André Rehnström
Description:
Add a retrospective (pre-record) loop buffer and immediately display a waveform visualization for the captured audio once the loop is created. The goal is to support “I played it already” moments: users can capture the last few seconds/bars of performance and instantly see the waveform for editing and confidence.
Problem:
In live looping, great moments happen unexpectedly:
  • Users start playing, then realize they want that phrase as a loop
    after
    it happened.
  • Without retrospective capture, the moment is lost or must be recreated.
  • Even when audio is captured, lack of immediate waveform feedback makes it harder to confirm what was recorded, where the transient start is, and whether trimming is needed.
A retrospective buffer plus waveform display would reduce friction and improve confidence when creating loops from spontaneous performance.
Proposed Solution:
1) Retrospective record buffer
  • Maintain a continuous circular buffer per selected input/bus (opt-in to control CPU/memory).
  • Allow “Capture last …” actions:
- Last X seconds
- Last X beats/bars (tempo-synced), if applicable
  • Optionally provide multiple capture lengths (e.g., 2 bars / 4 bars / 8 bars) as separate actions.
2) Automatic loop creation from buffer
  • When triggered, Loopy creates a new loop/clip from the buffer content.
  • Provide alignment options:
- Capture aligned to bar boundaries (quantized)
- Capture “as played” (free)
  • Optional transient detection for better start points (nice-to-have).
3) Waveform visualization immediately after capture
  • Once the clip exists, show a waveform view right away:
- In the clip view/editor
- Or as a temporary overlay preview
  • Include basic markers:
- start/end points
- loop boundary
- playhead
4) Editing integration
  • Quick trim/adjust loop points directly from the waveform view.
  • Optional “fade in/out” for click prevention (if not already present).
5) Performance and quality considerations
  • Configurable buffer length and sources to limit memory/CPU usage.
  • Use low-latency waveform generation (generate a coarse waveform first, refine in background if needed).
Benefits:
  • Captures spontaneous musical moments that would otherwise be lost.
  • Faster loop creation: no need to re-play parts just to record them.
  • Immediate visual confirmation improves confidence and reduces re-takes.
  • Waveform-based trimming makes loops cleaner and more musical (better starts/stops).
Examples:
  • Spontaneous riff capture:
- User plays a great 4-bar phrase, then taps “Capture last 4 bars” to instantly create a loop and see the waveform for quick trimming.
  • Free-time texture:
- User improvises an ambient swell, then captures the last 12 seconds and trims visually to a clean loop boundary.
  • Live reliability:
- Waveform view immediately shows a clipped transient or off-start point, allowing a quick fix before the loop enters the mix.
This summary was automatically generated by GPT-5.2 Thinking on 2025-12-29
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Original Post:
When using retrospecive loops it’s hard to know if I covered a whole loop with audio. To visualize the waveform inside the loop before captured would help to know how the final result will be once I close the loop and play it.