Rayzoon Technologies LLC

[lhh]

I have some questions about using an external sound module. I can see how to set up an external kit and make all the mappings but I would like to reduce the kit to a 'simple' setup with only the basics, maybe two toms and only 2-3 cymbals. Can I simply pick a kit in JamStix and reduce the number of elements down to the same minimal choices? And will the 'brain' then only use those drums that are available to compose it's groove, accents and fills?

Mosy of the stuff I do would only require a simple drumset but a great drummer who can make subtle use of a minimal set and keep it interesting by virtue of his/her rhythmic diversity and touch.

Like others who have posted here I have had quite a struggle getting my mind wrapped around this pretty amazing program but it is now beginning to make sense and I am getting some decent results. I'm hopng that with a simple kit and the right tweaks I can get pretty close to 'real'.

Having fun for sure!

Thanks,
lhh

[Ralph [RZ]]

Yes, you can reduce a kit (tom and cymbals), which forces the brain to 'reroute' sounds.

Here are the rules:

If Tom2 is not present Tom1 is used
If Tom3 is not present Tom1 is used
If Tom4 is not present Tom5 is used

So for a two tom setup you'd set tom 2 3 and 4 to 'No Sound'.

if China4 is not present China3 is used
if China3 is not present China2 is used
if China2 is not present China1 is used
if China1 is not present Splash3 is used
if Splash3 is not present Splash2 is used
if Splash2 is not present Splash1 is used
if Splash1 is not present Crash4 is used
if Crash4 is not present Crash3 is used
if Crash3 is not present Crash2 is used
if Crash2 is not present Crash1 is used

So the simplest (non-ride) cymbal setup would just use Crash 1 and have all others set to 'No Sound' and all sounds get routed to that one crash.
_________________
Ralph Zeuner
Rayzoon Technologies LLC
http://www.rayzoon.com

[lhh]

This is good and I will try making some kits along these lines. Probably would have taken quite a bit of trial-and-error to figure out the scheme. Thanks for the insights.

I am planning to make a series of hi-hats (and possibly some snare variations also) to align with the variations I see in the internal kits but was wondering if there are plans to allow some extra parameters to the brain (someday) that could be used to control these variations over a range of values. Many electronic drum modules can use CC data to control things like hi-hat closure and snare subtlities and it would be neat if JS could take advantage of such capabilities.

Thanks,

lhh

[Ralph [RZ]]

Jamstix 2 does send CC4 for hihat opening to a subhosted module (if registered in jamstix2.ini) and MIDI out.
_________________
Ralph Zeuner
Rayzoon Technologies LLC
http://www.rayzoon.com

[lhh]

I did some testing with my drum module and found the hihat responded to CC4 messages but over a fairly narrow range (0-40 OPEN, 40-64 smoothly CLOSES, 64-127 CLOSED). Don't know how typocal that is but I can imagine such a narrow range could be a problem to some extent. It can also sense a quick change and do a FOOT CLOSE and a FOOT OPEN sound.

I have tried various ways of setting things in JS2 (2.1.4) but as yet I never hear anything but the CLOSED sound. I could use some more setup hints if anyone has the time (using only MIDI out to an external drum sound module).

Thanks,

lhh

[Ralph [RZ]]

What is your external drum module?
_________________
Ralph Zeuner
Rayzoon Technologies LLC
http://www.rayzoon.com

[lhh]

I have a Roland TD-10 (with TDW-1 Expansion) in the studio and that's what I have been trying to use in these experiments. I also have a TD-20 in my 'live' setup which I may try soon because (according to the manual) it has many more options for most of the sounds. Just not sure yet how they could be called upon appropriately (e.g. head strike zones). If all these parameters could be used it might be amazing.

lhh

[Ralph [RZ]]

I'll send you an updated JS2 DLL that will always output CC4 data on its MIDI output (currently it's only for subhosted plugs).

You can then control the MIDI note sent by setting HH sounds in the kit editor to 'No Sound'. For example: if your TD 10 expects all HH data to be closed hat then you'd set all other sounds to 'No Sound'. If it expects any hihat other than fully closed to be 'Open HiHat' then leave just those two sounds.

Concerning the snare: you could map a sound to 'Snare R' in the kit editor and set up the TD module to play a snare with an offset strike zone for that sound.
_________________
Ralph Zeuner
Rayzoon Technologies LLC
http://www.rayzoon.com

[lhh]

Very much appreciated! I had assumed this was already the case from reading the manual but if it was not then I can see why the results were different than expected. I have tried using MIDI-OX to look for CC4 data but that didn't work (probably need MIDI-YOKE but am a little leary about installing it because it has some know problems with XP from what I have read). I also tried recording the MIDI output from JS2 into a track but still haven't seen any CC4 data so I'll try again with the new .dll and see what happens.

The test I did was in Cubase (SX3) and I created a single MIDI track sending out hihat hits on quarter notes (F#1 I believe). The velocity data is used to control the power level as usual. Then I added a CC4 lane and used the pencil to change the CC4 data as it was playing the hihat hits. This controlled the open-closed sound variation. As mentioned before it varies smoothly from fully opened when CC4=40 and fully closed when CC4=64.

I guess my question at this point might be what brain settings control the choice of CC4 data?

Thanks for all the help with this,

lhh

[Ralph [RZ]]

Make sure to use the new DLL only and tell me how it works for you.
Hihat openness is generated in the brain in response to the setting of a note in the bar editor. Check the hihat symbol in the cell editor of a hihat note to see and/or edit the openness degree.

Some styles also have dedicated 'Openness' sliders and there is also the 'Power Hand' function which has 5 degress of openness.
_________________
Ralph Zeuner
Rayzoon Technologies LLC
http://www.rayzoon.com

[lhh]

Still seems to be a rather hit-or-miss (so to speak) situation for some reason. I am using the TD-20 now as it has a much wider range for openness than the TD-10 but I think the correct solution to this problem is to have a way to assign CC4 values to the hihat sounds on a per-sound basis (perhaps another column?). This would allow the inclusion of all the hihat variations (closed, 25%, etc.) in the sound list for the brain to use during composition and the CC4 value reqiured could be supplied by the user to match the particular sound module being used. I suppose this value should also be sent out first (before the actual 'hit' note) so its effect would be current when the hit came along. Maybe this could go on the list for future enhancements.

I haven't even started to look at other drums yet to see how those variations are handled and whether or not a controller could be used (e.g. snare hit zone) but will look into it when time permits. I'll try to find out and report back here when I have more complete info. Since I am probably in somewhat of a niche category I don't want to ask for any more favors at this point but maybe some of this could be added later when there is more time or more sound module users like me.

Thanks for everything though. Your support is truly second-to none.

lhh

[Ralph [RZ]]

The next Beta will have much improved support for the TD-20 module, including:

• modified hihat logic of the internal engine to produce realistic responses when the TD-20 sends a CC4 change AFTER a note is hit
  
• routes TD-20 hihat rim notes automatically to the corresponding bow notes
  
• allows hihat splashing
  
• allows cymbal choking the TD-20 way via aftertouch
  

_________________
Ralph Zeuner
Rayzoon Technologies LLC
http://www.rayzoon.com