10 Creative Ways to Transform Loops - Part 1/2

Most producers use samples from the same websites, causing many to use identical sounds and loops, creating copyright issues and lack of originality.

The video presents 10 creative techniques to transform loops so they sound fresh, unique, and original.

Track stems for every technique covered and full track breakdowns are available on the creator's Patreon.

This is part 1 of a two-part series covering creative loop transformation methods.

• Right-click audio clip and select 'convert drums to new MIDI track' • Live converts groove into MIDI pattern assigned to default 606 drum machine • Live creates MIDI notes for every hit marked with light gray transient markers

• Use Ableton's velocity MIDI effect to normalize inconsistent velocities • Set 'outtype' parameter to maximum velocity (e.g., 100) to reduce high velocities • Set 'outlow' parameter to boost velocities below a threshold • Setting both to 100 makes every note hit at same velocity value • Optimal natural results come from setting outlow to around 70-80

• Duplicate track and set it to receive MIDI from original drum MIDI channel • Record to capture adjusted velocities in new MIDI clip • Extract drum rack layers separately for better clarity and flexibility • Swap original sounds with custom drum samples from sample packs • Use main and ghost kicks to add natural human feel

• Group drum tracks and apply glue compressor with high-pass filter on side chain • Add saturator for warmth and punch without over-cooking • Use limiter to bring up final volume • High-pass original break and use transient designer to soften transients

• Load melodic loop into Simpler instrument in slice mode • Choose division for slicing (e.g., half a beat) • Create empty MIDI clip and use Live 12's MIDI generative tools to generate pattern

• Set note range for pattern generation based on first and highest chops available • Live automatically generates patterns within the specified range • Shorten clip to 2-bar loop for French house style repetitive patterns • Generate new patterns by selecting all notes and hitting generate button

• Trigger mode plays entire chop regardless of MIDI note length • Gate mode plays chop only as long as MIDI note lasts, creating tight chopped sound • Gate mode works great for French house sound aesthetic

• Duplicate loop and extend to 4 bars for more variation • Tweak individual notes to add subtle variation and keep pattern evolving • Adjust slicing division from half beat to quarter note to introduce new textures • Add extra instrumentation to complete the transformation

Paul Stretch is an incredible free plugin that takes any audio and stretches it into beautiful atmospheric pads using Paul's extreme time stretch algorithm.

• Can turn any audio into hours or days of ambient soundscapes in smooth, beautiful way • Stretch amount set to 1 keeps original duration (e.g., 24 seconds) • Maximum stretch amount can extend to 6 hours and 49 minutes • Setting stretch to 10 extends typical sample to just over 4 minutes

Produces extremely high quality time-stretched audio with epic textures, far superior to Ableton's native time-stretching at large stretch amounts.

• Render stretched audio and import into Ableton Live • Load stretched file into Simpler with very slow attack and very long release • Play on MIDI keyboard at different octaves to create evolving pad-like quality • Explore different sections of stretched audio for varied sonic material

Import multiple drum loops and chop out the best sections from each (kick from one, snare from another) to create unique drum collage feeling like completely new loop.

• Use warp section to tighten transients and clean up tails and reverb • Side chain drum elements to kick or snare to help blend naturally into rhythm • Adjust timing and transients to ensure cohesive feel

• Blend subtle layer like vinyl crackle to glue everything together • Add tape noise to make loop feel more cohesive • Use compression and saturation on drum bus for glue

When digging through loops, focus on individual sounds that stand out, isolate those elements, blend them with others, and create something entirely new.

• Wavetable synth uses collection of waveforms instead of single waveform like sine, triangle, or square • Can scroll through wavetables to shape sound in dynamic ways • Ableton's default 'basic shapes' includes sine, triangle, saw, and square wave

• Morph between waveforms using oscillator position slider to create new waveforms • Warp and fold parameters twist and bend wavetable in creative ways • Combine oscillator position, warp, and fold parameters to sculpt textural and rich sounds • Any sample can be imported and used as wavetable source • Textured sounds usually give most interesting wavetable results

• Use mod matrix to route modulation sources to various parameters • Map amp envelope to warp amount for dynamic tonal changes • Use LFO one to modulate wavetable position (disable re-trigger) • Use LFO 2 to modulate fold amount • Use envelope 3 to modulate LFO rate for nested modulation effects

• Set up filter envelope using MS-2 filter with dial in of dry for character • Push filter resonance to hear reaction and create tonal variety • Use second oscillator to load completely separate wavetable • Apply oscillator effects from bottom left menu to reshape wavetable further • Adjust position slightly to completely change sound vibe