Jamstix?

[raintalk]

Hi Folks,

I'm going about this backwards, I want to use Jamstix so I'm looking for a host to use it with. I need something for live use, with a tap tempo.

Usine looks like a very interesting host, but it is a paradigm shift for me. I'm having trouble getting Jamstix to work. Jamstix works with other hosts. But I can't seem to get Usine to send a midi clock/start to Jamstix, so that Jamstix can play it's patterns.

Anybody use Jamstix?
Anybody have a workspace they could share that works with the Jamstix and Usine demo versions?

thanks for any help,

PS - how do you pronouce "Usine"?

[bsork]

Jamstix is operating like any other VST instrument, or..? If so, I reckon that you have overlooked starting the synchro (the right arrow beside the bar/beat and tempo display). A VST(i) shouldn't need any extra MIDI clock commands to start and stop and be in sync with the host, the VST environment should take care of that. If however you want to play a VSTi, you'll of course have to use the MIDI input of the plugin.

[raintalk]

I could have sworn I set all those, in any case now it is working. Great! Thanks.

And now another (quick) question. Jamstix needs a program change to switch between it's "live loops". What's a good tool in Usine to do this? I tried the "Create Midi Message" gizmo, but I wonder if there's a better choice? I will probably use a pad controller but it can't send program change, so I need something that can read midi note on and switch it to a program change.

[bsork]

There are a number of different ways you can transform midi note ons to other messages. The simplest to describe - but only ok if you only need a few at the time - would be to create a Button and a Create Midi Message for each note on/program change number, and connect the buttons to the create inlet. Use Midi Learn on the buttons to assign each pad's note message to them.

I admit that this solution isn't very "elegant", but I don't have time to describe something more flexible right now...

[raintalk]

Thanks - that works fine for me. Usine sure has a lot of cool ways to hook things up.

Unfortunately, Jamstix is not well behaved in Usine. When Jamstix switches to another "Part Name" - it just stops playing. I see it getting midi, and it shows the beats being hit, but no sound comes out, or every few measures a cymbal crash or bass drum hit will be heard. If I switch to the kit, and click a drum I can hear it, so the sampler part is OK.

I tried Session Drummer 2 and it works fine.

I tried Jamstix using session drummer for the sounds. Same problem - it just doesn't play.

Usine might be the ideal host for me if I can just get Jamstix to work. Anybody else have luck?

If you want to try Jamstix the demo is at http://www.rayzoon.com/
I'd really be curious what you do to get it to work with "Live Looops"
Thanks,

[senso]

hello,
Just few words:
I'm curently on the road to make a a small serie of concerts.
I'll be back at home next week then I'll take a look on this problem.

[raintalk]

Just an update.

I tried Jamstix with liveloops with Reaper and it worked fine. (but I don't want a tool like Reaper - I just used it as a test.)

I also set up VSTHostSS with Jamstix in it, and use Legree VSTi plugin to connect to it from Reaper. This also worked fine.

I tried the same with Usine. As above with Jamstix directly inserted in, and again with Jamstix connected through Legree - both had the strange behavior of not playing on program change. It is an odd one.

Thanks,

[senso]

The main problem with Usine and Jamstix is that is that Usine doesn't have a a real song position indicator. This indicator is visibly important for Jamstix.

I'll try to find some thing, but it's not easy because, since Usine is designed for live process, the concept of song position is hard to implement. (can fluctuate).

[raintalk]

OK thanks.
For now I'm just trying to get "Live Loops" working. I want to use it live.
That is forget the song position, and send a program change to switch to different parts.

[senso]

It's seems stupid but I don't really understand how jamstix works!

how to play a pattern in loop?
how change the current pattern in real time?

Actually the current pattern position fits to the cycle length. So the best way to use this plug is to create several patches for each parts of the song:
- intro
- head
- bridge, etc

then activate them in the sequencer time line or with the conductor.

The plug seems very adapted to traditional DAW but Usine has a different spirit.

[senso]

PS: pronounce Usine as you want like 'You Zine'.
I know that the french 'U' is totally unpronounceable for English spoken people...

[raintalk]

Liveloops are crazy to figure out.

You click on the keyboard icon under the "MIDI" light. This icon turns yellow. Liveloops is now on.

When you send a Program Change X, it will switch to part X at the end of the current part (pattern). If the pattern is 4 bars it will switch at the end of the 4 bars. You then have to send another Program Change X to have it switch to another part and the end of the current part.

For each part/pattern I set the "Reps" to something high like 200. It stays on this part. Then I send Program Changes to have it switch to other parts.

This is all I'm trying to do.

It can load 18 Part/patterns. The part/pattern being more of a suggestion. Like when you hand a real piece of music to a drummer. It can listen to Audio, or Midi and "Jam" - playing harder, more or less fills, ... as the intensity of the music changes.

Session Drummer 2 (SS2) is kind of similar to using Jamstix in Liveloop mode. SS2 has 8 patterns and it takes Note-ON messages to switch patterns. But it doesn't Jam.

Hope this makes sense.

Thanks for the pronunciation. It will help as I tell everyone about Usine!