what program is best for laptop jamming

[simonhans73]

Hi
I would like to make some laptop jamming

What program is good for that???

[dougsyo]

Hi
I would like to make some laptop jamming

What program is good for that???

I use Brainspawn Forte for that... it's very straightforward to set up a VSTI, to an effect, to whatever, to output.

If you want more sophisticated capabilities (arpeggiators, chords, multiple VSTI from one MIDI note, vsti that output MIDI, etc) take a look at EnergyXT standalone - or you can run EXT inside Forte, etc.

Neither of these will break the bank, although EXT has an advantage there, too.

Doug

[visilia]

Another vote for EnergyXT. That is, if what you want to do is mostly MIDI. If audio is your thing, there's nothing better than Ableton Live (and it will support MIDI too in a few weeks).

[SONICBYTES]

hi simonhans73,

if you like to do some step-sequencing you can try out ERA (http://www.sonicbytes.com/era/era.htm). It's a VSTi which controls other VSTi's like the analogue hardware step-sequencers do. ERA is not a host or rack. You can use it inside your preferred host - and EnergyXT is a very good choice.

ERA is designed for live-situations!

bye
holger

[LoRez]

If you want it to be like a big synth where you can recall "patches" that include a synth, it's patch, any effects, and any controller knob assignments...then check out P5. Give yourself some time to get your head around it...it's worth it. I know I know...some people tried version 1 and had issues (I wasn't one of them) and I'm convinced some people just don't get it. I've been playing synths since the dawn of MIDI (yes I started young...)and I've always dreamed of a portable setup like this that I could take anywhere and jam and even use for small gigs (would still want a redundant setup for anything major).

Forte also seems to be a cool application (only tried the demo). Seemed pretty powerful. This will all somewhat depend on wether or not you want to trigger loops and what your specific needs are for "jamming".

You might also want to check out Kinetic. Like having a Roland Groove box and some synths with triggerable patterns. It's only 79 bucks I think.

As someone else mentioned, Live is great for improv loop dragging in a performance scenario.

[7XL]

I have to agree. Project 5 is probably one of the best live playing host there is.

Just look at the title "Soft Synth Workstation". It doesn't get much simpler than that. And considering the amount of things that you can do with it, I find it hard to match. Yes $199 may be a bit much for some of you, but if you're buying a laptop, you obviously have some money.

[dougsyo]

Forte also seems to be a cool application (only tried the demo). Seemed pretty powerful. This will all somewhat depend on wether or not you want to trigger loops and what your specific needs are for "jamming".

I like Forte for this... it's great for use with a dedicated PC, since you can set it up to boot into Forte without a monitor or keyboard. You can send the scene changes from the MIDI keyboard. It also provides MIDI learn capabilities for VSTI that don't already have it. It can also do layering.

It's perfect for my needs on a laptop, although I press the space bar to switch scenes rather than do it from the keyboard.

Disclaimer: I am a beta tester for Forte.

Doug

[LoRez]

I like Forte for this...It also provides MIDI learn capabilities for VSTI that don't already have it. It can also do layering.
Doug

Very cool features indeed and these are two features I love about P5 as well. Are there any other apps that allow knob control for VSTi's that don't have it, other than Forte and Project5?

[VariKusBrainZ]

Cant believe nobodys mentioned Ableton Live

[LoRez]

Cant believe nobodys mentioned Ableton Live

Actually someone did mention Ableton Live (in fact it was I), but it's hard to "jam" with no instruments and no way to play any instruments. It depends. If the idea of "jamming" is to drag loops around and process and tweak them, then yes Live is very good for that. Hard to play a piano in it though...

(I realize Live4 will have VSTi support but it's not available yet and only beta testers know how capable it is.)

[R'yleh]

for my live i use


Orion Platinum for the VSTi and VST Stuff

for everything melodic and "song-like"

and

Audiomulch


for the weird/experimental/looping stuff.

[lalo]

ENERGYXT!!!!!!!
...and Plogue Bidule is good too
..but Energy ..hey i'm in love
and it's goin' to be a live_composing_arranging_improvising monster!!
lalo

[spacefox]

Another vote here for EnergyXT.

It's lightweight and simple and obscenely flexible. The developer is one of the nicest, most attentive people around and seem to take pleasure in implementing users' feature requests. The software just keeps growing and improving. Next releas should add even more unique live features.
It's something around 50$, has a fully functional demo (only load-disabled) and has a support forum here on KvR. Definitely check it.

[Lanstar Zero]

Ableton Live 4.0 will support VSTi's.

I just use Ableton Live for all the loops, and then I play over it with z3ta+ standalone or various VSTis in Chainer.

[spacefox]

hi simonhans73,

if you like to do some step-sequencing you can try out ERA (http://www.sonicbytes.com/era/era.htm). It's a VSTi which controls other VSTi's like the analogue hardware step-sequencers do. ERA is not a host or rack. You can use it inside your preferred host - and EnergyXT is a very good choice.

ERA is designed for live-situations!

bye
holger

Just notice Holger's quote and like to add that ERA inside EnergyXT is indeed an excellent combination. Pair it with a drum sampler/ synth (or just get EST) and you got the ultimate drummachine (and still, with EXT, cheaper than live or P5).