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Stable AU3 MIDI/Audio looper for use in AUM
I'm going to be doing a jam session in a few weeks and I'd like an audio looper that can do the following:
- Multiple inputs (ideally up to 8).
- sync to host, looping on the bar, etc (but also the option to switch sync off)
- overdub and record
- mute/volume for each track
- Easily controlled by an external MIDI interface
- Low on resources
- STABLE
- Simple
I've tried a couple and none of them really seem to achieve this. L7 keeps crashing (which is a shame, because functionality wise its spot on), Enso has always been unreliable for me and only supports a single loop. I know there are IAA apps that can also do this, but it's a little too much friction for this project, unless there's an easy way to make it work on a second iPad.
I'm sure Loopy HD can do this and more, but its more complex than I need right now - and I don't have $30 to spare.
If there's a way to do this in Drambo I'm also interested.
Also, I'd like something similar for a MIDI looper. That is:
- Stable
- Easily controlled by an external MIDI surface
- Overdub and record
- Multiple tracks.
I don't need anything else. The plan is to host all the audio stuff in AUM on my main iPad, and use my old iPad (running a custom touchOSC script) and my AKAI keyboard to control stuff.
Thoughts?
Comments
Loopy Pro (not HD) strikes me as not the perfect, but the closest answer available. In your use case you would host AUM in Loopy Pro. This would give you eight inputs from AUM.
You say it's too expensive ... nothing can be done about that.
But as for it being too complicated - it is deep, but really doesn't have to be complicated unless you make it so by diving into its deep features. As a straight-up looper it can be as easy (I say easier) than the other options out there.
In addition, it will have midi looping added at some point. So, for no further investment (at least in the first year), you may have an integrated midi solution. Until then, there are options such as the free MIDI Tape Recorder app, LK, Atom2, or Helium hosted right inside Loopy Pro.
Why host AUM in Loopy instead of the other way around? Well, the Loopy Pro AUv3 doesn't yet have multiple inputs. But if you host AUM in Loopy Pro you have up to 8 available.
I thought about this post for quite awhile before making it. I didn't post just because Loopy Pro is the new kid on the block and has all the buzz. I thought about your requirements, and nothing else fits the bill IMO. Drambo comes very close, but isn't purpose built as a looper and would take some real setup work to meet your requirements.
There isn't really a simple reliable multitrack plug-n-play AUv3 looper other than Loopy Pro. You get what you pay for.
Have you tried it recently?
I find it to be rock solid for my use.
For midi looping, Drambo does everything I need.
I think he is looking for something with which to coordinate multiple loops which is not very plug and play with Enso.
@wim. Will you please explain how you are hosting AUM in LP?
This is exactly what I want to do.
Thanks in advance for any response.
In Loopy Pro, go to the mixer. Add IAA Input. Choose from one of the 8 AUM Ports listed. In AUM, you will see IAA/Audiobus in the popup from which you choose audio destinations. You will see the ports you chose in Loopy available as destinations.
In Loopy:
In AUM
Open Loopy and at the bottom R press the icon and choose ADD IAA
Use the Search bar to type in AUM and you will see 8 different outputs from AUM
Choose the number of them you want
Tap on AUM icon in the inserted channel in Loopy to open AUM, or launch AUM
Inside AUM open an audio channel and at the bottom of the channel strip tap on the likely Speaker icon and switch the output to Loopy Pro
(Short cut) duplicate this channel 7 more times
Save this setup in both loopy and AUM to use as templates
Profit
To be clear I'm not saying it's too expensive for what it is. Just for me this particular month (medical and dental bills) it's money I'd rather not spend for my fairly simple needs given that I already have other apps that might do this.
Sure, I just don't need those features, so I guess would rather not pay for them at this particular point in time for what may be a one off use. But I appreciate the comment - if Loopy is the only solution that is probably info that I need
So which of these MIDI apps do you think would be most suitable. MIDI Tape Recorder looks good, but it doesn't look like it specifically supports looping. LK I like quite a bit, but have never tried using it for looping purposes. Atom2... is an app that seems incredibly powerful but I can never use for anything useful
Sure. Is there anything you could point to on how Drambo could be made to work as a looper? I was sort of joking when I said it.
It doesn't have to be, so long as I don't have to switch to it while playing. My main reason for wanting AU3 is because I find in a live situation there's less to go wrong, or faffing around switching between apps.
>
I haven't.
Do you use it for multiple loops, as I didn't think that was something it really supported.
Do you mind explaining a little, or point me to something, that would help me get that setup? Ideally I want something fire and forget where I could trigger/record/play from MIDI.
@espiegel123 and @audiblevideo. Appreciate that.
Don’t mean to hijack the thread but if I just select AUM port 1 and put LP in the output of that channel with a mix bus A as input that would allow for unlimited AUM channels with mix bus A sends. Would it not?
Again, sorry for the intrusion @cian.
You mean, you need more than eight AUM inputs? Because there are eight ports that you can place as the output on channels. The advantage of that is each one is a separate input that can be recorded, even simultaneously, in Loopy.
Also, you can have each of these ports as the output for multiple channels in AUM, so it's already unlimited in that respect. Sends and busses can be used, but they're not needed to achieve more channels.
Sure, I didn't take it that way. I totally get spending constraints.
Ahh. yeh, it sounded like you were shying away from it because it looked overwhelming. I was just pointing out that it doesn't have to be. Also, I didn't catch that it could be a one-off thing, I assumed you were looking for something to use beyond that.
I've pretty much settled on LK at this point. Midi Tape Recorder loops OK you could have four loops per instance, and just solo the one you want each time, but I wouldn't call it straightforward for multi-clip looping. Atom 2 is great, but it's either one instance per loop or you need to get into pattern switching via midi messages. With LK you can have just the one app on screen and tap (or midi learn) the clips you want to play.
That said ... I'm really avoiding midi looping at all these days. The freedom of just laying things down, re-recording if needed, and moving on without thinking about going back for endless tweaking is liberating and way more fun.
I could pass along the template I made for looping in Drambo, but tbh, I never bothered using it much. It involved using Flexi samplers on eight tracks and some modules to direct my Blueboard to control the currently selected track. Buttons were mapped for selecting next/previous track, for clearing the Flexi sampler, recording, and playing back.
It's been awhile, so I sort of forget my thought process on that one, and I'm not a very sophisticated Drambo user.
Endlesss has a really cool advanced looping function and is set to host auv3s in the future. But, users can sample into it for now.
Also, Caelum Audio’s One Loop.
Oh no you're fine. Hijack away
Not quite sure that I understand the question. If you set AUM Port 1 as an input in Loopy Pro, anything in AUM whose destination is port 1 will arrive in Loopy via AUM Port 1.
LK supports automation as well. That seems like an excellent place to start. Thanks!
I mean if you have it to hand that would be great, otherwise don't worry about it as I'm sure I can work it out.
Were you able to select loop length, and synch it to the bar?
I'm also wondering if Koala would be suitable for my needs. The only thing it doesn't do is overdub, but I'm sure I could work around that. I always forget about that app.
Koala is well worth looking into. You can always just record to a second pad and play them both at the same time. If you have access to the screen you can drag one pad over the other and select to mix them. I doubt that can be done via midi though. You can also re-sample to a pad from the app output.
Yes I use it for multiple loops. I basically have 4-6 instances that are in constant overdub mode and I just mute/unmute the input via midi when I want to record something.
Drambo is basically as simple as it gets. You set the pattern length you want and record the midi quantised/unquantised. You can then trigger different patterns via midi and mute/unmute individual tracks. I can make a video when I finish work today if that helps.
Multitrack Recorder by 4 pockets might be an option, but only for audio.
Thanks fellas. I think a benefit of using separate AUM ports would be simultaneous recording as @wim said.
I set it up in Group the Loop with all busses going to a master channel with GTL as output.
Whatever works right?
@wim - I think your original recommendation was probably the best advice
Spent quite a bit of time this weekend trying various solutions, none of which were terribly satisfactory. So I had another look at Loopy, realized that it had a trial and figured why not. It is really in a different class from most IOS apps. When it gets multi out and side-chain support I think I will use it instead of AUM for most purposes.
I don't regret the time I spent on Koala - it's a great solution for a different problem. Just not for this purpose.
@BroCoast - thanks for that response. It was enough for me to work out how to build something similar in Drambo.