Sugar Bytes

Sugar Bytes’ latest plugin (VST/AU/RTAS/
AAX) and standalone efect, Looperator, is
efectively two audio processing tools in one: a
loop slicer and an efects sequencer.
The loop slicer comes irst, chopping the
incoming audio into 16 steps. The step resolution
can be set to half-, quarter-, or eighth-notes, and
while we’d have liked the option of 16ths, judging
by how successful the rest of the plugin is, we
guess Sugar Bytes just decided it didn’t work.
Below the slice Input lane is a six-track
sequencer, which controls Slice playback and
ive efect channels. The signal low through the
modules is re-ordered by simply dragging them
up or down.
The Slice track controls which slice is played
back on each step. With simple one-bar
percussive loops, this isn’t so exciting; but as
soon as you apply it to something that varies as
it progresses – a musical rif or vocal sample, for
example – it becomes a whole lot of fun.
For every step of the sequence, each of the
ive efects channels can be set to trigger one of
20 preset or four conigurable User settings. The
presets can’t be adjusted but are carefully
designed to deliver always-useable results,
while the User settings open the efects up to
manual editing, including various modulation
options.
The FX 1 and FX 2 tracks host multiefects
presets covering familiar processors like Reverb,
Delay, Vinyl, Tape Stop, Distortion, Tonal Delay.
Phaser, Pitch Shift and Half Speed. The User
settings expand the list to include a synthesiser,
ring modulator and more.
The remaining three tracks are Loop,
Envelope and Filter. All three are useful and
interesting – with ilter’s various types including
a vowel ilter, and the envelope shaping efects
handling everything from gating to subtle
pumping – but we think it’s Loop that will appeal
most to electronic music producers, as the
preset steps facilitate incredibly fast creation of
the kinds of snare rolls, double kicks and stutter
edits that can otherwise be iddly to program. In
this respect, Looperator is a powerful, intuitive
solution that could ind a place on just about any
dance track.
Loop the loop
Like all Sugar Bytes plugins, Looperator comes
with a tasty selection of presets, which make for
are a great place to start. There’s also MIDI note
or Program Change input for quickly calling up
patches from a user-constructed ‘favourites’ list.
Naturally, you won’t always want the fully wet
efect all the time, and Looperator ofers
individual Wet/Dry controls for each track, as
well as a multimode (Mix Linear, Mix Equal, etc)
wet/dry control for the output.
On balance, it must be said that Looperator
isn’t the most original plugin we’ve ever come
Sugar Bytes
Looperator €119
With this new glitching, slicing plugin, have the creators of
Efectrix revolutionised their own pioneering paradigm?
Verdict
For Well chosen efects
Clear layout
Awesome arrangement tool
Great randomisation options
Against Sonically nothing new
Quite pricey
Too well designed, useful and sonically
impressive to warrant a lower score, but
not the most original-sounding plugin
9/10
Alternatively
Illformed Glitch 2
194 » 7/10 » €60
One of the originals and still one
of the best, although some would
call it a step backwards from v1
Sugar Bytes Turnado
193 » 9/10 » €119
Not in the same modulation league,
but it sounds phenomenal
Central to Looperator’s approach are its
sequence randomisation options, which can
be applied to steps and tracks, and globally.
The Step random option is selected and
entered from each step’s efect menu,
applying a random preset each time. You
can also randomise User efect setups.
The Global Random menu gives a choice
of six conigurable randomisation modes
with which to instantly call up completely
new patches. Smart mode uses Sugar Bytes’
own algorithm to generate sequences
with a high chance of sounding balanced
and useable; Space creates Reverb and
Delay sequences only; Single limits
each track to one speciic efect setting;
Randolf creates sequences made up of
constantly randomising (but positionally
ixed) steps; and Tieland creates random
tied efects. Finally, Track Random uses
settings speciied in each track’s own
randomisation setting.
Rolling the dice
across, but rather a superb evolution of Sugar
Bytes’ other glitch plugins, Efectrix and
Turnado. It’s certainly the irst that makes
incorporating the results into a broader project
a truly efortless process.
Looperator doesn’t boast the widest range of
efects, and it has a very deinite sound, which
will afect its shelf life, but we recommend it to
any connoisseur of loop slicers and glitch efects.
Indeed, the speed with which it can be used to
create builds and edits (in both individual tracks
and full mixes) should make it a go-to tool for
any electronically minded arranger.
Web www.sugar-bytes.de
98 / COMPUTER MUSIC / April 2015
> reviews / sugar bytes looperator
CMU215.rev_looperator.indd 98 2/6/15 2:55 PM