ReCycle free download
If you're working with sampled audio loops and need to change their tempo without the artifacts of time-stretching, ReCycle handles this by slicing loops at their transients. This free download gives you a dedicated tool for making loops tempo-independent.
Instead of stretching the audio itself, ReCycle finds the transients in your loop and cuts it into individual slices. It keeps all the timing information, so when you change the tempo, it just adjusts the space between the slices. This means you can speed up or slow down a drum loop or bassline without changing the pitch and without introducing those warbly, metallic artifacts you often get with traditional time-stretching. You can also change the pitch independently without affecting the tempo.
Slicing and REX File Creation
The core process is automated. You load a loop, and ReCycle finds the transients to create slices. You get on-screen tools to move, audition, or delete these slices if the automatic detection isn't perfect. You can set the length, attack, and decay of each slice for precise control over how they sound. Once you're done editing, you save the loop as a REX file. This format is widely supported by samplers and DAWs, letting you play the sliced loop back at any tempo.
Built-in Processing Tools
Before or after slicing, you have a set of built-in effects to shape the sound. This includes a Transient Shaper (also called a Transient Designer) to control the punch of hits, an EQ, a Compressor, and an Envelope tool. All processing is non-destructive, so you can adjust it at any point. There's also a specific Stretch feature that lets you stretch the tail end of each slice within the loop, which is useful for smoothing out decays when changing tempo dramatically.
Creative Editing and Remixing
Because the loop is divided into slices, you can do more than just change tempo. You can replace individual sounds within a loop—like swapping a kick drum—while keeping the original timing intact. You can quantize the entire loop to match a different groove. For remixing and creating mash-ups, you can chop up riffs and rearrange the slices to create new patterns, fills, and variations. You can even use a processed loop as a groove template to apply its timing to other parts of your project.
Who Should Use ReCycle
This fits a few specific scenarios. It's useful for producers who regularly work with sampled loops from vinyl or sample packs and need them to lock to their project tempo cleanly. It's also a key tool for remix artists who want to chop up and rearrange vocal or instrumental loops while maintaining tight timing. If you're into creating mash-ups by blending elements from different songs, this gives you the control to quantize and tempo-match everything without degrading the audio quality.