Everything about Music Loop totally explained
In
electronic music, a
loop is a
sample which is repeated. Loops may be repeated through the use of
tape loops, delay effects,
cutting between two record players,
sampling, a
sampler or with the aid of Computer Based Looping Software.
Definitions
» "Loops are short sections of tracks (probably between one and four bars in length), which you believe might work being repeated." A loop isn't "
any sample, but...specifically a small section of sound that's repeated continuously." Contrast with a one-shot sample. (Duffell 2005, p.14)
» "A loop is a sample of a performance that has been edited to repeat seamlessly when the audio file is played end to end." (Hawkins 2004, p. 10)
Origins
While repetition is used in the musics of all cultures the first musicians to use loops were electronic pioneers
Pierre Henry,
Edgard Varèse and
Karlheinz Stockhausen. Stockhausen's music in turn influenced
the Beatles to experiment with tape loops, and their use of loops in early psychedelic works (most notably
1966's "
Tomorrow Never Knows" and
1968's avant-garde "
Revolution 9") brought the technique into the mainstream. Later, inspired by
Terry Riley's use of one
tape on two tape machines,
Brian Eno and
Robert Fripp created the technical basis for their
No Pussyfooting album - this technological concept was later dubbed
Frippertronics.
Another approach was the use of pre-recorded loops, first exemplified by
Grandmaster Flash and his
turntablism.
Use of pre-recorded loops made its way into many styles of popular music, including
hip hop,
trip hop,
techno,
drum and bass, and contemporary
dub, as well as into mood music on soundtracks.
Modern looping
Today many musicians use digital hardware and software devices to create and modify loops, often in conjunction with various electronic musical effects.
In the early 1990's dedicated digital devices were invented specifically for the use in
live looping for example loops that are recorded in front of a live audience. Live looping isn't exclusive to electronic music and is found in the singer/songwriter genre, achieving new popularity in the employ of popular artists such as
Ani DiFranco and
KT Tunstall.
Computer programs to create music using loops range in features, user friendliness, and price. Some of the most widely used are,
Digidesign's
Pro Tools,
Sony's
ACID,
Cakewalk Sonar,
ReCycle,
GarageBand,
FL Studio (formerly
Fruity Loops), Propellerhead's
Reason and
Ableton Live.
In 2004 there were 20 live looping festivals in 12 countries in this burgeoning international movement. These include Loopstock established in
2002 in the
San Luis Obispo,
California, and the Y2K? series, established in
2000 in
Santa Cruz,
California. The Y2K4 International Live Looping Festival in October 2004 in
San Francisco and
Santa Cruz drew 50 loopers from 5 different countries over four days.
The musical loop is one of the most important features of
video game music. It is also the guiding principle behind devices like the
Buddha machine, an ambient-music generating device.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Music Loop'.
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