A Beatles Virtual Instrument

[monkey man]

Ha ha ha, RA! Yeah, I'll sign stuff 24/7 for a fee. LOL

FWIW, when I mentioned Don Bradman's signing record, I should have also pointed out that he replied to every letter he received personally. When on tour with his team he would often be up almost all night responding to fan mail. He'd then go out and bat all day for Australia (5 day games), averaging 100 runs per appearance, something nobody in the history of the game has come anywhere near achieving (the best of the best usually average 45-55, with 60 and above's being truly exceptional). On the journey back to Australia in 1936 after a tour (ship), he once replied to 5000 letters of enquiry, a surge prompted by the war's ending and fans' concern as to the state of health of the cricket team.

That's my kinda guy. He was a Virgo too, as was Mother Teresa; when we Virgos give, we go all the way. Yay!

[zed]

Wow... we've hit page 100 in the Beatles thread. Ain't that cool!

I've just come home from a three week holiday, and was unable to follow Motunation during my absence. Glad to be back and excited to get back to work with DP and making music.

Yesterday, I was in an airport in Tokyo, and I wandered over to the airport pharmacy to hear "Drive My Car" playing through the tinny speakers in the store. It sounded great!!

And IK T-Racks 3 looks very interesting with a Fairchild-like comp and Pultec-ish EQ among other things.

Well actually, it is supposed to be more than just Fairchild-like...

Vintage Tube Compressor/Limiter model 670

Based on the “Holy Grail” of compressor/limiters, the Fairchild 670. With a faithful reproduction of every control, this is an incredibly accurate model that captures every nuance of one of the best Fairchild units available.

The original unit delivers a truly magic touch that makes everything that passes through it shine and sound more musical and emotional, and was analyzed for months for every single detail to unveil all of its secrets.

IK’s unique analog-modeling experience and exclusive DSM™ (Dynamic Saturation Modeling) technology push this model to the limit and beyond, so we developed a new custom, proprietary method dubbed SCC™ (Sonic Character Cloning) – with results that can only be described as magic! It took us a very long time, but we believe it was well worth the effort, and you’ll be the one who says that this is the only 670 digital recreation that actually treats music like the original.

You can read more and see pictures at http://www.ikmultimedia.com/t-racks/mor ... einfo2.php

This Sonic Character Cloning technology sounds very interesting. I believe that it is definitely possible to create detailed algorithms which could accurately reproduce vintage gear (or at least get you 99% of the way there). They claim to have done it. I will look forward to ordering a T-Racks upgrade one day soon.

I've been enjoying many of those Studiophonik sounds. There are some fabulous sounding guitars in that collection. However, the Rickenbacker 4001 bass doesn't sound anything like Paul's bass... at least not to my ears. I couldn't find any 4001 articulations that come close to resembling anything from Sgt. Pepper. I'll try to experiment with some compression and additional effects, but will probably stick to other Ricky bass samples in my collection... or the REAL thing.

[scooter]

First of all I don't think this thread is long enough. So I decided to throw in a sympathy reply.

I just purchased this thing with the 2 for 1 deal. I have to admit I'm not much impressed. First of all the Beatles were the band I grew up listening to. It's not realistic to think a plug in can even closely capture the magic these guys had to offer. And for just the bass sounds alone of the greatest bass player ever. Where's the sampled "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" bass. Got to have that. How about the mouth bass on "I Will." I can go on and on. The list is too long.

scooter

[zed]

Hey folks,

I just came across a recently posted Fab Four demo on the EastWest site. It does a great job of showing what you can do with those guitars. It is quite impressive actually. If I hadn't bought the product already, I'd be forking out the money upon listening to that.

http://www.soundsonline.com/product.php ... tid=EW-170 (select song medley: "Evolution/Untogether/ThereGoesTheMoon/Cpt.Salt")

When you carry on listening to the three demos which follow it, you really get a well balanced perspective of how many cool sounds are in this library. I always had the impression that there wasn't that much in it, but when you hear all these different sounds it is actually quite an extensive library for doing Beatley stuff.

I just purchased this thing with the 2 for 1 deal. I have to admit I'm not much impressed...

When I first got it, I had the impression that there ought to be more in it, but I think there is more that you can do with it than you might think. Applying compression and such, you can get a lot of really sweet tones. Those drum sounds in that first demo sound like they were stripped right off of the Abbey Road album.

And in other Beatle news, a new McCartney album was premiered today, in case anyone's interested: http://www.thefiremanmusic.com/

[Frodo]

When I first got it, I had the impression that there ought to be more in it...

Yep. Same here.

Clearly, it takes a lot of work (as you know) to breathe a modicum of reality into any virtual reality. They did indeed omit some important critical instruments, especially where Lennon was concerned, but as with anything we're only limited by our imaginations and our willingness try harder.

FabFour takes a lot of imagination and stick-to-it-tiveness. But it's not unthinkable that one needs to be a tad more Beatle-maniacal than usual to want to really master this VI.

Case in point--- this thread is approaching its second anniversary (!!) and there are only 4 demos on the Soundsonline site. But I can't say that I regret buying FabFour. It has proven to be an indispensable centerpiece of preproduction on some very important projects I have at the moment.

[Spikey Horse]

This could be old news:

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-enter ... 20780.html

[Frodo]

Thanks, Spikey. I hadn't heard about that, but I've been kind of out of it. This will be an interesting treat-- 14 minutes of Beatle experimentation. That's pretty cool.

[zed]

Hey folks,

Some good news! Abbey Road is having a special on their plugins... all three of their plugin packs are bundled together for a low price until Jan. 26th, 2009. I've been wanting these for some time, so I think now might be the time to finally buy in.

And more good news, you can download ALL the plugins for a 10-day trial, even if you have downloaded them previously: http://www.abbeyroadplugins.com/cat_products.aspx
You do need to have an iLok account, however. The licenses are deposited in seconds and ready for download almost as soon as you submit the request. The 10 day demo period begins when you actually synchronize and download the iLok licenses.

I have tried all of these plugins before, and know that they are good... nevertheless I will play with them over the next 10 days to re-convince myself that I want to drop the $500.

Word from Abbey Road is that they will also have an upgrade path for those who have purchased some of these packs already... but the details for this additional offer won't be available until after NAMM.

This could be old news:

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-enter ... 20780.html

Thanks Spikey! I have heard about the existance of this recording from assorted Beatle "research" over the years, and am quite surprised that I have never actually heard it, since I have come across many unreleased Beatle recordings over the years. I will indeed look forward to hearing it. They did some of their best stuff in 1967... as did many artists of that generation. Don't be surprised if their "experimental" music sounds a lot more like a very well arranged piece of music. The Beatles were extremely good at experiments!

[Rainman]

I started following this thread from page 1 a couple of weeks ago. I think I made it up to pg. 38 and then saw that the thread had jumped to page one. On my last read I think Frodo and Zed were feeling somewhat abandoned by the programers back at Rivendell but decided to persevere in the midst of all odds and see this thing thru to the end. Now I hate to ruin a good ending but don't have time to read the balance right now, so somebody please ..... did they make it? (smiley goes here)

Rainman

[zed]

I started following this thread from page 1 a couple of weeks ago. I think I made it up to pg. 38...

How incredibly ambitious of you!
Welcome to the thread Mr Rainman!!

On my last read I think Frodo and Zed were feeling somewhat abandoned by the programers back at Rivendell but decided to persevere in the midst of all odds and see this thing thru to the end. Now I hate to ruin a good ending but don't have time to read the balance right now, so somebody please ..... did they make it? (smiley goes here)

Ha! Yeah... I think we made it. The PLAY engine is better than ever now. The recently released update includes pitch bend control which means that you can play the Beatle guitars and other instruments with MIDI guitars and get fantastic results (to do this set the pitch bend intensity to 100% in the advanced properties window). They are probably the best sounding guitar and bass samples in the business. And other releases by EastWest are of the same calibre.

My only wish is that it was less CPU hungry. For those of us who are still on a G5 (and the one of us who is still on a G4) this engine does not function as efficiently as those samplers with less sample depth, articulations, and effects processing... but they certainly sound a lot better than most of that Rompler-sounding stuff. Frodo reported recently that he was very happy with PLAY on his Intel machine and that it is now working quite well.

So there were a few hiccups, for sure. But things seem to be looking quite good for the future of the PLAY engine. It is just getting better, and I've heard that some new and exciting products are coming down the pipeline.

Now you don't need to read all the pages that you missed... although if you skim through those other pages you will find all sorts of interesting Beatle links and discussion about Beatle guitars, recording methods, and other such stuff. But whether or not you get around to that, there will surely be more of such discussion in the pages to come, so feel free to join in.

The hobbit is around here somewhere... but I think he may be away for a few days.

[Rainman]

Geez, don't ya just love a happy ending. I'm pleased to hear that it responds well to MIDI guitar since I have a Roland Ready Strat that I used to use with a VG-88. Sold the VG but kept the strat. It's kind of funny, I ordered the strat site unseen with intention of using it as a controller, oddly enough it's probably the best strat I've ever owned. Go figure. I'm still using a G5 2 gig dual so I'm wondering about the juice it sounds like this package needs but I think I'll get it as soon as NAMM is over, you just never know what's around the corner. I'm going to continue reading the thread, I'm a huge Beatles fan, saw their N. American debut on the Sullivan show as a kid which is why I'm probably typing this now. Got it bad. Keep fighting the good fight, say hi to the hobbit.

Kindest Regards
Rainman

[zed]

Hey folks,

And more good news, you can download ALL the plugins for a 10-day trial, even if you have downloaded them previously...

Unfortunately, I was wrong about this. You can download the software and you can get the iLok licenses deposited into your account... but the iLok system may not install the new demos over any existing demos you may have of the product. I was able to download the iLok license for the Brilliance Pack demo, which I had previously installed, BUT whenever I try to use the plugins it just causes DP to quit, and I assume that this is an iLok license issue. So... you might not be able to try any packs that you demoed earlier. Sorry about that.

I ordered the strat site unseen with intention of using it as a controller, oddly enough it's probably the best strat I've ever owned.

I bought a V-Strat about a year ago, and really liked some of the virtual features, and the authentic American Strat sound. But while it does some really cool simulations, it sadly does not have the ability to track MIDI (and is not a guitar design that would allow you to attach a GK-3, I don't think). I probably would have kept it if it did. In the end I returned it over unbalanced string levels in some of the simulation modules which couldn't be adjusted. It was my justifiable excuse for requesting a refund and buying something a third the price... a Fender Telecaster... which is now equipped with a GK-3 and is my new MIDI guitar. I also got the AXON AX 50 (which tracks better than my old Roland GR-1) mostly so I could play with the Fab Four guitars.

[Rainman]

Hey Zed, I PM'd you, hope you don't mind.

Rainman

[beautypill]

Wow.

Look at all the nouveau-riche grandeur you can afford when you pass the beta-testing onto your unwitting customers!

- c

[Eleventh Hour Sound]

Hey! I just went to the IK Multimedia site to download the latest updates for T-RackS 3, X-Gear and ARC system and I thought... "Hey! Didn't I buy StudioPhonik in a group buy, a long time ago? What ever happened with that?" IK is advertising that something is going to come out on the 13th..... Hmmmm

http://www.ikmultimedia.com/teaser_200908.php

Here's the original StudioPhonik anouncement:

http://www.ikmultimedia.com/Main.html?IKRelease11

I searched TheNation and found that somehow we had been talking about it in this thread, maybe because it's an all in one workstation. Maybe because we wanted one more bass, just give me one, more, bass and make it a 5-string Ricky! <Grin>