Learn How to Alter Sounds

Multi-effect processors have been on the market for quite some time now. We were first introduced to hardware units that offered classic effects like delay, reverb, compressor, phaser, and flanger. Those multi-effect processors were, in most cases, built as guitar pedals. However, in recent times, we have witnessed the emergence of advanced effects that can alter the sound in both mild and drastic ways. So check out a multi-effect processor in software form that caught our attention!

Looperator by Sugar Bytes

The Looperator basically chops up your original sound and turns it into something completely different. In the process, you can use the classic effects like Filter or Reverb, but also a trippy Loop effect. With just a click, Looperator sounds like you worked on them for hours.

Powerful Presets

Looperator unites two concepts: a loop slicer and an effects sequencer. You can rearrange the material with the slicer and place effects with surgical precision. Right from the start, you need to check out a tool that is easy to handle and produces excellent results. The preset tool easily creates rolls, loops, and stutter edits, which can be hard to develop in a DAW. The best part is that you only need a couple of mouse clicks. When the inspiration leaves the room, the intelligent random algorithms with detailed programming options will generate ready-to-use impressive sequences.

Endless Possibilities

Each effect holds its parameters (5 settings), which can be controlled by one of 20 selectable and adjustable envelope shapes, a simple automation-ready parameter dial, an envelope follower, or a randomizer. In most cases, you wouldn't need to go further than the ready-made steps. However, when you do, the four user-defined steps per track will give you complete and precise control of vital effect parameters on a per-step basis. When animating lively sequences on a detailed level, the possibilities are endless.

The Interface

In the upper part of the interface, there is a preset navigator, beat signature switcher, controls for looping forward/backward, and a functional randomize button. Below is the main section containing steps that can add a different effect to every action by simply clicking on it. There are six horizontal lines: Slice, Loop, Env, Filter, Fx1, and Fx2. Every step can be altered in any sequence, and different effects can be chosen. Here's how some of the menus look like:

For every line, you will notice a small icon representing a wheel. By clicking on this line, another sub-menu opens, which allows more fine tweaking of the selected effect for each step. For example, here is how one of them looks like:

There is, of course, a handy mix slider for every line and a randomize button for every line. Additionally, at the bottom of the interface, there is a global Dry/Wet mix. In my opinion, this is one of the most complex and powerful sounding multi-effect processors, so I encourage you to try it for yourself. Here are a couple of sound examples that I made using the Looperator in SoundBridge. Firstly, we will hear how the guitar riff and drum loop sound unprocessed and then processed with the Looperator.