AUDIO LOOP CREATOR

UPLOAD AUDIO FILE:

================================================================ AUDIO LOOP CREATOR - USER MANUAL ================================================================ Created by: Nick Panek Published at: Patternripple.com Version: 1.0 ================================================================ TABLE OF CONTENTS ================================================================ 1. Introduction 2. What This Tool Does 3. Getting Started 4. Understanding the Interface 5. Auto Mode (Recommended) 6. Manual Mode (Advanced) 7. Crossfade Duration Explained 8. Tips for Best Results 9. Troubleshooting 10. Technical Details 11. Frequently Asked Questions ================================================================ 1. INTRODUCTION ================================================================ The Audio Loop Creator is a browser-based tool designed to automatically create seamless audio loops from any audio file. Perfect for video game music, background tracks, music production, and creative projects. No installation required. No data leaves your computer. Everything runs locally in your web browser. ================================================================ 2. WHAT THIS TOOL DOES ================================================================ This tool analyzes your audio file and: • Intelligently finds the best section for looping • Detects beats and musical structure • Aligns loop points to bar boundaries • Applies zero-crossing detection to prevent clicks • Creates seamless crossfades at loop points • Exports professional-quality WAV files The result: Audio that loops infinitely without glitches, clicks, pops, or audible discontinuities. ================================================================ 3. GETTING STARTED ================================================================ BASIC WORKFLOW: 1. Upload your audio file (MP3, WAV, OGG, M4A, etc.) 2. Wait for the waveform to appear 3. Click "CREATE LOOP" (uses automatic detection) 4. Click "PLAY LOOP" to preview 5. Click "EXPORT WAV" to download your loop That's it! The tool handles everything automatically. ================================================================ 4. UNDERSTANDING THE INTERFACE ================================================================ UPLOAD AUDIO FILE • Click to select any audio file from your computer • Supports most audio formats WAVEFORM DISPLAY • Visual representation of your audio • Green = audio signal • Yellow lines = loop boundaries (after processing) • Green highlight = selected loop region CROSSFADE DURATION • Slider: 0.005s to 0.100s (5ms to 100ms) • Default: 0.020s (20ms) - works for most music • See Section 7 for details ADVANCED CONTROLS (Expandable) • Click to reveal Auto and Manual mode options • See Sections 5 and 6 for details BUTTONS: • CREATE LOOP - Process audio and find loop points • PLAY LOOP - Preview the loop (plays continuously) • STOP - Stop playback • EXPORT WAV - Download your loop-ready file STATUS BOX • Shows current operation status • Displays loop times and duration • Shows any errors or warnings ================================================================ 5. AUTO MODE (RECOMMENDED) ================================================================ Auto mode uses intelligent algorithms to find the best loop section automatically. This is the default mode. HOW IT WORKS: The algorithm analyzes your entire track and scores different sections based on: • Energy consistency (steady sections loop better) • Loop seamlessness (how well end matches beginning) • Track position (hooks/choruses are usually mid-track) • Beat alignment (aligns to musical bars) CONTROLS IN AUTO MODE: TARGET LOOP DURATION • Slider: 5 to 180 seconds • Default: 30 seconds • This is your IDEAL duration, not exact FLEXIBILITY • Slider: 0% to 50% • Default: 20% • How much the duration can vary for better quality EXAMPLE: Target: 60 seconds, Flexibility: 20% Result: Algorithm can choose 48-72 seconds for best quality WHY FLEXIBILITY MATTERS: Music has natural structure (bars, phrases, choruses). Forcing an exact duration might cut mid-phrase or off-beat. Flexibility lets the algorithm choose a musically appropriate duration that sounds better and loops more seamlessly. RECOMMENDATIONS: • Electronic/EDM music: 20-30% flexibility • Ambient/atmospheric: 30-50% flexibility • Pop/rock with vocals: 10-20% flexibility • Need exact duration?: Use Manual Mode instead ================================================================ 6. MANUAL MODE (ADVANCED) ================================================================ Manual mode gives you complete control over loop points. Use this when you know exactly what section you want to loop. ACTIVATING MANUAL MODE: 1. Click "▶ ADVANCED CONTROLS" to expand 2. Check "MANUAL MODE (click waveform to set points)" 3. Interface switches to manual controls THREE WAYS TO SET LOOP POINTS: METHOD 1 - Click Waveform: • Click once for start point • Click again for end point • Yellow lines show your selection METHOD 2 - Type Exact Times: • Enter start time in "START TIME (seconds)" • Enter end time in "END TIME (seconds)" • Times update as you type METHOD 3 - Combination: • Click waveform for approximate positions • Fine-tune with number inputs SNAP TO ZERO-CROSSING (Checkbox): ✓ CHECKED (Recommended): • Finds nearest zero-crossing to your point • Zero-crossing = where waveform crosses center line • Prevents clicks and pops at loop point • Might shift your point slightly (usually <10ms) ☐ UNCHECKED (Not Recommended): • Uses your EXACT time points • May cause audible clicks if cutting mid-wave • Only use if you need pixel-perfect timing PREVIEW BUTTONS: PREVIEW START - Plays 3 seconds from start point PREVIEW END - Plays 3 seconds before end point Use these to verify your loop points sound good before creating the full loop. ================================================================ 7. CROSSFADE DURATION EXPLAINED ================================================================ WHAT IS CROSSFADE? At the loop point, the end of your audio gradually fades out while the beginning simultaneously fades in. This creates a seamless transition instead of an abrupt cut. During crossfade: End audio × (1 - fade%) + Start audio × fade% DEFAULT: 0.020 seconds (20 milliseconds) • Short enough to be imperceptible • Long enough to smooth transitions • Works for 90% of music WHEN TO INCREASE (0.050s - 0.100s): PROS: ✓ More forgiving of imperfect loop points ✓ Smoother for ambient/pad sounds ✓ Masks energy differences between start/end CONS: ✗ Can sound "mushy" on drums ✗ Blurs attack transients ✗ May create audible "swell" or "dip" ✗ Loses rhythmic precision BEST FOR: • Ambient music • Atmospheric pads • Drones and textures • Background soundscapes WHEN TO DECREASE (0.005s - 0.010s): PROS: ✓ Sharp, precise loop point ✓ Maintains drum hits and attacks ✓ Rhythmically accurate ✓ More natural sounding CONS: ✗ Less forgiving of misaligned loop points ✗ May reveal clicks if zero-crossing fails ✗ Requires near-perfect alignment BEST FOR: • Electronic/chiptune music • Music with prominent drums • Rhythmically precise tracks • Well-aligned loop points RULE OF THUMB: Start at 0.020s. Only adjust if you hear problems or have specific needs. Listen to your loop - your ears will tell you what sounds best. ================================================================ 8. TIPS FOR BEST RESULTS ================================================================ CHOOSING SOURCE MATERIAL: GOOD CANDIDATES: ✓ Instrumental tracks ✓ Consistent energy throughout ✓ Repetitive sections (choruses, grooves) ✓ Electronic music with clear beats ✓ Ambient/atmospheric tracks CHALLENGING CANDIDATES: ✗ Songs with dramatic builds/drops ✗ Live recordings with crowd noise ✗ Heavily compressed audio ✗ Tracks with hard endings ✗ Speech/vocals without music OPTIMIZING YOUR LOOPS: 1. USE AUTO MODE FIRST Let the algorithm find the best section before going manual 2. INCREASE FLEXIBILITY FOR BETTER QUALITY Don't force exact durations unless required 3. LISTEN MULTIPLE TIMES Play your loop 5-10 times to catch subtle issues 4. CHECK THE WAVEFORM Green highlighted section should look consistent 5. ADJUST CROSSFADE IF NEEDED Hear clicks? Increase crossfade Sounds mushy? Decrease crossfade 6. EXPORT AS WAV WAV is lossless - convert to MP3/OGG later if needed 7. TEST IN CONTEXT Import your loop into your game/project to verify TROUBLESHOOTING COMMON ISSUES: LOOP SOUNDS GOOD BUT HAS ONE CLICK: • Increase crossfade duration to 0.030-0.050s • Try creating the loop again (may find better points) LOOP SOUNDS "WASHED OUT" OR "MUSHY": • Decrease crossfade to 0.010-0.015s • In Manual mode, ensure end matches beginning energy LOOP CUTS OFF MID-PHRASE: • Increase flexibility percentage • Use Manual mode to select exact phrase LOOP STARTS TOO LATE (MISSES INTRO): • Algorithm skips quiet intros - use Manual mode • Set start point to 0 seconds manually EXPORTED FILE IS TOO LARGE: • WAV files are uncompressed (this is normal) • Convert to MP3/OGG after export if size matters • WAV quality is best for editing/game engines LOOP WON'T PLAY: • Check browser console for errors (F12) • Try different audio file • Ensure browser supports Web Audio API ================================================================ 9. TECHNICAL DETAILS ================================================================ AUDIO PROCESSING: Sample Rate: Preserved from source file (typically 44100Hz) Bit Depth: 16-bit WAV export Channels: Stereo or mono (preserved from source) ALGORITHMS USED: Beat Detection: • Energy-based onset detection • 100ms analysis windows • Adaptive threshold (1.3× average energy) Zero-Crossing Detection: • Scans ±1000 samples from target point • Finds nearest waveform zero-crossing • Prevents clicks at loop boundaries Energy Analysis: • 500ms analysis windows • Variance scoring for consistency • Prefers stable sections Loop Scoring: • Energy consistency: 50 points • Loop seamlessness: 30 points • Track position: 10 points • Energy level: 10 points BROWSER REQUIREMENTS: • Modern browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge) • Web Audio API support • JavaScript enabled • Minimum 2GB RAM recommended SUPPORTED FORMATS: Input: MP3, WAV, OGG, M4A, FLAC, and most audio formats Output: WAV (16-bit PCM, uncompressed) LIMITATIONS: • Maximum file size: Browser dependent (~500MB typical) • Processing time: ~1-5 seconds for most files • No real-time preview during processing • Single loop point (not multi-segment loops) PRIVACY & SECURITY: • All processing happens locally in your browser • No files uploaded to any server • No tracking or analytics • No internet connection required after page loads • Your audio never leaves your computer ================================================================ 10. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ================================================================ Q: Does this work offline? A: Yes! Click "DOWNLOAD HTML" and save the file. Open it in your browser anytime - no internet required. Q: What's the best flexibility setting? A: 20% is great for most music. Increase to 30-50% for ambient/atmospheric tracks. Use 0% only if you need an exact duration. Q: My loop has a click. How do I fix it? A: Increase crossfade duration to 0.030-0.050s. Make sure "SNAP TO ZERO-CROSSING" is checked in Manual mode. Q: Can I loop specific sections like just the chorus? A: Yes! Use Manual mode and click the waveform or type exact times for your desired section. Q: Why does the loop start at 2 seconds? A: It doesn't anymore! The algorithm scans the entire track and intelligently finds the best section, which could be anywhere from 0 seconds to late in the track. Q: Does this work with copyrighted music? A: The tool works with any audio file. Copyright laws still apply to your use of the resulting loops. Q: Can I use loops created with this tool commercially? A: The tool is free, but copyright of the source audio still matters. Only use loops from audio you have rights to use. Q: Why is my exported file so big? A: WAV files are uncompressed for maximum quality. This is intentional. Convert to MP3/OGG after if size matters. Q: Can I loop vocals/speech? A: Yes, but it's challenging. Vocals rarely repeat exactly, so loops may sound unnatural. Works best with instrumental backgrounds under vocals. Q: What's better - Auto or Manual mode? A: Try Auto first. Use Manual only if Auto doesn't find the section you want, or if you need precise control. Q: Can I create multiple loops from one file? A: One loop per session. To create multiple loops, process the file multiple times with different settings. Q: Does this work on mobile? A: Technically yes, but not recommended. Large files may crash mobile browsers. Desktop/laptop strongly recommended. Q: How do I import loops into Unity/Unreal/Game Maker? A: Export as WAV, then import like any audio file. Enable "loop" in your game engine's audio settings. The seamless loop point is already built into the WAV file. Q: Can I adjust volume/EQ/effects? A: No - this tool only handles looping. Use audio editing software (Audacity, etc.) for additional processing. Q: The algorithm picked a weird section. Why? A: It scores based on loop quality, not musical preference. Use Manual mode to select your preferred section. Q: How accurate is the BPM detection? A: Fairly accurate for electronic music with clear beats. Less accurate for ambient/orchestral. BPM is only used for bar alignment, not displayed to user. ================================================================ THANK YOU FOR USING AUDIO LOOP CREATOR! ================================================================ If you found this tool helpful, share it with others! Visit Patternripple.com for more tools and resources. Created by Nick Panek This software is provided free of charge with no warranty. Use at your own risk. Not responsible for any data loss or audio quality issues. ================================================================