looppad

Looppad is a term used in music technology to describe a pad-based interface for triggering, recording, and arranging audio loops. It can refer to hardware devices with a grid of touch-sensitive pads or to software that mimics that form factor. The core idea is real-time loop construction: activating pads to start and stop loops, layering parts, and keeping timing synchronized to a tempo.

Core features typically include a grid of pads (often 8 by 8), a looping engine with multiple slots, tempo control and clock sync, overdub and undo, mute/solo per sound, and visual feedback from pad lighting. Most looppads offer MIDI or USB connectivity, sample import/export, and a routing or effects chain for processing.

Usage: Looppads are used by solo performers for live looping, by producers as performance tools or sketch pads, and in education to teach rhythm and timing.

Design variants range from portable hardware units to desktop software and plugins. Some integrate with guitars and other instruments, while others function as standalone beat-making devices or DAW controllers.

History: The looping concept arose with analog loop pedals in the 1980s and digital loopers in the 1990s. The looppad form factor gained traction in the 2000s and 2010s as standalone hardware and mobile apps, drawing on pad-based samplers and MIDI controllers.