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I could use some help with tips / suggestions / alternatives for Looping in DP 11

Some background, like many here I have been using Performer / DP for a while…started on Performer 3 in the early 90’s and have upgraded with every version to DP 11.

My workflow is very simple and is based on writing 4-16 bars loops. I recorded a MIDI track, loop is endlessly, quantize it and then write more track the same way. If I like a part I will record it to audio and endlessly loop that part as well.

When looping was changed to Clips in DP 10, I tried to get my head around it but reverted back to 9.52. A few months ago I spent an hour with MOTU Tech Support and had them show me exactly how to loop with Clips. When I mentioned that the new method was more steps and not ending with the same results, he told me MOTU did not think anyone used loops for just MIDI, so it was changed.

Over the holidays I upgraded my laptop to the current version of DP 11 and tried to shift my writing and workflow but found myself not wanting to make music. It’s hard to change how you have been working for 30+ years with the same tools.

For now I will stay with 9.52, but at some point I will be at a crossroads for upgrading the Mac, which is also my everyday / work computer.

So, does anyone have any good tips for quick & simple infinite looping? Also, what makes Clips great, I don’t really understand what they do. Am I the only one that misses the old Looping?

Thanks,
Yavn

I have always used the Repeat function; although not infinite, you can repeat a large number of times easily.

The thing I like about repeats is unique changes within one iteration don't affect the other iterations .

The thing I don't like about repeats is unique changes within one iteration don't affect the other iterations.

In other words, a mixed bag. For me, Repeat works great.

You're not alone with looping. I will go out on a limb here though and say flatly that you and everyone else are entirely wrong about it being better the old way. Let's break it down:

The old way involved a command or menu item, then a dialog box. If the loop was infinite it took a bit to make it 16 bars, erase loop then redo etc. Loops to real copies was another menu command. Loops also were extremely awkward looking in the Sequence Editor. Going in and adjusting where a loop start was involved some serious math if you want it to cycle before the start time, if you could do this at all.

Now lets compare this to Clips. Pack Clips is a single key command or menu dive (control shift 1), I immediately set up Unpack Clips as a Command (control shift 2), since the new paradigm is to use Clips to loop audio and MIDI. Clips have their own MIDI or audio editor, with even a separate start time for the clip if needed.

Mostly, the main difference with Clips is the looping is set up to adjust with the looping tool by dragging from the upper right corner. You can also extend the loop in the Event list, it's divisions of whatever beat length the Clip is i.e. 4 bar 16 beats = 64 for three loops.

For the infinite loop, this is where the Clips window comes in, take your clip and copy paste it to the Clips window, start it and you're done. You can also of course drag a loop to bar 1000 etc.

Turning loops into real copies is super straightforward. Unpacking Clips turns MIDI into real copies.


Personally the ability to instantly change the loop length is better with Clips, dragging the loop around is easier etc. I think mostly though this is more a matter of just being used to a particular way of doing things, in the bigger picture control of the loop is easier with Clips IMO. The main thing is set up an UnPack Clip command, the clip edit window is what you get for editing, so to use the Drum, Score, Graphic and Waveform editors you have to unpack the clip.

Thanks for giving some specifics on how the new feature works. Seems like it’s focused on being able to adjust loops of multiple tracks more easily by dragging.

I’m usually one for depth at the cost of simplicity, but my use of loops is really much simpler….set & forget. For me the added functionality is nothing I will normally use. I do think it’s critical for products to grow and evolve, but in this case I’m frustrated with the change.

So being realistic that old loops are gone, are there any tips or shortcuts that will make looping closer to the previous way? Can I set up some loops of the desired length and then paste the MIDI data into them?