Thoughts on loop packs?
I picked up a loop pack for fun, and decided to make a production out of nothing but chopped and edited loops. It turned out nicely, but is it considered cheating to use premade loops?
Unless it’s a remix, I’m no fan of premade melodic elements.
I’m always confused how many people (also bigger names) seem to use premade loops. It started with me recognizing the same vocal samples in different tunes, but it didn’t stop at that. With melodic and percussive loops it’s the same, I even found loops I knew while checking out the demos of Sample Packs on sounds2sample (for filling up my Electribe SX with one-shots). I guess my view of music production is a bit naive…
I would not use pre-made loops for production though. Hell, when I first dabbled into production over 10 years ago (sadly, I never really stuck to it consistently for a longer period of time, so I’m still nowhere), some people were even frowning upon using one-shot drum samples from sample-CDs - which is silly, I think.
House music, much like hip-hop, has a long love affair with sampling. It’s not bad per se, as long as you’re taking the samples and really doing something to make them your own and have the track stand out.
Now, to do a whole track of loops is a different story I’d say, not cheating per se and there’s nothing wrong with it, it’s just a different way to make tracks. More than anything it’s a good way to get familiar with the tools in your DAW and learn how to use them and after a while you’ll really start to feel limited using nothing but samples and loops to the point where you’ll start picking up some soft synths and start learning those.
It’s just a growing experience, and while you’re not making anything ground breaking, it will feel like your accomplishing stuff by “finishing” songs and it will just start to snow ball into itself and before you know you won’t even be using that many samples and even less loops.
BUT everyone samples, uses loops and so on. They are a great tool to help get you started on writing a track, and more likely then not by the time your close to finishing the track the original loop won’t even be in the song, but it did it’s job and got you inspired and motivated to write and finish a track.
nope, i have heard two popular dj’s/producers use the same loop, but it was totally different 
many artists are using loops, why shouldnt you.
Actually sampling on your own (like…from a record) is where hip hop and house’s love affairs with sampling came from. It doesn’t sound like that’s what you’re talking about…it sounds like you’re talking about composing with pre-made loops.
Loops are not cheating…there kind of is no cheating (stealing yes, but that’s different). The only issue with using sample packs is that you run a very serious risk of all your stuff sounding just like everyone else who used that sample pack.
Amen break everyone… A loop that’s been used over and over for years hasn’t it.
I don’t see why you shouldn’t use loops, you can really pimp the sound of any loop and it will save you some time…
I’m not saying that your production should be based on loops, but it won’t harm if you drop in some loops, even professionals use them…
I think you need to look at the digital music market from a business point of view.
The days of a track being played in clubs for months on end has gone, i would guess an average track has a shelf life of 1 month at most.
So i think loop packs are ok, BUT some editting and chopping is needed to add your own spice to it.
Melodies and music loops are slightly different. I persinally would not use a pre made music loop, Only drums.
I used to worry wha other people thought of my music if i used loops etc. But the end of day, if you add your own feel to it, then who cares. music should be enjoyed.
Sample packs i agree in, as in drum hits but loops can be used for good reference of patterns…to just copy past a loop seems lame. I use them for making sure acapellas are on tempo but thats about it.
How else do you guys make drum samples without sample packs or analog instruments?
Amen to that! Still sounds just as funky when used today.
I agree that its simply a matter of how creative you are with what you are using. I think a producer who would just drop and line loops up like something of the old e-jay series, well that’s not exactly original or creative, but just get a little experimental with things then you can make a pre made loop/sample sound completely original and unique.
If you feel like you have sort of took a short cut to a process then you probably have, and it reflects in the final sound of whatever mix is in question. I think if someone spends time on getting creative with loops, sounds, samples in their works, then the end product is alot more stamped with a unique sounds respective of the producer
THIS
First just want to comment on your view on shelf life. Unfortunately I feel like this is a driving factor in people torrenting even when music is only $1 a song. It’s hard to find value in music, especially for the top 40 crowd, when you know that track is going to expire in two weeks.
Second, yes drums loops are great, especially if you’re a traktor user. Throw those drum loops in the sample decks and you can easily switch up the rhythm and feel of a track. The sampled melodies are very limiting if you ask me. But again I’ve found that loop packs are a great way to break down all the elements to get a feel for each part and can give you a better understanding of how everything comes together.
its depressing to root through vengeance packs and recognise major parts from beatport top10 charting tracks.
its perfectly fine to use them, but you won’t get a decent track exclusively using them, so thats what makes it fine. copying is a major part of all art, from shakespeare, to Picasso, everyone copies.
i find loops are best for finding a decent groove to get a track going, cause otherwise it can be a bit too hit and miss. its much easier to quickly audition 100 grooves, find one that gets you stoked, and then work from there. either leaving as it, or programming the same pattern with your own samples, or processing the loop or whatever, its all good.
Basically, sure, they’re fine, but I tend to use less and less of them as they just don’t afford the flexibility I want to tweak and adjust – especially melodies.
Loops are pretty good for layering with programmed drums etc. Vocals, too, are hard to come by normally unless you have a good mic, vocal booth and a good singer.
But to construct complete songs out of loops (without de-constructing them first) is a bit creatively bankrupt imho.