I am starting this thread to invite suggestions regarding sound modules that would work well with JammerLive.

Frank L. Rosenthal has done some pioneering work with JammerLive and concluded the combination with Gigasampler is not ready for prime time. JammerLive can be interfaced simply with the internal sounds of a keyboard. For more flexibility in selecting sounds, an external module can be used. As Frank has pointed out, some sort of midi merge capability would be required if the module were to play both JammerLive accompaniment and lead. Thus, sound modules with two midi inputs (or equivalent) are of special interest.

The Roland (or Edirol) SC-8820 is worth a look. First, the MSRP is below $450 and weights less than 1 pound. It has 32MB of compressed sounds which Roland considers equivalent to 64MB. The module is GM2 compatible.

This is a USB device. The USB interface provides power to the SC-8820 and serves as a two-way midi connection. The SC-8820 also has a midi in and a midi out.
I believe the midi in and the USB are merged.

I cannot tell from the Edirol website what is the best way to configure a JammerLive system with the SC-8820. It would be nice if a single midi cable from the controller to the module were all that was needed other than a USB cable from the computer to the module. If anyone has a chance to check this configuration out, please report.

For more connectivity at a higher price, the Edirol SC-8850 is worth a look. Same sounds, but two midi ins in addition to USB.

Clif


[This message has been edited by Clif Anderson (edited 03-19-2000).]

Yamaha offers the MU128. This is similar to the SC-8850 in that it offers more than one midi in plus direct computer connectivity. An advantage is the plug-in architecture, which will allow a vocal harmony plug-in board, as well as several synthesis options.

Clif

I seem to be talking to myself in this thread, but myabe someone will read it anyway. I have been looking for modules that would work with JAMMER Live in a simple configuration. I have found two classes of modules that meet this requirement. The first class, including the modules listed in my messages above, are basically midi interfaces with built-in sounds. The second class are modules with two midi inputs (and a midi thru) that provide for 32 midi channels. In this case, 16-track styles (!)along with 16-tracks of lead can be played at once. Examples of modules in this class include the Roland 5080 and the Emu Proteus workalikes (Proteus 2000, Extreme Lead XL-1, Hammon B3 module, etc.) I think the two midi inputs were originally intended for sequencer plus controller inputs, but JAMMER Live can serve instead of the sequencer.

In the cases of the Roland 5080 and the Proteus 2000-type modules, the capacity is for over 100MB of pre-loaded ROM sounds. In addition, both provide for custom sounds through RAM (Roland) or Flash ROM (Emu, but requires an Emu sampler to make the Flash ROM).

Correcting an earlier post of mine, the Roland Keyboard is the XV-88 expandable to over 100MB of sounds. JAMMER Live can be used to convert this sound monster into an arranger keyboard.

We have read rumors of a new Roland 1200 arranger. I am assuming these rumours are just wishful thinking. In this vein, I hope it accepts JV and XV expansion boards and has a vocal harmonizer. (As far as I am concerned, the D-beam controller can be omitted.)

Clif

What about the SW1000XG http://www.xgfactory.com/html/prod/prod_f.htm

Hey Guys, An old Roland Sound Canvas works fine with 2 midi ins if you need them...SC-55 and SC155, also SC-88...

Hi elle and Fran

Thanks for adding to the list. I should have followed elle's link, but I have not yet. I believe the SW1000XG is a PCI version of the Yamaha MU100. It seems like a good choice for a desktop computer with controller configuration. Since it accepts the Yamaha plug ins, it can even accommodate vocal harmony. I actually have the Yamaha MU100R, which uses the same sounds but comes with vocal harmony and VL synthesis built in. This is also a good alternative.

The original Sound Canvas's may offer the most cost effective high-quality sound module plus midi interface.

One issue for me is GM2 compatibility. I assume I want it, but I cannot find out specifically what it offers over vanilla GM. I believe it has an expanded ethnic sound set, including two Gamelan kits. If anyone knows more about GM2, I would like to hear about it. Anyway the new Rolands and the Yamaha MU128 are GM2 compatible.

By the way, has there ever been a rack mount arranger?

I used to have the Roland RA90 sliding in and out my 19inch table top effects rack :-)

...oh, and there is the Roland sound canvas PCcard for 'laptop arranging'.

Thanks elle, you are quite a resource. I will put the Roland card for laptop arranging on my list to consider. Hopefully, by the time I spring for it, they will have upgraded to the GM2 soundset.

Clif

A site for laptop musicians.
"The Musical Notebook Computer"
http://members.aol.com/notebooks1

For example it describes

The EMU8710ps is a GM/GS-compatible wavetable synth enhanced with 2 MB of SoundFont RAM. It's also a 16-bit/44.1kHz full duplex* audio card which, when connected to the optional breakout box, features S/PDIF optical digital outputs. (*Mono record/Stereo playback) EMU8710ps

Clif

Thanks for pointing out that site for laptop musicians Clif, that is a useful link.

These quotes from a newsgroup post suggest to me a reason for considering using a sound module with JAMMER Live instead of Gigasampler. In the latter case, you have to worry about the copy protection scheme. Perhaps it is not a big deal to carry the CDROM around. But it adds another complication. Sometimes my CDROM reader cannot read a CDROM, sometimes they get scratched. JAMMER Live is much more user friendly in this respect.


"When I talked to Nemesys tech support to get my Gigasampler working (wrong key being sent from their website) they did say that GigaSTUDIO will have a CD-based copy protection key so they will not be doing the mysterious hard-drive encryption. So I imagine that scheme caused headaches for Nemesys as well as their customers!"

"I have ReBirth 2, and seldom use it due to the fact I need to find the CD,
insert it, wait for the CD to cycle up, then run the app. And, the CD
'checking' process takes an added ten seconds. So, I have over a minute of
wait time."


[This message has been edited by Clif Anderson (edited 04-05-2000).]