Subject:Loop vs One-shot - what's the difference?

Posted by: gabster

Date:4/30/2004 9:20:54 AM

Hi all...

PLease have patience with a newbie. I am trying to understand the differences between these two types of concepts... Can someone please explain it?
I see both of them as doing the same thing. Simply select one and draw it on your timeline.
But for some reason all my "loop" types sound really weird (like a slowed down track).

I understand that I am missing the main point, but can someone please enlighten me on this subject?

thanks a lot,
gabster.

Subject:RE: Loop vs One-shot - what's the difference?

Reply by: JohnnyRoy

Date:4/30/2004 11:16:38 AM

An ACIDized Loop has information embedded in it that tells ACID what the original tempo, key signature, and key was. This allows ACID to adjust the file so that it plays properly in your project. It will then respond correctly to tempo and key changes.

One-shot is just a plain old wav file with no imbedded information. It will not respond to tempo or key changes. If your loop sounds like they are playing back real slow, then they probably don’t have ACID information in them or the ACID information isn’t correct. They are essentially like a one-shot except that they probably sound like a continuous loop when you paint them because the head and tail match seamlessly.

You can tell what’s going on by watching the bottom of the ACID Explorer window when you select a wav file. If it says Audio: Loop and gives you beat information, then the information is in thee. If it just says Audio: and gives you the duration of the file, then it doesn’t have ACID loop information in it.

You can add ACID information to loops that don’t have it with Sound Forge. Even the inexpensive Sound Forge XP ($69) will allow you to do this.

~jr

Subject:RE: Loop vs One-shot - what's the difference?

Reply by: gabster

Date:4/30/2004 1:43:42 PM

thanks a lot jr...

that sheds some light!

gabster..

Subject:RE: Loop vs One-shot - what's the difference?

Reply by: Iacobus

Date:5/1/2004 11:47:18 AM

Actually, Loops and One-shots are both ACIDized forms; they're just embedded with ACIDized info differently.

A Loop is for the most part explanatory; it's designed to loop in any given event and has key and tempo data embedded so that when overall project key and tempo changes, so will the Loop.

A One-shot is designed to play only once in any given event. They are not designed to loop. It also does not have key and tempo data embedded and therefore will not change key or tempo when the overall project changes. It just has info embedded that tells ACID, "I'm a One-shot."

Ideally, One-shots are perfect for percussion/drum samples and sound bites (like spoken voice samples) as those types of samples do not have a definite pitch.

You can actually arrange a group of percussive One-shot tracks to create your own drum composition. When using this technique, you would hold down CTRL with the Paint Tool active to paint One-shots in their entirety across the timeline.

A couple of things to note: If you have a particular rhythm in mind, it helps to know some basic music theory (like note values). The grid also will be your friend in this case, as it will help you "snap" a One-shot to a particular note value.

HTH,
Iacobus
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RodelWorks - Original Music for the Unafraid
mD's ACIDplanet Page
Guitars 4 Kids

Subject:RE: Loop vs One-shot - what's the difference?

Reply by: Iacobus

Date:5/1/2004 11:57:35 AM

I forgot to add that since Loops adhere to time stretching, artifacts might appear in the Loop as a result. Commonly, Loops that are slowed down from their original tempo will most likely have artifacts of some sort. This is just the nature of the digital audio beast.

Also, ACID itself will ACIDize any un-ACIDized sample you throw at it, like your own custom recorded material.

For example, if you recorded a somewhat long One-shot track, you can take a specific portion and turn it into a Loop by soloing the track, setting the Loop Region over the part you want and use CTRL+M with the "render loop region only" option enabled.

This will embed the newly rendered track with the current project's key (if present) and tempo. (Note that, by default, the track should be between half a second and 30 seconds to be turned into a Loop.)

Iacobus
-------
RodelWorks - Original Music for the Unafraid
mD's ACIDplanet Page
Guitars 4 Kids