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.
One App Workflow
With apps like BM3, Drambo, Flip, Gadget, Groove Rider, Koala, and NS2 it is possible to live musically inside one environment.
This is a homage to culture like hip hop that could create music with just an SP1200 or MPC.
Does anyone only use one app to make all their music or given thought to a one app workflow?
Please share your ideas.
Comments
When it comes to making music on the iPad, I see the entire iPad as the production studio rather than working in one app. Each app seems to do their own thing very well.
NS2 is my main DAW, but since it has no audio tracks, if I need to record vocals I use Cubasis 3. When I need to tune vocals, I use MTS Studio. Not to mention the plugins I use as well as using Beathawk for creating loops (or sometimes as a plugin itself). Unlike a PC/Mac where everything is like an all-in-one environment, the iPad has always been a more modular type of thing.
This is a great way to look at the iPad, thank you for sharing!
@Stuntman_mike I was going to bring a thread on this up myself as recently I have become a Believer in the One App lifestyle.
Despite both Gadget and Groovebox being monster contenders in this field it’s Koala that is my One.
No matter how potent the others are I realize that I’m a samples guy at heart and Koala’s workflow is so fast that it starts to feel like an instrument of expression like no other on iOS but also anywhere. The “cheat” here is that AudioShare is my “virtual Zip drive” (or SCSI drive - OG heads where you at?) so technically Two apps, but Koala is the key here.
Grooverider gr16!
I feel you, Koala is gold! It’s so easy to get something going in it and the effects are awesome too. Is there anything you wish Koala had?
Nice!
Yes, Drambo primarily. Workflow is pretty standard - patch, jam, refine. Sometimes I have patchbuilding sessions, or just mapping samples or building instrument racks. I can then use these presets later if I need a creative sequencer, keys, bass or pads sounds, breakbeats or multisamples, utilities or randomizers, etc. Workflow is quick because all modules follow the same logic, I don’t need to jump between different interfaces or adapt to multiple GUIs. Drambo is reliable to me because I know whatever I might need in a session, Drambo has the tools to make those ideas possible. Like simply randomizing the pitch of a snare drum by +/- 5% per trigger, and a 30% probability to ratchet the 2nd hit of the sequence. A tall order for lots of drum machines, but a simple task in Drambo.
There are a few things that need to be optimized or added before Drambo can be a complete standalone production environment:
-Native midi editing. The xox sequencer + edit menu aren’t ideal for polyphony. A piano roll and clip launching have been mentioned to be in the road map.
-Stem recording: stems can be rendered, but track by track recordings of a performance can not be captured natively. This is apparently on the roadmap.
-Audio I/O: currently only has stereo in / out. This is currently being worked on. Soon we’ll be able to route multichannel audio through an interface to Drambo standalone.
Great explanation!
I can’t wait for stem recording...
Hell no. Everything in moderation is still the key to life. No reason to limit yourself or a song just to prove a point to yourself (or others). Many did that because hardware isn't cheap and iPads and laptops weren't around. And the ones who did/do it by choice only felt the need to prove something to themselves (or others). If you have to limit yourself to get something with no timeline done (such as a song/album, not talking about real world time restraints at work & the like), then you have a self-discipline deficiency. And I don't think that self-imposed constraints are the best way to improve that deficiency.
@Stuntman_mike
Ive found this to be a fun question, one that I’ve picked at since I first started making things on the iPad, (2010? Yikes) And I’ve had many different and contradictory thoughts in that time. I really like what @jwmmakerofmusic said about the iPad itself as the studio, and since AB3 and AUM, I began to see the iPad-as-studio as an ultra cool modular tool shed. Atom 2, Xequence, LK and all the plugs...amazing really.
But I’ve also really longed for one sandbox to play in. Because that modular environment, and even an amazing DAW with plugs like those mentioned above seems like too many moving parts. So I have chosen a sandbox, but I choose and choose again and again.
FLSM, Sunvox, Caustic, etc, even the fabulous DAWs like Auria Pro and Cubasis and BM3 can be used as self contained workspaces. And there’s even the one-two punch of Synergy and Meteor...
But a favorite dream is a fluid one page environment...the closest to that is FLSM for me which has samplers synths fix and audio tracks, or SunVox, which still blows my mind, and is a world I can easily lose myself in. But I use them and still others...one ultra cool thing has been iMPC Pro 2, with a couple of synths and the Element controller (my dive into the MPC workflow...better late than never)
In other words I’m all over the place and have been the whole time. Fickle, promiscuous etc.
It's depends on the end goal. With AUM, Cubasis, or, Drambo, it's definitely to possible live in and produce music in one environment. I primarily only use AUM and Drambo for making music on the iPad.
If the end goal is recording and arranging songs however, that stills requires a combination of solutions, but so does working with an MPC. That's where Cubasis or any other arranger 'DAW' comes in.
But as it's been said, the beauty of iOS and most modern approaches to making music is that it is modular. You can pick and choose the tools and set limitations on your own.
Yes:
The transport to also be on the Sample page - I wonder if other users want this too.
The ‘Tone’ slider on the Sample page to have more than one filter character: a toggle between one other alternate High Pass / Low Pass model would be really useful.
A bug fix for going from a one bar loop to a two bar loop starting the latter on the 2nd bar no matter what. (Easy enough to think around this but when jamming it’s a hinderance).
Playback loop points within a Pattern: this is for when building a Song in a single Pattern with the ‘Add To End’ paste feature and being able to focus on a certain part.
A toggle by the Tune knob to switch between semitones and fine tuning (rather than this option being a menu-dive away).
Perhaps most crucial: a Dry / Wet mix for the FX.
How about yourself Mike? (And any Koala heads)
PS noting here that despite the above Wants Koala is bringing the big joy here daily As-Is so can’t give @elf_audio enough thanks and praise.
since previous year autumn i'm hardware only (digitakt+digitone), before that all my music was made in NS2. With few exceptions i even didn't used any AU plugins, just NS2 bundled stuff. It just covers all my needs, i need one unified UI to be creative, switching between different apps, spending all the time by solving puzzles about proper routing of midi and audio between apps just kills my creativity... Tried various approaches but no matter what i try, i always end back in NS. I'm pretty sure, when i suck all available inspiration from Digitakt/Digitone, i will return back to NS again :-)
👆🏼Same here.
It does everything I need without fuss.
I don’t get having 10 apps running just complete a task that could be done with one app.
Each to their own though, I guess.
I feel what you’re saying! Is there one app that you have “deep dived” to really understand its in’s and out’s?
I forgot about FLSM! Are there any desktop features you wish were in the mobile version?
I forgot about Cubasis! Do you record vocals with AUM?
Great feedback! I wish Koala was AUV3. I know that sounds cliche, but Koala is such a great instrument it would be great to have the option to run more than one at a time!
I totally get it. I looked into the Elektron workflow. They only thing that stopped me from trying it was cash flow 😂. NS2 is truly the most stable music app on iOS. Not only that, I find the UI/UX easy and inspiring. My only gripe is the lack of MIDI learn for transport controls. I like to be able to trigger play and record from my MIDI controllers and foot pedal so I can jam.
I could do most of what I want with MTS Studio but combining with NS2 + MTR for all the benefits it offers makes it worth switching between them. NS2 is mainly for arranging a song for me so typically I spend longer periods of time in each app rather than flip between them constantly.
Any other apps I use are for convenience and because they are best of breed for the task, e.g. I use a looper for recording guitar even though I could do that (albeit less efficiently) in MTS.
I like the technical challenge of cobbling together solutions to try and solve a problem, there is a lot of fun to be had there, but when an app already does a thing that I need doing and does it better than my cobbling could achieve then I have no problem jumping in and using it for that one thing, particularly if it is one I had paid money for
Edit: so I guess the answer to the original question for me is: no, not if I want the best that iOS has to offer in my music.
I’m with you! Sometimes it feels like gluttony 😆
I say to myself as I buy another synth: “don’t I already have enough or have I mastered what I got?”
I know some folks are really comfortable with synthesis in general, so after reading the specs on a new synth they can tell if it is worth the time or just another clone.
Is there something you wished NS2 had, besides audio tracks?
I like figuring stuff out too! I find the solutions so useful that the mindset behind them ends being useful in other aspects of my life. I will admit that I get addicted to solving problems too much and burn a lot of time that could be used making actual music 😂
In the same, I am able to churn out better quality songs faster from each “a ha” moment! A lot of the time when I listen to my favorite artists I asked myself: “how did they do that?” then go on a journey to figure it out. We all want to get from A to B, but the fun is in between!
I think that the burning of time that could be used making music is something that many will relate to. I don’t know what is at the heart of it, perhaps some unconscious human thing about making sure everything is just right before committing time to a project (feathering the nest), or is it just trying to delay/avoid the music making part of the process for whatever reason? Is it a mobile music issue or do people find they do this on the desktop? Perhaps it manifests itself as GAS elsewhere. It needs an acronym like GAS if it does not already have one.
😆 GAS you know what “they” say about holding it... I would confess that this is my whole reason for this post... do we sometimes suffer from commitment issues/failure to launch? I wonder if anyone who follows and contributes to this forum hasn’t made a song in a long time. We can get caught up in adding so many components that we push ourselves further away from making music. It is the problem that comes from too many choices or what some know it as “writers block.”
Funniest thing happens to me... the songs that I create and think are basic blah are the songs I get the most compliments on! It’s like for women the day they don’t do there hair everyone compliments them on their hair lmaooooo
I feel like the beauty of our creativity lies in what we are comfortable doing when we play with the tools we know the best, but only when we take the time to get to know ourselves, our tools, and make stuff.
Someone will read this thread and finally start making songs and be blown away by all the creativity they have been holding back!!!
For me, midi sync/start/stop so I can run it alongside my hardware and midi mutes that can be midi learned by a controller. Other than that, I think AU fx automation would be nice too.
Zenbeats would be a good choice for me. Mostly because of the huge range of sounds available in the store for their ZC1 synth, sampler and other plugins. This cobvers everything from classic synths to live sounds and drums. Then you have all the basics covered with fx plus clip launcher and traditional daw style for song creation. Can add samples etc
Only issue is it crashes for me a lot
I’m with you on AU fx!
I forgot about Zenbeats too! Yeah, I like the workflow in there, but stability is an issue for many. I wonder if Roland will make a dedicated control for Zenbeats...
+1. I find Zenbeats to be the fastest route to get an idea going. Clip mode is a must for me lately.
When a proper audio clip looper/launcher comes out (Loopy Pro) I’d probably stick with AUM, even faster and better routing (aux groups and such).
I could easily live with just Cubasis or Zenbeats. I’ve always done better with a minimal setup even in my hardware-only days. I made a few albums just using a Roland Fantom and before that an XP-50, just using the internal sequencers. Although for my first album, the label owner wanted the sound palette expanded so loaned me some gear to do that. I could just never wrap my head around more than one main synth and maybe a module. It’s the same with iPad apps although I have a bunch because they can be so inexpensive.