How to Use in Your DAW
(Scroll down to your DAW if you don't want the nerdy details)
Audio loops (our loops) come with embedded data in the file header —“tempo tags”—that tell your DAW it's original BPM, time signature and sometimes transients. Some programs read those tags automatically, "stretching" the audio so it locks perfectly to your project's tempo. Other programs ignore the tags and stretch audio in other ways. So we offer several formats: Apple Loops, Acidized WAVs (the name from Sony’s old ACID program, which originated the tagging system), and REX (REX2) for sliced, highly flexible looping engines.
Loops are real audio recordings, not MIDI. MIDI can stretch to any tempo because it’s just instructions on when to trigger single hits, but audio loops are actual performances, so there are some relative limitations. You can't slow an audio loops tempo a lot before you start to hear artifacts, especially at slower tempos. You can increase tempo much farther, but go too far and it stops feeling like a real player playing real drums.
Every DAW handles time-stretching a little differently, so now and then you’ll drop a loop in and it will guess the tempo wrong—double-time or half-time. If it's a new project just adjust your tempo accordingly. If you are well into a project most programs you can right-click and tell it to double or half the tempo (accordingly).
Unless you are on an older computer (we mean older) you want want 24-bit files. There are a few older Apple Loop volumes that are just 16-bit because at the time of release, Apple Loop did not support 24-bit audio.
Click on the list below and you'll find the format we recommend you buy, as well as installation/browsing tips for your DAW.
Workflows and menu locations can vary between versions. If something looks different in your DAW, check its manual or help pages for the latest details. We have found if you include "drums on demand drum loops" into an AI-enable search engine along with your problem, you get a pretty good answer.
Contact us via the form at end of the list should you still need help.
Popular DAWs
Avid Pro Tools
Format: Acidized WAVs. Pro Tools reads them as standard WAVs; you get solid time-stretching even though it doesn't read the tempo tags.
Browse / preview: Use the Workspace Browser (Window → New Workspace → Workspace) to audition loops, sort by BPM, and drag into your session. You can also use File → Import → Audio for more traditional importing with preview.
Tempo-sync tips: Turn on Elastic Audio for the track (Polyphonic is usually best for drums) and set the track’s timebase to Ticks so it follows the session tempo.
Logic Pro
Format: Apple Loops.
Installation: To install drag BPM (Song Set) folders into the Loop Browser at one time. (Not an entire volume folder with BPM folders inside that.) Then each Song set folder of matching loops shows up organized (That's not to say you can't use loops from other folders).
Browse / preview: Use the Loop Browser to search and preview loops in tempo. You can also drag Apple Loops straight into the Tracks area.
Tempo-sync tips: Apple Loops follow tempo automatically. For regular WAVs, enable Flex Time and set regions to Follow Tempo so they lock to the project. (But if you are using Apple Loops you don't need to do this.)
GarageBand
Recommended format: Apple Loops.
Installation tip: Drag and drop BPM folders (Song Sets) into the Loop Browser. Don’t drag a whole DOD Volume folder—GarageBand treats each BPM folder as its own set. It can only read one level of folders. So select all of the BPM folders you want to install and drag them all at once into the Loop Browser.
Browse / preview: Open the Loop Browser to preview loops and drag them into your project.
Tempo-sync tips: Apple Loops follow tempo automatically. WAVs are stretched in newer GarageBand versions, but if something feels off, try adjusting the project tempo first.
Ableton Live
Recommended format: Acidized WAVs. Live ignores the tempo tags but warps WAVs well.
Browse / preview: Use the left-hand Browser to navigate to your loop folders. Live can preview loops in tempo from the Browser before you drag them into a track.
Tempo-sync tips: In Clip View, ensure Warp is enabled. Adjust the detected BPM if Live guesses wrong, and the loop will follow project tempo.
FL Studio
Recommended format: Acidized WAVs. FL can sometimes read the embedded tempo info and handles stretching well.
Browse / preview: Use the Browser (left side) to click and preview loops, then drag into the Playlist or Channel Rack.
Tempo-sync tips: In the Channel Settings for the sample, choose a Time / Stretch mode (e.g., Stretch or Auto). Manually set the sample’s original tempo if FL guessed incorrectly.
PreSonus Studio One
Recommended format: Acidized WAVs. Studio One recognizes tempo metadata and stretches cleanly.
Browse / preview: Use the Browser → Files tab. Turn on “Preview at Song Tempo” to hear loops in time before dragging them into your Song.
Tempo-sync tips: Set events to Follow Song Tempo or enable Audio Bend. You can also check or edit the detected tempo in the Inspector.
Cubase
Recommended format: Acidized WAVs. Cubase can read embedded tempo info and stretches well.
Browse / preview: Open MediaBay (often F5) to search, filter, and preview loops in tempo before dragging them into your project.
Tempo-sync tips: In the Pool or MediaBay, enable Musical Mode on the file. If Cubase misreads the BPM, correct it manually so stretching lines up with your grid.
Cakewalk / Sonar
Recommended format: Acidized WAVs. Cakewalk reads acid metadata and handles stretching accurately.
Browse / preview: Use the Media Browser to audition loops and drag them onto tracks.
Tempo-sync tips: Enable Groove Clip Looping or time-stretch settings so clips follow the project tempo.
Digital Performer
Recommended format: Acidized WAVs. DP can use embedded tempo data for alignment and stretching.
Browse / preview: Use the Soundbites / Sound Browser windows to organize and audition loops before placing them into a sequence.
Tempo-sync tips: Use DP’s Stretch tools or tempo-conforming features so imported soundbites follow the project tempo grid.
Reaper
Recommended format: Acidized WAVs. Reaper can read tempo tags and stretches smoothly.
Browse / preview: Use the Media Explorer to audition loops (with sync-to-project options) and insert them into your project.
Tempo-sync tips: Set item timebase to Beats (position, length, rate) and make sure an appropriate stretch mode is selected so loops follow tempo changes.
Reason
Recommended format: Acidized WAVs. Reason reads them cleanly; for sampling, use single-hit WAVs in NN-XT or other devices.
Browse / preview: Use Reason’s built-in Browser to locate and preview audio files, then drag them to the sequencer or a device.
Tempo-sync tips: Enable Stretch on audio clips so they follow the song tempo. For hits, load WAVs into samplers and trigger via MIDI.
ACID Pro
Recommended format: Acidized WAVs. ACID is the native environment for acidized loops; tempo tags and metadata work perfectly.
Browse / preview: Use ACID’s Explorer/Browser to preview loops in tempo and drag them into the workspace.
Tempo-sync tips: ACID automatically tempo-matches Acidized WAVs to your project; just make sure the loop’s original BPM is set correctly if you edit metadata.
More DAWs
Adobe Audition
Recommended format: Acidized WAVs. Audition treats them as standard WAVs but stretches reliably.
Browse / preview: Use the Files panel or drag from your OS into the Waveform or Multitrack editor to preview.
Tempo-sync tips: Use Properties → Stretch or Multitrack clip stretching. Set the original tempo manually if needed.
Audacity
Recommended format: Acidized WAVs. Audacity doesn’t read tempo tags, but the audio stretches cleanly.
Browse / preview: Import via File → Import → Audio or drag files in from your OS.
Tempo-sync tips: Use Change Tempo (or Sliding Stretch) to manually match your project tempo. There’s no automatic sync.
Bitwig Studio
Recommended format: Acidized WAVs. Bitwig stretches WAVs well and can use embedded tempo info.
Browse / preview: Use the Browser Panel (usually on the left or via pop-out) to audition loops and drag them into tracks.
Tempo-sync tips: Bitwig detects tempo for most audio; if it’s off, adjust the clip’s BPM value so its stretching lines up with the grid.
Boss DAWs (older units)
Recommended format: 16-bit Acid WAVs. Boss recorders want simple, standard WAV audio.
Browse / preview: Typically you copy WAVs to SD/CF/USB and assign them to tracks; most units don’t have a “loop browser.”
Tempo-sync tips: These are linear recorders—no automatic tempo sync. Treat loops like regular audio tracks.
DrumCore
Recommended format: REX if you’re using the loop engine; standard WAVs also load into its audio tracks.
Browse / preview: Use DrumCore’s internal loop browser to audition and drag patterns into your host.
Tempo-sync tips: REX loops auto-sync to host tempo. WAVs will behave like standard audio in your DAW.
Harrison Mixbus
Recommended format: Acidized WAVs. Mixbus treats them like standard WAVs and stretches cleanly.
Browse / preview: Use the Import dialog or drag files from your OS into a session.
Tempo-sync tips: Use Mixbus/Ardour’s time-stretch and region tempo tools; there’s no specialized loop engine.
Kontakt (Sampler)
Note: (Raw loops and samples are not a Kontakt instrument.)
Recommended format: Single-hit WAVs.
Browse / preview: Load WAVs into the Mapping Editor or via the Files tab, then trigger with MIDI.
Tempo-sync tips: Kontakt is a sampler; it doesn’t time-stretch loops like a DAW. Use it primarily for hits and one-shots.
Magix Music Maker
Recommended format: Acidized WAVs. Magix reads acid metadata and syncs loops well.
Browse / preview: Use the Media Pool / loop browser to preview and drag loops into your arrangement.
Tempo-sync tips: Make sure the loops are set to follow project tempo or placed on tracks that support time-stretch.
Mixcraft
Recommended format: Acidized WAVs. Mixcraft supports acid metadata and locks loops to tempo.
Browse / preview: Use Mixcraft’s internal Library and sound tabs or drag from your OS.
Tempo-sync tips: Ensure clips are enabled for time stretching so they automatically follow song tempo.
n-Track Studio
Recommended format: Acidized WAVs. n-Track reads them reliably and supports time-stretching.
Browse / preview: Use the Add → Audio File command or drag from your OS into the timeline.
Tempo-sync tips: Enable Time Stretch or similar clip options so loops conform to song tempo.
Riffworks
Recommended format: Acidized WAVs. Riffworks was designed around acidized files.
Browse / preview: Use Riffworks’ internal loop browser to find and preview loops.
Tempo-sync tips: Riffworks reads acid metadata and automatically syncs loops to tempo.
Roland DAWs
Recommended format: Acid WAVs. Roland workstations use standard WAV loops.
Browse / preview: Import WAVs from SD/USB into the project or sample slots; preview options depend on the specific model.
Tempo-sync tips: Most Roland DAWs don’t have advanced audio warp; treat loops as regular audio tracks with manual alignment.
Stylus RMX
Recommended format: REX. RMX is a REX-based engine and performs best with sliced REX loops.
Browse / preview: Use the Stylus RMX internal browser to search and audition loops.
Tempo-sync tips: Stylus RMX automatically syncs REX loops to the host DAW tempo.
Yamaha DAWs
Recommended format: 16- or 24-bit WAVs. These systems use standard WAVs without metadata support.
Browse / preview: Import loops from USB/SD into tracks or sample slots; preview is usually basic.
Tempo-sync tips: There is typically no tempo-stretch engine. Loops behave like standard audio; line things up by ear and grid.
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