Click here to get your Zoobie Dood!

Dave Eichenberger signature fused glass necklaces by Purple Cloud Studio

More from Dave Eichenberger at Myxer

LooPTY LooP...So WHAT IS LooPING ANYWAY?

Looping is the repetition of audio samples. I record sound as I play it live, and then I ‘loop' it. While it is looping, I add more sound on top. This allows me to ‘build up' a composition live, adding distinct parts just like a multi-track recording.

This page demonstrates what looping sounds like, for people that haven't heard it. These examples are very basic, but you can easily hear how a composition is built from the ground up. These examples were performed completely live.

After I recorded these, I realized they sounded very church-like. The loop I recorded is small, about 5 seconds.

[ Loop Demo is in Real Audio .]

Demo Part 1

Demo Part 2

Demo Part 3

This is a 4-chord progression played on  guitar synth. I used a synth string sound mixed with a little organ. I played it live once, then looped it 3 times, so this whole file is 20 seconds long. What is amazing to me is the seamlessness between the live sound and the recorded sound. This example features 2 overdubs onto the loop. The first is a chorused guitar mixed with some bells, and the second is a flanged guitar mixed with church organ. The last part features an overdub and a live solo. I added a piano bass note to the loop, and then let the loop play while I played a solo over it.

This example only scratches the surface of looping. I can reverse the audio of the loop, or any part I add to it. I can multiply a 4 bar progression so I can play a 16 bar melody over it. I can record 9 separate loops and switch between them. I can further send the entire loop to an effects device, and mutilate it beyond description. It is really fun to compose this way, since I don't have to deal with separate recording machines. The downside to all of this is that once the equipment is turned off, all of the loops are lost. I either have to remember what I did, or record it as I am going.

 

"Nice, Dave!"

- David Torn