The Headphase Looper - Ableton Retrospective Live Looping Performance Template

The Headphase Looper - An 8 Channel Retrospective Live Looping Performance Template for Ableton Live

What is a retrospective looper?

A traditional looper requires you to press a button to start recording the loop, then play the phrase perfectly, then press again to overdub, etc.

A retrospective looper is always listening, and instantly loops what you've already played with a single button press.

It is an incredible tool for improvisation, sound design, and experimentation.

This template provides 5 loop lengths per-track (1, 2, 4, 8 & 16 bars) to instantly loop the phrases that you've played at the desired bar length.

Features:

• 8 channel retrospective looper (always listening -- loops are created by a button press after the phrase is played)
• Selectable loop lengths of 1 bar, 2 bar, 4 bar, 8 bar, and 16 bar (per-track)
• 8 macro insert FX available on all 8 tracks
• Loops can be bounced (combined) while optionally applying FX at the same time, a powerful creative tool for sound mangling, collage and experimentation.
• Overdubbing of input audio, channel insert FX and track bounces
• Loop lengths for all of the above may be shortened/extended by pressing a different "bar length" button after the loop has been started (the loop will be truncated, or extended to the new length)
• Fully customizable effects chains
• Read more about feature details - Download The Heaphase Looper Manual Here

Requirements:

• Ableton Live 10, 11 or 12 (Standard or Suite)
• An Ableton Controller, such as the Ableton Push, Novation Launchpad, Akai APC, etc.
• ClyphX (free) https://github.com/ldrolez/clyphx-live11
  • ClyphX is needed as this template makes use of its clip sequencing functionality (PSEQ) for the retrospective overdub feature
  • Easy drag-and-drop installation process (video install/setup guide is included)

Design:

• All 8 loopers are "listening" to audio from the "Looper Bus" channel. What you play in can be looped on any channel, at any bar length with the push of a button.
• The loop delete/reset button is mapped to the stop button of each channel, with the master stop all button mapped to the "reset scene" which will reset all loops. By default the initialize (clear/reset) action must be held for 1 bar to help avoid accidental erasing of active loops
• A robust effects targeting system allows for rapid application of effects and resampling through bounce down functionality.

Instructions:

• Install latest ClyphX release from https://github.com/ldrolez/clyphx-live11/releases and follow install instructions within zip file
• In Ableton Settings select ClyphX on an empty controller slot, and set input and output to "None"
• Load the Ableton Retrospective Looper Template
• Follow the MIDI mapping instructions in the setup guide, and within the template itself
• Create an instrument channel, and route this tracks output to "Looper Audition". The loopers are listening to audio sent to the "Looper Audition" channel.
• Turn on the metronome (optional, but helpful)
• Hold the stop all button, this will initialize (clear and reset) all loopers on all channels and ensure they are ready for looping
• Play your instrument, and when you like something you played press a loop length button on any channel!
• Target your loop(s), apply fx, and create new loops. Then repeat!