Ableton Forum

Hello,

maybe one of you has an idea how to realize this:
In my live shows I'm currently using the looper plugin to record and overdub keyboard sounds (basslines, chords on top, ...). But instead of activating the looper BEFORE recording something, I'd prefer hitting some button/switch AFTER I played something worth looping. It's a psychological thing I guess, but under the pressure of having to deliver a perfect take, I am more likely to make mistakes and hit wrong notes

Actually it is very much what the 'repeat' button of Beat Repeat does, but one bar maximum is clearly too short.

One idea I had was having a looper constantly record 4 bars and delete them again at the end, unless I'd hit a button to switch it to "keep current loop" / playback mode. Not sure how I'd make the looper delete its content automatically, maybe using automation envelopes... hmm.

Thank you very much for your ideas!

record to clips... use "follow actions"

3dot... wrote:record to clips... use "follow actions"

Hmm, I don't quite get it... recording to clips doesn't work retroactively either, does it?

sorry.. I was pretty sleepy last night.. forget what I said..(in any case it would've worked for midi..)
so sorry for that..

the best workaround I can think of .. (bear with me here..)

is have a midi to keystroke app (like Bomes' Midi Translator)

current track :
have a midi pedal simply emulate 'enter' (to loop the currently recording clip)
have another pedal emulate .. 'down arrow' then 'enter'.. (so you can trigger a new recording of a clip with 1 press)
and also have another pedal that does...'up arrow' then 'enter' (for going back to play the previous clip with 1 press)

layers :
and this is the most important..
have a pedal that goes.. "enter, alt+up ,ctrl+d , alt+down, down, enter"
this will make the current track start looping ..
duplicate it..
and start recording a new clip on the duplicated track
...all with one press of the pedal..

so you launch your first clip and record..
if you're not satisfied with the loop ...simply hit the 'down+enter' pedal to continue recording seamlessly (but into a new clip)
if satisfied.. hit the 'enter' pedal to loop it...
if you want to add a layer simply kick the "duplicating" pedal

in short ..with this setup.. you can move back and forth between previously recorded loops...or continue

with m4l I bet you can build a looper that does what you want in a more straight-forward way...

also.. you do know 'looper' has it's own 'undo'.. so you can always wipe the latest loop-layer if it's not "perfect"..

Plattfeste wrote:Hello,

maybe one of you has an idea how to realize this:
In my live shows I'm currently using the looper plugin to record and overdub keyboard sounds (basslines, chords on top, ...). But instead of activating the looper BEFORE recording something, I'd prefer hitting some button/switch AFTER I played something worth looping. It's a psychological thing I guess, but under the pressure of having to deliver a perfect take, I am more likely to make mistakes and hit wrong notes

Actually it is very much what the 'repeat' button of Beat Repeat does, but one bar maximum is clearly too short.

One idea I had was having a looper constantly record 4 bars and delete them again at the end, unless I'd hit a button to switch it to "keep current loop" / playback mode. Not sure how I'd make the looper delete its content automatically, maybe using automation envelopes... hmm.

Thank you very much for your ideas!

Check out the feedback knob if its set to 0% you can just leave it in overdub all recordings will delete at the end of there first loop cycle. If you hit a button and turn the feedback knob to 100% before its loop cycle your loop will now play till you go back to %0. Fun stuff

3dot... wrote:sorry.. I was pretty sleepy last night.. forget what I said..(in any case it would've worked for midi..)
so sorry for that..

the best workaround I can think of .. (bear with me here..)

is have a midi to keystroke app (like Bomes' Midi Translator)

current track :
have a midi pedal simply emulate 'enter' (to loop the currently recording clip)
have another pedal emulate .. 'down arrow' then 'enter'.. (so you can trigger a new recording of a clip with 1 press)
and also have another pedal that does...'up arrow' then 'enter' (for going back to play the previous clip with 1 press)

layers :
and this is the most important..
have a pedal that goes.. "enter, alt+up ,ctrl+d , alt+down, down, enter"
this will make the current track start looping ..
duplicate it..
and start recording a new clip on the duplicated track
...all with one press of the pedal..

so you launch your first clip and record..
if you're not satisfied with the loop ...simply hit the 'down+enter' pedal to continue recording seamlessly (but into a new clip)
if satisfied.. hit the 'enter' pedal to loop it...
if you want to add a layer simply kick the "duplicating" pedal

in short ..with this setup.. you can move back and forth between previously recorded loops...or continue

with m4l I bet you can build a looper that does what you want in a more straight-forward way...

Hey 3dot…, sorry for the late reply, had to finish my diploma.
I'll check out your description, however I'm always a bit squeamish about Midi translators and other apps that are running parallel to Ableton.
Thanks for the hints!

Markemark wrote: Check out the feedback knob if its set to 0% you can just leave it in overdub all recordings will delete at the end of there first loop cycle. If you hit a button and turn the feedback knob to 100% before its loop cycle your loop will now play till you go back to %0. Fun stuff

That's a great idea! I'll try it out immediately, maybe it's just what I need. Thx!

Plattfeste wrote:

Markemark wrote: Check out the feedback knob if its set to 0% you can just leave it in overdub all recordings will delete at the end of there first loop cycle. If you hit a button and turn the feedback knob to 100% before its loop cycle your loop will now play till you go back to %0. Fun stuff

That's a great idea! I'll try it out immediately, maybe it's just what I need. Thx!

Damn, almost. The problem is that even on 0% feedback, it will play one repetition of what you just played. Thanks anyway.

Hello, sorry to bump an old thread, but I've got an approach for "retroactive" or "retrospective" that I think is on topic.

I put together a template using ClyphX and dummy clips that automates a looper effect rack to implement a retrospective looper, which solves the one repetition issue mentioned here. Its not a max device or anything like that, it uses automations on the stock looper.

The loopers are always overdubbing but muted, with clips to retrospectively active a loop after you've played.

I've put together some video demonstrations on my youtube showing it in action https://www.youtube.com/@headphase.industries