How to Loop Samples in a Beat
One-shot or loop? The choice changes how your pads behave and opens up new creative possibilities.
One-Shot vs Loop Mode
One-shot: The sample plays once from start to end, then stops. This is the default for drum hits — you trigger a kick and it plays once. Loop mode: The sample plays continuously, looping back to the start point when it reaches the end point. The sound keeps playing until you stop it. This is useful for sustained pads, ambient textures, and vocal loops.
When to Use Loop Mode
• Sustained pads and chords: Load a chord sample and set it to loop. Press the pad and the chord sustains indefinitely. • Ambient textures: Rain, vinyl crackle, crowd noise — set to loop for continuous atmosphere. • Vocal phrases: A vocal chop that repeats creates a hypnotic effect. • Bass notes: An 808 bass in loop mode sustains for as long as you hold the concept. Combine loop mode with start/end point editing to loop a specific section of a longer sample.
Setting Up Loops in Padwolf
1. Load a sample onto a pad 2. Use the Loop command to toggle loop mode on or off 3. Set Start and End points to define the loop region 4. Trigger the pad — it loops within the defined region The key to clean loops is finding a section where the end connects smoothly back to the start. If you hear a click at the loop point, adjust the start or end slightly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Each pad has its own loop setting. You can have kick and snare as one-shot while a pad chord loops continuously. This is standard practice in beat making.
Use the Stop All command (spacebar on keyboard) or assign pads to mute groups so triggering one pad stops another.