Rayzoon Technologies LLC

jarvss · Jammer Joined: 23 Oct 2005 Posts: 20

I hope that I am not repeating what has been written previously but the penny has finally dropped for me on how to use Jamstix to get great results very quickly.

History
I have been using Jamstix for over a year now (although I don't get a great deal of time to use it, so only on and off). I had just managed to get to grips with JS1 but was never really happy with the results for final songs. When JS2 came along I have been very baffled since day one despite following several tips on this forum (user error I'm sure). I finally (and I know I should have done this a long time ago) watched the video "Creating Your Own Base Groove" and realised that the instructions given on several postings differ in one very important way from those in the video. This is my how to get the most out of Jamstix guide.

The Basics
1. Regardless of how you have loaded Jamstix, clear everything out by selecting the drop down list in the Song section and select "Clear Song". Then Confirm.
2. Make sure that you have a drum kit loaded.
3. Click on one of the (Yellow) numbered bars in the bottom left.
4. The bar is now displayed in the bottom Right - it should be clear. If it's not select the Green drop down above the bar and then select "Clear", then "Clear Entire Bar".
5. Now in the RF (Right Foot) line enter your basic Kick Drum line.
6. Now in the LH (Left Hand) line enter your basic Snare line. NB Do not add any cymbals/hats etc.
7. Audition it by selecting the 2 circular arrows in the top left of the bar.
8. When you're happy select the drop down and choose "Save Bar" and give it a name.
9. Now repeat 1 to clear everything out again.
10. Now the bit that differs from those I have read, select a style but do not choose Import choose one of the styles like Funk or Rock and Load it.
11. Now load a Drummer of your choice.
12. On the Brain drop down list select "Add" then "Add Groove Importer".
13. In the Brain section there is a line called "Groove". It seems to default to "MIDI Clip". Change this to "JS2 Groove".
14. Select the "Click to load" option below this and select your newly created groove.
15. Now run your DAW and listen to how your selected drummer plays your groove in the requested style.
16. If it's close but not quite there you should tweak the Brain controls to increase/decrease some hits.
17. If it's way off select a different Groove or Drummer. NB If you select a different Groove then you have to repeat 11 to 14 again.

The 2 mistakes I made after reading other posts were:
1. Selecting the Import style - please help me here but this does not seem to add any hihats at all. Is this to be used for a complete groove i.e. including hats etc?
2.I was loading my bar back into the bar section itself rather than the Groove (definitely user error).

I hope that this helps somebody, as I always saw the possibilities of this tool, now I am experiencing them.

Once you get some grooves working, play around with the Brain sliders to see what they do. Sometimes they don't seem to do anything but I'm sure that they do under the right conditions.

A final request to Ralph - the Brain controls are still a bit daunting to a non drummer like me. How about a Simple and Advanced button so that I can only see about 5 or 6 slider that control the key features like the amount of Hihat, Snare or Kick? Or maybe I just need to dive in now that I feel I have got my feet wet.

Regards and seasons greetings.

Jarv.

Scaramouche · Junior Jammer Joined: 21 Dec 2007 Posts: 19

Thanx, Jarv...i'll be coming back to this post/thread when i finally get my lisence key from Rayzoon (it has been over a week since i purchased JS2XL).

S.

OldGeezer · Jammer Joined: 31 Oct 2007 Posts: 35 Location: Canada eh?

There absolutely must be a perfectly logical reason for the delay (ie. holiday season or something), coz this place is one of only two software vendors who's customer service has awed me (I've been satisfied by alot of vendors' service, and disgusted by a few, but I have only been awed by two of 'em, and this is one.

Jamstix 2 is the most ingenious drum app money can buy, bar none, and Rayzoon has fantastic customer service. Don't worry...it'll have been well worth the wait.

Nice guide! Btw, after puttering around with JS2 for a while, it was the following video that finally clued me in to the magic behind creating your own wicked drum parts:

http://www.rayzoon.com/jamstix2_vid4.html

jarvss · Jammer Joined: 23 Oct 2005 Posts: 20

Thanks OG, that's the exact video I was talking about. All of the posts that I read stated setting the style to Import (which funnily enough I have just been playing with to select a Groove type of MIDI Clip and importing a MIDI drum loop). I think it pays to go back to the manual and videos after you've got familiar with the interface.

I'm still getting the hang of this but I think that I've fathomed that you use Import when you have a full midi loop and a Style when you have just the basic Kick/Snare. But please anybody correct me here.

I agree about the service. Not sure where else you've found it the same because this is the best bar none as far as I'm concerned. You normally get extremely fast service straight from the designer/developer. I'm sure Ralph is on the case.

OldGeezer · Jammer Joined: 31 Oct 2007 Posts: 35 Location: Canada eh?

Well, I guess there's no harm in mentioning the other company here since they're not really competitors (at least not yet).

The only other company with whom I've done business and who's service is of the same calibre is Scarbee, makers of the incredible Black Bass libraries for Kontakt. And similarly, their libraries (Black Bass especially) are the best in their class, as well as their service.

Both Rayzoon and Scarbee have amazed me with the way in which they personally and instantly accomodated me when I had a problem, and I will choose them over anyone else should I need any further products that they supply. I go out of my way to recommend them whenever the subject of drums or bass comes up...not only because their products are brilliant but also because of their unparalleled excellence in the treatment of customers. Hope I don't sound like I'm trying to kiss ass here...I'm equally as uninhibited when I have bad things to say about a company in their own forum, and I have on several occasions. It's very rare that I sing praises like this.

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

Scaramouche, your order is delayed because PayPal has not cleared your eCheck, yet, and is estimating clearance for 1/4/2008. This is really out of our hands as we just cannot send the product until the eCheck has cleared.
_________________
Ralph Zeuner
Rayzoon Technologies LLC
http://www.rayzoon.com

Scaramouche · Junior Jammer Joined: 21 Dec 2007 Posts: 19

CAH

scottieboy · Jamologist Joined: 11 Apr 2006 Posts: 136

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

Using the 'Import' style means that only the imported rhythm is used by the brain for the groove aspect. Consequently, the imported groove should be full-featured (kick, snare, hihat etc.).

Conversely, using the 'Add Groove Importer' function on a loaded style combines the groove logic of that style with the imported rhythm, which is most useful when using partial rhythm files.
_________________
Ralph Zeuner
Rayzoon Technologies LLC
http://www.rayzoon.com