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.
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Hardware with the immediacy, efficiency and fun of iPad production.
Just curious what HW boxes do it for you, if any. Something you can pick up at a moments notice,
with no setup hassle -- and just start banging out melodies and beats.
I'm at my most creative and prolific when I open an iPad groove box like Drambo, GR-16 or Gadget and instantly start playing the on screen keys, or design sounds that get me inspired.
I'm still searching for the ideal hardware that enables this kind of quick and efficient flow state. Something that feels like it has a bit more permanence than a constantly updated and evolving tablet, with apps that could stop working or being supported in the future.
TE OP1-field is the most obvious thing that comes to mind, but it's something I've been hesitant to buy due to sticker shock. Any others? Digitone/Digitakt combo might also be in my future. I just ordered a used DN 1 last week; Thinking about pairing it with an MPC One and/or Digitakt.
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I finally picked up a Dirtywave M8 and it’s exactly that. I’m really enjoying throwing it in a pocket if I’m going to be waiting around somewhere. Even just using it as my motivation to get out of the house and drive to a nice view so I can play on it. That’s what I always loved about mobile but I have too many options and the internet is distracting. You pick up the flow pretty quick and it becomes easier to lay out your thoughts.
Since the great updates, my SP404mk2 is a fun companion to my iPad. Not only does the SP have a midi controller for Koala, the biggest boon to me in the latest update is simply fixed length loop recording - I can record fixed length loops quickly and easily, then combine them into single trigger pads that play in order. While they are playing, I can trigger single samples and play iPad synths via a midi keyboard sending midi through the SP, then trigger fx on the whole lot going to the SP audio outputs. I can also record the whole performance to a single pad and take the wav file off the memory card for later. The iPad can also power the SP!
I have only two real downsides. 1. The audio recording volume of the input is done by the main volume knob and hence you would need it up very high to record through to the iPad, making recording impossible if you have to use the volume knob as the monitoring volume. 2. So much has been added in firmware that the amount of button combinations is mind boggling!
I'm a big fan of the Digitakt, and if you're going to have the Digitone it's a natural complement. I haven't felt the need to update my DT to the DT2, don't feel like I'm missing the things the new version adds. When I bought it I thought the lack of stereo sampling would be more of an issue than it is, and I definitely can sit down with just that and be productive right away.
I really like the Novation Circuit.
Nothing is going to get close to an iPad for power and features. IMO obvs.
The circuit is perfect for me as an antidote to too much power. It’s exactly what you mention above: immediate with no friction to playing music. Also I like synths. I’m not into sampling other than sampled instruments or drums. I don’t make music using sampled loops.
It’s simple, has no screen and is a lot of fun and the sequencer is genius. It’s great for jamming out arrangement ideas and has lots of ways of performing what you write such as changing the key and scale and clip launching each synth/drum pattern separately.
Nothing else has the immediacy IMO; the lack of a screen makes it the perfect antidote to iPads and computers. Did I mention the lack of a screen?
It’s also a pretty cool MIDI controller — great for drums too.
It lets me concentrate on actually playing and writing — or just jamming. When I have an idea for a song I want to expand on then it’s Logic all the way. I use the circuit as an instrument. Kind of like picking up a guitar and idly strumming.
I find most of the other groove boxes to be way too convoluted. If I want to make a full song I have a DAW for that on my Mac. I want a hardware box to be the opposite of that.
I’d rather use an iPad than any hardware box with a screen.
That looks so cool! I’d buy one if not for the price
Ableton Move!
Namm coming up this month, maybe a new Elektron box reveal? or do we need to wait until spring?
Sorry I read the question wrong. I don't think there is any hardware I've tried with the immediacy, efficiency and fun of the iPad, so if I was you, I would try to find hardware that gels well with you and an iPad and use them together 9r apart. So many options really. I've seen Circuits go well with an iPad. MPCs go well with iPads. Lots of hardware goes well with an iPad, even the SP404mk2 I mentioned. I love hardware, but I would never replace my Ipad even though I've just bought a Macbook too.
Digitone all the way. Its My favorite thing of all. Until i get a digitone 2 one day.
Op1 field is all in one, battery powered (lasts for daaayys) with many machines and even a decent speaker built in.
The original circuit. Although it isn’t the best thing on the planet. It can run on AA batteries and has a speaker built in. I think its fun and inspiring. Lots of sound design options and a great sequencer.
Sp404mk2 and the roland p6. Both can sample in via usb c, and are very portable, especially the p6.
I love using my iPad obviously cuz i do every day, but hardware is what really inspires me and gets me thinking creatively and out of a dead inspiration rut.
@Eschatone i see you got the DN1, if you want immediate results, there’s a couple really good preset packs out there for drums, arps and other instruments that are worth having on hand! Sound design is fun but there’s some days you don’t want to and you just want to jam. Hit me up if you need any links to ones i find good and worth the cost.
Remember on the DN1 you can load more than one patch per track by loading them per step… works great for drums as you can do kick and snares etc per track to make the most out of your machine. You just have to be aware of voice stealing and octaves to prevent then from cutting off. Its really simple once get the hang of it…. Seems confusing af at first… but its really not and its a lot of fun!
Sounds like we're on the same wavelength with these HW picks! I'm sure I'll absolutely adore the DN1 (due to arrive tomorrow) , especially once I get up to speed programming FM. Immediacy, polyphony and great sound is just what the doctor ordered, and all these seem to shine in that area.
And OP1 has also been a long time coming for me. I've grown to love the organic flow of off the grid songwriting, now that my timing is good enough for that kind of workflow. Plus all its various machines remind me what I love so much about Sugar Bytes apps - Playful, fun, but deep enough to lose yourself for hours before you know it.
I'm not quite as familiar with Circuit (or Tracks/Rhythm) but I like what I've seen creators like Gabe Miller do with the machines. And at least it wouldn't break the bank like the former!
p.s. I'll shoot you a PM later about those presets, thank you!
I'm constantly blown away by the incredible things I've heard people do with M8! ... Y'all are far more skilled than I'll ever be with that kind of workflow.
Unfortunately, I've never been able to build anything step by step, from scratch. I need poly keys to noodle an idea into existence or to bring what's in my head to fruition. It's probably just a matter of practice, but after years of doing things this way, I'd probably be better off improving on what I've already built on.
I'm sure Circuit would appeal to me in much the same way Grooverider 16 does, an app I've recently grown to adore again, thanks to its creativity inspiring (and focus boosting) limitations.
When someone can transform a simple metronome click sample into something like this:
It makes me realize I've only just scratched the surface of sound design potential that all these apps and hardware provide.
ps.
Thanks for the feedback!
Lol, most folks ask the OTHER way around -- "Why do people use iPads when hardware gives you so much more immediacy" 😂
Haha that’s kinda what i ask myself every time i use my iPad 🤣