I remember the days when using a synth was for poseurs.
 
BTW, I just hear a statistic last night. Rap as a genre is now 30 years old. It is as old as rock was when it (Rap) first started.
 
Times change my friends. Be a purist if you want. Or NOT.

Boscoe
I think there's maybe a simplistic view of samples, loops and "beats" at play here. Sure, if you WANT, you can get pre-recorded loops and just stick 'em together like legos, and it'll sound like something that was stuck together like legos.

 
100% correct. Loops are raw materials. It's the cutting up, mixing, and matching where the creativity happens. It's like collage - if you just use the original artwork, it's nothing.
 
Here's a screen shot of a drum track, spread across two tracks, and using nothing but loops. This actually has less tweakage than many of my songs that use loops. FYI all those pitch markers at the top transpose loops from my AdrenaLinn Guitars loop library, which I use all the time for "seasoning."
 

 

bapu
I remember the days when using a synth was for poseurs.
 
BTW, I just hear a statistic last night. Rap as a genre is now 30 years old. It is as old as rock was when it (Rap) first started.
 
Times change my friends. Be a purist if you want. Or NOT.

+1

Please remember this post wasn't about is it RIGHT or WRONG to use loops, etc.
 
It was asking HOW they're used, and how music today is produced as opposed to how it was 30 years ago.

Regardless of the tools provided, they don't provide the most important ingredient to creating music - IMAGINATION!
 Whether you use premade loops or create your own beats, it still takes inspiration to make art.  That can never be taken away from you.  However, music can be made without inspiration, so, beware!  That is when taste comes into focus.  And, we all know, there's no accounting for taste.

PilotGav
It was asking HOW they're used, and how music today is produced as opposed to how it was 30 years ago.

They can be used in any way you wish.
 
As some have already said, it's up to your imagination. There is no step 1, step 2 (i.e. cookie cutter ) method. Loops ain't your fathers drum machine.

As you can tell from the responses, people need to eat.   There's nothing wrong with that.  Some teach some use loops etc..but it doesnt' make an argument either way about *what is good art?* .  I was never a snob, but now I'm seeing the benefit of it!  :D
 

WWJD?
(J=Jimi)

They are great as inspirational click tracks..

I have nothing against using ready-made loops, except that finding the right one that properly matches the groove that I have in mind always seems to elude me. If there was a good system for finding the right loop for the occasion, I would probably start making use of them.