Creating song from scratch - simple as possible style?

miden_1 · Post by **miden_1** » Tue Sep 19, 2017 4:19 pm

So I am trying to crate songs from scratch, and all I want to do is have a VS, CH and Ending as most parts will be controlled from an external controller...
However, it seems every style and player is so busy with fills, flams, snare roles, double hits etc etc ...

Is there some way to re-create a basic "drum machine" style of backing? with subtle variations, rather than the OTT (to me) stuff that seems to be pre-programmed?

Thanks

PS: If I am missing something here, I am totalyl happy to be corrected hahaha! This sort of programming I find tedious and very time consuming when I don't have the time to tweak every last thing for a song!

jas_lan · Post by **jas_lan** » Tue Sep 19, 2017 7:59 pm

Well, as far as fills go, you can simply turn them off or use the brain dials to make them shorter, simpler, etc.
For accents, and variations to the basic groove, the "silent" drummer should leave the basic groove untouched. You can also use a drummer who may slightly alter the basic groove but the brain controls should allow modifications to this. For example, Stewart will skip some of the kicks but there is a brain control to dial up or down the amount he does it. Lastly, accents can be fine tuned as to what type and how much or dialed down to zero.

miden_1 · Post by **miden_1** » Tue Sep 19, 2017 10:50 pm

Thanks. Is there a list somewhere of what the drummers do as far as minimalist options?

Azimuth (Archive) · Post by **Azimuth (Archive)** » Tue Sep 19, 2017 11:38 pm

There's a list of Brain Elements: Brain Dropdown menu>List Brain Elements. This lists all elements however. Have you tried just simply cranking up the Simple knob in the Fill window and dialing back the length of R & T fills?

miden_1 · Post by **miden_1** » Wed Sep 20, 2017 11:36 am

thanks azimuth - R&T ?

I'll have a look at that dropdown list...tbh I had not noticed a tag to get a dropdown. I am using it on a rather small screen laptop hahaha!

I have tried the simple (slider in my case - and apparently not available on all styles??) knob but it does nto seem to make a great deal of difference.

FWIW, I am trying to see if I can replace a Beatbuddy drum pedal with J3 as I do like the way J3 reacts to playing levels, makes it feel a little more live and spontaneous. But the level of progamming and presetup needed is doing my head in hahaha!

Shame there is not a user DB of setups one can tap into (a bit like the User Songs section over at Beatbuddy forums)

Anyhoo, thanks again for the tips

Azimuth (Archive) · Post by **Azimuth (Archive)** » Wed Sep 20, 2017 2:50 pm

Hi miden_1,

R&T= Repetition & Transition fills. These are the controls I'm talking about in the Fill window:

P.S. I'm using a Surface tablet so small screen is no excuse LOL.

miden_1 · Post by **miden_1** » Wed Sep 20, 2017 3:27 pm

hahaha, fair enough.

Thanks for the pic, that makes it a lot clearer. You are chatting with someone who has come from Roland Dr Rhythm units here hahaha....there are just so many controls here!

I reckon J3 would be perfect for doing recording work for original tunes...I am sorta kinda thinking I might just leave it for that, and stick with the Beatbuddy pedal for live bar and pub work.

But having said that, I'll keep perservering for a while longer to see if I can develop some sort of "base" bank of rhythms that I just load and do minor "song by song" tweaks for.

Again, thanks for taking the time to help out

Azimuth (Archive) · Post by **Azimuth (Archive)** » Wed Sep 20, 2017 4:12 pm

I'm glad to help when I can. If there's anything else I can do to help, just ask. Well if you're looking for just a "set" of beats and grooves to work off of, I'd suggest you explore the Song Sheet dropdown> Load Style>Jamstix 1 folder. There are, I don't know how many, different grooves in there that would cover a huge range of song styles. Most/all are based on actual songs.
Jamstix is a complex beast but the possibilities definitely make it worth the effort. I honestly think that one of the biggest mistakes a lot of new users make is assuming that since there is a control there, I have to use it. I've been using JS since 2010 and there are literally scores of controls I've never used other than to experiment and see what they do. I bet that I use no more than 15-20 controls regularly.

miden_1 · Post by **miden_1** » Wed Sep 20, 2017 5:13 pm

wow, thanks for the tip re the Jamstix 1 folder, I'll def check that out! hmmm, all I can see there is an entry for Jamstix Classic, and it has no daugher folders attached. Sorry but I must be a bit thick this morning hahaha!

Interesting to read your work style with JS...hmmm that is the sort of approach I'd like to adopt really, minimal intereaction from a "tewaking" p.o.v. I agree that just because a control is there, doesn't mean one needs to play with it, just for the sake of it!

And thanks for offering to help in the future, appreciate it! haha, I'm pretty sure I'll be doing exactly that

Azimuth (Archive) · Post by **Azimuth (Archive)** » Wed Sep 20, 2017 10:23 pm

This folder was added in JS3 version 3.6 so if you are using an earlier version that's why you can't find it.

P.S. I just checked and there are 400 styles in the Jamstix 1 folder.