AUDIO GENETICS Alkali Loop Laboratory An essential looping tool for Pro Tools users.
Jun 1, 2000 12:00 PM, Mike Collins
A friend asked me why my expensive Digidesign Pro Tools system does not have any functions that can easily change the bpm and pitch of drum loops directly. That was a darn good question! Then I found the solution: Audio Genetics' Alkali Loop Laboratory. Instead of relying on a sampler and Steinberg's ReCycle for changing the bpm and pitch, with Alkali, users of Pro Tools can instantly change the tempo of a REX or SDII loop without pitch-shifting or time-stretching, and alter the pitch of a loop without changing tempo. Previously, the only software that provided direct access to REX files was Steinberg's Cubase Audio, but now Pro Tools users can open those files using Alkali.
Alkali supports Digidesign's DirectConnect technology, allowing users to preview audio within Pro Tools while it is running-perfect for auditioning new loops against an existing groove recorded in Pro Tools. I set the sound engine to Sound Manager to compare Alkali with ReCycle, which provides many of the same functions as Alkali but uses Sound Manager for playback. Then I compared a 2-bar drum-loop REX file. The sound level was noticeably lower when I played the file via Alkali, but this was because the preview level had been set too low. I adjusted this easily using the arrow keys on my Mac keyboard. Next I opened Pro Tools and set up the DirectConnect plug-in to bring the audio from Alkali into a Pro Tools track. The inclusion of preview-level controls in Alkali is helpful-high-energy loops can overload DirectConnect, and Pro Tools lacks level controls.
TEMPO TANTRUM The original tempo of the REX file I auditioned was 117.1 bpm, but when the file opened in Alkali, the Tempo window read 117. Alkali displays tempos rounded off to the nearest beat, so I wasn't sure if it had actually changed the tempo to 117. While searching for ideas, I loaded a different, 104 bpm REX file into Alkali. The tempo in Alkali stayed at 117 bpm for this second file-you'll find this feature convenient for comparing loops at a certain tempo. To hear the loop's original tempo, you just hold down the Option key and click on the mouse. The tempo range is only 60 to 180 bpm, which is fine for most musical styles-but you may find it a little narrow if you're experimenting with half-time or double-time loops.
Alkali Loop Laboratory provides quantization, variable-pitch, and swing controls for tightening up beats, adjusting tuning, and altering the rhythm's feel. I dropped the pitch of my original loop 5 percent to make the snare drum sound fatter, and then I decreased the tempo from 117 to 115 bpm. At this slower tempo I could hear that the second bass drum beat was not accurately in time, so I set the quantization controls to 16th notes and 65 percent. This adjustment tightened the beat considerably without making it sound too stiff. And that was that-I had a new loop for my track that ran at just the right tempo, with a tighter bass drum and a fatter snare than the original loop.
Lay It on the Line Once you are satisfied with your loop, Alkali can convert it to an SDII file that you can load into Pro Tools. Alkali can also spot the component parts directly onto the Pro Tools time line, allowing you to split out kicks, snares, or whatever you want onto different tracks for mixing and processing. Alkali processes both REX files (normally created using the ReCycle package) and SDII files. Although REX files are 16-bit, Alkali can write out a 24-bit file for transfer to a 24-bit Pro Tools session.
Alkali Loop Laboratory works well with both drum and bass-line loops, letting you select the desired tempo and key for your song with the adjustment of a few sliders. Alkali's simple but effective interface makes for one of the most useful musical tools I have come across for a while. At just $299, including a CD-ROM library of REX files, Alkali is an essential purchase for Pro Tools users who work with loops.
Music-technology consultant Mike Collins lives in London, where he plays guitar, writes and produces music, teaches music technology, and writes for magazines worldwide about all of the above.
AUDIO GENETICS Alkali Loop Laboratory $299
PROS: Easy to use. Supports Direct-Connect. Converts REX files to SDII. Spots component parts onto Pro Tools time line.
CONS: Displays tempos only to nearest beat. Narrow tempo range.
Overall Rating (1 through 5): 4
Contact: tel. 44-207-431-6260; fax 44-207-435-8134; e-mail sales@audio-genetics.com; Web www.audio-genetics.com
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