Rayzoon Technologies LLC

[Ernst]

Hi all,

I just try the demo of jamsticks since I have heard so many good things about the product.

I work with cubase sx 3.1. and so far everything runs smoothly.

One thing I have noticed that worries me: When I try to move the Audio smoothing slider in jamstix, the mouse pointer seems to be "captured" and the control does not react (it "stutters" somehow). After some time the mouse cursor is "free" again and I can move where I want.

A known problem, works as designed or a problem only for me?

Thank you, Ernst

[Ralph [RZ]]

This happens on some machines/hosts. It shouldn't be a problem as you will likely set this slider once to achieve the desired smoothing level and not touch it again.
_________________
Ralph Zeuner
Rayzoon Technologies LLC
http://www.rayzoon.com

[Ernst]

wow, I am impressed by the quick reply. many thanks.

Another thing is: Jamsticks crackles on my machine when I use a project sample rate of 44.1 in cubase, but it does NOT crackle when I set 96KHz sample rate, i.e. higher CPU usage no crackling, lower usage -> crackling.

Any help possible?

Regards, Ernst

[Ralph [RZ]]

That's really weird. What is your ASIO/MME driver and what is your latency at 44.1 and at 96, respectively?
_________________
Ralph Zeuner
Rayzoon Technologies LLC
http://www.rayzoon.com

[Ernst]

I have a firepod and use the latest availabe driver. The latency is set to 6ms (I was using this for 96 as well as for 44.1).

Ernst

[Ralph [RZ]]

Crackling is usually CPU overload and the antidot is to reduce CPU usage by either increasing latency or plug usage (in Jamstix you do that via the voice reduction slider in the mapping tab).

The fact that it works fine at 96kHz is very counterintuitive as that mode requires a lot more CPU than 44.1 so I'm not sure what is going on. Please try the voice reduction and the latency increase to see if it helps.
_________________
Ralph Zeuner
Rayzoon Technologies LLC
http://www.rayzoon.com

[Ernst]

In the meantime I found that it does not crackle with 96 and 48, but does crackle with 44.1. Very strange indeed. CPU usage is extremely low, and the Cubase-Internal "CPU" (rather "ASIO")-meter is barely big enough to be visible, so CPU stress is obviously not the reason.

I have to check more in detail in the weekend, maybe it is around something completely different with my setup. Yesterday I was sure that only jamsticks crackled (and not the other 44.1 audio tracks), but I have to double-check and also try this with other VSTis.

What we can see: Great you have a demo for testing before buying.
And thank you for the support so far. I wish Steinberg was as responsive... !

Ernst

[Ralph [RZ]]

This is a really unusual problem. Please keep us updated on what you find out, especially if other VSTi do not crackle at 44.1.

If it is only Jamstix that crackles, please try this version of the Jamstix demo and see if helps:
http://66.235.201.50/demos/jamstixX9-3demo.zip
_________________
Ralph Zeuner
Rayzoon Technologies LLC
http://www.rayzoon.com

[Ernst]

I was aware that the phenomenon is unusual and not logical under normal circumstances. So I looked again at my system. Here is what I found: I use to route the SPDIF out of my firepod into the SPDIF in of my soundblaster card and "monitor" through the speakers that are connected to the SOundblaster (an interim solution until I get my monitor speakers). When I set the sample rate to 44.1 and sync the firepod with via SPDIF (use the spdif out of the soundblaster as well and send it to the SPDIF in of the Firepod), the crackling dissappears.

Now, I am not an expert in SPDIF and stuff. But it seems the problem has to do with the clock synchronisation of the soundblaster and the Firepod/Cubase. INterrestingly enough the problem does not exist when I use other sample rates than 44.1 which I do not understand, but who cares.

Important is: NOTHING TO DO WITH JAMSTIX. NOTHING TO DO WITH CUBASE.

Only my strange way of routing back into the computer for monitoring purposes.

Many thanks for your patience and attempts to help!

Regards, Ernst

[Ralph [RZ]]

Glad to hear that, Ernst!
_________________
Ralph Zeuner
Rayzoon Technologies LLC
http://www.rayzoon.com

[Ernst]

Hi, another question...

I cannot record anything on a midi track from the demo (not even bars 1 to 4). I have set up a midi channel, selected jamsticks demo as in and out, allowed any channel and then started to jam. I can see the input "meter" of the midi channel moving, but record does not record anything. How come?

I also did not manage to freeze audio of jamsticks. How is this accomplished in SX 3 with Jamsticks?

Sorry for being a nuisance, but I am seriously considering to purchase jamsticks and I have to make sure it does what I need.

Regards, Ernst

[Ralph [RZ]]

[Ernst]

Yes, I do see the input meter on the midi track. So the signals are reaching the channel. but record does not record.
And yes, the meter stops after bar 4 (which seems obvious to me because of the documented demo restriction).

Concerning my "nuisance" statement.... I can't tell you how refreshing your attitude is. Be sure I'll buy if no technical issues occur. THe support alone is worth the bucks. It is outstanding.

Regards, Ernst

[Ernst]

So now... simply put: It works.

I'll place my order today. What I hear and see is convincing and it made me - as a side effect - realize some issues with my current setup. How helpful

Ernst

[Ralph [RZ]]

Thanks for your order, Ernst, you should have it by now. I'm here for any other questions or issues.
_________________
Ralph Zeuner
Rayzoon Technologies LLC
http://www.rayzoon.com