| The first thing I'll say about loops is that they can | | | | You can also use existing loops and cut them up to |
| take up a lot of space. I have over 8 GB in my | | | | create your own. You can use drum sequencers to |
| collection and its limited. By limited I mean not very | | | | craft your own drum loops. Tons of synthetic |
| large. I have perhaps two dozen loop libraries on the | | | | programs are available, many for free. You can also |
| computer right now. This may seem like a lot but; in | | | | use your mic to record anything. In addition to the |
| the world of loops, it most certainly is not. If you | | | | samples already given, you can record the guitar that |
| don't have the space to store them in the hard drive | | | | you play with now and then, you can record dripping |
| on your computer, try to get a good external hard | | | | water, stomping feet, claps, outdoor noises, anything |
| drive. If you don't have the money to spend on a | | | | can be recorded into a loop. |
| hard drive be aware you will be only able to use one | | | | Sampling is the act of taking an existing sound or |
| loop library at a time. This is because you will have to | | | | piece of music and using it in your own tracks. All |
| use them by disk. This is fine if you are merely | | | | loops technically are samples. I personally draw a line |
| making a one genre recording or using loops to | | | | and say that using loops is not actually sampling |
| accompany recordings of your own. | | | | however. To me; and this is purely my opinion, |
| If you do have room to store them on your hard | | | | sampling is taking bits and pieces from a song |
| drive; or hard drives, put them in easy to remember | | | | somebody else recorded and using them in your own. |
| folders. The best way is to have a loops folder, then | | | | Rap was born from doing this. Early rappers could not |
| subfolders for a style of music or for each loop | | | | afford actual instruments, recording time or to put a |
| library. Arrange them the best way for you to keep | | | | band together. What they did have was early tape |
| track. Just remember that loop 00005.wav tells you | | | | recorders and record players. By sampling other |
| absolutely nothing on its own, keep them organized! | | | | peoples music, mixing it to create beats, they were |
| Lastly once you've used the file; if you move it, the | | | | able to create a new genre of music. This was |
| program will complain and want to know where it is | | | | originally called hip-hop. It was originally used for |
| the next time you open a project. To save yourself | | | | dancing. |
| a good deal of hassle be as organized as you possibly | | | | It was not until the 90s it became associated with |
| can with your loops. If you plan on mainly using loops; | | | | criminal activity or what is commonly known as |
| to begin with at least, this is a must do task. | | | | gangsta rap. The problem with sampling, is by |
| However this also applies if you will be using your | | | | sampling someone's song you are breaking copyright |
| own instruments or doing any recording of your own | | | | law. That's it; no arguing, nothing will save you if you |
| material. Save them as names you'll remember, and | | | | get caught and they want to sue. The only way; and |
| keep them organized in easy to use folders. This will | | | | reason, you would sample song is if you intend to |
| save you a great deal of headache with searching. | | | | change the sample. This allows you to continue using |
| Acid music studios loop selection window, which you | | | | the already recorded ambiance of the track, while |
| will be using for all track selection uses a simple | | | | not ripping off the artist who did originally record it. |
| folder, subfolder, subfolder etc. file selection method. | | | | However the changes must be significant. For you to |
| Just dumping all of your loop files into one folder will | | | | be able to say that you have truly taken that piece |
| be a massive headache when trying to find anything; | | | | of recorded material, sampled it, and made it your |
| one last time, keep it organized. | | | | own, you must truly change the original recording. |
| Back it up, back it up, back it up, back it up, back it | | | | Your best bet is that if you do not feel comfortable |
| up on DVD, CD, external hard drive, internal hard | | | | with taking the chance with using samples, don't do it. |
| drives, anything you can. Hard drives can fail. | | | | I don't use samples because I don't feel comfortable |
| Removable media like discs can be damaged. So in | | | | with them. |
| case you didn't get it the first time back up your | | | | In a related matter when you buy a CD or DVD with |
| work or risk losing it! | | | | loops you do not own the rights to those loops. The |
| Next is acidized loops. An acidized loop has beats per | | | | copyright of those loops remains with the original |
| minute and pitch information right in the file. This | | | | maker. What you do have is a user license. Basically a |
| allows you to use the loops at any beats per minute | | | | contract allowing you to use the loops for the |
| or pitch acid can handle, which is a lot. This turns | | | | creation of your own material. You should always |
| even a small collection of loops into a massive library | | | | make sure you are buying royalty-free loops. |
| of potential. For example altering the beats per | | | | Royalty-free means you do not owe the company |
| minute by roughly 20 is enough to give it a | | | | anything for using them as long as you are the one |
| significantly different sound. With Acid MS thats | | | | that rightfully bought them. Any loops that do have |
| roughly 7 steps you can change any one loop. You | | | | royalties will require you to pay the company anytime |
| can also change the pitch of any of those seven | | | | you sell any song with one of them and it. Be it by |
| steps within a loop giving you a great deal of | | | | CD or download. You can buy of loops, or you can |
| flexibility. By using a special FX, you can easily turn | | | | get them for free, some sources for free loops are |
| even a very small number of loops into a coherent | | | | sample downloads and magazines. Once you have |
| track simply by using the same ones over and over | | | | your royalty-free loops be they free; or bought, you |
| again just changing them in small ways. | | | | have made a contract with the owner to be the only |
| Now creating your own loops may seem like a hard | | | | user of those loops. |
| thing to do, trust me it isn't. If you have a | | | | You cannot give them away, or sell them, nor can |
| microphone and something to make noise with you | | | | you buy used loop libraries. Doing any of these things |
| can make loops. I have used my keyboard and a | | | | voids the contract and your right to use them. So |
| neck chain to create a nice little spooky chain | | | | don't do it. You cannot buy used loop libraries |
| dragging effect, also been a rather versatile vocalist I | | | | because you are not the original licensee of the loops. |
| can use my voice to make lots of interesting noises | | | | You can use your loops on other people's work if |
| also. These are very simple examples of how you | | | | you are a credited creative name on the product. |
| can make your own loops easily. At first it may seem | | | | This means that you are part of the creative |
| like there would be no reason to do this with all the | | | | process in making the work. By doing this the work |
| loops available, but the simple fact is that even with | | | | becomes partially yours, and therefore you can use |
| the millions upon millions of loops out there probably | | | | your loops. You would normally do this if you are a |
| none have never been used. The better the loop | | | | producer working with a group. This is why a good |
| sounds the more likely it has been used a great deal. | | | | deal of rappers have similar sounding beats. |