Looppas

Looppas are a class of compact circular devices used to create and manipulate audio loops in live performance and music production. A typical Looppa contains a digital sampling engine, memory for short clips, an input for instruments or microphones, and an output to a mixer or audio interface. The form factor emphasizes looping with a simple interface of knobs, touch pads, and LED indicators.

Many models provide MIDI or USB connectivity for integration with other gear and software. Users capture short phrases or beats, choose a loop length (for example, 1 to 4 bars), and trigger layers in real time. Overdubbing, tempo synchronization, and quantization help loops stay in time with a track. Some looppas offer stereo playback, pitch shifting, and reverse playback.

Design options range from battery-powered portable units to desktop or rack-mounted variants. They are often built with rugged enclosures and color-coded controls for quick onstage operation. A subset of looppas functions as software plug-ins or mobile apps that emulate the hardware experience.

Origins are linked to the broader live looping movement in electronic and experimental music, with DIY and commercial hardware contributing to the ecosystem in the 2000s and 2010s. The term has since spread in music education, indie practice, and installation art to describe analogous looping devices and workflows.

See also: live looping, loop pedal, sampler, digital audio workstation.