BrainModular

Hey, all.

I'm a brand spanking noob! Not sure how it is supposed to be accomplished, but here's what to do:

Starting with, say, four tracks (guitar, bass, drums, synth) i would like to create, for each track, a looper (rec, overdub, undo, redo) that is capable of overdubs on at least three different base loops. Taking the guitar track for example, on these three base loops i would like to be able to record, for instance, a chorus part, verse part, and bridge. After recorded, I'd like to be able to alternate between them, so let's say the chorus part is currently looping -- I would want to be able to switch either to the verse loop or the bridge loop, so that the chorus stops playing and the chosen loop starts playing.

Now here's where it becomes tricky: An identical looper (3 base loops, each capable of overdub) on, say, the drum track would have three loops. The three loops would be different beat variations that could be chosen from at any given time. I would want both the guitar loop and drum loop to stay on beat with eachother, even though they are looping from different sources. So the phrase length for the guitar loops are either equal to or multiples of the drum loops phrase length.

Ok. My explanation probably blows. I'm trying with usine to be able to play full songs as a one man band. This is highly involved, i'm sure. Could anyone point me in the right direction or perhaps suggest ways to use the existing patches like the Bar recorder, 5x multiplayer, or echoplex to accomplish this?

This shouldn't be too difficult. First how do you intend triggering recording and playbak of the various loops? Do you have a midi controller or are you using or a touchsreen or mouse interface? Do you want the overdubs to record automaticly one after the other or do you want to manually punch in each pass? Do you want to manually punch in and out or would you have a set loop size/ number of bars?
When you say you want to play back loops of different lengths together, are they already the same tempo? Do you want to be able to change the tempos of the loops?

I am trying to do a similar (and simpler) thing--but I have been working with Usine for several years.

I started with the 'simple echoplex' addon. It's a good starting point. The hard part is then figuring out exactly what you want it to do in every situation.... not always so easy! Which exact controls do you need? What will they do?

Then you can start modifying the basic addon. Make sure to test it regularly. If it still works, save it with a new name or number. If it doesn't work you can go back to the version where it did, and try again.... you will get ideas for how to do something, but they often don't work the first time...

It will take a while, but if you have patience you will learn usine, and end up with exactly what you need. When you have specific questions, post them here, and you will almost always get a quick answer.

Good luck!!

Hey, guys! thanks for the support. Gurulogic:

First how do you intend triggering recording and playbak of the various loops? Midi controller

Do you have a midi controller or are you using or a touchsreen or mouse interface? Solely midi controller -- I'm currently using a FCB1010.

Do you want the overdubs to record automaticly one after the other or do you want to manually punch in each pass? Manually punch in.

Do you want to manually punch in and out or would you have a set loop size/ number of bars? I would like the freedom to choose when to punch in and out; however, I would like the overdub loop length to be equal to, or multiples of, the base loop length.

Really, thanks a million for your help. I've only been dabbling with Usine a couple months, and am ready to make the transition to serious user.

tpresto,
I would like to help put some ideas your way, unfortunately it looks like once again I have to mostly leave my computer for a couple of weeks to attend to less exciting things. When I get a chance I will try and come up with some examples for you to to try.

ok, have you try something yet..?
i suppose you have to use quantize function , cause if you manually start and stop record , maybe not easy to keep all this in time..?
so maybe start with some bar record sub-patch , all linked to the same audio out , then , put each rec switch in group mode ( choose the same group , let say group 1 , for each ones of track one and so.. )
then you'll have to add a play switch to this patch like this : i've insert a pass event module and a switch play :

and use group mode too on this switches..
now , i don't know how you want set the fcb1010 to control this but, could be a first step..?

looks interesting...