Pro Tools Sessions with Simon Philips at The Loop Loft

The Pro Tools Session with Simon Philips at The Loop Loft is an amazing experience of real drums being played in different loops, by one of the best drummers in the world. In this custom designed template of multiple sessions a wide range of rock styles can be listened to. The sessions which suit the composer the best can be easily dragged and dropped into his own sequence. Let’s have a look at the special features of this session.

1. Easy addition

The pro session includes 34 different assemblies of drums in different tempos. The performances range from Hard rock to Texas Blues. Each session is ideally divided into the verse, chorus, fills etc. A composer can choose a session based on the feel and tempo and decide to add it to his track. Simply drag and drop the parts you like into the sequencer software and re arrange them. The composer can also match and mix loops from different sets and add them together to make his own collection.

2. Inclusions

This is the first in a collection of drum sessions in multi tracks that have been custom designed for Pro Tools. The 34 sessions templates in .ptf have already been mixed by using native plug-ins and are inclusive of tracks of keys and vocals, guitar, reverb, chorus and delay. They are ready to use and give a creative jump start to the composer. It also includes loop versions in stereo in-

·         REX2

·         AIFF

·         WAV

·         Stylus RMX FORMATS

·         ReFill for Reason

3. Loops

The session is inclusive of Bass Loops arranged in WAV, REX2, AIFF for Apple Loops and Stylus RMX formats. The drum loops sessions are in complete stereo singles library that includes kicks, toms, snares and cymbals.

4. Equipment and Recording

All tracks of the sessions have been recorded in Los Angeles in the Woodcliiff Studios. The drums that Simon used were Tama and Pro Tools was used to track all performances. The mastery of the sessions was done in the record release quality, making sure that there was no over processing and stress was laid on the kit and the drummer.

5. Simons gear

Simon used the following equipment for the recording-

·         Tama Star Classic Maple kit

·         Kick drums – 16”by 24”

·         Toms - 7" x 10", 9" x 12", 10" x 13", 11" x 14", 12" x 15", 13" x 16"

·         Snares - Drum Paradise "HitMaker" 5" x 14", 1939 Leady 6-1/2" x 14", 1974 Ludwig 402 6-1/2" x 14", Tama Star classic Piccolo 3-3/4"x 14", Tama "Pageant" 5" x 12"

·         Zildjian "A" Custom cymbals - 14" HiHats, 22" Ride, 19", 18" & 17" Crashes, 12" Splash, 10" SR Hats, 22" Oriental China & 22" A Custom China.

6. Signature sticks in Pro mark

Simon used the following microphones for the Pro Tools Session-

·         Shure SM57 for Snare

·         Shure KSM27s for the Toms

·         AKG 414 for Hats

·         AKG 460s for Overheads and Yamaha

·         NS10/20 Subkick mics

·         Shure Beta 52 for the Kicks.

Drum Loop Users Should Know These 6 Things

If you are planning to loop with drum loops and just have started, here are some techniques that will let you save some time and also help you master using the use if drum loops.

1.    Creating and Slicing Audio Samples

The biggest advantage with looping techniques is the availability of creating your own audio samples with numerous options to arrange and slice the drum loops. Moreover, you can even combine the drum loops with several other looping options and create our own unique track. With loops, you even get the benefit of altering the arrangements of sounds from instruments and vary their release as per requirements.

2.    Chopping the Drum Hits For Glitch Effect

Besides the eternal option of creating sound tracks with loops, you can even have different kind of effects added to it with simple tricks to chop up the drum hits. While looping over drums there isn’t any stone rule that needs to be followed, as you can have your guideline with multiple semitones for a sync audio output. 

 3.    Adding Different Drum Patterns For Enhanced Audio

Using looping techniques with drums allows you to add different kinds of patterns in your audio track and consequently notice the enhancing complexity in it. This is one technique, which most DJs preferably use and give their rhythmic audio a superior background. You can even have the desired drum loops in the beginning, background or just for break beats.

4.    Layer the Drum Hits And Sound Better

A common issue noticed with several starters is that they restrict themselves to a specified circle of drum kicks or snare hits. However, with looping techniques, you can add drum beats to double or triple the amount and merge them effortlessly with layering effects. This even allows you to add different genres of drums and dub step in a minimal labor.

5.    Using Return Channels To Create Effects

Most common method to create different sorts of effects with lopping is to load them from audio channels. However, preferring a return channel for the same task is much convenient and handy. This allows you to add more effects with different instruments and doesn’t consume much of space on system. Moreover, you have control over different loops at a single platform and an ease of layering them with loads of effects too.

6.    Rearranging Loops In Individual Channels

With loops you can chop or slice them as per requirement and consequently arrange them for a desired playing option. Using such techniques provides you with a broader platform of creating own loops and even an enhanced library to try out from. Moreover, you set yourself free from changing the drums hits for addition of effects in sound track. You get to add different kinds of effects with loops arranged in a separate individual channels and increase the possibilities with it too. 

Using Music Loops – Need Not be seen as Cheating

Running parallel to the maturity of human civilization, music and the sense about it has constantly been on the running end. The latest addition to this ancient art of music is the usage of musical loops.

However, some people believe that using loops to create music is similar to cheating for a composition. Therefore, we bring to you factors that will make you realize that using loops to create music is just the latest move of modernizing music.

Technological Improvement and the Availability of Endless Musical Loops

Music and musical instruments have been a part of human existence from ages and one thing that has aided their subsistence is the tendency to modernize according to the urbanizing cultures.

From, wooden acoustic guitar of the medieval ages to the new age metal head electric guitars, examples about modernizing musical instruments are certainly endless. Moreover, new age musical technologies have given birth to musical genres like disco, rock, hip hop, jazz and much more.

Loops are the most popular of the latest additions to this modern age chapter of music and it promises to move the industry with its simple yet efficient techniques. Loops provide musicians with the freedom to blend and twirl the grooves from different musical instruments using digital software technologies like MIDI loops, Kontakt Drums, MASCHINE Kits and Stylus RMX. This adds that special modern twist to the traditional styles of music we have followed from ages.

Is Looping Identical To Cheating

Before, we begin to review the concerns of looping as cheating, let us understand what the essence of looping is. A musical loop is a small section of sound, which is cyclically repeated as a segment of prerecorded music and has the freedom to use it endless times.

Usage of loops with musical compositions allows music composers to produce remixes as a blend of traditional music styles with latest digital technologies. Undoubtedly, these technologies have condensed live musical sessions that took hours earlier to an easier shorter replacement.  Moreover, this allows composers to bring in new musical styles to the compositions and remix them for a groovy musical pattern.

 
A Loop Is the Modern Musical Element

If we understand and consider looping techniques as an important feature of the modern age music, we get to notice the endless possibilities that are feasible with it. This is why some of the most professional music artists and composers have appreciated the combination of musical loops as “modernizing key of musical composition.”

Moreover, they see looping technique as an essential element of new age music and stresses on the numerous potentials it has that can help artists enhance their performances. 

Loops are the most recent addition to the music industry that is designed to enhance musical experiences with blends of different musical categories, which is not necessarily cheating as described by many.                      

Stylus RMX – An Impartial Review

Basically, Stylus RMX is one of the best groove based virtual instrumental plug-in that provides users with an impressive control over production and performance of grooves using advanced technologies and controls. 

This virtual plug-in is designed to provide users with multi-page interference with the merged properties of groove control, brand new collections of sounds and instruments that provides endless options to craft grooves impressively.

Some Key Features of Stylus RMX

Stylus RMX is a unique looping machine that is designed to provide users with a powerful flexibility to create and operate grooves using endless options of sounds from the library core. The plug-in too has some of the most advanced and innovative features that give the user direct control over loops or groves and thus enhance the possibilities with it significantly.

Controlled User Interference 

Stylus is a powerful module that is gracefully crafted to improve user interference and is perfectly designed to include effects, speeding or slowing loops with different limiters, tempos, filters and all sorts of possibilities.

Different Kits and Modes

The plug-in is featured with more than 500 multi-patches, 300 drum kits with multiple options of channel setups, FX, Chaos, etc. being really flexible with the user interference, the plug-in has different remixing or looping modes like slice mode, groove mode, semi grove mode and chaos mode that have their own individual features and allows the user to access and switch between endless options of loop collection.

An Overview of Stylus RMX features

The most impressive features of Stylus that outclasses the plug-in over others is the massive collection of 7.4 GB sound library, which is expandable and allows users to import their own creations with the sample files. 

This helps them to create and re-create notes more easily and comfortably.

Equipped with innovative chaos designer, stereo audio groves, eight part multibral and eight stereo outputs, the plug-in comes with easy and powerful organizing parameters. It has a remarkable collection of professional effects like power filter, valve radio, vintage compresses, stereo imager are just a few from the list.  

The plug-in consists of easy MIDI control, SAGE technology, multi-mode power filter, ADHR envelopes and three hours of video tutorials that provides easy learning skills to the user and consequently enhances the performance with it.

What Reviews Say About the Real Time Groove Module – Stylus RMX

With its impressive features and endless options of controlling and producing grooves or loops, Stylus RMX is pronounced as the ultimate groove factory by the leading professionals of musical industry.

Users advocate the module with an extraordinary extent of control and support it provides in handling tempos, pitches and source materials as simply implausible. The plug-in covers a wide range of possibilities with its versatile and user friendly approach. The tool is one astonishing module that is simple, powerful and provides users with top quality instruments and grooves.