Question re: Octatrack and Loopy Pro. Hey Andrew, based in part on viewing some of your videos (like the one above) where you demo and provide a strong recommendation for LoopyPro, I've recently taken the plunge into the app, and have really been enjoying and impressed by its capabilities. I know you obviously really like the Octatrack as well. Given that I don't own an Octatrack myself, and realistically don't have the budget to get one anytime soon, I'm wondering whether you feel that LoopyPro could potentially serve much the same purpose as Octatrack for an iOS musician on a budget? I gather that Octatrack's functionality is probably more advanced (and, to be honest, I understand only a tiny bit of what it does); neverthless, if Octatrack essentially enables you to load up samples to which you can set playback length, speed, pitch, add an LFO, and add up to two effects (including a filter), I know that in at least a very basic way, I can do that also in Loopy Pro. Anyways, I was wondering if you could comment on all that; i.e. Loopy Pro as budget alternative to Ocatrack. Or am I dreaming in technicolor? :-) Thanks, Frank
Absolutely, yes; you can treat loopy pro as a “budget” Octatrack. The sheer customization of it can certainly take you into some of the same territory as OT if you are starting from the place you referenced: “load up samples to which you can set playback length, speed, pitch, add an LFO, and add up to two effects (including a filter)”… etc.
The *truly* unique magic of the Octatrack is 1) the Elektron style of sequencing, and 2) understanding the function of Scenes (the cross fading effects) and Parts (stored sets of FX parameters) to drastically alter sounds at a moment’s notice.
Loopy can do incredible things. I would not stress yourself out entertaining the idea of an OT unless you have cash to burn, clear ideas to execute, and some bit of patience to learn a unique sampling environment. I love mine, but it’s taken 2 years to understand exactly how I prefer to use it in relation to other tools. The majority of the time, I’m happily making music on my iPad :)
Thanks Andrew, that's really sensible advice, and happily confirms what I was kind of assuming. I think OT is beyond my pay grade at this point :-) but I'm having tons of fun with LP. (Dang, those customizable widget controls are so cool!). If I can get even just 25% of the way to an OT workflow approach with it, I'll be satisfied. Interestingly, back when I was still working with h/w pedals (before I made the switch to iOS), I had a Chase Bliss Audio Blooper pedal, which I thought was really cool, but I see now that the wide open flexible routing options (and unlimited tracks) with LP kind of take the Blooper concept into a whole other stratosphere; for me, anyway.
Another super-awesome presentation Andrew - thank you! I had just recently purchased Loopy Pro for my iPad but haven't had time yet to "read the user manual" so it was personally timely for me to see you dive into it with a hands-on demo. I just want to also reiterate how very much I appreciate the meticulous detail and thoroughness (including screen grabs) you put into these presentations and posts - together, they really serve as a kind of "course offering" on this topic.
Question re: Octatrack and Loopy Pro. Hey Andrew, based in part on viewing some of your videos (like the one above) where you demo and provide a strong recommendation for LoopyPro, I've recently taken the plunge into the app, and have really been enjoying and impressed by its capabilities. I know you obviously really like the Octatrack as well. Given that I don't own an Octatrack myself, and realistically don't have the budget to get one anytime soon, I'm wondering whether you feel that LoopyPro could potentially serve much the same purpose as Octatrack for an iOS musician on a budget? I gather that Octatrack's functionality is probably more advanced (and, to be honest, I understand only a tiny bit of what it does); neverthless, if Octatrack essentially enables you to load up samples to which you can set playback length, speed, pitch, add an LFO, and add up to two effects (including a filter), I know that in at least a very basic way, I can do that also in Loopy Pro. Anyways, I was wondering if you could comment on all that; i.e. Loopy Pro as budget alternative to Ocatrack. Or am I dreaming in technicolor? :-) Thanks, Frank
Hi Frank,
Absolutely, yes; you can treat loopy pro as a “budget” Octatrack. The sheer customization of it can certainly take you into some of the same territory as OT if you are starting from the place you referenced: “load up samples to which you can set playback length, speed, pitch, add an LFO, and add up to two effects (including a filter)”… etc.
The *truly* unique magic of the Octatrack is 1) the Elektron style of sequencing, and 2) understanding the function of Scenes (the cross fading effects) and Parts (stored sets of FX parameters) to drastically alter sounds at a moment’s notice.
Loopy can do incredible things. I would not stress yourself out entertaining the idea of an OT unless you have cash to burn, clear ideas to execute, and some bit of patience to learn a unique sampling environment. I love mine, but it’s taken 2 years to understand exactly how I prefer to use it in relation to other tools. The majority of the time, I’m happily making music on my iPad :)
Thanks Andrew, that's really sensible advice, and happily confirms what I was kind of assuming. I think OT is beyond my pay grade at this point :-) but I'm having tons of fun with LP. (Dang, those customizable widget controls are so cool!). If I can get even just 25% of the way to an OT workflow approach with it, I'll be satisfied. Interestingly, back when I was still working with h/w pedals (before I made the switch to iOS), I had a Chase Bliss Audio Blooper pedal, which I thought was really cool, but I see now that the wide open flexible routing options (and unlimited tracks) with LP kind of take the Blooper concept into a whole other stratosphere; for me, anyway.
Another super-awesome presentation Andrew - thank you! I had just recently purchased Loopy Pro for my iPad but haven't had time yet to "read the user manual" so it was personally timely for me to see you dive into it with a hands-on demo. I just want to also reiterate how very much I appreciate the meticulous detail and thoroughness (including screen grabs) you put into these presentations and posts - together, they really serve as a kind of "course offering" on this topic.