Wav editing-loop making?

[EL34]

I never have messed too much with loop making.

Anyone got some tips.

Here's what I was messing with today.

I edited a drum beat down to one cycle.
I found that this loop was 2.151 seconds long.
Now i want to add a sound on top of that beat.
I edited a sound down to 2.151 seconds long and it repeats perfectly with the beat.
sound good so far?

[madison]

I don't know wavelab but...
can't you just overdub another track?

The drum sample-sure, you can do it that way but I believe you are using tracking/mastering software and not loop based creation software so it will extremely slow going a tedious.
You could do the old ctrl-C, Ctrl-V v v v v v v v v v v copy/paste method if your scroll bar lines up correctly after each paste.
The frustration will set in when you start wanting to change the pitch or stretch the sample because it is mastering software and it will probably destroy the original sample. :-/

For PC I was using Acid for a long time.
But Ableton Live really kicks some butt.
I think they have a free demo version.
Check it out.

[EL34]

Let me start over.

Say I have a beat that is 110 BPM and 3 minutes long.

I want to take snipets of sounds and make loops out of them using my wav editor software.
I will paste these short loops into the mix.

If the loop is too short it will get ahead of the beat after several repeats.
If it's too long, it will get behind the beat after several repeats.

Here's what  I am asking.
How do you figure out how long a loop should be so that it stays in sync with a 110 BPM song?
If it's exactly the right length it should stay in time for the whole 3 minutes.

See what I am getting at?

[EL34]

Ok, it's math.

I found this calculator on the web where you can type in a BPM and it will break down all the times in MS.

110 BPM is 2182 ms long for 4/4 beat.

Calculator link
http://www.forret.com/tools/bpm_tempo.asp?bpm=110&beat=4&base=4

[EL34]

Nevermind, a light just went on!!!!

[EL34]

The drum sample-sure, you can do it that way but I believe you are using tracking/mastering software and not loop based creation software so it will extremely slow going a tedious.
You could do the old ctrl-C, Ctrl-V v v v v v v v v v v copy/paste method if your scroll bar lines up correctly after each paste.
The frustration will set in when you start wanting to change the pitch or stretch the sample because it is

Madison,
Mixcraft makes it easy to repeat samples. You don't have to paste multiple copies of a sample.

Once you have a sample, you just grab the right edge and drag it out to the right for however long you want it to be.
Mixcraft just creates one long back to back repeat of the sample.
There's a little V notches at the top of the long sample showing you where the samples repeats.

I can line the sample up witn the drum beat using those little notches.

[madison]

Like I said.....I don't know mixcraft.
But, it sound like it does have looping built into it.
So once you have the first loop sounding good you can just drag it and make it loop as many times as you like.

In  the programs I use, all the perimeters are all adjustable.
So, I can adjust not only tempo of the entire arrangement but the tempo of the individual loop, the pitch of the loop and time stretch the loop in real time as the song is playing.
Basically I don't have to worry much about the math (unless its a different time signature than that of the song, that's a bear), just use my ears and tweak a few things until it feels right.

[EL34]

Mixcraft has simple loop editor but it's not very precise.
I set up mixcraft to use an external wav editor.

I have two or three wav editors that are bundled in with other software I own.

I have the complete Nero software suite but I didn't mess with the nero wav editor that much.

I found that the Creative wav editor that came with my soundblaster card was easy to use so that's what I am using.

I think there is also a wav editor in my Pinacle systems video editing software. I'll have to check that one out.

[madison]

I personally prefer the wav editor built into the loop program if at all possible......if I am working with loops, that is.
I get frustrated when there are too many programs open at the same time plus it's taxing on the system.
Not to say I haven't done the external wave editor route.
I think each audio program has it's strengths and weaknesses.
I also have Logic Express which is a killer tracking/mastering program and has really good plug ins but I can't stand to do loops on it! (some will disagree)

You probably have something sitting around that maybe more suited for loops.

I like loops to get the general idea of a tune down.
I often use loops to show my band mates an idea for a tune.

[bluesman1218]

Here we go loop-dee-loop.
Here we go loop-dee-lie.
Here we go loop-dee-loop.
All on a Saturday night.

Sorry guys, I just couldn't resist dating myself. Well, at least I never get slapped............... [smiley=whack.gif]

[madison]

 ;D, don't even!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdUWsWfpbI8&search=ray%20charles%20blues%20brothers

[bluesman1218]

Man! That is one of my all time favorite movies and what got me interested in the Blues.