Just wanting to see if anyone else has tried this stuff?
 
After hearing others complain about the "content" that was given in the last update, and hearing Craig and others say they use this type of content, well.... curiosity got the better of me and I took a look.
 
I gotta say, this some great content!! The bass is played very well, sounds great, but it has a groove that is....BAD A**!! You can put it in the Loop Construction window, it's all sliced at the right places, you can just move it all around like you want as groove clips and it sounds good!!
 
I am surprised. Never thought I would use loops like this.
 
But I have noticed that a majority of the "Loops" that come with Sonar, are of the 120bpm+ side. IOW, high energy stuff. Is there anything out there for someone looking to go around 90-100bpm? : )
 
And a shout out to CW Bakers for including this stuff in the last update. Good work gentlemen.

I understand why people reflexively assume the content is "throwaway" even without trying it, there's a lot of (very) poor quality loop editing out there -- guilt by association. As you've found out, though, a lot of effort was put into making those loops musical and useful. It doesn't hurt to start with a Grammy-winning musician 
 
There's a reason why the loop libraries I've done are typically among the best sellers for the companies that published them, and I'm committed to maintaining the same level of quality in the loops for members.
 
Do note that the loops are available in both REX and WAV formats, and the native tempos are either 80 or 100 BPM. Please make sure you read the documentation:
 
TRANSPOSING AND STRETCHING
 
Each loop has a “native” key, which is the letter prior to the RX2 or WAV suffix. Note that the REX and Groove Clip (WAV) formats have different strengths and limitations.
 
 REX files are optimum for playing at the native key, and stretch well over a wide range of tempos. REX files stretch more elegantly to slower tempos than WAV files. REX files do not follow Pitch marker changes in SONAR.
 
 Groove Clip files stretch over a wide range, but sound better when sped up compared to slowing them down. They also transpose well and follow Pitch Markers; the fidelity depends on how far you transpose from the native pitch.
 
MODIFYING THE LOOPS
 
These loops transpose very well in Melodyne. After choosing the tempo and importing the file, convert either format to a standard WAV file by bouncing the clip to itself. Now you can open it in Melodyne and transpose individual notes or even entire patterns.
 
You can also cut and paste loops to create variations, and there’s an additional folder of single chromatic bass notes. Drop them into a track to augment the existing loops, or create sections from scratch.
 
Most importantly, now you can have Brian Hardgroove play bass on your session, and add his unique combination of R&B and rock flair to your own productions.

I've used them and also transposed some bass sections in Melodyne and it worked great.  They're fun for quick, easy music dittys or ideas.

Loops are great for songwriting. You have something to inspire you until you lay down the final tracks...assuming you feel the need to do so.

Thanks for that Craig. I must have skipped the documentation. I didn't see the part about getting Melodyne in on the action. If fact, as I was reading your post, I am working on several bass parts, that I could use this technique with. Wow!!
 
This is what I did: I know of Hardgroove, and I know your work Craig. So I had to see what all this was about. I have never used the Matrix View. But I dragged a bass part over, listen to it, it sounded great! So I thought let me auditioned some other parts. Found a keyboard part I liked, found a drum beat that set the bass groove in motion, and I haven't looked back!
 
Now I have taken that small idea and I am expanding on it. But it's all a learning process for me. Never made music this way before. So at times it's real fast, other times I have to stop and do some reading and experimenting.
 
I have learned to use my Trigger finger to trigger the columns, have routed Timeless 2 delay for certain tracks/parts, along with single triggering cells that are run to fx's to get what I am after, then learning to "perform" the song!
 
I have already come up with a guitar part that I will put in once I get the song/performance recorded. It's really moving along well and I am having a blast doing it! As the wife and I were eating out tonight, she said she heard me playing along with it and she really likes it!
 
So I am heading in the right direction. Will try the Melodyne trick tomorrow. Going read more and watch videos.

Grem
Thanks for that Craig. I must have skipped the documentation. I didn't see the part about getting Melodyne in on the action.

 
There's a 24-page eZine that accompanied the release. It has documentation on all the new features, including descriptions of the controls in the new amp and FX chain, the story behind the acoustic guitar presets, the rendering options for VocalSync, etc. I'd suggest checking it out.
 

This is what I did: I know of Hardgroove, and I know your work Craig. So I had to see what all this was about. I have never used the Matrix View. But I dragged a bass part over, listen to it, it sounded great! So I thought let me auditioned some other parts. Found a keyboard part I liked, found a drum beat that set the bass groove in motion, and I haven't looked back!
 
Now I have taken that small idea and I am expanding on it. But it's all a learning process for me. Never made music this way before. So at times it's real fast, other times I have to stop and do some reading and experimenting.

 
One of the great features of Matrix View is how it integrates with Track View. IOW you can experiment in Matrix view, but record the results of these experimentations as linear tracks in Track View. So suppose you're improvising and come up with several killer sections but the rest isn't quite so killer. Ctrl-X to the rescue...get rid of the parts you don't like, then move over to track view.
 
I really think I should write an article called "Why Loops are Great and Why They Suck." There are two sides to the story but there are many ways to use loops, some of which are incredibly useful. I've written quite a few articles about modifying loops to make them more inspiring and less repetitive. In a lot of ways, using loops draws on excellence in engineering as opposed to excellence in instrumental musicianship. When you combine the two, the result can be very powerful.
 
If you have my Advanced Workshop Videos, check out the chapter on the Matrix View. I think you'll find it helpful. 
 

I do have the video. Passed right over the part on Matrix View! Just never saw myself using loops. I know that was closed minded, but it has definitely opened my eyes.

Thanks for the link to the 24pg ezine. I missed that.

Doing this has got me having an idea of using the chromatic loops for my own songs I am doing now. Using them to construct a measure or two, with three or four variations, dropping them in Martix and recording an intro progression, verse and so on.

Grem
Doing this has got me having an idea of using the chromatic loops for my own songs I am doing now. Using them to construct a measure or two, with three or four variations, dropping them in Martix and recording an intro progression, verse and so on.

Welcome to the Dark Side, young Jedi 

I'm about to go into Hardgroove's Dark side as well. The last time I played with loops must've been during Sonar 8.5 or X1 and used them on/off just for ideas. After reading this thread, I think I'm ready to give it a good shot at an actual song.
 
Thanks Craig for the great work you do here and not sure if this is being said enough, but we're definitely very fortunate to have you here (on the forums as well as brewing thing up behind the scenes).  

Yes Mesh, I agree with you on both accounts. We are lucky!

The Hardgroove loops has some really good feel to them. His playing.is just really nice. And Craig did an excellent job in the alterations. I never knew he didn't play all of the grooves till I read the info Craig refers to.

We could use some more. I would buy those loops.