Rayzoon Technologies LLC

[Burakov_Anatoly]

I would like to explain how i use Jamstix in order to highlight its limitations for my use case and (hopefully) ensure that my suggestions are considered for future versions.

I use Jamstix mostly to do live online jams. What usually happens is, i pull up Jamstix, select a template that i've created (using a workaround described here), style and drummer, quickly audition parts, set up part power, shuffle etc., and let Jamstix handle the rest. So, i'm literally creating a new drum backing track in a few minutes with Jamstix, jam over it, and move on to create the next one on the spot.

Jamstix 4 works much better than Jamstix 3 for this kind of thing, thanks to the part linking feature - this is literally a life saver! Also, recently added Gavin drummer is quickly becoming my favorite (i love Porcupine Tree!), and has just the right blend of straight-ahead rock drumming and intricate fills/accents.

Here's an example of what that sounds like (Gavin is on drums here, the drum track was literally created in 2 minutes right before recording this track):

https://hearthis.at/guitar-jam.ru/02-funky-porcupine/

Gavin is just awesome, and (combined with one of the Breakbeat styles) has produced a drum track that's just so reminiscent of (metal era) Porcupine Tree it's uncanny. (for those curious, drums are SSD5 free, bass is SampleTank 4, and i'm using Audio Damage Enso looper to loop the riff while me and another guy noodle around)

However, i would like for things to improve even more

First of all, I've already mentioned (in another thread) the ability to create own templates would be very welcome. This is currently already possible via editing files, but obviously i would like to see it natively supported. This is because i never save any songs i create, because i never reuse them. Templates allow me to quickly create new songs using the same general structure, which is great because i always know how long the song goes, and don't have to think through the structure (to provide variety) every time.

Second, I would like to not only be able to set general song structure (verse-chorus-etc) but also set how many bars a specific part should go. For example, with faster tempos (think 180bpm thrash metal), i usually switch to 8-bar parts instead of 4-bar parts because fills every 4 bars are getting tiresome pretty quickly. However, that also means that "drum solo" part is stretched out to be 8 bars as well, which is too long as it becomes obvious that "solo" is just a bunch of fills.

So, I would like to control how long each part goes. Ideally, control over number of repetitions as well - we already have that with part condensing, but that, coupled with part linking, means that i can't have linked sections that have different lengths - i.e. i can't have 2 bar chorus in one place, and 4 bar chorus in another. I can de-link the parts, but then i'm losing the style/drummer linkage, which is crucial (remember, i only have a few minutes before i have to play another track, everything needs to be FAST!).

Third, i would like a mode where parts are recomposed each time they're played back. I'm usually using DAW looping to control the length of the track, but listening to the same fills/accents gets tiring, and triggering "recompose" on every part while i'm playing is too much hassle.

And finally, some parts appear to be not condensed and/or not linked (stop, solo, link, breakdown, etc.), which means transition fills are always triggered between them (which may or may not be what i want).

I sincerely hope that all of the above gets implemented down the line

[TheSystem]

can you please tell me which Breakbeat style you used with Gavin?

thanks
brian

[Burakov_Anatoly]

I believe it was "Funky Drummer".

[TheSystem]

i have not played with Breakbeat much or Gavin for that matter.

thanks for sharing.

[Azimuth]

Pretty much everything that you suggested can already be done easily with a midi foot controller using Liveloops. You can let a song part play for as long or as short as you like, trigger recomposition, trigger repetition or transistion fills wherever you want. A save button for structures typed into the Song Builder would be nice but I find editing the structures.ini file to be quick and easy

[Burakov_Anatoly]

[Ralph [RZ]]

Anatoly, first off, that's an awesome jam track you guys made!
I will see about getting your suggestions into the pipeline in some form of another.
_________________
Ralph Zeuner
Rayzoon Technologies LLC
http://www.rayzoon.com

[Burakov_Anatoly]

[sonicviz]

I've been playing online with Jamstix since early versions, and find it's much better to use Liveloop mode. I've combined it with a bass system so I have a fully dynamic rhythm section I can jam with controlled by a Launchpad (v1) with a custom mapping program.

Much more flexible to jam with than a full generated track.
I can loop sections, take dynamics up and down driven by my guitar (or other audio input), swap bass/drum sections independently if I want depending on how I feel, or even mute them. It's very flexible.
I've also added keys and other instruments as well. EZkeys is great for creating sections for this, and looking forward to their upcoming EZBass to see how that might be integrated.

I find you don't need more than 8 parts for each song as when you combine them with dynamics (both volume and Jamstix adding/reducing hits) you have a very large range of expression both musically and arrangement wise (on the fly). That said, you can expand it beyond 8 but then you have physical cognitive load issues due to having to manage the midi interface combined with the Jamstix interface. There's a lot going on when you're doing this, so cognitive load and UX workflow considerations are key.

But that's just my style, and there's multiple ways to use it which just indicates how powerful it is.

Also working on some new ideas at the moment.

Where do you play online?

[d_steinschneider]

I've played around with Jamstix jamming options but pretty much all I accomplished was lowering and raising power level. Anatoly, can you provide more details about your approach to controlling Jamstix real time. Which DAW are you using?

For some reason my web browser isn't connecting to the link you provided. I found I can't get to anyone's link at www.hearthis.at so it's not your particular song.

[Burakov_Anatoly]

[d_steinschneider]

Thanks for sharing the alternate link. Nice guitar playing! Agree the drum track is just right for the Porcupine Tree type sound you're going for. I think most listeners will think the drum part is played by a live drummer. Sometimes Jamstix's "out of the box" fills are too busy but in your example they sound awesome.

I have been practicing Hammond parts for an R&B Soul influenced style in a similar fashion. I never save the actual playing.

Ralph directed me to Standard Rock - Style: Basic 4 - Player: Restrained, for Verse, Chorus, Breakdown (4 bar transition back to Verse) where I vary power to get a ride cymbal going in the Chorus. I have modified the fills so they are short transitions from Verse to Chorus etc.

Can you please explain how editing the structures.ini helped you achieve the result?

Do you mind if I share your link on the Cantabile Software forum? There are a some Jamstix users there who are interested in hearing examples.

[Burakov_Anatoly]

[d_steinschneider]

So your approach is very similar to mine. I use more parts to reduce repetition and I practice Hammond trio style (left hand bass - right hand comping or soloing). Jamstix is always playing the parts, I don't lock them.

This time the hearthis.at links worked! Listening to "Days Gone Bye". I think this is the best I've heard Jamstix drumming in a style. It motivates me to see if I can improve my R&B Soul parts.

[Burakov_Anatoly]