The Loop Sculptor is a\u00a0flexible effects\u00a0module in a self-contained Max patch. Sounds\u00a0can be recorded and triggered to create multi-layered loops (up to five layers in the current version),\u00a0but in contrast to commercial loop effects, each layer of the loop has its own playback parameters that can dynamically altered. The\u00a0speed and pitch of each layer can be controlled independently using SuperVP for a high-quality phase vocoding. Speed and pitch\u00a0values can be defined as constants or as ramps, for smooth glissandi and accelerandi\/decelerandi. A “drunk” function also exists for a random walk within a limited range. The length of the loops can also vary between layers, the length of new loops can be\u00a0set as a fraction (shorter\u00a0or longer, 3\/4 or 3\/1)\u00a0of the original loop. Finally, each loop has an independent gain\u00a0control, so that static levels or envelopes can be applied independently to separate layers.<\/span><\/p>\n The Loop Sculptor is laid out as a grid, where\u00a0each column represents a single buffer. By using only the top row, we hear one iteration of each buffer in the classic loop station setup. Moving in the vertical direction however, each loop can heard in\u00a0multiple iterations,\u00a0with transformations of pitch, speed, or envelope. The entry point of each iteration can also be set as\u00a0a\u00a0ratio to\u00a0the initial loop, or “linked” to synchronize the start point\u00a0with the next triggering\u00a0of the base loop. Gain levels and envelopes can again be tweaked independently.<\/span><\/p>\n Record, Stop, and Playback controls have been separated for a wider range of possibilities. One can, for instance, set and trigger a loop but continue to record into a buffer; this way, a loop that plays further into the buffer can be defined at a later point in time. Or, to give another example, record and play can be triggered at once, but with a slower playback speed, for an instant mensural\u00a0canon.<\/span><\/p>\n The Loop Sculptor\u00a0can be either programmed in advance or controlled in real time with a MIDI controller or pedal board.<\/span><\/p>\n To hear the Loop Sculptor in action, listen to the layers of guitar effects as played by Tom Pauwels here (starts at 32:55):\u00a0![\"Screen](\"http:\/\/christophertrapani.com\/wordpresssite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Screen-Shot-2015-08-25-at-12.38.41-AM.png\")
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