Loopop review: What is NDLR?
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ก.ค. 2024
- You can download the two jams at the beginning and end of this video, as well as all my tips in one convenient place including those to come in the future - in my In-Complete Book of Electronic Music Ideas, Tips and Tricks (hint: it's in-complete because it's always being updated…), all available to people who support this channel on Patreon:
► Patreon: / loopop
Gear used in this video:
► NDLR from Conductive Labs: bit.ly/ConductiveLabs
► Moog Sirin: amzn.to/2HMJjpo
► Make Noise 0-Coast: amzn.to/2SlSE9Z
► Peak: amzn.to/2QWSg4j
► KeyStep: amzn.to/2R2u54s
► Cremacaffe stand (I recommend Spike XL): bit.ly/cremacaffeloopop
► Notes rendered by the Synthesia app: synthesiagame.com/
Software synths used were Arturia Piano V2, Spitfire Audio Albion One and Ableton's Analog
Other places I hang out:
► Instagram: / loopopmusic
► Web: loopopmusic.com
► Facebook: / loopopmusic
► Twitter: / loopopmusic
My music:
► Bandcamp: loopop.bandcamp.com
► Spotify: bit.ly/LoopopOnSpotify
► Apple Music:bit.ly/LoopopOnAppleMusic
Timeline:
0:00 What is NDLR?
2:15 Interface overview
6:00 Controlling Drones
7:20 Pad parameters
9:45 Motif parts
11:20 Pattern options
12:35 Editing Rhythms
14:30 Settings
15:30 Using LFOs
16:20 Mod matrix
18:40 Hardware overview
19:30 Pros and cons
Want to email me personally?
► Ziv (at) loopopmusic.com
NOTE: Occasionally I’ll try out affiliate marketing and include affiliate links. This means that I may earn a commission when you click on or make purchases via affiliate links. The content of this clip is entirely my opinion, and was not paid for or dictated in any way by the company creating the gear. Without addressing the particulars of products shown here as they might be under NDA, gear shown on this channel may be either sent by the manufacturer, on loan for review or bought at a discount.
Mr. Loopop, thank you for this very informative and professional tutorial and review. You have outdone yourself once again. I ordered the NDLR after seeing this video and received mine yesterday. It's a wicked Pandoras Box of musical ideas and dreams. Please continue the great work you are doing. Your competence in synths and music theory is extraordinary.
I have one, what would have been nice is a CV input or 2 (it has a CLK in and out that can go to a modular) so we could use modulations from a Eurorack system to affect desktop midi synths too. That's not too much of an issue if you have an ES-8 and then convert it to midi via Silent way and go back out to act as a midi modulation source, it just a bit more of a faff to setup and going back through a computer which this helps to eliminate.
I have just been going down the loopop rabbit hole all day today and enjoying every video
Welcome!
This is a fantastic demo. Thank you so much!
Please do an update to this now that the chord sequencer and the MIDI controller functions have been implemented!
GREETINGS FROM THE FUTURE!
My NDLR came with the Chord Sequencer functionality but I'm still trying to figure it out. It looks awesome though. From what I can tell, you can program a total 18 chords in a sequence per song that are organized into 3 sections (A,B,C) with 6 chords in each section. This allows you to repeat sections (themes) to create a song. You can repeat different themes up to 8 times per song.
Example: Ax2 Bx1 Ax2 Cx1 Ax2
These guys at Conductive Labs really thought outside the box with NDLR. Your excellent demonstration of the device left me intrigued by its capabilities. NDLR reminds me of a 1990's-vintage workstation with all the menu diving, but I can deal with that.
Just an incredible device. I’ll be adding this to my arsenal as soon as possible. The melodies and transpositions it is able to create are just beautiful. And like others have said, a fun and interesting way to learn more about music theory. Love it. Love it. Love it.
Slept on this for too long! Thanks for convincing me you can never have enough sequencing power. This best created it's own game. Great video as always, top notch.
7:00 thought this thing was about to generate the Shawshank Redemption theme - thanks for this video
Woohoo! Got mine in the mail last week but haven't had a chance to sit down with it yet. Thanks for your videos, as always!
Thanks for this great tutorial. Got my NDLR last weel and am enjoying it so far. I was struggling with the LFOs, but now I'm clear! Awesome!
Great work as usual…:)& after beginning with your NDLR review (i’d not been aware of it before), I then spending a few hours watching nearly all other NDLR videos just cuz… i ordered mine today. Looking forward to receipt.
Very well explained, nice one!
Really love mine, so much fun to play with, and I come up with things I otherwise never would have created
Are you happy with it?... do you use it?
this is almost the best tutorial i've seen on the internet. you are the best moderator and teacher! thank you so much. cheers
Thanks for posting this. I don't usually prefer video over manual, but here, it really helped.
What a fantastic instrument....I am definitely getting one...Thanks for the great Review.
Love it and great video. Sold. I’m ordering today. Man, I’m so glad we have new tools like this available. Great vid man.
So I've been playing around with the NDLR for a few days now, and I just love it. After testing it on its own with various synths, I opened recent projets in Live and jammed over them with it, and it's great how fast you can find where the pad or the motifs should sit in the mix, or how you can easily bring life to a stale beat.
The motifs can be wild and unpredictable or really controlled, almost instantly. Lot of control over the pad section also (playing with position is awesome ! Poly-chain is awesome !). I guess it's designed primarily to make ambient, but it turns out to be pretty versatile if you put your mind to it. Too bad there's no swing (yet), so it doesn't quite fit on some house-y, future beat-y sort of projects, but it works great on almost everything else I've tried. Record, jam, chop, loop, it's wonderful.
The encoders aren't that great unfortunately. They're robust but when you want to control your click division precisely for a build up or something, it can become a problem. Another issue I had to work a way around was the forced legato on the drone. I had to dive in various synth settings and whatnot. In fact the drone is the weaker part of the NDLR, because it can't do anything remotely groovy. Synthwave or die. But then again I get it, that's kind of the idea here.
So overall, interesting and stimulating machine, easy to use. It's the first piece of gear I buy that's not an instrument or an effect, so this is new to me, and it feels great. It's a bit buggy, but nothing ruining the fun, plus it's part of the whole crowdfunding experimental gear experience, I guess. Really awesome !
Are you happy with it?... do you use it?
Wow. How did I miss this? Fantastic piece of kit....
Just got mine last week and am starting to well...noodle with it more - this was helpful in kick starting me some - per always, thank you!
Expertly done demo, very impressive!
I'm loving mine. I beta tested with Conductive Labs (BTW...Darryl and Steve are some wonderful, intelligent people) and found that it's excellent for just getting something started when you first sit down. It's a creativity catalyst, not a replacement for composition as some folks seem to be thinking. It was really easy to build some custom wood cheeks for it too!
Great review as always from Loopop! I so appreciate your channel!
Andrew are you building those wood cheeks for others? I have zero wood skill or tools and would buy a pair for my NDLR
Sounds like the music of every sci-fi space-based video game that’s in an 80’s time period. And I’m not complaining.
Ordered mine! Thank you for the comprehensive review with tips.🤘
Are you happy with it?... do you use it?
@@Amatteus I use mine all the time. It's a very smart sequencer with generative capabilities and it is designed beautifully.
I’ve got one and love it. Initially I sent all four tracks to my Digitone, which is fun, but as you mentioned in the video, you will need a lot of voices!
Great review , amazing piece of gear !
Thanks a lot for this clear manual. Yesterday I bought a NDLR on the ebay. Cant wait to receive and play🎹🎹🎹🎹
Very nice! This is a pretty interesting take on "music theory in a box" and in some ways replicated how I actually make music these days. I just do the same thing in my head and use my fingers.
This presentation convinced me to buy NDLR and sign up to Patreon, thanks for your time and effort here.
Thanks for joining!
I had to cancel my kickstarter preorder right before shipping due to financial issues I was having at the time. I knew I would regret it :( this device is so interesting and your video really does it justice
Wow! I ordered one too cant wait!
@loopop, great explanations. I bought one I'm watching this video. It's fun but not for the beginner. I'm still trying to figure a few things out. Still fun.
Really nice to see this get funded, and reviewed! It has lots of LFO/mod matrix options which really brings out the magic! Only thing I'd love to see added is a Rhythm section!
Do you mean for triggering drums? I sometimes use the drone part for a kick.
@@DarrylMcGee I was thinking more of a drum kit where you set the beats with some variability/probability attached to the NDLR's magic sauce of LFO's etc.
Ein sehr inspirierendes Gerät. Habe es mir geholt und bin begeistert. Neben dem Cirklon der beste Sequenzer auf dem Markt. Das einzige was mich stört, ist wie beim Digitakt auch, dass Klick-Geräusch der Taster.
the rhythm editor is fantastic...great device....feel like I already bought it:)
Thanks Loopop! I bought it today because of your video. I think this is going to be very inspirational. 🙏🏻🙂
For sure!
Wow, I could have hours of fun with this!
i’ve got one! will try your tips. thx!
That thing looks like a lot of fun! And also a very good way to get ideas or start a song. Wish I had 300 bucks.
Just imagine combining this with an empress zoia. Add an electric guitar (or whatever your weapon of choice is) and you have an unstoppable combo. This is some world domination shit right here!
That's very close to my plan. Deluge/NDLR/ZOIA and adding in my guitar rig whenever Deluge adds a live looper.
@Earth to Buzz Come in Buzz. I'm adding the new ZOIA Euroburo as soon as it's released.
Im thinkin NDLR , minibrute 2S with a neutron in the MB s addon rackmount and carry handle. A Zoia sure and some mini synth and drone i dunno, a sismo qadrox the korg nutec and a volca bass with multistomp pedal just to be onthe safe side?. Mostly poweredd by powerbank brick
Glad to see you demoing this. I got mine last month and have been using it for live jamming with the Deluge. I'm using Deluge synths for all 4 parts. Loving it so far.
I was going to order it too but wondered how it would work with the Deluge. Sounds like they work well together?
@@SynthDad Yeah they work pretty well together. A couple things to note. The midi learn function on the Deluge is a bit annoying, and I'm hoping they'll add something in a future update so you can set those channels manually. Right now you need to play the sequence and go through each channel learn one by one. The NDLR also defaults all velocity to 127, and the Deluge defaults to 64. So I have to remember to lower that on the NDLR each time. I've had some crackling when using all 4 parts at the same time, but it looks like the latest Deluge update will fix that.
I can make a video showing the setup if you like. I made a very rudimentary one a couple weeks ago but have since got things running much more smoothly. Together they make a very powerful rig!
soundcloud.com/bigtired/ndlr-deluge-guitar-v2 here's a track I made live with the NDLR and Deluge.
Keith VanKlompenberg so beautiful! congrats
can you run through the setup?
NICE. Was thinking about a similar setup. Glad to hear it works well with the Deluge.
You know, when I first saw this video I thought this was such a cool tool and I ended up ordering one, but then I just struggled with it. It just didn't click with me. I watched the video several times and then tried to do stuff that was similar and would walk away frustrated. Sure, everything it made sounded pretty, but it just didn't feel like something for me, and I sold it.
Now, a few years later and armed with a bit better understanding of music theory, I realize I just wasn't ready for it yet, and now I want to get one again. It's such a cool piece of gear that could be useful for helping flesh out an idea if you already know what kind of feel you are wanting to go for.
Great as always.
Thought process when watching (most) loopop gear-reviews:
1. Oh this is neat. Can't afford it though.
2. Okay, this thing is cool - but it doesn't matter because I REALLY cannot afford this. I'll put it on my mental wishlist...
3. I know I can't really afford this, but wow this is amazing!
4. Damn it, I need this in my life! How can I afford this?
5. Ah - frack it, I'll just eat ramen for the rest of the month... now let's order this thing
(Purchases informed among others by loopop reviews so far: Novation Peak, Elektron Digitakt, Conductive Labs NDLR - originally planned on getting the Minilogue XD next, in lieu of a similarly priced mono/para-synth like the sirin because the xd just completely blows me away, but I put that off now to get the NDLR... which looks like a whole new world of intuitive creative workflow)
Could you please stop calling me out so hard? I feel extremely offended by these accurate statements!
Yep, didn't get 5 minutes into this before I popped over and bought one.
You're subverting your expectations.
Is there anywhere i can listen to music you made with all this? Like, mine is here: creaze.ru/ for example. Thanks.
@@bukkaratsuppa6414 check out Jay Hosking: th-cam.com/video/xL_vV468qmQ/w-d-xo.html
Beautiful and articulate music, with no keyboard in sight. As a controller, it really worked. That 0-COAST seems to be sought after...hmmm
This device looks very interesting. You can spend hours in trying to find the perfect mellody. Very time consuming but in the same time rewarding.
Interesting. I hadn't heard of this, but just a few days ago I made a quick proof of concept for something similar. It doesn't generate its own notes though; it just remaps a human player's notes into the correct key and scale to fit the current part of the song. This helps with improvising and composing, since the player can focus more on the overall flow, and can even play things which would otherwise be physically impossible.
I'm glad to see that some similar ideas are popping up in the synth world.
Finally found it I was looking for this for ages.. some guy posted a live setup using the NDLR but I could not remember what the midi machine was called Google algorithm nailed it
NO WAY! I've been looking for a sequencer and i was about to buy the Arturia keylab........forget that I'm buying this right now. This with my Neutron Model D and Crave I'm going to be blown away!
How is it??
I received the Sinfonion from ACL the other day, I have not had enough time to work on it but it may be seen as a contender to this one although it is pure cv/cate and more geared toward modular.
I’ve been waiting for the innovative sequencing options available in eurorack to come to MIDI devices for a while now and knew it was just around the corner. I’m hoping this is just the start of a new movement in the sequencing world for non-modular hardware!
Yeah. Generative is the way forward. Quickly generate and mangle > painstaking meticulous programming.
Thx for the review. Interesting approach, but looks like more suited for ideas for the home studio rather than for a live situation with such a small screen and some menu-diving.
great review really aprreciate ur work,nice maschine great features
Very interesting device, I completely missed it somehow. Great demo!
Thanks so much for this 😊
I saw this on another video and was blown away. I've always wanted an intuitive arpeggiator and sequencer and this looks like it fits that bill...and speaking of bill, it doesn't look like it is too expensive! just one thing though, hooking it up to everything. Perhaps there's some kind of video that discusses hooking this up to all the equipment...
Peoples like me who cant read music or dont know music need to get one!! Who ever invented that thing is a genius!!
Bought one only because of your demo. Otherwise I would never have been able to work it out.
Also checked out if they have other products and pre-ordered the MRCC because that looks genius, they can thank you for the referral.
This is amazing to make backgrouds. Thanks.
I watched the number of backers go up while and after I watched this video... and I just backed them myself to get a unit... your demo was amazing, and I'm really excited for it.
P.S. Love your vids - thank you for your clear and complete reviews (your music is quite beautiful as well)!
Thanks very much :)
Indeed, this video convinced me there was something special here outside of just sequencing. If I ever drop a hardware unit, I know who I'll want to showcase its features!
your videos are great. been eyeing this for a little bit, just ordered one today. looking forward to pairing with my deluge, which you also helped sell to me....your videos cost me a lot of $$ =) lol
LOVE THE SCREEN....ROLAND TAKE NOTE AND USE THIS SCREEN ON YOUR FUTURE INSTRUMENTS
this is great. the NDLR feels pretty intuitive out of the box, however, a few things that definitely require manual diving are explained really nicely (as all things are on your channel). thank you!
Always good demos, clear and useful.
i just bought one of the last 5 units, you convinced me!
Not too expensive for such a nice "toy" (after all aren't we saying that we "play" music...) I can already hear my prophet playing with my modular like the voices of two nice angels.... Well I'll have to wait for the "beast" before thinking to heaven ! :-)
Are you happy with it?... do you use it?
@@Amatteus Yes i'm using it, not as often I wish but it's really a cool device, among many others. I will not use it all days of course, but it is part of my set and sometimes it can help to jam. The idea behind is really good. Now you can see it as a simple arpeggiator but it is more. There's enough settings to make it usable and not too much repetitive.
@@KNHSynths Thank you
Probably the coolest thing I ever backed on Kick...get one guys, it's marvelous
My NDLR showed up today. I can’t pull myself away from it. Loads of fun.
Best video on NDLR so far! Great job!
Great review: you truly sold the Ndlr to me and many others!
Questions: what are you using to visualize the chords onscreen? It will be useful in studio, when writing down and fine tuning a performance.
2nd: you have not talked about how to save. Record midi on computer? Save on the ndlr?
3rd: how to drive 8 synths? I see 4 midi ports.
4th: is the sequencer working as today? Have they made other improvements?
Thank you for taking the time to reply.
Thanks! 1. Synthesia; 2. recording to a computer or sequencing chords on NDLR; 3. using MIDI through or a splitter 4. Yes, they have made improvements (sequencer, MIDI control)
looks awesome!
Loved this review and I was motivated to purchase a NDLR. Love that too now, but I keep thinking back to THIS review and being able to visualise the notes as they’re played. Can I ask what software you use to generate the midi notes? I want to visualise my NDLR as it plays, and your visual is playing the midi notes in real-time (so it appears). Almost a reverse Sythesia? You’re using VSTs to demonstrate, but what sits between the USB Midi All out on the NDLR and the graphic? Thanks in advance!! You’re my go to reviewer Loopop. And you’re the BEST. CHEERS 🍻
Actually the software is called Synthesia :) see link above
Awesomeness.... this looks like the piece I need
What software/app is running on the (ipad?) screen that shows the piano roll/notes being played in real time? Great videos. Your video on the Squarp Pyramid has been invaluable and got me to buy one in the first place. Cheers.
Thanks! It’s a video overlay done in post processing with a screen capture of software called Synthesia
I would buy an album of that hardware jam at the end. So nice.
Thanks! Noted to be released soon!
I find this device super compelling and I have just ordered one. Now I'm going back and re-watching a bunch of videos on it. I was wondering what you use for that piano roll display though. That visualisation really helps especially with understanding the position and spread functions.
Tom Martinson it’s software called synthesia
Brilliant presentation.
I have more gear than talent. But this ndlr "sooooo morish".
Damn it , you make me want one.
Well done on your channel I have got pieces on the strength of it.
Another excellent explanation of a pretty tiny screen interface that I am sure will benefit everyone who likes this workflow. Peace Christo 👽🎶🐕❤️
sbmphr I totally agree.i am really excited about the new 1010 black box! I have already ordered one . And the screen is amazing clear and it’s work flow is anything but another rabbit hole. But boy did they sell out fast. Another good sign. Revue? Peace Christo 👽🎶🐕❤️
Oh great.... now I had to buy one!
I watched quite a few reviews on NDLR but I just purchased one based on this review.
Do you plan to do any videos about Pd? This wonderful NDLR thing makes me think one could achieve similar results with Pd and it would be really fun to put those patches into the Organelle.
I will have to buy one as well. This is something special in think. Especially for someone like me who is not so good in harmony theory.😬
Great review as always. A pity I've already blown my 2021 budget.
first
It would be a very interesting option that at a given moment, the same chord, bass or motif can be maintained, while the rest changes. A pedal effect. It can? great machine !!
15: 16 isn' t he talkin about it ? Im not sure because of my bad english and he talks quickly about it.
I think no. He is talking about midi notes from external keyboard, will be always in the same key and scale, and it will sound nice, very easy for people without musical knowledge
My NDLR arrived yesterday and I blame you... thanks I guess. =) Now time to figure this thing out.
Are you happy with it?... do you use it?
@@Amatteus I'm very happy with it. I've been using it a few times. But I'm still no expert at everything it does.
@@illicitgraphics1 thanks
Mine actually just arrived yesterday. Wish the instruction manual was useful. :P But hey, at least this video does a good job explaining things!
@@illicitgraphics1 thank you
So it's like an extremely advanced arpeggiator. Much cooler than I expected it to be.
ordering this ...wow so nice ..
Good work
This is absolutely amazing. I wonder, am I able to just to this and connect it to my module synth set?
Lol. Just saw an example in this vid
what a great instrument controller :-))
Full price £354-17 (UK Pounds), including currency conversion, FedEx delivery and VAT at 20%. Nobody on here has pointed out the similarity to TB-303, in both Motif parts having their pitches and rhythms as seperate things. NDLR is great fun, and as I did not progress beyond Grade 5 music theory, allows me to try different chord progressions on the fly. By syncing to drum machine, it is easier to appreciate different polyrhythms. Another nice feature is putting Chord Sequence onto 4 MIDI channels, which can have different kinds of sound patches. There's loads to explore here folks.
Great demo as usual. I am always wondering about those meters/screens you use for the notes and frequencies etc. What are those? Thanks, Orange Dog
Thanks! Synthesia for notes and I use MOscilloscope and MAnalyzer by a company called Melda - they’re free with some limitations in the MFreeFXBundle. Occasionally I’ll use scopes by VCV
@@loopop Great thanks for the info...I'll check these out.
The best musical gadget 2019 .. period
how does this differ from the Interactive Chord mode on the Roland JD-Xi?
God dammit. I ordered one right after watching this video. It looks like the chord sequencer feature is implemented now. Can't wait. Thanks for the awesome vid. Joined up on Patreon too :D
Are you happy with it?... do you use it?
Thank you for the review! Do you think the combination with a hardware sequencer like Squarp Pyramid is plausible?
Sure - you could sequence the "predictable" stuff with Pyramid, and sync them via MIDI. You could actually also sequence chord changes on NDLR using Pyramid (or any other sequencer)
Great vid. I noticed a lot of what looked like double-triggering on notes though. Is that actually what's happening or is it an error with the visualisation? Thanks very much.
Edit: To clarify, I'm talking about the same note being triggered twice in quick succession, as at 12:10 and many places.
Thanks! May be - I didn't really dig into it. My guess is it's retrigger rather than a visualization error
Very informative as always! Thanks! Which app you're using for midi notes visualization?
Thanks! It’s called synthesia
Great review. The NDLR would be excellent in VST form, with automation control over parameters
Agreed, there must be a VST out there that does something similar
@@simartnullnet I've looked but never found one
Yeah neither have I. You can automate NDLR’s parameters though via cc
I've built pretty much the exact same thing in Reaper using a lot of JS scripts as well as VST's like ToneSpace (www.mucoder.net/en/tonespace/), RandARP (www.codefn42.com/randarp/index.html), and Kameleono (www.midimood.com/product/kameleono/), and then proceeded to spend a few thousand dollars over the past few years on basically trying every midi controller there is to give it hand's on control. If the NDRL is even 75% as good as it looks, I'm done fucking around with my cobbled together fragile bullshit (as i look back over my shoulder at the "wasted" hours).
I think the NDLR + Nord Rack 3 will basically be all I ever need again.
At least until this evil Loopop guy hooks me into something else... :)
How to you connect your 4 external hardwares with Noodler? Like did you use the USB port or midi out port? As seems like you used USB port but can you explain how? I am a beginner with hardware connection and all! And thank you for the great videos!
yes you can route MIDI through a DAW, or use a USB MIDI host (check out my USB MIDI video)
if you're using a daw 4x midi tracks in your daw with the NDLR as the input and the output set to midi ch 1-4 and then assign your individual hardware synths to the respective channels you'd like them to be playing on their settings menu. if you're using hardware only you could plug directly into a 4x thru splitter and just make sure your synths are assigned to the channels 1-4 as you prefer. right now i have mine plugged directly into a digitone since it's 8 voice polyphony and i can use with the individual tracks on that hardware or send to other synths via it's additional midi tracks if I prefer.
Would this pair well with a voltage research laboratory organic modular? Im thinking you mentioned wishing it had a quantizer and that it is missing a tuner - would this work? Thanks and btw, as a teacher, I love your videos!
Thanks! Yes, it would pair well since VRL has a MIDI in (I wanted quantization for the touch plates). Of course since VRL is monophonic you'll want other synths for the three other NDLR tracks...