How Do I Create ACID Loops with Sound Forge?

 

Sound Forge makes it easy to create ACID loops from other audio files. In this example, we’ll create a loop from a longer recording, and then we’ll edit the loop’s ACID properties so it is properly detected when you add it to an ACID project.

  1. Open the file you want to use to create your new loop.

  2. Create a one-measure selection.

    From the Options menu, choose Selection Grid Lines. Grid lines are displayed over your selection to divide the selection into equal parts.

    You can use these grid lines to align your selection with beats:

    Sound Forge Pro SelectionGridLines2 Creating ACID Loops

Sound Forge Pro tip Creating ACID LoopsTo change the number of divisions that will be used, choose Options > Set Grid Divisions, and then choose a setting from the submenu.

  1. Select the Loop Playback button Sound Forge Pro b loopplay Creating ACID Loops, and then click the Play button Sound Forge Pro b play Creating ACID Loops to preview your selection. Drag the ends of the selection as necessary until you hear a steady downbeat.

  2. Now let’s create a new window for our loop so we don’t modify the original file:

  1. Click the Copy button Sound Forge Pro b copy Creating ACID Loops on the main toolbar to copy the selection to the clipboard.

  2. From the Edit menu, choose Paste Special, and then choose Paste to New. A new data window is created from your selection.

  1. Now we’re ready to set the loop’s tempo:

  1. From the Options menu, choose Status Format, and then choose Edit Tempo from the submenu. The Edit tempo dialog is displayed.

  2. Use the Selection length in beats control to indicate the number of beats in the current selection. If you’re creating a loop in 4/4 time, type 4 in this box.

  3. Use the Number of beats in  a measure control to indicate the number of beats in a measure. Again, if you’re creating a loop in 4/4 time, type 4 in this box.

    Sound Forge calculates the tempo of the selection and updates the Tempo in beats per minute value.

    If the tempo seems too high (200 BPM when you expected 100 BPM, for example), the selection you created in step 2 may have been only half a measure. Repeat from step 2 and use the Double Selection button Sound Forge Pro doubleselection Creating ACID Loops on the Navigation toolbar to extend your selection.

    If the tempo seems too low (50 BPM when you expected 100 BPM, for example), the selection you created in step 2 may have been two measures long. Repeat from step 2 and use the Halve Selection button Sound Forge Pro Halveselection Creating ACID Loops on the Navigation toolbar to reduce your selection.

  1. Setting the loop’s ACID properties will allow the loop to be time-stretched and pitch-shifted correctly when you load it in an ACID project:

  1. From the View menu, choose Metadata, and then choose ACID Properties from the submenu to display the ACID Properties window.  

  2. Click the down arrow Sound Forge Pro b downarrow2 Creating ACID Loops next to the ACID type setting and choose a setting from the drop-down list to indicate whether you want ACID to treat your loop as a one-shot, loop, or an ACID Beatmapped track. For more information about the controls in this dialog, please see ACID Properties.

    In this example, imagine we’d created a 4/4 drum loop:

  • Type 4/4 in the Time signature box.

  • Choose Loop from the ACID type drop-down list.

  • Choose Don’t transpose from the Root note for transposing drop-down list

  • Type 4 in the Number of beats box.

  1. Save your file, and be sure to select the Save metadata with file check box to save the ACID information in the file.

Creating ACID Loops