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WaveLooper

A looper for your Mac. Record a loop from your synth, guitar, mic or any app, layer more on top, shape each one, and turn the layers into a song.

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Start here

Install

WaveLooper runs on macOS 14.2 or later. No account, no subscription.

Install the app

1. Download WaveLooper.
2. Drag it to Applications.
3. Open it. The first window offers to start with or without a tempo.

Permissions

The first time you record Mac audio or an app, macOS asks to let WaveLooper record system audio. The first time you record an input, it asks for the microphone. You can change both later in System Settings › Privacy & Security.

Audio interface

Pick your interface in the output menu at the top right. WaveLooper follows its sample rate. Each loop can play through any output the interface has.

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Your first loop

Pick a source, press R and play. Press R again and it loops.

1. Choose a source next to Record new loop: Mac audio, one app, or an input.
2. Press R and play.
3. Press R again. The recording becomes a loop and plays.
4. Press R for the next loop. It records on top of the ones playing.

Tempo

Your first loop sets the tempo. You can also click the tempo to type or tap one, or work without a tempo at all.

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Questions

Short answers to what people ask most. Something else? Write to us.

Is it a plug-in?

No. WaveLooper is an app on its own and doesn't run inside a DAW. You can add your own Audio Unit effects to it, see Plug-in effects.

Is it a DAW?

No. It's made for playing. You record, change things while it plays, and keep what you like. For detailed editing, export to your DAW.

Does it work with Ableton Live or Logic?

Yes, both ways. To loop what your DAW plays, pick it as the source. To bring your loops into Live, use File › Export for Ableton Live. For Logic or any other app, export WAV files.

Can it record any app on my Mac?

Yes. Record everything your Mac plays, or just one app. macOS asks for permission the first time.

Can I play it live?

Yes. Sections switch on the next bar, shortcuts work from any app, and MIDI Learn maps your controller.

Which Macs does it run on?

Any Mac with macOS 14.2 or later.

Do I need an account?

No. No account and no subscription.

What's in the free version?

Up to 4 loops, recording from any input or app, all effects and plug-ins, sections, and a mixdown to one WAV file. It never runs out. The full version adds as many loops as you want, Song, export of each loop as WAV, and Export for Ableton Live.

What does it cost?

€39 once, or €29 during launch week. Song is included, and there is no subscription.

Learn

The window

What each part of the window does. In the app, the ? button shows the same guide.

Record

Records a new loop. Press again to loop it.

Source

Mac audio, an app or an input.

Stop All and Listen

Stop or play every loop. Listen lets you hear the source.

Tempo

Your first loop sets it. Click to type or tap one.

Mute, solo, volume

The slider also shows the level.

···

Duplicate, crop, export and more.

Play / stop

Plays or stops this loop.

Loop edges

Drag them to choose the part that loops.

Effects

Click one to open it. Coloured ones are on.

Sync

Fits the loop to the tempo, or keeps it free.

Evolve

Moves settings over time.

Direction

Forward, reverse or ping-pong.

Overdub

Records another pass on top.

Mixdown

Records everything together to one file.

Pinch, ⌘-scroll or ⌘+ to zoom. Double-click to fit.

Learn

Recording

Every loop starts as a recording from the source shown next to Record new loop.

Sources

• Mac audio records everything your Mac plays.
• One app records only that app, like a browser, a DAW or a standalone instrument.
• An input records a mic, an interface input or a group of inputs.

While you record

• R stops the recording and loops it. Esc cancels it and removes the loop.
• For an input, Count-in starts the recording on the bar.
• K sets the metronome: off, while recording, or always.
• L lets you hear muted sources live over your loops.

Other ways in

• G grabs the last 30 seconds of the source.
• F imports audio files. You can also drop files on the window.
• O overdubs the selected loop. ⌘Z undoes a pass.

Learn

Loops

Each loop has its own volume, effects and output. There is no limit on how many you record.

• Return plays or stops the selected loop. 1–9 mute loops.
• Drag the loop edges to choose the part that loops, then crop to it from the ··· menu.
• Sync fits a loop to the tempo, or lets it play free.
• Play forward, reverse or ping-pong.
• ← → nudge the selected loop by 1 ms, ⇧ 10 ms, ⌥ a beat.
• ⌘D duplicates, ⌫ deletes. M mutes and S solos the selected loops.
• Send a loop to another output on your audio interface.
• Evolve changes a loop by itself, pass after pass.

Learn

Sections

Sections hold the parts of a song, such as Intro, Verse and Chorus. Each section keeps its own loops.

• The section you see is the one that plays.
• Click a section or press ⇧1–⇧9 to switch to it on the next bar. ⇧-click switches now.
• Without a tempo, the switch waits until the longest loop ends its pass.
• Copy a loop to another section, with its own settings there.

Learn

Effects

Every loop has Pitch, Tape, Drive, Filter, EQ, Stereo, Delay and Reverb.

• Click an effect to open it. Coloured ones are on.
• Right-click an effect to reset it, turn it off or move it. Drag to change the order.
• Click a knob, then use ↑ ↓ to turn it: ⇧ for big steps, ⌥ for fine ones.
• Copy effects from one loop and paste them on another.

Master

Master has its own chain, and it always ends with a Limiter. "+ Effect" adds a new one before it.

Your own plug-ins

"+ Effect" also lists the Audio Unit effects installed on your Mac. See Plug-in effects.

Learn

Plug-in effects

Add the Audio Unit effects installed on your Mac to any loop or to Master, up to four on each.

Add one

• Click "+ Effect" and pick a plug-in. They are listed by maker.
• Its window opens. Drag its chip to move it in the chain.

The plug-in's window

• Click the chip to open the window again.
• On turns the plug-in on and off. Presets lists its own presets.
• Some plug-ins delay the sound. The window then shows how much, for example "Adds 12 ms", and the loop is moved earlier so it stays on the beat.
• Right-click the chip for Show Window, Turn Off, Replace With and Remove.

Missing and stopped

• Missing: the plug-in isn't installed on this Mac. The loop plays without it and keeps its settings for when it's back.
• Stopped: the plug-in crashed. The loop plays without it. Right-click the chip and choose Reload.

Plug-ins and their settings are saved with the project. Each change is one ⌘Z.

Learn

Song Mode

Arrange loops on a timeline to build a song. Press ⌘2 or click Song at the top.

• Drag loops from the strip onto the layers.
• Mark sections such as Intro or Outro. Right-click one to rename, repeat or remove it.
• Add fades, and put Pitch, Filter or Reverb on any block.
• R records to a new layer. Count-in starts it on the bar.
• C loops the selection, or the whole song.

Learn

Mixdown and export

Mixdown records what you play. Export turns loops or the song into files.

Mixdown

Press ⇧⌘R to start and stop. Everything you play, including knob moves and mutes, goes into one file that stays in the project.

Export

• Export Song… (⌥⌘E) saves the whole song or the selected time as a 24-bit or 16-bit WAV. It can also save each layer as its own file, and end with a ring-out or a cut.
• One loop: ··· › Export WAV… saves it as you hear it, with its volume and effects.
• All loops: ⇧⌘E saves each loop as its own 24-bit WAV.
• File › Export for Ableton Live… writes a Live set with your loops.

Guides

Ways to connect

WaveLooper records whatever reaches your Mac and plays through any output you have.

Synth or guitar

Synth or guitar → interface input → WaveLooper → Mixdown → audio file

Mac audio, one app or all

A Mac app → WaveLooper → loops and effects → Mixdown

WaveLooper takes plug-in effects, not instruments. To loop a plug-in instrument, play it in your DAW and choose the DAW as the source.

Several mics, out to your mixer

Mics → interface inputs → WaveLooper → interface outputs → mixer

Record the mics together as one take, then send each loop to its own output. See Several mics at once.

Guides

Several mics at once

Record a drum kit or a band as one take, every mic in sync.

1. Open Settings › Input Groups and add a group: pick the interface, then add a line per mic.
2. Choose the group as the source and record.
3. The take is one card with a row per mic. Each row has its own name, effects and output.
4. To treat a row as its own loop, use ··· › Split into Loops.

Guides

MIDI controllers

Map knobs, faders and buttons on your controller to WaveLooper.

1. Press ⌘L for MIDI Learn.
2. Click a control in the window.
3. Move a knob or press a button on your controller.
4. Press ⌘L again when you're done.

Reference

Keyboard shortcuts

Help › Keyboard Shortcuts shows the same list in the app.

Essentials

From any app

Loops

Song

Reference

Projects and saving

A project is one Mac document. It keeps its audio inside, so you can move or back it up as one file.

• Save, Save As, Open Recent and autosave work like other Mac apps.
• Every change, settings included, is one step of ⌘Z.
• Mixdowns stay in the project until you export them.

Reference

Full feature list

Everything in WaveLooper, grouped by what you do with it.