New songwriting demo using Jam Origin MIDI Guitar 2

[TwilightOdyssey]

Finished roughing out a new song today. All instruments are my guitar going DI with the Jam Origin plugin converting audio to MIDI. Lots of tweaking to be done, and final synth selection, drum programming, etc -- but the basic idea is pretty rad, and tracking is ridiculously accurate.

EDIT: Replaced the drums.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: New songwriting demo using Jam Origin MIDI Guitar 2

I hear some things that I like and some things that seem wildly inappropriate. e.g. Respectively, the Vangelis style pulse at 0:58 and the sax section at approximately 3:00.

 

[Phantasmagoria]

Re: New songwriting demo using Jam Origin MIDI Guitar 2

Technically, I won't claim to know a thing about what you're talking about lol (the whole midi thing is way beyond me....) but it does have a cool/80's -ish vibe. Was the solo (at the end) synth or guitar?

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: New songwriting demo using Jam Origin MIDI Guitar 2

The lead guitar part at approximately 7:00 is something synthetic, triggered from a guitar - which was kinda the point of the recording.

To my ears, the JOMG2 tracking is good. (On classic Roland hexaphonic systems, rapid playing in the upper registers tended to result in an embarrassing electronic gurgling sound.) The sound used for the soloing seems unnatural at times.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: New songwriting demo using Jam Origin MIDI Guitar 2

Technically, I won't claim to know a thing about what you're talking about lol (the whole midi thing is way beyond me....) but it does have a cool/80's -ish vibe. Was the solo (at the end) synth or guitar?

I will not pretend to know the technology involved, but my guess is that this plugin uses pitch detection similar to Autotune or Melodyne and converts it to MIDI data (pitch, velocity, pitch bend, modulation, etc). In practice, you plug a guitar into your interface and strap Jam Origin across the fx insert. The plugin is now converting your guitar's audio to MIDI. That's it.

Depending on which DAW you use, the procedure is a bit different, but you then open up a software instrument or MIDI track and select your instrument of choice. Every noise your guitar makes (including handling noise) comes out as MIDI. It takes a bit of work to get your technique down and set up the plugin so that it's triggering correctly, but nothing life-altering.

When done, you go back and clean up the extraneous note data and voila -- finished synth track! Just make sure to disable Jam Origin on that instance or it will continue to send MIDI...

ALL of the instruments on this were performed using Jam Origin.

Oh, one other thing to keep in mind is that guitar is actually tuned an octave below concert pitch -- so, middle C on guitar is actually an octave below middle C on a piano; therefore you will probably want to set Jam Origin at +1 or +2 octaves when simulating keyboard synths.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: New songwriting demo using Jam Origin MIDI Guitar 2

The lead guitar part at approximately 7:00 is something synthetic, triggered from a guitar - which was kinda the point of the recording.

To my ears, the JOMG2 tracking is good. (On classic Roland hexaphonic systems, rapid playing in the upper registers tended to result in an embarrassing electronic gurgling sound.) The sound used for the soloing seems unnatural at times.

These are stock Logic synths; they will be reamped through my outboard synths. I also own hex pickups and a Roland guitar synth. Jam Origin is 100x better.

 

[JOLLY]

Re: New songwriting demo using Jam Origin MIDI Guitar 2

That's far out considering that's a guitar doing all of that.

 

[Kamanda~SD]

Re: New songwriting demo using Jam Origin MIDI Guitar 2

That's far out considering that's a guitar doing all of that.

Well...its a guitar controlling all that, it is being converted to MIDI.

Although I do agree, its coming along quite well, sounds great

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: New songwriting demo using Jam Origin MIDI Guitar 2

Thanks, guys!

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: New songwriting demo using Jam Origin MIDI Guitar 2

Reamped the MIDI tracks through some outboard synths. I kept the original Moog bass line for the verses as well as the lead guitar patch since I think they sound fine. All of the other patches have been changed. It's interesting to note how changing the patches changes the feel of the song. With the stock synths, it sounded very blobby, synth left/synth right to my ears. Using the outboard Roland and E-Mu patches transformed it to a much wider soundscape. Next instrument on the block will be the drums.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: New songwriting demo using Jam Origin MIDI Guitar 2

Does the full version of the software do anything that the demo/trial version does not?

I finally got around to trying out the "lite" version of the software. In between the spoiler advertisement silences, I managed to squeeze out a decent funky synth riff.

The tracking copes well with single note lines and simple block chords. I am having little success with glissandi and contrary motion bends. For this, I suspect, JOMG2 needs to follow the Roland practice of assigning a MIDI Channel per string.

Obviously, the synthesizer being triggered will also have to receive on six consecutive MIDI channels. Some older MIDI sound modules came with MIDI Mode 4. Most units would need to dedicate a multi-timbral "Performance" patch specifically to MIDI Guitar applications. Actual synth sounds can be selected remotely, using patch change commands. Effects parameter changes could quickly become troublesome.

Long story short. At the time of this writing, I think that the BOSS GT-100 tracks better.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: New songwriting demo using Jam Origin MIDI Guitar 2

I don't there is any difference between the trial and purchase versions. I have found that it requires quite a bit of tweaking between pickup type and height, the input on your interface, and the gain on the plugin itself. It worked best for me when I had the input gain on my interface WAY louder than I would use for tracking guitars, but it yielded the most responsive tracking for MIDI with the gain at 50%, which is where it seemed happiest.

It also varies in responsiveness from synth to synth. My original plan of tracking all the parts using EXS and then reamping those MIDI tracks directly to my other synths turned out to require a lot of back-end fiddling. Contrary to what Jam Origin would lead you to believe, you really need to settle on your synth patch right up front and then play into the patch for best results.

I still think the plugin is great, and it has its place ... it's just finding out what that place is in my setup/play style.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: New songwriting demo using Jam Origin MIDI Guitar 2

I don't think there is any difference between the trial and purchase versions.

Pity.

It varies in responsiveness from synth to synth.

I noticed that. I have not investigated thoroughly enough to decide whether this is due to the conversion output signal strength or the velocity curves in each synthesizer patch.

My original plan of tracking all the parts using EXS and then remapping those MIDI tracks directly to my other synths turned out to require a lot of back-end fiddling. Contrary to what Jam Origin would lead you to believe, you really need to settle on your synth patch right up front and then play into the patch for best results.

I like to browse soft synth plug-in patches, seeking the sound that seems to fit best with the composition du jour. Having to fiddle with the MIDI converter settings kills any spontaneity.

The other thing that I miss from Roland gear is a simple pitch transposition function within the converter. This saves having to store the transposition in the synth patch. It is also handy for recording in alternative tunings.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: New songwriting demo using Jam Origin MIDI Guitar 2

Replaced the drums with Arturia Sparkle samples ... was a lot of work, but so much fun, designing a custom kit from some of my favourite drum machines (Linn, Simmons, Roland, Yamaha ... they are all in there!)

 

[LLL]

Re: New songwriting demo using Jam Origin MIDI Guitar 2

Replaced the drums with Arturia Sparkle samples ... was a lot of work, but so much fun, designing a custom kit from some of my favourite drum machines (Linn, Simmons, Roland, Yamaha ... they are all in there!)

Nice work - parts of it remind me of late 80's Rush. :bigok:

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: New songwriting demo using Jam Origin MIDI Guitar 2

Thanks! It has that whole 'exercise in counting' in the intro lol. Also, I have given up on trying to shed the Rush influence ... it's just part of my musical DNA now!

I have started getting the template together for mixing this song; it's definitely going to be a challenge as this has very little familiar territory for me ... EVERYTHING is synthesized so there is no 'a snare is supposed to sound like X' here. In a way I guess it's liberating.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: New songwriting demo using Jam Origin MIDI Guitar 2

The new drum sounds are a distinct improvement. Some of them seem pretty dry.

 

[JOLLY]

Re: New songwriting demo using Jam Origin MIDI Guitar 2

That's some wild stuff. I dig it.

 

[everdrone]

Re: New songwriting demo using Jam Origin MIDI Guitar 2

cool guitar solo at the end!

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: New songwriting demo using Jam Origin MIDI Guitar 2

The new drum sounds are a distinct improvement. Some of them seem pretty dry.

Agreed. These are flat tracks, no effects or automation yet...