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.
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FWIW: I use different apps/tools for different stages of my creation process. I usually have stages such as
Just saying, depending on your workflow it might be difficult to find a single silver bullet that handles it all perfectly, from seed to loaf.
As I need to be able to have multiple time-signatures in most of my tunes that also dictates a bit what iOS tools I can use, as that functionality seems to be a mystery for most iOS apps to solve though it is bread & butter functionality on the desktop.
Just my £0.02
Adapt? Sure. Port? No. Semantics? Maybe.
So you're a semantic pedantic mate? 😂
Hotel? Trivago.
(Sorry, had to)
😂
To be honest, I don’t understand this general obsession with having a ‘workflow’, as if there has to be only one way to approach creating music. Why not just let it come out spontaneously, and use whatever tools seem most apt at the time?
@michael_m I think that's exactly what @seonnthaproducer has in mind, except that he's about to force himself into a new workflow to explore new grounds that he wouldn't have discovered otherwise.
"Workflow" certainly plays a more relevant role if you don't have enough specific musical ideas in mind but rather need some inspiration from using the tools.
Yah that is how I tend to approach it, as an ever evolving experimental thing. To get consistency on a specific project / series of ideas though (like an album or for a large score) having a degree of consistent processes (workflow) can help the end results. But sure it can also hinder people too, by being too confining.
@seonnthaproducer obsidian can record audio too
@seonnthaproducer : forget about popularity lists. Quality and compatibility to personal aesthetics are not going to be captured by a survey. I'd suggest figuring it what you want from your workflow and work through DAWs by first seeing what ticks your essential boxes.
A lot of people will need a couple of different DAWs for different part of their workflow. So much will depend on what you like and people are pretty varied in what clicks and what doesn't.
Very true. I do plan on looking at these 4 apps. I’ve briefly tested them and had varied experiences with them at the time, so I’m gaining knowledge based on people’s experiences.
During 2019/2020, I had all these apps. These were my thoughts at the time
Yeah, my progress with these apps was super slow. Mainly because I got used to Garageband’s workflow. Yet, there’s things I can’t do in Garageband. I can’t freeze tracks, version control is a pain, MIDI AUv3’s do not work at all, and I’d like to understand and do a bit more advanced automation.
So, it’s more of a year of exploration where I’m challenging myself to think outside my comfort zone, while hoping to understand more about the iOS ecosystem.
@seonnthaproducer
Though I have used and continue to use BM3 as a main DAW
I'm learning how Cubasis iii works as a main DAW.
Mixing in it is quite fun.
It's quite musical.
Saying that BM3 is wonderful for layering loops
and for being a multi-timbral sound source.
My impressions as well. The most instant gratification of several DAWs I've come to know and terrific new Roland loops and presets being released nearly every week. I also love BM3 but over time I've been gravitating steadily toward Zenbeats.
Happy 2022. Seems I've decided...
Cubasis 2 was the winner, with Beatmaker 3 being a close second. I'll look into the other DAWs at a later date but for now, time to embrace the Cubasis workflow.
Just my 2 ct…. Forget about Cubasis 2 and Nanostudio - they are dead or at least near dead. CB2 will only receive bugfixes but no new features. CB3 is much better in every way, e.g. sidechaining, multi-core, native hardware controller support, etc. It is the most advanced classical DAW on iOS. The mix automation is marvellous. Connect it with a Mackie or HUI compatible mixer controller and you can work very professional. Performance wise it beats every other iOS AU host out of the water due to its multi-core rendering on newer iPads. On my iPad Pro 2021 I can run 30 instances of Model D in it while with AUM it‘s max 9 instances. It gives you so much more headroom.
Usually I start out developing ideas with AUM, Gadget, Figure or wherever I have a good creative flow. Then I commit them to audio and load them into CB3. When I need to do complex parameter automation or I’m running out of DSP resources I transfer the whole AU setup to CB3 - which is quite time consuming. Sometimes when I need to have the exact sound natively as an instrument in CB3 from an app that has no AUs like Gadget, I sample the sound with AudioLayer‘s auto sample function. Probably then adding some more synth tracks or audio tracks in CB3 if needed. Recording audio in CB3 is also great. Basically CB3 also crashes sometimes although rarely, but I never lost a project.
Since the advent of Loopy Pro it might replace CB3 for some projects or is being added to the workflow but I believe CB3 will be alway better for mastering in the end.
Zenbeats is probably the best all-in-one package. I can have a decent creative flow with it but it also serves me well for recording audio and basic mastering. Too bad that is has no native HW controller support like CB3.
Yeah Woah did not know this. Maybe I have to give CB3 a go, CB2 kind of put me off Steinberg for good.
Uh, holy shit. 😳 I definitely elected CB3 for it being universal, sidechaining, grouping of tracks into a buss, etc. I didn't realise it had multi-core rendering on newer iPads! I currently use CB3 for mastering my completed mixes and for recording and editing vocals.
Whoa, that's insane. Cubasis 3 is really loaded with features. I'll be sure to look into it as well. Thanks for the tips @krassmann @jwmmakerofmusic
Yeah, check it out. Regarding the UX nothing really changed but loads of new features. What I still find annoying is that you can’t fold the grouped tracks. I hope that will come soon. Steinberg‘s Lars once posted how to configure the multi-core feature: https://forum.audiob.us/discussion/42746/cubasis-3-2-multicore-rendering-latency-settings
When it’s turned on don’t be confused that the DSP meter shows higher values - that’s normal. It can even go over 100 without having crackles. I think the metering just works differently with multi-core. With this feature turned on I really believe that with an iPad Pro 2021 we are coming close to the performance of a MacBook Air M1. Another forum user was able to run more than a hundred audio tracks in CB3 each with some AU fx.
Also check out the native HW controller support. No Midi learn needed. Even a 50 bucks Korg nanoKontrol 2 turns into a mighty tool. Buttons light up correctly and you can scroll over the channels with buttons, so you can control more than the 8 channels of the hardware. When you reorganize channels it automatically is reflected on the controller. I just love it.
I've recently turned into a bit of a convert with Cubasis 3 too. I recently upgraded to an M1 iPad and that just opened the world of Cubasis to me. My Faderport 2 finally has a home and I never think about the processor/DSP usage ever.
Just read on the iOS sales thread that CB3 and all its IAPs are on sale. Good chance to upgrade @seonnthaproducer
https://forum.audiob.us/discussion/comment/1036585/#Comment_1036585
Just want to say thank you for this! As much as I love working in AUM, this may change up my whole setup again. I knew I bought CB3 for a good (future) reason!
Took your advice, and bought Cubasis 3. Was using 2 for the past few days and it was already a upgrade. Cubasis 3 gives a lot more.
Great recommendation. Going to take some time to get used to things.
I'm glad you went with Cubasis 3.
That was my original vote had CB3 been an option. Cheers.
Interesting topic. Helps to think about it one more time.
iOS music making is full of freedom. At some point we have to choose some paths. When you go deep in this creation environment you realize it’s all about modularity. Apps interaction. Apps specialization.
It’s best to know what kind of music we want to achieve, and how. Know yourself. Workflow is something I love to think about. I take iOS notes since years about my workflows: what I use, what I need to improve, what I want to test. I even document my processes and I like to just practice them.
To me it’s like practicing scales or techniques on my saxophone. Gaining skills gives freedom for creation. When using tons and tons of apps and workflows we have to always remember how to do this thing or this other stuff. Focusing on some workflows helps staying productive. On desktop, most focus on one or two DAWS for this reason. When we know all processes for a specific workflow perfectly we can focus on music creation only.
My current workflows are those ones:
I tend to use more and more only AUV3’s.
DAWLESS: AUM, HELIUM, Multitrack Recorder, Midi Mixer. I love this one. My own DAW, with AUM dawless taste. LK with AUM is also super efficient to use, more loops creation oriented.
DAWS: Beatmaker 3, Cubasis 3, Garageband with Enso. I need to spend more time with CB3 and BM3 this year.
LIVE: AUM, GroupTheLoop and MidiFire. Use it since years, rocking stable.
I use those workflows most of the time. I use GB less since one year. I don’t use CB3 and BM3 that much and prefer my DAWLESS stuff, but again really plan to do more complex « timelined » tracks this year.
I also have to dig in Loopy Pro and build one or more personal workflows with it, like almost everyone else here
@seonnthaproducer good decision. I think you won’t regret it. On iOS we have quite a choice of creative playgrounds and probably the most advanced DAWless options existing on a computing device. But when it comes to the classical DAW workflow Cubasis 3 is IMHO the best you can get. It is also great for finishing what you came up with in one of those creative playgrounds especially if you are able to embrace a workflow where you commit to audio early. I always struggled with that and sometimes I still do. It’s hard to give up the ability to have everything as Midi data until the very end and still being able to tweak it but making this step is also liberating because too many options are often overwhelming and slowing down the creative process.
Starting a track right out of CB3 does not work for me very well. I really like to use Midi controllers for synths and fx and this is difficult in CB3 as its Midi learn is not possible for AUs and if your AUs do not have native Midi learn you’re out of luck. I hope Steinberg really improves that soon. It also remains difficult to have a frictionless workflow for projects that shall produce mastered tracks but also allow to perform them live. I think that is actually easier on the desktop DAWs like Ableton or Logic. Maybe adding Loopy Pro into the mix can improve that.
I think Cubasis still has a long way to go to be competitive to desktop DAWs but I think Steinberg is committed to Cubasis for iOS and they will constantly improve it. Probably a new update is about to be released as they often discount it just before an update. But can be also a new year’s sale.
Looking forward to hear your creations.
Excellent points @krassmann
I realized I also bought the expansions back in 2020 so it’s awesome to have the Waves plugins in addition to Cubasis.
It’s definitely not a 100% switch from GarageBand because I do miss Alchemy, Beat Sequencer, World Instruments, Drummer, the UI, and the Live Loops grid but it is an improvement in the way I can manage audio.
Freezing tracks, working with IAA and AUv3, and advanced automation are big pluses of Cubasis.
At the moment, not any DAW on the iPad satisfied my need. My iPad is still not powerful enough to do many instruments and effects at the same time, and the small screen estate doesn't help either. The access to files is still clumsy.
When i compare the workflow with a DAW on a desktop, the iPad lacks.
Nowadays, i only use the iPad for experimenting, especially with AUM. When i come up with something interresting, i record it into a DAW on a desktop, and i use midi-sequencers in AUM to write notes to the desktop DAW.
Making a track on the iPad is too cumbersome for me.
Question. I have been really interested in zenbeats for a while but the confusing subscription/unlock options are putting me off and the conflicting reviews. See, on my Android phone I purchased the cloud subscription for 2.99 a month because it would get paid as part of my ATT bill, which my extremely wealthy parents in law pay for and let me buy apps and stuff, BUT when I logged into the same account on my iPad, I did not have any sort of cloud subscription, in fact my Android phone didn't even have anything unlocked after buying the cloud service. I couldn't even fully use the zen synth it gave me the unlock symbol and I had to purchase more IAPs... Even though it said "free month pro cloud subscription with any cloud subscription purchase, everything unlocked!"
So it's just extremely confusing. I also want to know, can you import samples and loops? Or are you stuck with only the zenbeats sample packs and loops that Roland puts out?
I don't want to buy a 30$ year subscription if nothing even changes... And using my own loops and samples is vital for me... It just feels so buggy and weird and endless confusing subscription vs. unlock options that didnt change anything in the app...
It's endlessly frustrating I don't even want to buy the "15 points" iOS unlock because if I bought the 2.99 cloud subscription on Android and literally nothing changed, I'm afraid nothing's going to change on my iPad either...
So can you help me out here and explain more about zenbeats? Please
You don't need any subscription for using Zenbeats , just use the iOS unlock and you get the current features for lifetime (until new major version , but still you can use the old features . I have the v1 unlock , still working )
I haven't use it on Android but suggest you open a ticket
You can import samples/loops and use your AUs (no IAA support)
Edit: for using audio loops I think you don't even need the unlock