Twisted Tools Intros Ultraloop Remixing Sampler

ultraloop

Twisted Tools has introduced Ultraloop, a new loop remixing sampler.

Ultraloop combines advanced loop layering, comping, effect processing and automation techniques to generate new grooves, riffs and song ideas. You can use Ultraloop with the included factory sample library or to remix your own samples.

Here’s a demo of Ultraloop in action, along with some overviews of the new app:

Features:

  • Loop Remixing Sampler.
  • Advanced layered sampler engine with intuitive interface.
  • Visual loop compositing.
  • Generative Gestural FX to create fills, articulations and variations.
  • FX Sequencer
  • Specialized track sequencer with mono and poly draw modes.
  • Layered playback and editing of up to eight tracks simultaneously.
  • Independent controls per layer, organized into parameter cells with sliders.
  • Automatable Preset Grids per parameter group, with 17 memory slots each
  • 8 Global Scenes per snapshot
  • Preset Grids and Scenes are playable via mouse, MIDI or OSC.
  • Extensive randomization options.
  • Time and pitch stretching to allow loops with different BPMs.
  • Flexible multi-output routing per layer.
  • Master Punch control
  • Swing
  • Control nearly every parameter with included iPad Lemur OSC Template by Antonio Blanca
  • 3+ banks of presets
  • 2224 Sound Variations
  • Over 800mb of included factory sample content by from Enig’matik Records, Loopmasters and Sounds of Revolution.
  • Optional Expansion Packs by cutting edge artists such as Dusty Fungus, Chris Carter and Si Begg

Tutorial by BluewaterVST:

Tutorial by Matt Cellitti of Dubspot:

Audio demo:

Ultraloop is available now from the Twisted Tools Shop for $69.

If you’ve used Ultraloop, leave a comment and let us know what you think of it!

8 thoughts on “Twisted Tools Intros Ultraloop Remixing Sampler

  1. I’ve been using this for the last couple of days now, and I have to say it’s amazing.
    Fair warning: I love the products Twisted Tools put out, so don’t read on if you’re not prepared for a probably horrible amount of fanboying and hyping.

    I’ll admit that at first, I was rather skeptical, because although I enjoy tinkering with a few classic breaks every now and then (can I get an Amen? *ba dum tssss*), I do not enjoy working with other people’s loops. But, since I could always load my own loops and, most importantly, since it was a Twisted Tools-release, I decided to buy it anyway. And let me tell you, it’s amazing.

    It doesn’t really feel like working with other people’s loops, at least not in the traditional sense, because you can easily mangle and tweak everything to make it sound unique. Of course, when a lot of people use the same 128 samples (or 512 samples when you include the current loop expansions), you will get a few loops that sound alike, if not the same. But, and I can only speak for myself, I feel like Twisted Tools-releases are mostly used by people who would tweak and mangle these samples so much that most of the time you’ll get very different results from the different artists. And if not, eh, okay. It’s not as if every guitarist or drummer or every synth-preset or drum machine sounds different either.

    So, besides the samples being great (if you know Twisted Tools, you wouldn’t expect much else), you have so many things to control. If you’re familiar with Twisted Tools, you’re probably familiar with the whole Scene-control. And while the scenes give you some more control over a few effect-parameters (track on/off, dry-wet etc), you now have “slots” as well. Put simply, the Track Seq, FX Seq, FX Gesture, Loops and a lot of others (filter, envelope, timing, pan/volume) all have 17 slots each, which differ in each scene and you can control the slots via MIDI. You can also record short sequences in each of them, which can differ in every scene.

    The downside with controlling the slots via MIDI is that they each take 17 keys, but they all start in C. And, of course, by choosing slot-control, you won’t get scene-control and vice versa. So while you get a lot of control, you won’t get complete and total control. Which brings us to probably the biggest downer here:

    Effects.
    The effects sound great and generating them usually gives you a pretty nice sound right away, BUT, you can’t tweak only one small part of the effects in the Gesture-slots. It’s either all or nothing. Say you love the grain-effects, but the tape-effect really ruins it in that exact slot. You could turn down the dry-wet on the tape, but you’ll do that for the entire scene, but if you want slot-control, you’re screwed. You’ll have to settle or generate a new FX Gesture and it starts all over again.

    Another downer, though that’s more of a personal problem, is that I find myself often including a melodic loop or two, because I love how it sounds while I’m creating my own presets, but I have a rather hard time creating anything melodic outside of ULTRALOOP to the loops I end up with. Which, I guess, is a good thing too, because it pushes me to work harder.

    I’m looking forward to getting back home and going through field-recordings and other old, unused material to create my own loops so I can take advantage of this instrument, while at the same time creating something that’s completely my own.

  2. First off Stig, thanks for all the truly kind words! We’re very happy you’re happy.

    As for your suggestions/critiques, we will take them into account. Perhaps there is a way to give people the option to attach mix controls to slots. We had it that way in an earlier version and decided that it was a ton of stuff to manage when you have 17 slots and it felt like it made the whole concept (which is already tricky) even more difficult to grasp. In any case, maybe we can add a ‘settings’ option for the user to decide their own behavior. I’ll make a note and discuss it with Igor.

    MIDI to scenes or MIDI to slots is a tough one to solve! That was the only clear way we could discover to make it logical and full proof.

    If you have some suggestions feel free to send us an email!

    Best,

    Josh

    1. Despite my very few “problems” with ULTRALOOP, I easily understand why they are there. Without using different MIDI-channels to control all the different slots and scenes, I can’t think of a reason to bypass them. But then there’s the issue of how complex it really has to be at a minimum. And it’s quite understandable that you want to make the concept as easy as possible. Your products are very complex, with a ton of opportunities for advanced users, but still very easy for first-timers.

      Despite those few things, I’ll still easily give ULTRALOOP a solid 10/10.

  3. I am trying to find a way to play samples inside ultraloop with midi notes, is that possible? I mean when you load your own samples there is a keyboard scale but I cannot find a way to play loaded samples manually by pressing key notes

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