Rayzoon Technologies LLC

El Taube · Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2006 7:18 am Post subject: Kit selector?

The standard jamstix kit has 5 toms, isn't it?

Well, I've seen lots of drummer, expecially people playing jazz, playing with only two toms (floor tom included).

Will it be possible to tell to JS2 that we want a kit made of only two toms and one cymbal (this is just an example)? I mean: JS2's engine should then tweak its playing style taking into account that its drumset is made up of these pieces, not only 'substitute' the missing pieces with the existing ones. I don't know if I put it down it in a clear way......

There are a lot of good drum samples out there with only three toms...this would be (IMHO) a nice addition and could simplify the way we write mappings as well.

Ralph [RZ] · Site Admin Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Posts: 13332

Even in Jamstix 1.71 you can do that by choosing 'No Sound' on the undesired tom sounds in the mapping tab. The brain will automatically adjust to that. If you are using an external sound module, just select the same MIDI keys for a few toms so three or two tom keys are spread across the five slots in Jamstix.
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Rayzoon Technologies LLC
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Compyfox · Jam Meister Joined: 30 Nov 2005 Posts: 59

Actually what's interesting me the most, is a better routing or output engine.

At the moment you have 4 outs (I know they can be customized but I never got the hang of it) for the internal and external engine (however external devices can be controlled via MIDI, and not via wrapping with Jamstix). The reason I'm asking this is because most of the time I want to have full control of the bassdrum, the snare, the toms, the hats (crashes, ride and hihats seperated if possible) and of course the overhead.

So far I can only set my mix to 4 outputs, while the overhead or the "room" will be mixed to one of the four busses. So if I want to have a BD, Snare, Hat, Tom split, the room has to go somewhere.

Furthermore - this might be a bit special but maybe a nice idea - it'd be nice to have full control of the room/overhead mics. For example turning up the snare while turning down the hats, toms and kick. Of course this can be achieved with seperate reverb, but a recorded room is still... well... adding naturalism.

Maybe we'll see this stuff in J2

A pity that I have Jamstix 1 for so long now. I envy all people who go for the Jamboree Pack and get Jamstic 2 for free. Which reminds me I still have to get the snare pack - uhm... am I entitled to get J2 with it if I buy it? ;p

davidlinn · Posted: Sat Nov 25, 2006 11:29 am Post subject: Re: Jamstix 2 Information

lucky · Posted: Sun Nov 26, 2006 6:55 pm Post subject:

Ralph [RZ] · Site Admin Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Posts: 13332

cherche le son · Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 6:25 pm Post subject:

Can you explain the new features for the arrangement part in jamstix 2? because this part is interacting with a lot of things and it's not easy to make it works...thank you! Very Happy

Ralph [RZ] · Site Admin Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Posts: 13332

cherche le son · Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2006 4:18 am Post subject:

OK! thanks! Very Happy

sekim · Jam Meister Joined: 16 Jan 2005 Posts: 97

Let me know when to show you the money!

Ralph [RZ] · Site Admin Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Posts: 13332

Another sneak peak....

THIS IS WORK IN PROGRESS AND NOT THE FINISHED PRODUCT!

It's the new bar editor in Jamstix 2, which is limb-driven (AFAIK this is a first for drum plugins). It has the freedom of a step sequencer but without a vertical list of 50 sounds. Instead, each row represents a drummers limb (the bottom two rows are for the percussionist, which will be a limited function in the initial JS2 much like the percussion in JS1).

The bar editor will show you what the 'brain' had composed and you can then change it to your hearts delight. Also, note the shaded cells to the right, which come alive if you select other time signatures. The editor can handle up to 13/8.

You can also see the new continuous hihat opening control (CC4) and the new hit styles, allowing 32nd double strokes as well as flam and bounce on any sound.
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Ralph Zeuner
Rayzoon Technologies LLC
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darcyb62 · Jamologist Joined: 24 Mar 2005 Posts: 188

chardin · Jam Meister Joined: 14 May 2005 Posts: 75

Wow, this is great! More pictures please.

RichLum · Jamologist Joined: 04 Mar 2005 Posts: 142 Location: Sydney

Oh Wow!!!!!

This looks awesome!!

Looks like it may be easier to use than the existing Rhythm tab

Can't wait to get my hands on JS2!!!!

Rich
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lucky · Posted: Fri Dec 15, 2006 6:29 am Post subject:

Hi there,

Thanks again for sharing some preview information on JS2. It looks very exciting and can't wait to try it out. The new 'Limb' direction is very daring and fits nicely within the JS concept. I'm looking forward to try it out in practice. Furthermore the new GUI is getting better and better, though there are a few suggestions that I have.

One thing that worries me a bit is the clarity of the 'hit' symbols used. As now you have to read from the symbol which instrument it is, you have to immediately see what is what within the matrix. This was different when having a 'vertical list of 50 sounds', as each row represents an instrument. In this screenshot it is a bit unclear on my 21" monitor with a resolution of 1600x1200. I guess the screenshot is scaled down a bit? The more distinct the symbols are the easier it is to read each row in the step sequencer.

Another thing I noticed is the velocity level of each hit. You are using small vertical bars next to the hit symbols I believe. Again from the screenshot they are a bit unclear. Due to the fact that you now have many different symbols on one row it is hard to read the levels of one particular type of instrument, e.g. velocity of hihats. What if you would have horizontal level indicators beneath each hit symbol? In this way the eye can scan all the velocities in one row, making it easier to see all levels of one hit type, e.g. hihats. What if you could quickly filter out hit symbols, e.g. show me only the hihats?

The last thing that makes the step sequencer a bit confusing on this screenshot(!) are the 'limb' indicators on the left hand, e.g. the second column. This has two reasons. This first is that these symbols resemble the hit indicators a bit. What if you would be using a letter in stead of a symbol, e.g. LH, RH, LF, RF, LP, RP? You will have a clearer difference between the hit symbols and the labels, plus the labels themselves are more consistent, e.g. just letters.

The second reason I find the matrix a bit confusing is the fact that the top grey container surrounds part of the 'limb' indicator, e.g. the second column is part of the the matrix and the first 'L,R' column is not. What if you would use only the previous suggested letter indicators for the limbs and just use ONE column? So where the limb symbols now are you put LH, RH, etc, but all in this one column. I think it is not such an issue that these labels are less clear, as they NEVER change, whereas the clarity of the content of the matrix is much more important as it changes all the time per beat. Another suggestion is to shift the whole matrix one column to the left. Start the bar where the 'limb' symbols now are and use the 'L,R' column for the complete label, e.g LH, RH, etc.

Another thing I notice which make the interface a bit too dynamic is the big stick with the word 'Single, Double, Flam and Bounce' on top of it. I see the direction you are taking, very similar to the Ambience mic on the other tab. But it is not something I would recommend and it is very uncommon to do in a modern GUI. The graphics slightly become more important than the function and it makes the window cluttered, taking away the necessary whitespace for the eye to easily read the page.

What if you would use a similar approach as you did with the top-right velocity object? E.g. you create this lowered rectangle with on top the word 'hit style', a small stick symbol to the left and the four words next to each other with a RADIO button in front of them. Alternatively you could use the same horizontal divider line as you did on the upper half of the GUI, repeat this one, but just a bit smaller in size and centered horizontally. And below this you put the small stick symbol to the left and the four word next to each other with a radio button in front of each of them.

There is a difference between the top-left labels, e.g. 'Delete, Copy and Move'. Does this mean they apply to different functions of the sequencer? If not then this is not common to do, e.g. all labels should have the same look when reflecting similar functions. I'm guessing here, but if copy, move and delete all apply to one single hit than I suggest putting them in one single vertical row to the left side of the window.

The last suggestion I like to make before shutting up is about the top middle knob and its labelling, e.g. the hihat opening control I think it is. The two symbols to the left and right of the knob are a bit big, making the whole thing big and uneven. What if you would make them halve the size of what they are now? I think it becomes clearer that they are just some labels belonging to the knob, and not something you could actually press.

I hope I haven't been to blunt with my suggestions. Looking forward to JS2, that's for sure.

Lucky