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What's a good 'experimental' music thing to start off with? Is it even a good idea?

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Comments

  • @ocelot said:
    Maybe the Bastl Kastle or Microgranny, or Lumanoise.
    https://bastl-instruments.com/instruments
    https://www.noisebug.net/search?type=product&q=lumanoise (Noisebug has many interesting experimental gadgets).

    These won't reduce screen time:

    Microgranny has been a bit on my horizon, the last le looks cool and all too! But now you’ve got me intrigued with that pure data stuff

  • @GeorgeL909 said:

    @sevenape said:

    @brambos said:

    @sevenape said:

    @brambos said:
    I’ll never get tired of dicking around with my 0-coast.

    @PeteSasqwax has one too... I was lusting a bit over the strega, but I dunno... The volca is really cheap. Can it do similar things!?

    Yeah, the Strega is still on my wishlist, but it's quite pricey for what it does.

    I had a bit of a play with the Volca Modular. And while it's certainly fun, its strength is the sequencer. In terms of the range of different sounds you can get out, the 0-Coast eats the Volca for breakfast. The Volca is fun, but has a rather narrow 'type of sound'. The MakeNoise is a lot more versatile in that respect, and - for me - offers more experimental fun per cm2 :)

    ahhh... that makes sense. So I guess I should put the 0-coast on my list! Man, it's so difficult!

    The volca modular 100% needs external effects imo. It will sounds incredibly vanilla as is with just the on board spring verb. It's not bad gear, but on it's own it's not as wide open a canvas as you'd expect with west coast synthesis.

    I'm gonna echo: a model samples or cycles is an excellent cheap option for experimental weird stuff. Just load a samples up with anything, pitch down, parameter lock and crank the reverb and delay and you'll get some esoteric sounds well beyond the scope of a volca modular. Automate the start time, go almost granular in sample length and you'll be creating nightmare soundscapes in no time.

    I imagine the cycles can do similar things, just using fm, which we all know gets real weird real fast.

    I think ess did a phenomenal performance to really show off the cycles skip to about 35 minutes in for ess's set

    At 38 minutes he makes the cycles sound like a strega

    Wow thanks a lot for this! Another two machines I didn’t even know existed and now I want! That video is awesome

  • I can’t help thinking, though, that I’m a bit amused by the idea of wanting to do experimental music, then receiving a raft of suggestions for off-the-shelf experimental music boxes that you can buy in shops.

    I’ll add my suggestion, then:

    Get a reel-to-reel tape recorder (that you can afford). That’s it.

  • @GeorgeL909 said:
    I think ess did a phenomenal performance to really show off the cycles skip to about 35 minutes in for ess's set

    At 38 minutes he makes the cycles sound like a strega

    Ah, man, thank you for posting this. The array of sounds Ess coaxes out of the M:C is (perhaps unsurprisingly) unlike anything I've heard anyone else produce with it. I'm definitely interested in one at some point.

  • @u0421793 said:
    I can’t help thinking, though, that I’m a bit amused by the idea of wanting to do experimental music, then receiving a raft of suggestions for off-the-shelf experimental music boxes that you can buy in shops.

    I’ll add my suggestion, then:

    Get a reel-to-reel tape recorder (that you can afford). That’s it.

    Ha! You have a point I guess!!

  • Beatcutter from me, but is a mindf*ck for the first first few outting ‘til you get your head around it.

  • edited June 2021

    Does the Digitakt qualify?. It’s very knobby and fun.
    Although I have to say I don’t use mine too much. I can’t seem to make it fit the iPad, so it’s one or the other. I’ve thought about selling it but I know I’ll regret it.
    Thing is, as a sequencer I find the iPad more straightforward. And since we’re on the iPad, why should I sequence the Digitakt as a sound generator when I can find samples and sounds easier on the iPad?. It’s sort of tedious to go through sample folders on the Digitakt… Drambo can do it all.
    But for the use case @sevenape mentions, getting away from a screen, if you stick to the Digitakt, it’s a real joy. It has the instrument feel, way more than any iPad app.

  • edited June 2021

    @espiegel123 said:

    @sigma79 said:
    The o coast is way better but Iv read its more similar to ripplemaker. Just checked the ocoast. It would be easier to mimic the ocoast with ripplemaker, then mimic a volca modular with ripplemaker. I guess is if you need the volca tone. Well. The ocoast does sound better than ripplemaker, shockwave and volca modular. Not sure Id swap an ipad mini, with ripplemaker, shockwave ( which were just a test with ripplemaker ) plus a volca modular ( if theres a cool semi modular mix ) plus all other apps and cpu. Not sure. Maybe being able to sequence euclidean to euclidean drums on a controller is good, although sequencing might not matter with generative and tweaking. Versitlity vs sound but which is which.

    I like Ripplemaker but it isn't an 0-Coast substitute. While Ripplemaker's architecture is inspired by the 0-Coast. IMO nothing on iOS has a wavefolder that matches (or really comes close) to the 0-Coast or its punchiness.

    Can you sequence ocoast from ipad?

    Think it can. Could be worth it, if not needing to buy a sequencer. Just bought an ipad mini and an audio4c. Not that it wont be cool, additionally. Think I might sell the modular. After making some music though, instead of just buying more gear.

    Could you output an ipad channel from audio4c ( not master ) to a strega? and loop it back lol

    With x2 ipad I guess audio4c would just need to be able to output the synths selected, then be an aum ch on other ipad. Thats if strega isnt worth just being effects for ripplemaker etc.

  • @u0421793 said:
    I can’t help thinking, though, that I’m a bit amused by the idea of wanting to do experimental music, then receiving a raft of suggestions for off-the-shelf experimental music boxes that you can buy in shops.

    I’ll add my suggestion, then:

    Get a reel-to-reel tape recorder (that you can afford). That’s it.

    Very witty. Agreed about the basic premise. If one wants to experiment with music, then just do it. Don’t seek suggestions.

  • Plumbutter is a super fun modular synth in a box, but not exactly cheap.

  • @NeuM said:

    @u0421793 said:
    I can’t help thinking, though, that I’m a bit amused by the idea of wanting to do experimental music, then receiving a raft of suggestions for off-the-shelf experimental music boxes that you can buy in shops.

    I’ll add my suggestion, then:

    Get a reel-to-reel tape recorder (that you can afford). That’s it.

    Very witty. Agreed about the basic premise. If one wants to experiment with music, then just do it. Don’t seek suggestions.

    I was asking for suggestions for a diy or experimental music box to reduce screen time to be fair, not suggestions on how to experiment. Unfortunately I don’t have funds to just do it in that regard! I even have been researching different things and gave examples. Maybe I should have said esoteric or unusual!? Anyway I’m very grateful for all the suggestions received, even this one

  • @sevenape said:

    @NeuM said:

    @u0421793 said:
    I can’t help thinking, though, that I’m a bit amused by the idea of wanting to do experimental music, then receiving a raft of suggestions for off-the-shelf experimental music boxes that you can buy in shops.

    I’ll add my suggestion, then:

    Get a reel-to-reel tape recorder (that you can afford). That’s it.

    Very witty. Agreed about the basic premise. If one wants to experiment with music, then just do it. Don’t seek suggestions.

    I was asking for suggestions for a diy or experimental music box to reduce screen time to be fair, not suggestions on how to experiment. Unfortunately I don’t have funds to just do it in that regard! I even have been researching different things and gave examples. Maybe I should have said esoteric or unusual!? Anyway I’m very grateful for all the suggestions received, even this one

    I think “have fun” is always the best advice when it comes to making music. ;)

  • @NeuM said:

    @sevenape said:

    @NeuM said:

    @u0421793 said:
    I can’t help thinking, though, that I’m a bit amused by the idea of wanting to do experimental music, then receiving a raft of suggestions for off-the-shelf experimental music boxes that you can buy in shops.

    I’ll add my suggestion, then:

    Get a reel-to-reel tape recorder (that you can afford). That’s it.

    Very witty. Agreed about the basic premise. If one wants to experiment with music, then just do it. Don’t seek suggestions.

    I was asking for suggestions for a diy or experimental music box to reduce screen time to be fair, not suggestions on how to experiment. Unfortunately I don’t have funds to just do it in that regard! I even have been researching different things and gave examples. Maybe I should have said esoteric or unusual!? Anyway I’m very grateful for all the suggestions received, even this one

    I think “have fun” is always the best advice when it comes to making music. ;)

    That is definitely rule number 1!

  • For experimental stuff, I love the OP-1. The radio, the “tape,” the weird sequencers and FX. It’s almost impossible not to come up with something.

    The OP-Z is also rad. I love it the most of all my electronic friends, and it goes way, way beyond being a simple sequencer. It’s flawed—sampling is fiddlier than it should be—but the good stuff more than makes up for it. LOVE it.

  • Ok, a very different idea.. To reduce screen time, I'd rather learn to play a new musical instrument. Something exotic maybe, if you want unusual

  • Have you considered the MS-20mini or K-2? That synth has been many the experimentalist's playground for decades. It's great cause it has literally 0 digital options, no button combos or hidden anything. Purely wysiwyg. Pretty affordable too.

  • Or the Moog Werkstatt. Link.
    It has a little breadboard for experimenting. $200.

  • I have a Werkstatt and an MS-20 Mini, both of which I love to pieces and are excellent shouts, but I would say that some people find the WS off-putting because of how basic it appears. When you patch it into other things it absolutely comes to life, though, whether via the expansion board via 3.5" jacks or via dupont cables into things like the (previously mentioned) Bastl Kastle. The only issue with the WS is that it's not difficult to hit 0-Coast money when you start adding things in. If you are thinking of something that you can connect to other devices in the future it's fantastic.

    With both the WS and MS-20 there are various options for sequencing it via CV that are easy to find quite cheaply (Beatstep, SQ-1 etc) and which also allow you to bridge the gap between your iPad and the Werkstatt (accepting MIDI input and outputting CV). The MS-20 already has MIDI natively and, as with a load of these units, can be a great way to use an old iOS device, either via a 30-lin MIDI connector or via something like CV tools which lets you use your old device to send LFOs as CV

    There is an incredible guy on YouTube who creates a new patch with his MS-20 every single day. He's absolutely inspirational and makes me realise that I will never reach the bottom of that thing!

    Just on the subject of older iOS devices, I have an iPad 4 that I got for £10 which runs iOS 10.3.4. It's quite beautiful to sit with just that, playing around with the many apps that still run really well on it, even if it isn't the latest version.

    AUM and AudioShare run fine, which takes care of any ins and outs you might need, but also things like:

    • Samplr
    • Mononoke
    • Sector
    • Fieldscaper & Soundscapes
    • Patterning, Ribbons, Chordion & Dot Melody
    • iVCS3, Moebius Lab, iDensity, iPulsaret, Stria
    • Fundamental
    • Animoog, Filtatron
    • iSEM, iMini

    I tend to just sit with the more esoteric apps and kind of zone out making sounds, away from any feelings of needing to sequence them etc

  • edited June 2021

    Shoom on another ipad with say mononoke on other is good. Or an ipad and ocoast.

    Theres actually a shoom thread ( with info )

  • Does the o coast sound too good for ipad apps?

  • @sigma79 said:
    Does the o coast sound too good for ipad apps?

    I'm not sure what you mean

  • edited June 2021

    @PeteSasqwax said:

    @sigma79 said:
    Does the o coast sound too good for ipad apps?

    I'm not sure what you mean

    Its cool. Ipad apps are ok. O coast would be good with better fold. Probably sell the volca modular without makng any patches.

  • Mostly I like setting up little drones or generative things in aum and play around with those. It's pretty much all I do when I'm not working or taking care of family business, but I dunno... I feel like I'm missing out on some tactility (got a lot better since I got my nanokontrol).

    To be honest I think I've been spoiled by what iOS offers me in terms of tweakability, portability, ease of use and just sheer adaptability. With My iPad or iPhone I know I can do almost anything I can do anywhere else, but I dunno, maybe it's just not ´sexxy hardware´enough! :smile:

    I mean really, with the wealth of apps available, I can have almost any combination of sounds in my pocket; I should be satisfied.... Maybe too much choice is the real problem? I remember when I discovered Koala sampler, I made a whole album with it straight away now I have a folder full of apps all tempting me in different ways

  • On some level I just want to do this:

    And I can't honestly explain why I don't!

    There's a lot to be said for the single box approach, I have to admit. Sitting away from my other gear and just making noise with 1 unit and a pair of headphones is something I always thoroughly enjoy - and even though I approach it with absolutely no expectations of productivity whatsoever, I always end up with things I can use. Being able to just grab sounds with my phone is massive - either via the line that the Rode SC4 cable provides (I love that thing) or a microphone (obvs inc. the internal phone mic) - is fantastic.

  • Oh Man Spending some quality time with fieldscaper is always a good idea! But but but you have field kit and effects, that's a similar concept right?

    You are right Limiting yourself to 'playing' ( In the childlike way) with a single thing always ends up with fun results that can be used, or at the very least some knew insight.

  • In a funny way, they kind of feed into one another: using either one of them reminds me how much I love both whichever one I'm using and the other one!

    It totally is a similar concept, but the Field Kit/FX combination is very tangible - with contact mics, motors, springs, marbles (!) - whereas the Fieldscaper provides the kind of recorded functionality. They really do work beautifully together.

    To echo what you said earlier: we are absolutely spoiled with the iOS ecosystem! In my £10 iPad 4 I can mangle sounds with Fieldscaper, fracture them into clouds of countless pieces with Samplr, Spacecraft etc. put the results into Sector and sequence it... the possibilities are genuinely endless, but the nice thing about it (which differs from my main iPad) is that I use the apps in isolation. I make something in Fieldscaper, then send it to Samplr; make something in Samplr then send it to Sector etc. I also like to throw the results of them into my other iPad using instances of Gauss too...

  • The Mermaid weeps

  • Testing apps. Shoom will be good on other ipad ( no screen switching ) Mononoke is fine. O coast will be good.

  • For now I’m going to try to fondle these knobs and see where that gets me.

  • @sigma79 said:
    The Mermaid weeps

    Awesome stuff, mate :love:

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