KVR Audio

strummer100 · Post by **strummer100** » Sat Jun 15, 2013 5:27 pm

Just downloaded the 3 new sessionband apps from the app store. Jazz, Acoustic Guitar and Piano. Awesome. These ones are universal apps so only have to buy once for all devices and there are no in-app purchases so you get all the content on initial download. Have to say the content is superb. Not sure if you're into Jazz ..... but if you are then this is a must have for you. Some big name players behind these loops. Still wading through the acoustic guitar version and the piano one. The guitar one is as you would expect - loads of strumming and picking styles....but the whole set of chords - including major and minor 9ths. I can see it being a very useful tool this. And they have introduced Audiobus so you can stream the content into Garage band..nice one. javascript:emoticon(':love:')

korgonian · Post by **korgonian** » Mon Jun 17, 2013 2:05 pm

I've downloaded the session band jazz edition app and it's very good. Should be a hit with musicians that want to practice a solo instrument over the top of real drums, bass and piano. I'm still getting to grips with it - but there are loads of demos to get you started. I have the earlier session band app and they've added more features on this one. The automated mixing is a nice touch and audiobus too - vital these days for a music app. If you like jazz, you'll like this app.

Aural Chaos · Post by **Aural Chaos** » Thu Jun 20, 2013 9:08 pm

These are on sale for 99 cents "for a few hours only"

BMoore · Post by **BMoore** » Thu Jun 20, 2013 9:44 pm

Why is this "strummer" dude pretending to be just a random user regarding Sessionband?!

martygras · Post by **martygras** » Thu Jun 20, 2013 10:13 pm

Hmmm. I see what you mean detective Moore. Nice catch.

Synth Master Jedi · Post by **Synth Master Jedi** » Fri Jun 21, 2013 12:10 am

There is an iTunes bug for Sessionband guitar, Error 5002.

Can not purchase, can not download.

The Jazz one works.

shanecgriffo · Post by **shanecgriffo** » Fri Jun 21, 2013 12:19 pm

Oh what! Bummer i missed that sale.. Just bought the jazz one seeing as i studied for 2 years full time doing jazz (guitar and 2nd instrument=piano) at a local tertiary college back in the mid 90's -and then didnt play much of it for ages after.. Getting back into it now tho so this will help as it sounds/feels quite good.. Pity due to the nature of it, the sax sounds a bit un-flowing at the chord changes but i imagine i'll probably permenently have that muted anyway.
Hmm it was on sale for 99c ? Bummer hey, oh well i guess the developers/muso's have to eat

martygras · Post by **martygras** » Fri Jun 21, 2013 3:25 pm

Okay, I downloaded the Jazz and Acoustic apps, but only had time to try the Jazz version of SessionBand. Overall it is worth the regular price and I really like it. It will be a great jazz teacher for me as I can try out all sorts of chords and progressions.

The one thing that people will notice is that you can only change the tempo up or down a small, but reasonable amount, because the dev's have decided that it is more important to be able to time stretch or shrink "live". This is a nice feature, but many of us are used to waiting for a "rendering" process to allow more extreme changes. The tempos are totally appropriate for each style available, which are plentiful, and all very useful.

The sound quality is nice. Perfect if you want backing tracks for live use and maybe even good enough for an album.

The editing interface is a new approach for me, but it seems that it is an effective way to create chord progressions while being able to change quickly and easily.

I think they've done a fine job and look forward to trying the Acoustic version.

shanecgriffo · Post by **shanecgriffo** » Sat Jun 22, 2013 10:21 am

Geez, they chew thru battery charge like nothing else! Anyone else notice that?

martygras · Post by **martygras** » Mon Jun 24, 2013 4:20 pm

Haven't noticed the battery appetite, but thanks for the heads-up.

I got a chance to try the Acoustic guitar version, and while the samples sound nice, there may be some bugs.
1. There's no other instruments as there are in the Jazz version, just acoustic guitar. (Why put a mixer in an app for 1 instrument?)
2. I can't change the tempo at all, even though there is a tempo change button.
3. The samples don't transition well. (Samples sustain right up to the end of the measure so there's no fret slide, or at least no room to add a fret slide sound later.)
I'm trying to figure out if each sample is lagging a bit. They seem to be in time with the metronome, but something ain't right with the timing. The chord changes are too abrupt.

There is some real potential here, and the varied styles are plentiful and nicely recorded, I just wish I could switch between strumming styles within a song. Currently it seems to only allow one type of strumming style per song.

I still like the Jazz version as it has all the backing instruments and is very nicely put together.

martygras · Post by **martygras** » Mon Jun 24, 2013 5:19 pm

I found a nice description about the creation of the Jazz version of Session Band. It sounds like it was a lot of work and it shows IMO.

http://www.londonjazznews.com/2013/06/g ... -jazz.html

So what happened to the Acoustic version? Seems like a lot less effort went into it, and it shows. There's just no comparison between the Jazz and the Acoustic versions.

Jazz wins hands down.(Again, just my opinion.)

Sessionband have just released 3 new ipad/iphone apps