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What Exactly Are Loops? The Benefits and Drawbacks of Using Them in Your Music

Updated: Sep 15, 2023

You may be considering employing loops in your music, but is this a smart idea?


There is a space for everyone who wishes to compose music, regardless of talent level or area of specialization. Loops may be a great way to spice up your music creation, whether you're a newbie or a seasoned sampler. But what are the benefits and drawbacks? Let's find out.

What Are Loops?


A loop is a repeated segment of sound content in music creation. A loop, no matter how lengthy it is, should be able to loop from end to beginning without any obvious jumps or stutters. You should be able to enter the same loop into your DAW many times without it seeming like there was a gap between the files.


Loops may be found on a variety of the greatest sites for finding creative commons music. They are incredibly simple to add to your DAW of choice, allowing you to begin developing your track around one.


Why Should You Use Loops in Your Music?


There are several compelling reasons to use loops in your music, but if you have little or no experience with them, you may need some convincing.


1. Using Loops Accelerates Your Workflow


When creating, using a loop might speed up your process, especially if you struggle with the melodic component of your tunes. By using a loop, you can quickly determine the feel of your music. The loop will frequently influence the BPM of the track, as your track must match the BPM of the loop in it to perform properly.


With a loop, you may have a much better concept of the style of music you're composing and the sounds you'll want to add to it (drums and other instruments). While the finest songs are frequently those that have a bit of thought and effort put into them by the producer, it is good to have a head start by taking a loop and developing a track from it.


2. Loops Fill in the Gaps


Ideally, you want to make sure that there are no portions of your track that are uninteresting or don't have enough going on acoustically. That doesn't mean you should fill the track with different competing sounds, but you should prevent any extended intervals of lifeless sound.

Loops may be a great method to fill in gaps and introduce an exciting new aspect to keep your listeners interested. Just make sure the loop you're utilizing blends in with the rest of the sounds in the music.


3. Discover New Sounds


Looking for loops online might be a terrific way to find new sounds. It's typical for producers to become stuck in a creative rut when they employ identical sounds and genres, which can make their music seem stale. You may avoid this by inserting loops into your music, which will refresh the tone of your tracks.

Discovering new sounds may also assist if you're facing beat block, since the new sound of the loop might stimulate some creativity.


4. Loops Can Help Reduce Beat Block


Beat block, like writer's block, may affect any producer. Loops are a powerful tool for breaking through rhythm block and producing music anew. There are several methods for overcoming beat block and producing music again, and you should try whatever that helps if you are experiencing it.

Loops offer your music a new vibe, especially if your tunes have become stale. Loops can aid if you're battling with a sluggish or even non-existent workflow while experiencing beat block since they give you a "headstart" by supplying you with the melody that the beat will be created around.


5. Using Loops will Help in Audio Creation


Sampling is an essential music production technique that you will need to acquire sooner or later. While sampling is more than just downloading and playing a loop, loops are a wonderful place to start since they teach you how to choose more sounds based on sounds you've found elsewhere. Loops may be manipulated, counter melodies created, and effects applied to them. These are all abilities you'll need when you start sampling.

Is Using Loops a Form of Cheating?

Regardless of the benefits and drawbacks of employing loops in your music, you may be asking if the technique is considered "cheating."

The short answer is that it depends.


Some people argue that employing loops is cheating the music creation process and is thus inauthentic. Many others, however, claim that employing loops is a common part of music production and that you are allowed to utilize them.


In the end, it doesn't matter what other people think. If you want to use loops in your song and don't mind the consequences, go ahead. There are many great and creative music producers that utilized loops when they first started and continue to use them now. Loopmasters free loops are frequently used in popular chart-topping tunes, for example.


Choosing Whether or Not to Use Loops in Your Music

The decision to employ loops in your music is entirely yours, and ideally you have a clear understanding of the advantages and downsides.


There are several websites where you may find loops, samples, and presets. All of these elements can help you speed up your music production process and add a little flavor to your compositions.


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