Rayzoon Technologies LLC

Jason · Jam Meister Joined: 16 May 2005 Posts: 87

hi. this may seem like a very basic question but i can't download the demo yet as my DAW cpu doesn't yet have an internet connection (a friend will help me get that CPU temporarily hooked up to the net later so i can get the full Jamstix).

i'm learning Cubase SX and one of my goals is to create more "real" sounding sequenced drums. i know that i have to vary timing and velocity but after reading some drum-programming articles, i now know other parameters must be varied as well to simulate a real drummer. when a drum is hit harder, for example, it doesn't just get louder; the actual sound of the drum changes.

i assume Jamstix works with many of these parameters. or at least i hope so and would like a clear answer before i buy it please.

these are the parameters i read were critical and would like to be in control of [don't understand them yet; just read about them so sorry the list doesn't make complete sense]:

panning, cutoff, resonance, shift, tuning, filter cutoff, envelope, playback direction... etc.

so, can Jamstix vary these parameters? any of these it CANNOT vary?

also, is this variance all automatic or does the user manually edit them or can you have both options? if, for example, i really want a particular hit to "sizzle" or something, can i edit one hit to achieve a particular sound?

thanks in advance for any answers. no one on the Cubase.net forum explained how to alter anything beyond timing and velocity. in one article i read the writer talked about many of these parameters but alluded to using Frooty Loops to change them.

so is Jamstix gonna do what i want? (BTW, i'm using Cubase SX, play guitar, understand drum-beat basics and am new to this DAW thing).

thanks again very much.

Jason B

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

Jason · Jam Meister Joined: 16 May 2005 Posts: 87

wow. thanks for the ultra-quick and detailed reply (i read in the Cubase.net forum you guys had awesome support).

well, i can't try the demo as my music CPU can't download it (no net connection on that machine yet).

"Your parameter inquiries sound as if someone led you down the path of electronic drums, not much of it applies to realistic acoustic drums."

excuse me if i sound confused or confusing (i'm sure i am) but i'm new to DAW recording and all this software stuff.

my goal is this: to "create" my own beats. i'm happy enough using a midi controller and cubase to get the basic beat (kick, snare and ride) but my problem is the robotic lack of feel.

however, i do NOT want software that will ONLY create its own beats to my music: i MUST be able to, at times, control the basics of kick, snare and ride. and to an extent, control, things like fills (this i know less about creating but i know about feel so if i can just "limit" fills or tell the software to do a short or long tom fill, that's ok; i don't have to write the fill itself.)

so, given i need software to be able to write the drum foundations (again the basic kick-snare-ride beat) is Jamstix what i need?

if so, i'll take your word for it and spend the money (it's a modest price to be honest and i've heard great things).

but it not, please be honest and, if possible, refer me to the software that would accomplish my goals.

thanks kindly.

Jason

p.s. remember i can't try the demo yet as my Cubase SX is installed on a non-Internet cpu. i don't suppose the demo works without any host (right word?) software, that is a regular, non-music CPU?

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

mars · Jammer Joined: 16 May 2005 Posts: 39

maybe i can chip in with my thoughts, as a seasoned musician with a reasonable amount of daw experience. i love this instrument but am relatively new to it.
the great thing about jamstix is that it can help me no matter what i need: when i want to create my own rhythms from scratch i can do that; when on the other hand i want a good funky beat to play with (e.g. i've got some guitar or bass riff in my head that i want to lay down without spending time programming drums) i can just choose some of the pre-programmed rhythms.
the amazing thing, though, is that either way, i.e. whether i choose canned or whether i create my own beats from scratch, by varying some of the sliders (e.g. the ones that occasionally "fill in" with extra snare or hihat or crash; or the ones to affect timing) i get the beat i want, but with a totally realistic human feel and some interesting variations as occasionally as i want them, complete with fills (if i choose) and ultimate control of all aspects of the "sound" of each drum.

dto · Jammer Joined: 16 May 2005 Posts: 33

Ditto to everything that mars said. Although I'm new to it as well, I seem to be impressed with Jamstix for all the same reasons.

Jason -- if you're a guitarist working in Cubase and you want realistic acoustic drums, I think this is the app for you. Smile

Jason · Jam Meister Joined: 16 May 2005 Posts: 87

thanks kindly to the two replies. i'll try to run the demo from my non-Cubase work laptop but even if it doesn't work (my IT department doesn't like us to download anything so i don't know if it'll work), i'm pretty sure i'm gonna buy the full version.

thanks to all for the commentary.

Jason