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DRAMBO Version 2 General Discussion

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Comments

  • @uncledave said:
    Try MIDI learn to connect the Mod Wheel to a control.

    I thought about that, but then the wheel won’t work for someone else. Is there another way? I don’t want to sell patches, but I would like to add to the stock of instruments.

  • edited June 2022
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  • @AppJunky said:

    @uncledave said:

    @AppJunky said:

    @rs2000 said:

    @AppJunky said:

    @rs2000 said:

    @RajahP said:

    @AppJunky said:
    Hi, I need some help please.

    I’m running two instances of ChordBud 2 on the ‘Main’ track of Drambo. One driving piano chords (on Track 1) and the other instance feeding ArpBud 2 for an piano arpeggio (on Track 2).

    Can anyone tell me how to change from Pattern 1 to 2 etc in ChordBud 2 using Midi CC10 from Drambo?

    What Module(s) do I need, where do they need to go and how do I trigger them to switch Patterns, in sync, for the two ChordBud 2 instances (eg switch both to Pattern 2 at the end of the 16th bar of Pattern 1)?

    I’m no expert, but I was advised to use the PC Generator module to ‘switch’ patterns on GR-16..
    Maybe it is worth a try..

    If ChordBud expects CC10 then you need something like this:

    Switch 1 has value .01
    Switch 2 has value 0.012
    Add inputs are connected to the switch outputs
    S&H inputs are both connected to the ADD output.

    Thank you, but of course it was that! 🤣 (Seriously, I appreciate the help).

    Done that but still not working 🤷‍♂️

    Drambo is rounding down the 0.012, don’t know if that’s part of the problem 🤷‍♂️

    It's not. if you enter 0.012, Drambo will use it, only the display is rounded.

    Where should MIDI TO CV and ChordBud 2 be before or after those?

    After them so you can send the MIDI to them.

    Also is this a manual switching rather than triggering programmatically on a specific step?

    The same logic can be automated.

    All I’m trying to do is get Drambo to tell ChordBud 2 to change to Pattern 2 after 16 bars 😬

    Do you think it would be better using ChordPolyPad and StepPolyArpUnit?

    No, if your plugin accepts MIDI CC then there's no reason for that.

    Thank you 🙏 Finally got that working. So I can now switch between Pat 1 & 2 manually (albeit not necessarily on the 1st beat of the bar 🤣)

    If we assume we need Max 8 patterns for a song and Value 1 = 0.01, 2 = 0.012 what would the values be for 3 - 8?

    The CC value is just scaled from CV 0..1 up to 0..127 and truncated. So, for pattern n, calculate n/127 and raise it slightly. So 0.025 would give 3.

    Thank you @uncledave

    Got that switching up to Button/Pattern 8….Progress so far —->

    Great!

    Now can anyone help with the Pattern changing at the end of the current bar rather than immediately?

    Would that be something to do with Quantizing? 🤷‍♂️

    Also, perhaps jumping a little too far ahead, I was hoping to trigger the pattern change via a Step Component instead of manually…is that doable?

    First of all, I'd rather use values like 1, 2, 3 on the buttons and scale the values down by a fixed factor using the Scale or Scale + Offset module.
    Much easier to handle and understand.

    Then, you can p-lock buttons. All you have to do is hold the last step and tap on the button of your choice to automatically push that button at that time. Then, at the beginning of the next pattern, hold the first step and tap the button twice to disable its value again (and make it ready for the next press).

    @dokwok2 said:
    For my first Drambo project I am trying to approximate a Roland SH-101. (I know there is one already on Patchstorage.) It's been a good way to learn. Right now I am stuck on pitch modulation. I learned about the Pitch module, so it's working, but I'd like to adjust the amount of modulation with the mod wheel. I know there is such a module as MIDI | CC Modulator, and I know Mod Wheel is CC#1. But I don't know how to connect this module to the rest, or whether I need something else.

    A simple way to adjust the amount of modulation is to MIDI map the modwheel to an LFO's "Amount" knob.
    Another, more flexible way is to place an Amp module in between the modulation path and control its Amp knob by the modwheel. It'll also give you a nice visual clue how the modwheel changes modulation depth.

  • I was trying out what @AppJunky is doing with buttons and used @rs2000 suggestion of setting the buttons to values 1,2,3… and then applying a scale factor. I started with a multiply module with a a value of 0.08 (1/127). Then tried with the scale module, which is indeed cleaner, just use 1/127 as the scale factor.

    What I can’t understand is how the “S&H” module prevents a trigger when you choose multiple buttons… without s&h (connect the midi Cc generator to the scaler module) if you press buttons 1+2+3 you get Cc 6, which is expected. But with S&H only when value is changed FROM zero the value is triggered… why?.
    Also for a pattern changing chain as this one… what would you use so that buttons are mutually exclusive (one at a time)?.. I know you could do this with a “switch N-1” or the like, but that means a more cluttered setup and a lot more modules and connections. Wouldn’t it be useful to have an “exclusive” mode where only 1 button could be selected at a time (like switch but easier)?

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  • how would one go about running a clock to which Drambo is a follower to, in to a MIDI AU instance?

  • edited June 2022

    @tahiche Buttons can now have their own on-values, a very recent addition.
    What I mean is giving button 1 value=1, button 2 value=2 and so on, then use Scale/Offset to "convert" the values into what the CC Generator expects: A value between 0 and 1 which will result in a MIDI value between 0 and 127.
    You can give the buttons any name (Short name of the preset etc), it doesn't matter.
    The only thing to be aware of is that when using the Adder, make sure only one button is active or the values will add up.

    You're right, a radio button mode would be good and I've already voted for adding it later 👍🏼

    The N-to-1 switch already has that behavior and you could use that as well, the problem is that you'd have to feed it a different constant number on each input - not a big deal but not as elegant.

  • edited June 2022

    @AppJunky This should do what you want.

    • The Buttons are set to values 1,2,3. They're added and scaled by 1/127 to give the correct inputs to the MIDI generator.
    • The Graphic Modulator is driven by the Clock. It generates a pulse at the start of every bar. Negate inverts it.
    • The Counter is triggered by the rising edge of the Adder output and reset by the inverted GM output. This gives a long pulse, rising on the Button press, falling just after the start of the next bar. Anding the counter output with the GM output gives a short pulse at the start of the next bar.
    • The And output triggers the S&H to capture the scaled value. The result is sent to the CC Generator, which is triggered by the rising edge of its input.
    • The difference from the basic scheme lies in the logic to trigger the S&H gate, generating one pulse at the start of the next bar after the button press. The added modules are the GM, Negate, Counter, and And.

    Actually, you can collect those 4 modules into a Processor Rack. This is actually what I posted earlier, just adapted to delay the CV signal and trigger the S&H. The input to the Bar Start Delay rack is the Adder output, and the output is sent to the S&H trigger.

    Edit: To see how this works, use a Scope to view the various signals, starting with the Adder output and the GM output.

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  • edited June 2022

    I want to implement this sort of workflow inside Drambo:

    • send a MIDI NRPN out to a (hardware) MIDI controller (the NRPN is basically saying "controller, give me some details of your config")
    • controller will send back a bunch of MIDI messages in response
    • accept those MIDI messages from the controller and process them within Drambo

    Is all that possible within a single Drambo track, or would I have to send the NRPN out to the controller in e.g. Track 1, then listen for the response from the controller on e.g. Track 2?

  • @uncledave 👍🏼

    @AppJunky Exciting stuff indeed! 😃

  • @monch1962 said:
    I want to implement this sort of workflow inside Drambo:

    • send a MIDI NRPN out to a (hardware) MIDI controller (the NRPN is basically saying "controller, give me some details of your config")
    • controller will send back a bunch of MIDI messages in response
    • accept those MIDI messages from the controller and process them within Drambo

    Is all that possible within a single Drambo track, or would I have to send the NRPN out to the controller in e.g. Track 1, then listen for the response from the controller on e.g. Track 2?

    It should be ok in one track. Just make sure you don't create a MIDI loop. The outputs sent to the controller must be only those generated by the track. I assume you'll MIDI Learn those input messages to controls or parameter values in Drambo.

    Is this a controller that you are engineering yourself? I ask because most complex controllers use SysEx messages to request this data, and the reply is another large SysEx message.

    Finally, it might be easier to use a StreamByter script for this. It could absorb the data from the controller, make (possibly) complex decisions with it, and send straightforward CCs or Notes to Drambo.

  • @uncledave said:

    @Gravitas said:

    @Apex said:

    @auxmux said:
    I was reading Cirklon's manual the other day and outside of true polymeters/polyrhythms and maybe a few other small things, Drambo is probably the most flexible step sequencer out there.

    Then you missed the chapters on Aux Events, Accumulators and stuff like Inter-Track operations. Not to mention track count and hardware interface (and I/O…. 6 independent USB buss. Thats 96 channels of midi just on the USB).

    Drambo is indeed awesome. But the two aren’t really even comparable.

    What are Aux Events, Accumulators and Inter-Track operations.
    Not a video, an actually explanation.
    Multiple usb midi outs?
    That isn't impressive, simply add more midi outputs.
    I had more midi outputs on my Atari back in the day.

    I believe those are features of the Cirklon hardware sequencers. So multiple MIDI ports do expand possibilities.

    I’ve been thinking about this.
    I don’t have a Cirklon but what I have done is this….
    I’ve put together a 16 step input sequencer Midi Rack
    with faders for individual Pitch, Velocity and Gate length.
    I have also made a 32 and 64 step version which I’m finishing off.

    Basically from one instance of dRambo I can have 16 x 16 or 32 or 64 step sequencers
    and when hosted as auv3 I can then multiple them upwards and combined with
    some of the other modules I can change the speed or even have it running backwards.
    My sequencers are rather basic.
    dRambo’s inbuilt sequencer is far more eloquent.

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  • edited June 2022

    @AppJunky said:
    Hi @uncledave I’ve built your ‘Bar Start Delay’ Rack and attempted (several times) to hook it up as per instructions, but there’s no Pattern switching at all now. Anything (probably obvious) you can see from this screenshot? 🤷‍♂️😬

    BTW I have cleared out all my previous Drambo Pattern info and P-Locks for Pattern Start/Stops for this test 👍

    Hi. Right. The second And input should be direct from the GM, not the Negate. Notice that GM and Negate are different colors in my pic, but the same in yours. Drambo makes them the same color when they're a chain, with output from the end, but different colors when the chain is broken. It needs to do that for the color-matched connection tags to make sense. Should work with that fixed.

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  • @rs2000 @uncledave im still very curious about the S&H module in this case… Why isn’t it triggered when one button is already selected?.

    What I can’t understand is how the “S&H” module prevents a trigger when you choose multiple buttons… without s&h (connect the midi Cc generator to the scaler module) if you press buttons 1+2+3 you get Cc 6, which is expected. But with S&H only when value is changed FROM zero the value is triggered… why?.

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  • @tahiche said:
    @rs2000 @uncledave im still very curious about the S&H module in this case… Why isn’t it triggered when one button is already selected?.

    What I can’t understand is how the “S&H” module prevents a trigger when you choose multiple buttons… without s&h (connect the midi Cc generator to the scaler module) if you press buttons 1+2+3 you get Cc 6, which is expected. But with S&H only when value is changed FROM zero the value is triggered… why?.

    Because you've previously added the values and you're using them as a trigger for S&H at the same time.
    The trigger threshold is defined as a signal increase from zero (or below) to positive.
    If another button is selected already, the zero level isn't reached anymore.
    If you want to trigger the S&H anytime a switch value changes, you can pass the signal through a HPF and a Full Rectify module.

  • @AppJunky Your connections look correct, including the S&H, which is triggered by the Bar Delay, and samples the scale output. I used 16 steps for the GM, and took one for the pulse. So I had one 16th note for pulse duration, you have 2/64 or one 32nd note. Should make no difference.

    Have you set the button values to 1,2,3, etc.?

    Do the scope transients look correct?

    • GM generates a regular pulse for every bar. Transport must be running, of course.
    • BS Delay input step up when you press a button, with all others off.
    • Counter output step up on button, step down after bar start.
    • And output should be pulse at start of bar after button.
    • S&H output is too small to see.
  • Here are my scope shots. Cannot catch the rising edge of the button or the counter because the scope is too fast.


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  • edited June 2022

    @AppJunky I don't think it was 16 steps vs 64, because I tried your steps with no problem.

    Edit: I just looked at your plot again, and you had 2 ms smoothing. That should be 0 for uses like this, where we're not actually modulating an audio signal. That might have interfered with the shorter pulse you were using. If the peak never quite reached 1, the NEG would never be zero, so the counter woukd not reset.

    Anyway, I'm glad it's working. The shape of the And output depends on when you hit the button. It'll be short if it's near the end of the bar.

    Sorry, I'm not going to start testing ChordBud, or the synth you're hearing. Have you looked at the MIDI from CB to be sure the note offs are there? And what about the synth release time?

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  • edited June 2022
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  • @uncledave said:

    @monch1962 said:
    I want to implement this sort of workflow inside Drambo:

    • send a MIDI NRPN out to a (hardware) MIDI controller (the NRPN is basically saying "controller, give me some details of your config")
    • controller will send back a bunch of MIDI messages in response
    • accept those MIDI messages from the controller and process them within Drambo

    Is all that possible within a single Drambo track, or would I have to send the NRPN out to the controller in e.g. Track 1, then listen for the response from the controller on e.g. Track 2?

    It should be ok in one track. Just make sure you don't create a MIDI loop. The outputs sent to the controller must be only those generated by the track. I assume you'll MIDI Learn those input messages to controls or parameter values in Drambo.

    Is this a controller that you are engineering yourself? I ask because most complex controllers use SysEx messages to request this data, and the reply is another large SysEx message.

    Finally, it might be easier to use a StreamByter script for this. It could absorb the data from the controller, make (possibly) complex decisions with it, and send straightforward CCs or Notes to Drambo.

    Thanks @uncledave.

    I'm sending those messages from Drambo to a Linnstrument to get its tuning details (i.e. are the rows of pads configured to be 5, 6, 7 or 12 semitones apart?), then I want to act on that info when it comes back. The outgoing messages are a set of NRPNs (basically, for each of the 8 rows of pads, tell me the MIDI note corresponding to the leftmost pad), then the Linnstrument sends back (a row ID as CC#98 and the MIDI note ID for the leftmost pad in that row as CC#38) 8 times - one for each row of pads.

    It works great when I send the "request" on one Drambo track, and process the "response" on another Drambo track. I'll try combining them into a single track tonight.

  • @AppJunky said:
    All said and done, this is what we're left with.

    Just a quick and simple example - I just grabbed single chords from the C minor scale.

    Obviously each pattern could contain multiple chords and can be set to repeat using the Repeat function in the new Clip Launcher. Each Pattern could be a song section e.g. Intro, Chorus, Bridge etc, you could rename the buttons to suit, and you don't have to use all 16 patterns.

    I think I'll place the Rack on the Main track (clearing Track 1) and then just point the tracks/instruments/arps etc I want driven by the chord structure to the Rack.

    Thanks again for all the help, it was kinda fun 🙏

    Glad you got it working!.
    It seems like you’re using p-locks to deselect the buttons, right?. That is, select the button for the pattern you want and deselect the others… I believe that has to do with what I was asking about the S&H module. Have you tried @rs2000 advice so that you’d only need to p-lock the button you want?.

    @rs2000 said:

    @tahiche said:
    @rs2000 @uncledave im still very curious about the S&H module in this case… Why isn’t it triggered when one button is already selected?.

    What I can’t understand is how the “S&H” module prevents a trigger when you choose multiple buttons… without s&h (connect the midi Cc generator to the scaler module) if you press buttons 1+2+3 you get Cc 6, which is expected. But with S&H only when value is changed FROM zero the value is triggered… why?.

    Because you've previously added the values and you're using them as a trigger for S&H at the same time.
    The trigger threshold is defined as a signal increase from zero (or below) to positive.
    If another button is selected already, the zero level isn't reached anymore.
    If you want to trigger the S&H anytime a switch value changes, you can pass the signal through a HPF and a Full Rectify module.

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