Is soundtrek Jammer pro software interesting ?
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- KVRist
- 227 posts since 9 Aug, 2004 from Ruislip, UK
I'd say yes.
Try the demo (there is one I believe).
You can generate music with the templates, or create your own. It is a quite complex beast to use.
Another alternative, though simpler, is Hard Note's Jump. Jump has the advantage of being interactive, i.e. you can change things whilst it's playing - in Jammer Pro you need to 'compile' to get an output, you can't change whilst it's playing.
There's also Band-in-a-box but I've not tried it.
Try the demo (there is one I believe).
You can generate music with the templates, or create your own. It is a quite complex beast to use.
Another alternative, though simpler, is Hard Note's Jump. Jump has the advantage of being interactive, i.e. you can change things whilst it's playing - in Jammer Pro you need to 'compile' to get an output, you can't change whilst it's playing.
There's also Band-in-a-box but I've not tried it.
Pete Goodwin
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- Skunk Mod
- 21249 posts since 10 Jun, 2004 from Pony Pasture
Wow, blast from the past time! I bought this back in the mid-1990s, had a lot of fun with it but never used it for anything serious. Until a couple years ago, every few months a brightly colored post card would arrive in the mail urging me to get the very latest version. I hope the maker didn't spend all the money I paid on postage! :-(
It's kinda interesting, might be useful depending on what kind of music you make. I haven't seen new versions. Does its GUI still have that classic Windows 3.1 look? :-}
It's kinda interesting, might be useful depending on what kind of music you make. I haven't seen new versions. Does its GUI still have that classic Windows 3.1 look? :-}
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- KVRist
- 227 posts since 9 Aug, 2004 from Ruislip, UK
Oh yes!Meffy wrote: It's kinda interesting, might be useful depending on what kind of music you make. I haven't seen new versions. Does its GUI still have that classic Windows 3.1 look? :-}
Pete Goodwin
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- KVRian
- 1024 posts since 8 Mar, 2004 from Network 23
Yes, Jammer Pro (JP) is a very useful program provided you understand going in that you only get out of it what you put into it.
JPv5 still has a "Windows-y" interface but don't let that fool you. There's a lot of power under the hood.
I have yet to find a program that can generate drum grooves as well as JP does "out of the box". Even Jamstix doesn't come close. If the drum engine of JP had been separated out and put under the Jamstix interface, it would own the planet.
Very good compositions can be constructed, but it takes some time working with JP to get things fleshed out. It is time well spent, though.
The downsides of JP:
- You will need a GM-compatible hard/soft synth.
- You will need a separate sequencer to put the finishing touches on compositions.
- Soundtrek has missed the boat in terms of VST. Their web site claims they are aware of VST, but they've been saying that for well over a year.
- Updates have been non-existent since JP5's release well over two years ago.
To my ears, JP beats the crap out of Band-In-A-Box (BIAB), but BIAB is the easier tool to use. There is considerable improvisational power in JP that BIAB just doesn't have. The author of JP clearly has his musical chops together and translated fully to software. You'll be able to see that in short order once you start working with the program.
JPv5 still has a "Windows-y" interface but don't let that fool you. There's a lot of power under the hood.
I have yet to find a program that can generate drum grooves as well as JP does "out of the box". Even Jamstix doesn't come close. If the drum engine of JP had been separated out and put under the Jamstix interface, it would own the planet.
Very good compositions can be constructed, but it takes some time working with JP to get things fleshed out. It is time well spent, though.
The downsides of JP:
- You will need a GM-compatible hard/soft synth.
- You will need a separate sequencer to put the finishing touches on compositions.
- Soundtrek has missed the boat in terms of VST. Their web site claims they are aware of VST, but they've been saying that for well over a year.
- Updates have been non-existent since JP5's release well over two years ago.
To my ears, JP beats the crap out of Band-In-A-Box (BIAB), but BIAB is the easier tool to use. There is considerable improvisational power in JP that BIAB just doesn't have. The author of JP clearly has his musical chops together and translated fully to software. You'll be able to see that in short order once you start working with the program.
We shall see orchestral machines with a thousand new sounds, with thousands of new euphonies, as opposed to the present day's simple sounds of strings, brass, and woodwinds. -- George Antheil, circa 1925 ---
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- KVRAF
- 3476 posts since 9 Apr, 2003 from NE Ohio, USA
I can't speak for Jammer, but I use Band-in-a-box (similar software) when I need a quick and dirty backup for practicing a song or when band members are missing at church. It's ok if you have a known chord progression, it's not as great for improvising.
In addition, the church and I both have Yamaha arranger keyboards, and there are programs that can convert BIAB styles to Yamaha styles. I also have LiveStyler, which plays Yamaha styles (including converted BIAB styles). There's also a LOT of free Yamaha styles available, if you're doing live/improvized playing you might take a look at LiveStyler (or 1ManBand). IIRC, LiveStyler can now host VSTI directly.
Doug
In addition, the church and I both have Yamaha arranger keyboards, and there are programs that can convert BIAB styles to Yamaha styles. I also have LiveStyler, which plays Yamaha styles (including converted BIAB styles). There's also a LOT of free Yamaha styles available, if you're doing live/improvized playing you might take a look at LiveStyler (or 1ManBand). IIRC, LiveStyler can now host VSTI directly.
Doug
Logic is a pretty flower that smells bad - Spock, in "I, Mudd"
For a good time click http://www.belindabedekovic.com/video_fl_en.htm
For a good time click http://www.belindabedekovic.com/video_fl_en.htm
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- KVRist
- 143 posts since 19 Jan, 2004 from So. California
Get the Demo. Read the documentation. Listen to the offered audio demos. Just when you think there is some feature you would like to use ( or have added), if you look deep enough, you'll find it is already there.
A steep learing curve, but as said before, one of the most rewarding MIDI generation applications to come along. Very well thought out. Powerful, but requires dedicated time and focus to master. Gives a truly 'live' feel.
I have never found a lack of VSTi to be a limitation. I believe the vendor states that Jammer Pro is NOT an audio ( WAV MP3 ) generating app. It generates MIDI data that comes quite close to the live feel of semi-randomness, a most realistic improvisational result ! Don't be fooled, you are in complete control, but at a level and scope that one is not usually used to manipulatnig or controling for 'spontanious' output. Export the complete MIDI data, tweak it if necessary, and drop it into a sequencer or Audio host, use your best sample libraries and you're off !!
One of the most powerful featyres in my opinion is the powerful 'morphing of MIDI riffs' ( user defined or externally loaded ) into phrases and fills and solos and rhythm comping backgrounds.
There have been minor enhancements for version 5, but yes, a new version seems due.
-- atonal
A steep learing curve, but as said before, one of the most rewarding MIDI generation applications to come along. Very well thought out. Powerful, but requires dedicated time and focus to master. Gives a truly 'live' feel.
I have never found a lack of VSTi to be a limitation. I believe the vendor states that Jammer Pro is NOT an audio ( WAV MP3 ) generating app. It generates MIDI data that comes quite close to the live feel of semi-randomness, a most realistic improvisational result ! Don't be fooled, you are in complete control, but at a level and scope that one is not usually used to manipulatnig or controling for 'spontanious' output. Export the complete MIDI data, tweak it if necessary, and drop it into a sequencer or Audio host, use your best sample libraries and you're off !!
One of the most powerful featyres in my opinion is the powerful 'morphing of MIDI riffs' ( user defined or externally loaded ) into phrases and fills and solos and rhythm comping backgrounds.
There have been minor enhancements for version 5, but yes, a new version seems due.
-- atonal
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- KVRAF
- 1949 posts since 21 Mar, 2003 from Labrador
Screenshots here:Meffy wrote: I haven't seen new versions. Does its GUI still have that classic Windows 3.1 look? :-}
http://www.soundtrek.com/content/images ... index.html
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- KVRist
- 71 posts since 24 Jun, 2002 from St. Paul, Minnesota
Fred Grittner
www.fredgrittner.com
www.fredgrittner.com
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- KVRAF
- 1949 posts since 21 Mar, 2003 from Labrador
Just noticed on their web site that there is now a Jammer Pro 6:Atonal wrote:
There have been minor enhancements for version 5, but yes, a new version seems due.
http://www.soundtrek.com/content/module ... age&pid=25