Rayzoon Technologies LLC

[Dragonlips]

The "import" midi data is an excellent feature on Jamstix. I use this a lot to bring in midi drum grooves from 'external' sources.

I think it would be GREAT idea to add a preview button to hear the groove before it's imported into Jamstix. Sometimes the midi grooves are not labled very well, and a preview function would be a terrific fix for that. This would be very similar to the preview function that exists within Jamstix when you import the Jamstix grooves.

It would also be cool to bring in "external" midi grooves directly into the arranger in bulk. I'd like to be able to select 10 "external" midi grooves using shift/click and bring them into the arranger all at one time. The current "import" function limits you to only 1 file at a time, unless I'm missing something.

Now, if either of these two things can already be done with Jamstix, please let me know. I think they would both help me streamline my workflow!!
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Metal Born Again:
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pageartist.cfm?bandID=372370

[Ralph [RZ]]

We'll see what we can do about this in JS2.
_________________
Ralph Zeuner
Rayzoon Technologies LLC
http://www.rayzoon.com

[Dragonlips]

What would take this "groove importer" to the next level would be if your "external" groove library was somehow built into the Jamstix program.

Take the Sonar VI new VST management system. You can organize the VST you'd like to use within the application and keep tight control over that. You have strong control and flexibility in managing third party content within Sonar.

What if Jamstix users were to be able to similar control over an external midi groove library from within the Jamstix application. You could allow users to organize their own grooves in a manner in which they'd like, and have total access to them within the arranger. A user would be able to see all the traditional jamstix groove headings, then maybe a heading for "3rd Party Grooves", in whch they would have access to the outside library of grooves. The user would then be able to preview the grooves in the same way they can with the stored JS grooves.

I currently have thousands of grooves and fills from BFD and Groove Monkee that work very well within Jamstix. The only issue is getting them into the program in the most timely/efficient manner possible.

Just thinking out loud here. Sorry for the rant, but I think this change could be a pebble in the pond and make some nice big ripples for Jamstix!!

Thanks for looking into it and passing it along to the developers Ralph!
_________________
Metal Born Again:
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pageartist.cfm?bandID=372370

[Ralph [RZ]]

We have been thinking about a MIDI groove manager for Jamstix. It's not clear whether and how it will play out in the initial JS2 release at this time.

There is also the side issue of the new JS2 style and drummer modeling engine along with the new part-based arranger, which alters the workflow in JS significantly. They key is that the A.I. in Jamstix is miles beyond the rhythm tab in Jamstix 1 and an imported MIDI clip becomes one of several 'generators' inside the 'drummers' head. Once we solidify all these concepts we can fit the groove management into it. There are some exciting aspects to all of this as you will be able to feed a imported MIDI groove into a drummer personality.....
_________________
Ralph Zeuner
Rayzoon Technologies LLC
http://www.rayzoon.com

[Dragonlips]

WOW!! That sounds exciting. We may not need to use external grooves if the "brain" is as smart as it sounds like it might be. I like to use external grooves as a good baseline to jam to. I then tweak them up to match what I'm playing.

That said, I would gladly exchange that process if I can just choose "Metal Drummer" and have a go at things with "him". If we can get the intelligence of the drummer to closely match the specific genre of music, they'll never sell another pair of wooden drum sticks again!!! They key is to nail down those stylistic tendences specific to that style of music. A metal drummer might be inclined to run up the double kick drums more than a jazz or funk drummer. etc etc. Right now I'm not seeing a big enough difference between a "normal" or "agressive" option in JS1.

The future looks very bright though. Thanks for sharing some of what's cooking right now with JS2!!
_________________
Metal Born Again:
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pageartist.cfm?bandID=372370

[Ralph [RZ]]

Yes, that is the direction we're going.

You will be able to select a 'style' and a 'drummer'. The style produces the basic groove and the drummer personality 'filters' upon it. For example: you may pick the 'Speed Metal' style, which will give you controls just specific to that style versus the current rhythm tab, which is the same for any style. The 'Speed metal' style will automatically give you controllable 32nd double kicks, semi quarter hats etc.

On top of that you can (but don't have to) select a 'drummer'. So you may choose 'Thomas' and you'll get loads of complex rudiments on top of the style among other things, or you can choose 'Charlie' and things get simplified to say the least

Furthermore, you can take the 'Speed Metal' style and remove its main groove generator and replace it with a 'MIDI Clip' generator, which feeds off of a MIDI clip from your hard drive. This means that all the other generators and filters of the 'Speed Metal' style and your selected drummer personality now feed off of your MIDI clip! Lots of exciting possibilities as far as I can see...

Finally I should mention that we will continually develop the styles and drummers in JS2 with each update. Since everything is separate by style and drummer, we can fine-tune any aspect of the 'Speed Metal' style without changing the screens that a 'Jazz' user sees.

All this also allows us to get away from the somewhat cryptic controls in the current rhythm tab and jam tab that overwhelm many users and get toward simple controls that are specific to a given style. The 'hand-edit' crowd will still be pleased because we also have a low-level pattern editor in JS2.

Everything I said is of course subject to change...
_________________
Ralph Zeuner
Rayzoon Technologies LLC
http://www.rayzoon.com

[Dragonlips]

I'm drooling Ralph!!!!!!

thanks for sharing those insights!!
_________________
Metal Born Again:
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pageartist.cfm?bandID=372370

[acabreira]

The only problem is that I´m thinking about delaying a project because of the news...

[Winston]

May I suggest a "drummer" for consideration in a future JS2 update? One who plays in a highly creative, out-of-the box way. One who uses the drums as a complementary instrument while the keyboards and bass play the rhythm. You could name him "BJ" after one of rock's most unique talents.

I realize that this would be very difficult to program, but then again you have been able to accomplish revolutionary advancements already with JamStix.

[lucky]

While at it, may I suggest a drummer that is completely opposite the previous one, a drummer that plays 'inside the box', e.g. one who maintains the basic rhythm with subtle(!) variations and fills, leaving a lot of room for the bass and the rest of the band.

[ProfRhino]

Hi Lucky,
your drummer seems to be my drummer !
Call him Eddie Bayers ...
Have a nice weekend,
Rhino

[Ralph [RZ]]

Here's the basics of the JS2 style/drummer concept:

'Style' gives you control of the basic characteristics of its groove. The'8th Rock' style for example will give you a very simple, steady 8th groove. The controls are different for each style, so you only have to adjust what is really applicable to the given style.

'Drummer' operates on top off the style and consist of more 'generators' (i.e producing frills) and/or 'filters' (removing parts of the groove the style created) and 'play rules' that are applied to the final groove in realtime in response to velocity or controllers.

So you can take a '8th Rock' style and the 'Charlie' drummer and you will get a very steady 'no-frills' groove. Switch in the 'Dave' drummer and things get quite different....
_________________
Ralph Zeuner
Rayzoon Technologies LLC
http://www.rayzoon.com

[ProfRhino]

That sounds as close to my way of imagining / approaching drums for a new song as humanly possible, can't wait !
Have a nice weekend,
Rhino

[Doc]

Yes, the more information I get about JS2, the more interesting it becomes...

Can we have a poll about the drummers´names?

Only kidding...