Live Looping Using a Midi Keyboard

[dtrzcin]

Basically, I want to be able to use GarageBand sounds and record something, then while it's still playing record another loop over top of it.


It's possible, right?

How do I do it?

[bassdrummer2333]

Like you want to drag a loop into GB and then add another loop while the other one is playing?

[Tristan Needler]

Like you want to drag a loop into GB and then add another loop while the other one is playing?
I think he wants to play a line, have it loop, then play another line, have it loop too..

I don't know how garage band is with MIDI, but I'd assume it's possible, although maybe not in the way you're thinking. You'd probably have to go back and forth from your keys to your computer for each new loop to switch which tracks are playing back and which are recording, make sure each loop is playing properly, etc. Also, unless you have a pretty powerful machine, don't expect to get 50 layers playing nicely all at once.

[dtrzcin]

I think he wants to play a line, have it loop, then play another line, have it loop too..

I don't know how garage band is with MIDI, but I'd assume it's possible, although maybe not in the way you're thinking. You'd probably have to go back and forth from your keys to your computer for each new loop to switch which tracks are playing back and which are recording, make sure each loop is playing properly, etc. Also, unless you have a pretty powerful machine, don't expect to get 50 layers playing nicely all at once.

You're right; that's what I meant.

I have used a regular keyboard with a loop pedal and it works okay, but now I have a strictly MIDI keyboard and I can't use it with a loop pedal since it doesn't have its own sounds. So I looked for live looping programs on Google and came across a few but I didn't know enough about them or how to use them.

There's got to be some program with a record button where I can record, say, strings, then loop it, then change to piano on my computer, record it, then loop it, etc.

Also, I'm just looking for 5-10 tracks really. Haha not 50.

[Tristan Needler]

You'd be able to do that with any audio application that records MIDI, it just might not be as fast as hitting a button.

[dtrzcin]

Any suggestions of applications? Or where I should look? I scoured Google and didn't come up with much. I wasn't sure exactly what to search for.

[Dicebox]

maybe you could make all the loops that you wanted to do allready preset onto different tracks with the ones you dont want, muted. You have run the 16 bars or whatever and then just mute and un-mute(?) the tracks you want, i dont know how you would be able to assign that to your controller though. You would have to do that manually with a mouse, and that would be annoying.

I dont think garage band can do that otherwise though.