Rayzoon Technologies LLC

[Zycat]

Live players - How do you set up your Jamstix?

[GregHolmes]

I'm using a Behringer FCB1010 MIDI foot controller to provide the real-world interface (my hands are busy doing other things). The MIDI signal goes through an Edirol UM-1SX USB interface into my laptop.

I use Plogue Bidule to host JS1 and, most importantly, to convert the raw MIDI from the FCB1010 into a more useful format. I could change the setup of the FCB1010 instead, but I find that to be more cumbersome, so I've created a number of conversions/re-mappings in Bidule.

Then JS1 is loaded with 5 patterns and I set it to Keyboard Jam mode.

The end result is that the bottom row of FCB1010 buttons provides me with 5 different JS1 patterns. Two of the top buttons trigger fills, and the remaining 3 buttons are used to arm/start/stop recording (I record all of my live performances). The left variable foot controller handles JS velocity, and the right one is used as play start/stop - big and easy to get at. On a second bank on the FBC1010, the 10 buttons let me select a tempo, from 70 to 130 BPM.

I'm using an Alesis MultiMix8 firewire mixer/interface. This lets me mix my live instruments with the JS1 audio for the audience to hear, plus it provides a way to capture all audio back into the laptop, where Bidule records it to separate WAV files, automatically numbered as take 1, take 2, etc.

My standard method is this: step on the two controllers to zero them (velocity and stop), then up a bank to select a tempo, then start JS1 (silently). Then I look at the laptop screen at the Big Time display in JS1 to confirm that the tempo is good. Then stop. Back down to the main bank to select the pattern. Bring the velocity up, then finally play. During the song, I'll select a new pattern as appropriate, and trigger fills, and sometimes mess with the velocity.
_________________
Dealer for AccuGroove, Acoustic Image, BassLab, Eminence, Muse Receptor, MIDIjet, Rayzoon, and more...
http://www.ghservices.com/
http://www.gregholmes.com/
My used gear for sale http://www.ghservices.com/products/used/

[GregHolmes]

Anyone else?
_________________
Dealer for AccuGroove, Acoustic Image, BassLab, Eminence, Muse Receptor, MIDIjet, Rayzoon, and more...
http://www.ghservices.com/
http://www.gregholmes.com/
My used gear for sale http://www.ghservices.com/products/used/

[Zycat]

I guess not enough live players eh?
It's interesting that you use keyboard mode instead of live loops. Do you use external VSTi at all?

[GregHolmes]

Yes, it is interesting that I use Keyboard Jam instead of Live Loops, especially since I wrote the Live Loops part of the manual...

Actually, Live Loops works best when you have a particular song structure planned ahead of time, yet you might choose to extend a section when playing live. Then you would probably load a new set of Live Loops for the next song, and the next, and so on.

But since I make things up as I go, the drumming needs to fit all the songs I might do. Only about 20% of the songs have drums and from night to night I vary which songs those are. Creating Live Loops ahead of time is not appropriate in this situation. For me, it's enough just to have several different styles available to choose from on-the-fly.

Currently, my five patterns are:
1. Rock Basic II
2. Rock Basic II (with ride)
3. BP Half Time Swing
4. Ride The Swing
5. BP Swinging Toms

With the Brush Pack - Default Kit loaded and 8th Shuffle turned on. There's plenty of variety once I start using the pedal to control the velocity and adding fills and crashes.

I don't use any other VSTs, although I suppose I could add a reverb. Usually, there's enough ambience in the actual room. Anyway, simpler is better, since any effects would start to get noticable after a while, shattering the illusion of a live drummer. That's the main reason I use it on just 20% of the songs - to keep it sounding new and interesting.

I feel the same way about a real drummer, sax player, or whatever - don't play all the time! Someone once said something like this: If you hear a hole in the music that needs filling, don't.

Shortly, I'll have an example MP3 posted here.
_________________
Dealer for AccuGroove, Acoustic Image, BassLab, Eminence, Muse Receptor, MIDIjet, Rayzoon, and more...
http://www.ghservices.com/
http://www.gregholmes.com/
My used gear for sale http://www.ghservices.com/products/used/

[madmax]

thx greg for explaining your live-playing. it was very interesting, especially the combination Behringer-bidule-jamstix...

max

[sonicviz]

Hola!
I use JS for about 30% of my online live SecondLife gigs.
I recently converted to Reaper as my main DAW, though I also have setups in Cubase LE and Bidule as well.

Not having a midi foot controller, and my feet already working my zoom g7.1ut anyway, I currently have JS set up as a 7 output system.
I have a bunch of songs that I've customised JS patterns for, so just load them up, set the tempo, and use the space key to fire it up.

Tricky things to watch are setting the initial volume level for when you start it, and checking the shuffle setting is correct. This is not automatically reset if you load a pattern that is not a shuffle and shuffle is currently set - I have to remember to clear it by reference to my song notes, or even add a code to the name. I hope this is fixed in js2.

Adjust the complexity settings, fill etc for taste to get some variations.

Getting the right velocity curve and sensitivity for response can be tricky with different guitar patch volumes sometimes, but when you get it right JS is great fun to play with.
I also do a couple of other things to vary the sounds.

I've had a few times when it has blown up and stopped in a big burst of notes when I was really jamming it hard, but now I just fake it as a big ending if that happens;-)

I am really looking forward to JS2, esp the new time sig options and hopefully percussion packs!

Cheers,
kt

ps:
Not using JS on this particular track, but check out my new machinima music video if you wish->
http://www.sonicviz.com/music/members/6/video.php?p=1