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.
Pros and cons of ipad app lifecycle
App is interesting and cheap, buy app.
App has limited or missing functionality, stop using app.
Now have hundreds of apps, spent over a thousand dollars, and still have missing (even basic) functionality.
Function exists but,
forgot I bought app.
never heard of app.
app ui sucks.
And various permutations of trying to force app to work with another app to derive the function.
Basic functionality every app (of that type) should have, including good preset manager and/or auv3 selector, bad or broken.
And obviously missing
a good keyboard screen interface and file manager for ios
a good way to get hundreds of large files from ipad to main computer
Did I miss anything?
Comments
Apps aren't actually that cheap if you consider that you're stuck with them forever and can't sell your license, desktop plugins and hardware can be rotated without much loss.
It's crazy how the EU can force Apple to all kind of alternative appstore shits but can't do anything about the Apple ID lock-in, so that you could at least transfer or gift apps to another Apple ID..
easily avoidable, simple solution. Don’t buy app until you’ve researched available functionality in this forum.
although an iOS app may not have the resale value of hardware or a desktop app, you’re likely to lose 10 to 50 bucks selling either of those. So the argument that iOS apps are more expensive doesn’t really hold up IMO, bc you’re losing similar amount when you cannot transfer the license.
I agree with this - there is a lot of sloppiness I feel. Important features are too often missing, simple stuff like batch import and export, decent preset systems. Even from some respected devs. It is annoying, it is inconvenient, and it needs to improve.
I’ve blindly purchased apps since buying this iPad. Most apps weren’t cheap and many aren’t even on the App Store anymore. There’s a part of me that regret buying. However, the creative mad genius in me feels content and knows this will be an investment. I should have called it quits months ago, yet I’m tempted to add a few yet to be released apps in my arsenal…. Maybe I’m delusional, optimistic, or both.
My initial enthusiasm was about touch interface and portability. But since a large issues revolves around proper daw, Ive been contemplating adding in my laptop or steamdeck to the setup in some way.
I don’t think any of these problems will be resolved in the next 5 years honestly. And I don’t even understand clearly what that resolution would look like. And probably different for everyone.
Though I have gained a lot of cool things to play with, its really been a huge investment.. I’ve learned a lot too.
Which brings up the last big issue that everyone has on all platforms - cataloging and classifying their music. I have almost a decade worth of jams and clips and no realistic way to organize it all. And computers were supposed to be tools for organizing information, right? This is still a problem that has been ‘solved’ so many different ways its even confusing to discuss.
iOS files app has the ability to tag files, and they can have multiple tags. Maybe tagging projects could work as a way to organize them.
I realize my perspective is incompatible with the way a lot of people view the expense of iOS apps, but I don't think of them as "investments", or even in some sense "possessions". I categorize the expense in my own mind more under "entertainment". Compared to a single night eating out, which is over in a few hours, even the most expensive apps are cheap. I can't think of more than a few purchases in over a decade that I haven't gotten at least that much value out of.
Thinking of them as temporary means I never shed a tear if they disappear. I know I had my fun with them. I never feel bad if I forget I have them and don't use them for a time. They're like treasures left in a closet only to be discovered again some day, only I don't have to lug them around with me every time I move.
I'm not preaching. I'm just reflecting on the reasons for my own continued happiness with iPad purchases. I honestly feel they provide some of the best value I can think of compared to everything else that consumes my finances. I understand others' frustration and dissatisfaction, but for myself I'm thankful that weight just doesn't affect me.
I think we should get cheese with our whines.
Users have essential leverage: to buy or not to buy. The developer takes the essential risk of lost
opportunity.
AUM is my savior since AUv3 and MIDI allow almost infinite exploration and compound interest. The sum is worth more than the parts.
I suspect Drambo, Koala, Logic Pro, Garageband, Cubasis or Loopy Pro scratch that itch for many others: Compounding interest and yielding musical wealth.
I don’t crave cheese to be honest so I can pass on the whine.
It feels to me like a "spoiled for choice" thing. The more options we have the more it seems like there should be a perfect thing, and not only do we have so many options, but with the price tags the options are actually accessible. So the hunt keeps going. Forever.
I can't even tell you how many synths I own, and continually buy, when drambo could replace 95% of them. But maybe there's a better one...
Multitrack studio was perfect until it wasn't, same with Zenbeats, Logic, Loopy, all not perfect. I spent 20 years making songs in Ableton Live...
The thing is I've never changed what I wanted to do and how I wanted to write so often as I have on IOS. The possibilities seem endless for how to work.
The platform is partly to blame for sure because it makes everything feel disposable, but also my indecision I'd say.
I don't really think of it in crass economic terms like that.
I think of it more like @wim, many apps are close to the cost of my daily coffee, and even more expensive ones are about the price of a lunch. I'm not making an investment for the future; I'm just satisfying a curious itch.
And, maybe even more importantly, with each purchase I usually try to think of myself as a supporter/patron of an artist, craftsman, or someone like that. I like that there are people out there creating interesting and/or beautiful things, and I'm happy to support them by purchasing their offerings, sometimes when I fully expect that I won't have any use for it. $5, $10, $20, is a relatively small price to pay to help keep them going. I'm happy there are people out there dedicated to producing these little objets d'art, glad to help keep the ecosystem working. There are other ecosystems that have talented individuals producing interesting things; this just happens to be the one I like.
At times I am annoyed that I “invested” in the platform and that money could of bought something tangible. Then I remind myself that things like cancelled flights, speeding fines and paying for parking has taken far more from me. 😂
This is probably going to be my last iPad though as I am sick of all the accessories needed.
I'd put the low cost of entry for individual apps in the "pro" column for myself. My reasoning is I would buy very few apps at desktop prices. Almost none, actually. So, I wouldn't have learned 1/100th of what I have these years when the decision to try an app doesn't have to be any more impactful in real terms than deciding if I want to try a Pumpkin Spice Latte.
Of course, it's the low cost of entry that means we have less full featured apps. I can't argue that one, but for me personally the tradeoff is worth it.
I completely get it that people that who take their music making time more seriously than I do, get annoyed over missing features, and the need to find workarounds for so many things. I'm a person that actually gets enjoyment out of solving those problems. Maybe it's because from the time I was 6 years old learning violin and then later, guitar, I've always had the mindset that making music is ... hard work. Violin is hard as hell to learn to play well. So is guitar (for me). Then there's strings and tuning to deal with, rosin for the bow to apply, slipping tuning pegs, pedal boards, cables, constantly disappearing plectrums, ... on and on. This iPad sh*t is easy in comparison!
The last and most critical pro, for me personally, is ... I ... can't ... for the life of me create on a desktop. Not since the 1990's. I reached a point, probably because I fought with the damn things 10-12 hours a day at work, where every ounce of creativity just leaves me as soon as I sit down at one. The iPad has freed me from that.
Those are all personal reasons that I don't expect anyone that sees primarily the negatives to share. We're all different.
I think that, right or wrong, iOS is not seen as a serious professional musicians’ platform. Of course, everyone knows of a few exceptions, and so on. But overall, I see that as the enduring perspective, even now: it’s a “Mickey Mouse” platform.
So maybe that is why, to some extent anyway.
Yeah - the part you missed is this: nobody forced you to buy an app.
If you have an iPad full of apps, it is because you decided to pull the purchase trigger.
But I know where you are coming from. I'm in the same boat...
At least it is cheaper than other activities like yachting or motor racing.
I don’t think Apple themselves ever thought of it as a serious platform for music, even if they have marketed it as such at times. Even MacOS is questionable at this point. 😂
I felt like this too for a while. Used desktop for about 25 years (since the 80s), found the iPad and became a convert. Desktop felt only painful at that point. The big two apps for me became BM3 and NS2. I kept hearing that BM3 was inspired by Maschine though so I kept looking at that on YT. Once I no longer had to commute I jumped into Maschine and returned to desktop. Desktop is now the perfect balance of focused tactile, ease of use and depth of features and sounds for me. To be honest though, if Apple didn't kill the headphone jack I would use iPad a lot more as I do miss morning walks and coffee shops with it but the dongles just kill years of two handed/thumbs muscle memory that became an integral part of how I enjoyed making music with it.
As far as price, desktop has been waaaay cheaper for me and I have far less desire to buy anything as the massive affordable bundles I got completely blow away iOS. But yah, limited portability/mobility, but as I said Apple already screwed that pooch for me. Sigh, coulda been great Apple. But yah I dig the iOS grooveboxes still and use them for sample fodder, just no point in me buying too many apps anymore.
Heh, yah I whine about the headphone jack a lot (just did heh) but that is the clearest indication of Apple gives no F about it as a music platform. Yah yah, better for servicing, better for selling bluetooth stuff, yippee for Apple. But for me it will be used base models in my future for just watching videos on the couch and running whatever old grooveboxes I purchased over the years until they are no longer supported then I will just get the new little Volca-esque grooveboxes if I want a mobile-enough fix.
As an NS2 devotée I enjoy the iOS platform, while at the same time retaining my laptop apps and more hardware than I can shake a stick at. I see no need to be limited to any one platform.
….if anyone cares.
Literally jobs had gun to my head bro. He was like, gimmie your wallet! I was like noway bro, functionality is missing bro! And then i was dead. True story
Logic Pro & GarageBand?
Eh, I feel both are just upsell vehicles to get people on Mac really. (Ok, zero F is an exaggeration
but it is verrry low priority in my mind). I look forward to the day when tablet touch tech is so common that music hardware folks use it to make kick ass standalone focused mobile hardware products.
I spent $34 USD in the app store. I now have a spectacular Hammond (VB3m), Vox Continental (Red Animal), Farfisa (Compact DeLuxe), Phillips Philicorda (iPhilicorda), and pipe organ (Cantoria Baroque). I spent another $90 and I have a DX7 (KQ Dixie), Moog Model D, Moog Model 15, Moog Voyager (Viking), Oberheim SEM (iSEM), ARP Odyssey (Odyssei), Putney (iVCS3), Juno 60 and 106 (Tal-U-No LX), Oberheim OB-X, and M1. Back when I purchased physical keyboards, I don't think I could come close to replicating this breadth of incredible sounding instruments even with a budget of $25,000. I take my iPad (standard, not pro) with me to any MIDI-capable keyboard anywhere in the world, connect a CME WIDI Bluetooth adapter to the keyboard, connect my iPad to a mixer or amp, and I have every instrument with me - all of my patches, splits, layers, settings, sheet music, set lists, etc. What the heck is wrong with everyone? (asked half-joking and half-serious) The iPad is a flippin' musical miracle.
Thats a definite pro for ipad. Love that juno emu so much! Whats this viking ? A free synth?
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/viking-synth/id1085274012
Nice!
I don't think there's any question that the iPad is incredible for sounds. I can't bring myself to even look at hardware synths anymore. An iPad connected to my Linnstrument is just too damn powerful to compete with when playing live. Also just live playing in general with backing tracks, live looping, whatever you want is there and easy.
It's more the producing music side that ends up lacking, daws are fiddly or incomplete or both. I'm happy to wait, and enjoy the process of workarounds and discovery, and occasionally finish a track, but if you're more driven to produce and aren't a troubleshooter by nature I think people struggle still to find clear workflows that feel inspiring.
That said once Loopy pro get midi loops and it's automation update this year I'm set.
I know there are several good, free mono synths (Bleass Monolit), but Viking is THICK!
Great post.
There's literally nothing stopping anyone from completing tracks with iPad DAWs other than imaginary obstacles in their own minds.
Anyone can make a song with nothing but a sock and I'll be the first one to applaud. 👏🏽
Using ipad is a choice I continually make because I find it all so interesting.
There are differences in workflows between an iPad DAW and a computer DAW tho, which are mostly attributed to touch screen navigation, the initial platform limitations which led to a different approach to music making than a traditional DAW, and less years behind the platform IMO. I find the differences mostly quaint, fun, and inspiring until I get to certain stages of music production with a song and I start to have concrete ideas of what I want to hear instead of playtime. It can get challenging and frustrating, but it's my choice to stay 😊
I find the development path of software really fascinating. It's cool to watch things develop from an initial core idea and see how new features that users demand are incorporated in based on those early choices. iOS has a neat history of years of development of music apps before there were protocols of how apps could talk to each other. Desktop was the same of course in the 80's and early 90's. As far as development goes the iPad is at about the same stage desktop was in the mid 2000's, great options, and just enough time behind things to really see people's ideal workflows start to emerge. The next 5 years will be amazing. ❤
Strictly out of self-interest and desire to not pass up an opportunity to learn from someone else’s experiences, can you describe this a little better? Granted there are some things that are not very applicable between genres and different approaches to workflow, but you seem to he indicating …sound quality? Maybe comparing iOS apps to multi-thousand dollar orchestral sound libraries would be a possibly extreme example. Is this the sort of thing you mean?
Of course but it’s slow going (at least for me) for DAW stuff. Great for starting ideas though.