I've been designing audio effect patches with a visual programming language called MaxMSP for a few years now, and the company that develops it, Cycling74, was kind enough to commission me to make an Extended Instrument Patch, so I put together a simple live looper that could serve as a fun encore for the end of a recital.
Here's a video of the patch, which is available
for free on their website.
c74 article wrote:Three drum clips serve as backing tracks, which use a stutter effect that tastefully auto-triggers. Use the 1, 2, or 3 key to start a drum clip, then press the spacebar to record an 8-bar loop with your instrument. Drum clips 1 and 3 are linked to a ducker that lowers the volume of the looper whenever the kick drum hits.
There are a few effects pre and post loop, which adjust themselves depending on whether you're recording a loop, or playing a solo over the loop. To keep your tone clean, a crossover filter allows bass frequencies to bypass the effect chain, and an "envelope crossfade" allows your attacks to be effected differently than your sustains.
Additionally, the plugin_or_rnbo_selector abstraction allows you to substitute any of the RNBO effects (compressor, pitch shifter, auto filter, chorus) with a plugin of your choice. Pressing the spacebar a second time will fade out the loop, and you can press the spacebar a third time to record another loop while the first one fades out.
To run the patch, you'll need to download
the Max app as well.
