A Beatles Virtual Instrument

Frodo · Post by **Frodo** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 5:42 pm

Okay. Now, we're getting somewhere (on page 50, no less).

Pros:

1. DP's window frame icons are now working.

2. The Fab Four Browser is not 100% responsive, but the quirk appears to be to click on the drive, then click in the subsequent window. The next directory level actually appears. In Logic, however, the sub-directories appear automatically when the drive is selected. Hmm.

3. Recording a few tracks and then playing the on screen keyboard doesn't clobber DP the way it used to. NICE.

Cons:

1. The sample load activity bar just above the keyboard doesn't work, but I have to watch for the change in the sample name in the upper right hand corner of the browser.

2. DP's windows still find their way in between the Fab Four Console and its plugin window frame-- as though both the app and the plugin fell into the the teleport chamber from the film "The Fly" and came out the other side as some hybrid. This is not *that* big of a deal, though.

3. MIDI volume is working fine. MIDI pan is a no-go. Only the audio track in DP can be panned L/R, so it's not a 'total' loss.

One thing I've yet to try is the Party Guitar-- but maybe I'm looking a gift horse in the mouth.

This is without a doubt the best update so far, but I don't want to speak too soon. The devil is always in the details, but for now it seems that I may just be able to USE this plugin after all.

zed · Post by **zed** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 5:45 pm

Frodo wrote:From the Read Me:
* window activation for audio units within digital performer

* fixed sample search

* This update is recommended for all PLAY Software 1.0 owners on Mac OS X and Windows XP

Actually, if I am not mistaken, those notes are unchanged from the ones which were included when they first posted the PLAY engine upgrade. I don't think those are specific to v1.0.011... they are just the same notes for a user who may have just bought the product and must now upgrade their PLAY engine for the first time.

Frodo · Post by **Frodo** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 6:01 pm

zed wrote:
Frodo wrote:From the Read Me:
* window activation for audio units within digital performer

* fixed sample search

* This update is recommended for all PLAY Software 1.0 owners on Mac OS X and Windows XP
Actually, if I am not mistaken, those notes are unchanged from the ones which were included when they first posted the PLAY engine upgrade. I don't think those are specific to v1.0.011... they are just the same notes for a user who may have just bought the product and must now upgrade their PLAY engine for the first time.

You're right, Zed. The two things that stick out in my mind are that these things didn't work in 1.0.010, and that the notes were also included in 1.0.011.

What's been a little confusing to me is the way the updates appeared and disappeared so erratically. I think they might have put up the wrong version even as they were swapping out old builds for new ones. The notes included have not changed, but the plugin certainly did-- and for that I'm truly grateful.

Dunno what prompted me to check the site today, but I feel like I'm finally where you were a month ago.

Now I can get started on Colonel Chrispick's Seargent Lonely Crabberlocker Fishwife's Whachamacallit, featuring Anne Phibian.

zed · Post by **zed** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 7:18 pm

Frodo wrote:Dunno what prompted me to check the site today, but I feel like I'm finally where you were a month ago.

Yes... it sounds like it. Perhaps all of your wiping and reinstalling last weekend cleared the way for a cleaner version of Fab Four. Are you sure that the icons on the DP windows are no longer disappearing? This would be something different, because I have v1.0.011 installed and I am still having that issue.

So glad to learn that esoundz.com has extended their Group Buy until the end of the month. Now I have a bit more time to sort out my Rex2 issues, and can make an order for all the items at once (IK Multimedia stuff included). Yahoody Doody!!

HeadMaster · Post by **HeadMaster** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 8:04 pm

Frodo wrote:
zed wrote:.... if I could get DP to import a REX2 file, but I simply cannot...
I've never used REX anything-- but don't you have to have Propellerhead's Shared Library installed before they can be imported into DP? I thought some people were getting that file from either Reason or its demo...

Now, if I know nothing about REX files, I know even less about REX2 and what it does or doesn't do. I do know that Nanosampler will import some REX files with caveats, but I don't know how it would handle REX2--

Part of me feels as if I'm missing out on something, and yet another part of me is thinking that what I don't know won't hurt me.

I exaggerate a little-- I do know what REX files are basically, and I've seen them in action. It's just that I've never really used loops of any kind, or any of the Properllerhead plugins.

All I know for sure is that I want a Rickenbacker!!

Here's the lib alone:

http://www.propellerheads.se/download/i ... redlibrary

When installed, start dp, drag REX file to the audiotrack (not to the sound bite repository) and you will get the slices done all by magic.

If you get a rickenbacker, then you will want one of these:

http://janglebox.com/

and the Byrds will start singin in your studio.....

. . .
HM

Frodo · Post by **Frodo** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 10:13 pm

HeadMaster wrote:If you get a rickenbacker, then you will want one of these:

http://janglebox.com/

and the Byrds will start singin in your studio.....

. . .
HM

To everything
Turn, turn, turn
There is a season
Turn, turn, turn...

Looks pretty cool, HeadMaster! Thanks for the links!

zed · Post by **zed** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 11:17 pm

HeadMaster wrote:Here's the lib alone:

http://www.propellerheads.se/download/i ... redlibrary

When installed, start dp, drag REX file to the audiotrack (not to the sound bite repository) and you will get the slices done all by magic.

Thank you so much HeadMaster! That is exactly what I needed. At Frodo's suggestion, I downloaded the Reason demo but I was quite hesitant to install it because I have been having DP crashes with some recently installed IK demos. But since this is a necessary DP add-on, I had no worries about installing it... and it works just as easily as you said it would. I can now drag and drop Rex2 files.

Second time in 2 days you have provided a very useful link. Much appreciated!

HeadMaster wrote:If you get a rickenbacker, then you will want one of these:

http://janglebox.com/

and the Byrds will start singin in your studio.....

Okay... I take it back... the third time in 2 days. Good one HeadMaster! I gotta get myself one of these, for sure!
Damn. That's just what I needed... another piece of gear to be salivating about.

zed · Post by **zed** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 11:40 pm

Frodo wrote:...I know nothing about REX files, I know even less about REX2 and what it does or doesn't do...

Okay Mr. Frodo. Time for you to learn...

Simply download the Rex Shared Library installer which HeadMaster provided the link for:
http://www.propellerheads.se/download/i ... redlibrary
(This takes seconds to download and the install is lightning quick too!)

And then download these 50 Free Rex loops from esoundz:
http://www.esoundz.com/freeSoundz.php?e ... oDNvP&td=1
Just click on the words "Download and Enjoy" in the first paragraph on the page.

And then, once you have quit and restarted DP you can simply drag and drop those Rex2 files onto a stereo audio track in your sequence. They automatically conform to the tempo of your project. Simple as pie!

And you still have 10 days to decide if you want that 15 DVD Rex Library which has now reached its lowest price of $229.

Frodo · Post by **Frodo** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 11:53 pm

Hey Zed--

Suddenly so many things are looking up, eh? HeadMaster's links have indeed been a timely calvacade of pleasant surprises... much needed tonight.

What a nice change to have a few things to smile about.

zed · Post by **zed** » Wed Aug 22, 2007 12:03 am

Frodo wrote:Suddenly so many things are looking up, eh? HeadMaster's links have indeed been a timely calvacade of pleasant surprises... much needed tonight.

What a nice change to have a few things to smile about.

Indeed!

I just love playing with new toys!

BTW, some of the Rex2 files in that freebie collection are mono, so you should also have a mono audio track set up if you are going to use this method of auditioning them. After you have gone through the drag and drop process a dozen times it is clear why you need a dedicated program for auditioning and handling a big loop library. I am seeing about getting a DrumCore upgrade... the new version handles Rex files.

Frodo · Post by **Frodo** » Wed Aug 22, 2007 12:05 am

zed wrote:
Frodo wrote:...I know nothing about REX files, I know even less about REX2 and what it does or doesn't do...
Okay Mr. Frodo. Time for you to learn...

Yes-- and it's all fun and games until someone has an eye out!

Actually, thanks for the links. I don't want to press my luck too much, having finally gotten Fab Four to the Pete Best stage (ie: more refinements to come).

But, I'm keen to try the world of REX...

Frodo · Post by **Frodo** » Wed Aug 22, 2007 1:05 am

Ampeg SVX is nominated for a 2007 TEC Award!

btw-- I finally got both SVX and Am-tube 2 installed and authorized. (I just need to find the time to do some serious dinking....)

HeadMaster · Post by **HeadMaster** » Wed Aug 22, 2007 6:06 am

I am happy I made your day there, the janglebox is nice, I dont own one, and don't plan to do, I am not a guitar player, and the humble guitar stuff I add to the productions I do, isnt of that importance, since I mostly compose, and do demo productions for publishing only i.e. no "final" productions.

But it sounds great, and If you get that, and do something nice with it, PM me, I'd love to hear it.

. . .
HM

Frodo · Post by **Frodo** » Wed Aug 22, 2007 6:47 am

Hey HeadMaster

I'm no pluckmeister myself, but I am discovering that these sounds from an earlier era have made deeper roots on my psyche than I thought. Yet, I've never really done anything about it.

Rickenbacker not only has a great and unique sound, it has a uniquely classic design. Strangely enough, the design didn't have to work but that trademark teardrop pickguard, the assymetrical cutaways, and that unmistakable nameplate give the instrument a striking balance of curves and angles that make for a truly beautiful work of art that looks like no other guitar on the market.

Lennon and Harrison aside, there's the legendary Toots Thielmans who was going strong on the Ricky in the 50's (which was Lennon's inspiration), and then of course later, there was Roger McGuinn of the Byrd's--- couldn't resist this pic: such a great shot of his Ricky 12-string....

zed · Post by **zed** » Thu Aug 23, 2007 1:27 am

Frodo wrote:Ampeg SVX is nominated for a 2007 TEC Award!

Dammit. Now I want it to be a 3 for 1 special. Don't know what I'm gonna do now. I want the Amplitube 2, Classic Reverb and the Ampeg SVX. It seems that all of them would be very useful in most of my projects.

I sure wish I was made of money.

Here is a link that may be of interest:
http://www.beatlesgear.com

Envious of all those vintage amplifiers. Man they made them look sweet back in the '50s and early '60s.