confusing JS tutos : request for a synthetic/simple diagram

don_don · Post by **don_don** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 9:25 am

I am sorry to say that JS tutorials that can be found here and there are very confusing and do not answer the basic questions that are raised with a neophyte like meâ€¦..
It seems that users that have been in touch with JS operations seem to be satisfied with it. Their motivation triggered my desire that product.
However, after spending a lot of hours and sweat onto JS demo and a lot of VST hosts, i still do not understand how it works.
Is it possible to have simple tuto with a simple diagram showing what can be connected to JS and how it can be triggered ?
All explanations relate to the tuning of JS which suppose that it is already operating and working. Since i am not at that level of operation, please help me with a simple tuto as requested.

10000 Thanks

Post by **Ralph @ Rayzoon** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 10:23 am

What is your host?

don_don · Post by **don_don** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 10:42 am

My hosts are : Reaper , Energy XT, fruity loop ....

Thanks

Daniel

Post by **Ralph @ Rayzoon** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 10:59 am

Let's use REAPER for this simple tutorial:

- start REAPER
- create a new track
- click FX on the track, select 'VSTi' and choose Jamstix
- select quickstart song "Song (AABABSBB)"
- press Play in REAPER

You now have Jamstix playing the song structure in sych with REAPER.
Let me know if you have any problems with this.

don_don · Post by **don_don** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 12:09 pm

OK, it works; thank you !

But (because there is a but ...), i do not identify the value added by JS. What is the result of the job done by JS compared to the original track (which i suppose contains also a drum part section).

Now, what i want to do is :
- to load a music file (mp3 or wav)
- so as to get a drum section created from scratch by JS.

Can you help me ?

Thanks

Daniel

Post by **Ralph @ Rayzoon** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 12:51 pm

The value of JS is in creating a drum track. When you start a new project in REAPER there are no drums. If you do the steps I outlined, there are now drums. That's the value.

What is the result of the job done by JS compared to the original track (which i suppose contains also a drum part section).

Why do you need JS if your track already has drums? The purpose of JS is to create drums where there are none.

Now, what i want to do is :
- to load a music file (mp3 or wav)
- so as to get a drum section created from scratch by JS.

I am assuming your music file has no drums (otherwise you won't need JS as outlined above). You can now use the project from the steps above and add another track with your music file. After that, adjust the parts in JS to match the content and style of your music file by adjusting parts length/repetition and style/drummer selection.

Also, make sure REAPER is in synch with the tempo of your music file.

Sheppol_A · Post by **Sheppol_A** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 4:20 pm

Ralph.You didn't say in your post that he should be in,"Jam No Input mode" if he wants to use a music file for Jamstix to play along to?Or add AudioM8 if he wants JS to adapt to an mp3 instead of the Jam No input mode?

shemp_ · Post by **shemp_** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 5:37 pm

I'll chime in here

Sheppola recommended JS2 on the Reaper forums. I downloaded the demo and I'll admit, I was intimidated by all the controls and it took me a bit to understand everything. Shep told me to hang in there because it is worth the time put into it. I bought the XL and Metal packs and went to work. It took me about 4-5 hours (not in a row

) to get a feel for all of the adjustments, and there are many! So hang in there!

The real value of JS2 for me is it's ability to automatically add drum beats, fills, accents to match the feel of the song. I used to program drums using midi editors, triggers, etc. and it just never sounded "real". With JS2, I am re-programming the drum parts in my songs. Now, it's not a tutorial but here's my work flow: I usually program in the groove by hand as I pretty much know what beat I want to start with. Then I set the style and drummer and jam/no-input a bit to see which one feels right. Then I select the Kit. Then I build the "song" parts to match the song structure and let it rip. JS will add accents and fills to your liking. I always have to turn down the accent and fill settings because the defaults are usually too busy for me. I then listen to the song and lock the bars that are perfect and re-compose the bars that are not. Sometimes I'll start a new track and let it jam by itself to see if can come up with a groove that is better than I did.

All in all, it takes time to get. It's very powerful and there is a learning curve but it is worth it.

I'll tell you, that clicking re-compose for fills and accents is worth the JS price alone. I am always amazed at it's creativity. Sometimes I re-compose 4-5 times but it almost always puts something there that I like. There [i:8c7bd42327]are[/i:8c7bd42327] fills or accents, however, that I will program entirely manually because, well, it's awesome but it can't read my mind.

Sheppol_A · Post by **Sheppol_A** » Sat Jan 31, 2009 5:57 am

shemp_ wrote:
I'll tell you, that clicking re-compose for fills and accents is worth the JS price alone. I am always amazed at it's creativity. Sometimes I re-compose 4-5 times but it almost always puts something there that I like. There [i:566fc0368f]are[/i:566fc0368f] fills or accents, however, that I will program entirely manually because, well, it's awesome but it can't read my mind.

Amen to that.You work almost exactly as I do.It's so easy and actually fun now using JS to make decent fills and accents.I used to spend sooo... many hours trying to get something decent in this area.Now it's a click and listen and re-compose til happy.

I've said it before and I'll say it again.Rayzoon are losing sales and have lost sales because JS is not easy to use from the demo.Just a simple Quick-start txt would cure it.
I'll write the ruddy thing for you Ralph if you want at least for Reaper

don_don · Post by **don_don** » Sat Jan 31, 2009 8:48 am

I agree that it is frustrating to discover that the product on one hand seems to be THE answer to many musicains requests for an intelligent drummer while, on the other hand it looks like the NASA shuttle flight deck to be operated.

I fully support the request for a simple/synthetic document so as to help the neophytes like me to feel confortable with JS. In my case, i finally after many attempts (thanks to Ralph) to get a sound from JS but, so far i am not satisfied with the result. JS works (i have the JS demo with Reaper) but the JS drums part is not appropriate and translates into a lot of cahotic/erratic sounds that i cannot manage.

Once again, i am requesting a simple (one or 2 sheets quickstart operating mode) so as to start smoothly first and get a derul scetion "a minima".

Thanks

Daniel