Editing Apple Loops

[David Nahmani]

Sometimes you want to edit an Apple Loop in the Sample Editor, to reverse it, delete one beat, or whatever reason. The problem is that when you try doing that, you usually get an alert stating that you cannot edit the file.

 

Here is an easy workaround:

 

1. If you do not want to destructively edit the original loop, first choose Audio > Convert Regions to new Audio Files from the local Arrange window menu, and give the new copy a name and location on your drive.

 

2. Select your Apple Loop in the Arrange window and choose Audio > Open in Apple Loop Utility from the local Arrange window menu.

 

3. Under File Type, click on Non-looping. This will convert the file to a regular Audio File. Press Command-S to save. Press the big '-' button to clear out the drawer of your loop (important!).

 

4. Back to Logic, edit the loop to your heart's content. It is now a regular Audio File and will accept anything you throw at it!

 

5. Repeat steps #2 and #3, except this time click first on Non-looping, then on Looping. Press Command-S to save.

 

6. Back in Logic, enjoy your newly edited Apple Loop! Have fun.

[mattrixx]

Hi David... That's great!!!

I amo not in front of LogicPro right now, but just wondering if the loop, once you convert it to 'Non Looping', retains the tempo you were working with, when you go back to Logic?

[David Nahmani]

No, as you can see on the picture before the last, while the loop is in 'Non-looping' status it is at its original tempo, just like any regular audio file.

[mattrixx]

Thanks David,

I thought that might be the case, but it doesn't make this any less brilliant.

Wouldn't it be fantastic if there were a third mode? I am not sure what that would be called, but maybe it could be exclusive to Logic & STPRo. (the latter of which I have lost faith in its future anyway).

[Simon]

That is a very useful and excellent tip.

 

thanks David!

 

Simon

[Ashermusic]

That is a very useful and excellent tip.

 

thanks David!

 

Simon

 

Wow, David I did not know that one! Great tip.

[Brunosteelemusic]

It seeems you can save yourself a step by double clicking the apple loop and under audio file-save selection as you get the same results. And you don't have to go into Soundtrack Loop Editor to do it. Of course, afterwards you'd have to follow the same steps you pointed out.

[Waterboy]

This is a problem I have had as of late!

I feel ashamed! This has been one of the sections on the site that I have taken for granted and not really looked at!

I am a schmuck!

 

Great tip - BTW, David! Thank you!

[Myron]

Thanks for the tip, David.

 

I've created my own Apple Loop with the ALU feature. It plays perfectly in the Arrange Screen, but how do I add the loop to my Apple Loops Library?

[Ashermusic]

Thanks for the tip, David.

 

I've created my own Apple Loop with the ALU feature. It plays perfectly in the Arrange Screen, but how do I add the loop to my Apple Loops Library?

 

I am not David but I will take the liberty of answering this.

 

1. Select the region on the Arrange page.

2. Under the local Region menu choose "Add to Apple Loops Library."

[Waterboy]

I am not David but I will take the liberty of answering this.

 

What???

And here I was thinking that all of you "Certifiable" types were the same person! Man ... this is bullshit! I feel so ... so ... dirty!

[Ashermusic]

I am not David but I will take the liberty of answering this.

 

What???

And here I was thinking that all of you "Certifiable" types were the same person! Man ... this is bullshit! I feel so ... so ... dirty!

 

You are from Louisiana? Clearly you have spent too much time under water

 

Randy Newman: "Louisiana, Louisiana, they're trying to wash us away, they're trying to wash us away."

[Waterboy]

[hutson]

Can't you just import audio to track by using finder to select the apple loop and then drag and drop it? or does it retain the same problems?

[David Nahmani]

Can't you just import audio to track by using finder to select the apple loop and then drag and drop it? or does it retain the same problems?

An apple loop is an apple loop is an apple loop. It doesn't matter how you import it.

[Morerecords]

I just found that if you want to simply edit destructively, all you have to do is open in a external editor, and there are no additional steps.

there are free ones on the web, audacity, sound sculpt, couple others.

[muses]

I just found that if you want to simply edit destructively, all you have to do is open in a external editor, and there are no additional steps.

there are free ones on the web, audacity, sound sculpt, couple others.

 

What about through SoundTrack Pro 2?

[Morerecords]

you know, I didn't try it, I don't care for the interface.try it, maybe...

[BabyaSoftwareGroup]

i often want to edit Apple loops-so the tip will be of help to me.

[Morerecords]

key command: shift+w

[simonsound]

when I try and 'convert regions to new audio files' I get a message teling me I can only save apple loops as AIFF's.

 

Simon

[David Nahmani]

when I try and 'convert regions to new audio files' I get a message teling me I can only save apple loops as AIFF's.

 

Simon

Yup, a new limitation in LP8.

[Matt Mayfield]

 

I really wish I could understand exactly why they would do this, and other things like it. If they would just give a reason in some release notes, say because the routine that converts files is unreliable with Apple Loops, or because it reacts badly with the pitch-shifting or time-stretching algorithms, or something, I would find it a lot easier to accept.

[MAYH3M]

that mentality should be mandatory in the manual!!!!!

why do or do not or it does this because....

the tools with blindfolds suk!!!

[jonPhillips]

How about giving this a try:

 

1 : Create an Audio track with the apple loop you wish to edit.

 

2 : Set the output to a free Bus (for the sake of example, let's say Bus 1).

 

3 : Create a new Audio track, record enabled and input monitoring enabled, with the input set to the Bus you set in the previous step (in our example, Bus 1).

 

4 : Hit the record button – and there you have it : an editable audio file you can muck about with to your heart's content.

 

Feel free to point out any shortcomings in this method as I am a total Logic Pro newb.

[aarondicker]

Excellent tip! Can you tell me how you silenced parts of the beat as discribed in the original post?

[David Nahmani]

Excellent tip! Can you tell me how you silenced parts of the beat as discribed in the original post?

 

Select portions in the Sample Editor and choose Function > Silence.

[aarondicker]

Of course! Why didn't I think of that!

 

Thanks for the fast reply, excellent site by the way!!

[Logic Pro]

So is the the easiest way to do it with out using the apple loop utility?

 

Meybe i posted too soon, i never done this yet so.... but its a thought

[musick]

The easiest way I found: save the loop as new (AIF) audio file (ALT-CMD-F in the Arange) and use the length change tool with ALT pressed to time strech the loop to the song tempo (also in the Arange). Is very quick