I've only read the first post of this thread, not all the replies, but I'll just weigh in saying I think drums loops, bass loops, and loops in general stink. I don't play drums or bass, but I can tell almost instantly when I'm listening to them even on a recording. I have the same negative opinion of programmed keyboard parts and synthesized guitars.

I am fortunate in that I usually have a band to play with, but when I don't, I have chosen to play my piano by myself rather than use a machine to play "with" me. (More like I play along with a machine!) I have opted for someone to play bongos or handheld percussion instruments when a drum set was not possible.

I realize some people use the loops for demos and stuff, but to me it always sounds cheezy and boring, no matter how hard they work at getting it to sound good or how fancy the program is.

Why do people spend money on machines to "play" instruments with them, instead of finding real live people to play with? It's a heck of a lot more fun to play with another person, they bring their own musicianship into the song, and you don't have to pay to jam with them.

I don't mean to be offensive. I realize not everybody is able to find good people to play with. I just think it's better to invest time/money/energy in making real live music than to spend money on second-rate canned stuf--if you have any choice at all about it.

There is no substitute for a real live musician. Even a mediocre drummer is better than a loop, and a real drummer can get better and better over time. Machines can't cut it. --Jean