I started the thread as I am curious about using loops. But it has grown into a debate zone of a "passionate" nature. Didn't see that coming.

musichoo-  Hopefully a new tune I'm writing will be completed within a week... I used quite a few loops in it to compliment the parts I played myself, and maybe it will give you a different perspective about how loops can be applied very musically...  sounds, instrumental phrases, and drum beats that have been time shifted, made to match pitch and tempo of my song.

What is your own experience using them, or is this a new technology for you?  I have just begun really using them in the last 18 months, and it still is a bit of a chore to get them to work in a tune for me.  But it's cool when it happens.

Musichoo-    Dang....I for got to mention... if you want another example (right now) of using loops musically, check out "Bridge of Sigh Remix" in the Songs Forum.  I'm sure there are many others also.

I'm actually a little disappointed the first freebie is loops. Says there are some "sounds" as well though so maybe there will be something worthwhile in there.

Personally though I'd rather some tuts, plugs or PC modules but free is free. I'm not quite ready to turn into electronica Beeps yet though.

Beeps-  It doesn't have to be electronica.  There are loops in nearly every style, flavor, sound, texture, and rhythm imaginable.  I have a collection of orchestra loops I wish I knew how to use.  If I only knew how to arrange strings and horns....

I have to admit that I've been fascinated by the discussion around this thread. I also admit that I have been using loops for years - some which I have created (analogue tapes) and some which I have bought prepackaged (digital samples.) Almost every time I play a sampled instrument, I'm playing a series of tuned (or non-tuned) digital audio loops and that has been, for me, an inspiring, revolutionary, creative journey with almost limitless possibilities. (I also play a number traditional analogue instruments.) As long as human beings have been around, we have invented new tools - in the musical world new instruments - and as each one of these new instruments has come on the scene some talented people have used them to create new and original music which has enriched the lives of all of us (or a number of us anyway.) Like it or not, there is no stopping this march of invention. It's our heritage as human beings. I'm not going to discuss the relative merits of one technology over another or the downside of our digital age - including musician ownership over their own compositions - (oops let that one slip) but I appreciate and understand all of the perspectives on this looping issue and it has been extremely interesting to hear your input on the topic. I've heard enjoyable and not so enjoyable looped compositions and it's usually down to the creative spark - how creatively they have used the tools available to them to make music and music has to be one of the most important human creations. Thank-you for listening and thank-you for a fascinating thread. DJG.

Hi thosco aka Tony,
                              I will be happy to listen to your music. It will be an honour! I had use midi drum loops and know how to edit them. But audio loops is something else. My experience has so far been a bit for hihats or tamborine to compliment the midi drums.

when I get some time I am going to play with the matrix view. That is a loop deluxe center. not that I am going to do anything serious I am just going to have fun with it.If I get anything interesting I will post it. for now I just plan on playing with it without any serious attempt at writing anything. This should be fun.

I do use Sonar's loop capability, but I don't use thrid party loops. I use it mainly if there's a percussion part that's repetitive and maybe there one or two instances that are totally in the groove, then I'll loop them but i'll still fade in fills etc...normally tightens up a track without losing the feel. I hacve standard shaker, claps, guiro samples on hand but again, they are my own recordings. Still though, I've nothing against using loops, it's just that I do my songwriting live in studio with the band, so there's no starting with an empty screen and seeing what happens. Normally a song is pretty much written with live reference recordings after months of tweaking before I start a project of that song in Sonar. I do have a song in the song threads which did employ sonar looping and live looping on a digitech jamman, plus midi loops layered oveer each other on a guitar ostinato...used for abiout first 3 mins of the song..so it does happen. Song's called "Clearwater" if you want to do a search and listen

I try to use whatever's best for the project.