some hihat sounds not matching SSD5

[non_drummer (Archive)]

If I could open the '.mdmap' files, that might be of use. I might research that.

No research needed 8)

.mdmap files can easily be opened in Wordpad.

[Ralph @ Rayzoon]

I'm mapping the Rock - Big Kit to SSD5. It looks like Jamstix says the E4 is a 'china 1'.

I don't see that. Here is what I do:

- load 'Rock - Big Kit'
- select 'SSD5' in output mapping list (far right list in the kit toolbar)
- click 'China 1' in the kit and it is mapped to #31 (G0 in yamaha mode or G2 in Roland mode)

[W_Michael_F]

So, although I believe I followed that protocol, I redid my tracks following your instructions and got the same results. Let me describe what I'm seeing without trying to be smarter than I am ... I'm using Cubase 10 (latest update) on W10 (latest update)

I have a 'song' built in Jamstix4 ... have exported the midi track and brought it back into Cubase. The song plays perfectly from both 'normal jam' and 'midi playback' (with the appropriate setting changes in the vst for the different modes).

I followed your instructions and recorded the Jamstix4 output to a midi track (I wasn't sure if saving the midi file and importing to Cubase would work). That midi track is routed to SSD5.

When I open the two midi tracks simultaneously, it's obvious some notes are in different value places (not timing) ... so some remapping has apparently occurred. There is a unique rhythmic pattern that plays on E4 during the song that was apparently not changed via the remapping process. When I play those E4 notes in the Jamstix track, I get something that sounds like a really muted hard hat (not a China ... and, by the way, there is something on the G0 note in the SSD5 track and it does sound like a China). When played in the SSD5 track, it plays a (annoying) hand clap.

So, all I can tell you is the results that I'm getting. Now, just listening by ear, this is the only really annoying 'instrument/sound' difference that stands out ... if there's something more subtle regarding other notes, it doesn't grab me like this one ... and I didn't want to start a note-by-note crosswalk if there was another solution.

Thanks for your help and listening ...

Michael

[Ralph @ Rayzoon]

Michael,
Please do a "Save Song" in the song menu of JS4 in this project and send me the file. Thanks!

[W_Michael_F]

I replied to the notification email. It wasn't intuitively obvious how I would attach a file in the forum.

Thanks ...

Michael

[Ralph @ Rayzoon]

Got it, will check it out and get back to you.

[Ralph @ Rayzoon]

You are using a combo of SSD5 sounds, JS drum sounds and Jamcussion.
Are you feeding the exported MIDI track directly into SSD5 or into Jamstix in MIDI Playback mode with the JS MIDI output going to SSD5?

[W_Michael_F]

I was unsure if I exported the song as midi (set up to map to SSD5) if it would 'convert or not (and, for some reason, drag and drop doesn't seem to be working with Cubase 10).

So, I had Jamstix set up in the normal jam mode and took its midi out and recorded it into a 'new' midi track. I set the output up in the kit menu to go from Jamstix to SSD5 and force midi out (i.e., only checking the bottom box ... I left the other options unchecked). I also enabled midi out in the 'options' tab. So, I was assuming that the Jamstix midi out would not contain the percussion and would have the 'drums' remapped to SSD5.

It sounds like I have made something way more complicated than it needed to be. If so, I'm very sorry.

Michael

[Ralph @ Rayzoon]

What are the specific reasons you want to work with exported MIDI rather than just within Jamstix itself?

[W_Michael_F]

I get the tracks 'really close' to what I want in Jamstix by automating the power control and making various tweaks to the parts (which I tend to keep 'unlinked' for uniqueness). However, when it comes down to 'final editing', such as lining up specific kit hits with specific instruments (or getting a specific rhythmic syncopation), I like putting the song into a midi format so I can open both tracks up simultaneously and try out different combinations. Also, I use the 'groove template' options in Cubase a lot. When I'm putting other instruments in, I generally 'hard quantize' it for expediency. When I'm getting into the production end of stuff, I will use midi snippets from the Jamstix track to generate templates that I will apply to various other rhythm instruments to ensure they lock up. Maybe they shouldn't exactly 'lock up' in time but that's just my workflow.

That's the major stuff. Also, frankly, having worked with Cubase and midi for so many years, there's also a 'comfort factor'/efficiency for me to just put it in a midi track to 'see' it once I get it close.

Thanks for your help. The Jamstix product has been great to work with ... I used to dread going over zillions of drum loops to find something I liked and then not being able to get enough variance throughout the song (especially on fills) to satisfy me. Drumcore used to have the 'Gabrielizer' tool but they dropped in from their latest version. I've told many people, if they told me I could only have one tool for generating drum tracks, I would choose Jamstix. Carry on the great work.

Michael.