I had a recent session where my task was to mix a days worth of drum takes from the multi-tracks and cut them up into usuable AppleLoops. Each AppleLoop was also to be supplied in three mixes: Full, Kick and Snare and Overheads.
This was to allow the client to have as much control over the drum loops in addition to the usuall tempo change, transposition that AppleLoops provide and allow them to build a fairly complete drum track just using these custom loops.
It was an enjoyable task, but required some thought as to how best go about this, including allowing things to be changed, balances, mixes and the like.
Here's what I decided was the best workflow:
import audio tracks from ProTools session into Logic Pro
set up the mixes and balances to taste
bounce each mix – Full, Kick and Snare, overheads to individual stems - placing them on the timeline alongside the original multitracks
identify,name and slice the mixes into regions ready to be AppleLooped
export and tune the loops using AppleLoops Utility
move all the AppleLoops into easy to locate folders
All well and good, here's what I found.
Gotchas
Make sure the ProTools files have been Consolidated so that they all have the same start point.
set up a basic mix template with EQ's and submixes etc to load each drum take into
don't be scared to use extreme EQ and compression setting
sometimes, compressing the channel, a bus and the output is okay
for non stereo linked files, send the L&R a bus and use that for overall level and plug-in processing
get the tempo set so that edits are on bar boundaries
when tuning loops, be aware that the drummer may have been a little out of time – you may need to set a tempo for that bar only and then define the loop using the new tempo
name your regions before you export to AppleLoops Utility
Thoroughly enjoyable task, with plenty of scope for creativity, the dull bit is the looping and file admin after the mixes are created.
Doing it this way meant that we could go back to any of the session files, tweak a mix or find another drum loop or fill and rebounce while still having access to the original sessions.