they are hoping to be one of the few that lucks out (note that even some top-selling music apps haven’t generated enough revenue to really be considered profitable if you consider the development time).
So, until a developer needs this themselves, you might not see it. Note that the Multitrack Recorder dev apparently has decided that adjusting its functionality along the lines you’ve suggested isn’t a profitable use of his time.
One could cobble something together using Loopy and Mozaic to start/stop loops. Loopy is super stable and it’s loops can be as long as you’d like. It has a rich set of MIDI commands. It would be a hassle, but one could set it up,so that you start/stop/mute its tracks with MIDI notes or CCs and sequence it with your favorite MIDI sequencer. It isn’t an AU, but it is super solid and tracks can be as long as you’d like. It also has automatic time-stretching.
Is there any?
Don’t forget AudioLayer.
@espiegel123 But they sure need yet another synth!.
Now seriously, i guess you’re right. It’s a but frustrating cos there’s loads of really cool apps but seems like many are overlapping whereas there are some black areas, like the audio features we’re talking about.
How old is Loopy?. It’s a landmark, I wish loopy pro finally comes along and fills the void.
FWIW, Loopy having been around for ages is one of the reasons it is so reliable. @Michael takes great pride in his work and has refined the bugs out of it over year...unlike some devs who feel like if a bug has been around long enough it doesn’t merit fixing
FWIW, co-ordinating playback of multiple audio files in limited memory isn’t trivial ... and planning the architecture to be able to handle all the various ways users will want them to sync or not with the host is more work than one might think.
The way i see it is you always want to sync in a looper, from start to the end point, just like BM3, Zenbeats, Loopy... I reckon there might be a problem with memory in the case of an auv3 plugin. I think they have a limited amount of ram available, if that’s what you mean. But if you can use a sampler like Drambo with 6 tracks to play files I believe it should be possible and certainly simpler to do this. My bet is more in, like you say, that no one has considered this to be profitable.
Would live loops GarageBand work for you? I think there’s a way to get imports into the format for it to do timestretch. That may be a problem for you.
For myself, I decided im gonna get back into using it. I’m just gonna import stuff that’s already timestretched and leave the tempo. Which, when that problem is solved, the grid system and the fact that it’s got full track interface and hosts auv3 etc and works on iPhone. Well, there’s just nothing else near as good for that.
Easy way to use GB for this is to get all the audio loops prepared in BlocsWave first.
So basically use BW for all the Audio Buts first and let BW sort out tempos.
Set the tinal tempo in BlocsWave, and then export them all in one go. You then import all the audio into GB.
If you put the audio into organised cells in BW the numbering of the files makes it easy to find where to put the audio in GB (for example column 1 track 6).
GB liveloops is pretty good. You can host Auv3 and audio (as well as all the built in stuff) in each cell.
You can then jam out your song in liveloops and record the output into the arrange timeline along with the cheesy (but fun) Fx track (which can be redone later in the arrange window)
And it imports into Logic too.
It’s missing the timestretchy goodness for now. But the BW workaround works.
You can always print the Auv3 stuff to audio and stick those loops back into BW which can then be exported to launchpad again for performing.
It takes extra steps but works ok.
You can use either Auditor or BeatMaker 3 to save a loop in AppleLoops format so that GB will timestretch them.