Is there anyone up to date with the latest software arrangers?

Currently there are 4 software arrangers, where Q-ranger only works on the Lionstracs groove and Varranger and LiveArranger only work in combination with the Ketron SD2... which in fact makes them all hardware dependant and not real software arrangers anymore

So that leaves live-styler, from which i own a previous version. The program itselves was actually quite good, but getting good sounds for the styles was way to timeconsuming back then.

Now the Live-Styler is available with LS-T2 emulation and LS-SD emulation http://www.live-styler.de/home/de/?Shop These styles actually sound quite okay Sound examples

I was wondering if these are the samples Norbert borrowed from Lionstracs, or are these totally new samples created by himself or someone helping him out?

I think 220 uero with more then 2000 high quallity sounds and almost 50000 styles including a hard drive and delivery..


Anyone experience with Varranger, and does it work better then Live-Arranger? And does it still require the SD2?

Bachus,
vArranger does need the SD2 unit to really shine. I have been using it now for about 6 months and really like how easy it is to use and setup songs for gigs.

So far I have found it plays just about any of the early Yamaha styles - PSR - T3. Dan is working now on adding Roland compatibility.

I have no experience with Live Styler so I can't compare the two.

The best thing about vArranger is the awesome support Dan provides. For instance, yesterday he spent over an hour with me via the internet helping me setup my midi controller keyboard so I can control vArranger from the keyboard - I am a midi newbie. Oh yes, there is never a charge for his help. What other vendor does this?

Deane

Hi Bachus
for ME this all 4 arranger software can be forget really soon..
I'm working right now to deal with Jorgen, the developer of EnergyXT:
http://www.energy-xt.com/
Jorgen is very interested to develope the missing realtime styles parts on energy XT.
For that on my current OS 5.3 we have already removed the Qranger engine and starting to integrate the Energy XT:
http://www.lionstracs.com/demo/energyxtgroove.jpeg

On energy XT are already working the unlimited Markers patterns, Unlimited tracks Folders= chords tabs and realtime BPM-Pitch changes of audio+midi.
Of course is complete of integrated synth, sampler, mix for a final embedded file style!
All more features you can find on the energy website, of course you can FREE download and test, is full working without the SAVE fuction, untill you buy the serial.
test it, is really AMAZING!
This can be the ONLY arranger software of the future!
( for that I will invest my money there)
Let me know what you think about
Regards

Hi Dom,
is the Groove XR going to be shipped with this new software , or is it using Qranger & LiveStyler??

Also, what style format is Energy XT using? Yamaha? or some format of it's own. Sounds really interesting.

This is interesting, becouse energy XT is using elastique pitch-shifting and time-stretching to

Hi Bachus,
haven't tried Live Arranger, but I do have newly acquired VArranger & Live Styler ( plus OMB ). Haven't really had an awful lot of time to spend on VArranger & LiveStyler, been busy miding my keyboards & software together.

I actually bought an SD2 to go with VArranger, it's the simplest way of doing it. And, as Deane mentioned, Dan is really helpful. Also , apart from being able to play Ketron Styles, it also plays Yamaha & he's working on Roland. He's also currently finishing off the ability to save a song chord tune, as a midifile. Similar to Band in a Box & OMB's Arranger function, ie type in chord & choose style parts, save as midifile.

You could actually use a softsynth via a virtual midi cable. LoopBe1 is the only one that appears to work with my Win7 64 bit laptop as far as I'm aware. Midi Yoke works with my BIAB & OMB, but doesn't show up in V Arranger . Unfortunately loopbe1 sometimes causes me hassles.

For the sake of $40, I took the risk & actually bought the SD Sample Disk on the LiveStyler site. I gather it's supposed to be used in conjuction with the usb hardrive? but I couldn't quite figure it out.
It arrived, and it's actually something like 2 gigs of individual sd2 soundfonts & styles. Actually suits me fine. Unfortunately probably too big to make one gigantic soundfont bank from, but what I was mainly after were the sd2 Live Drum sounds.

I actually use SampleLord for my soundfont banks. Individual fonts can be loaded, just need to sort out the best way of organizing them.

Currently I've got so much new stuff, just need the time to sort it all out.

vArranger is a true 64 bit application on x64 OS (not emulation of x32)
For X64, the only one who works today is :
http://www.tobias-erichsen.de/loopMIDI.html

LoopBe1 own a feedback protection who is badly programmed. I asked them to correct the bug I found, but they didn't listenend to me...

Rikki, let me know if you can get good and playable sounds with the SD2 soundfonts

Hi rikkis
The groove XR will be shipped this week with included the native Linux energyXT Jack version as base sequencer system.
Qranger and livestyler code on OS 5.3 are now totally removed.
On the next updates the energyXT will be full integrated on Groove XR front panel with the all realtime feature.
On LCD you will see the styles selector and browser like a normally embedded arranger.
On Groove you will see only the arranger GUI, the energyXT editor can remain hidden.

EnergyXT use propietary format, with embedded file session, that contain: seq data, synth, sampler, effects + can Freeze on same file VST plugins too.
When you create a new style/session you can share the same file for windows, Mac and Linux users and they can play your session totally same as you have developed!
We will supply to Jorgen the qranger code for import direct the styles and map automatically the all tracks.

I really love how innovative you allways are making twelve steps at a time all the time...

The Energy XT host is really amazing, if you can implement true style play and compatibillity intoo Energy XT that would be great. the thing really missing in Energy XT is a session view like Ableton live and Sonar have... espescially for arranger play this should be the best addition to any arranger, adding even more live flexibillity.

But then thats looking forward... looking back i can see a lot of unhappy faces from current Q-ranger users that are going to have to change all their current performances to a new format consuming even more time and thats something that most people don't have... Somewhere somehow you have to settle for one program as the core of your design and stick with it.

Technical people like you and me can only cheeer with every improvement, but people that need their arrangers to perform live on stage and have stabbility and continuity as the core of their system will be turned off by these changes, Lionstracs needs to throw off the coat of a continuall development project and somehow soemwhere settle for something more final so people can really start creating content for your products.

But then i allways tought the Q-eranger never brought what you hoped it to be... seeing how tastenpoint still uses live-styler in thier demo... Maybe a next step for the arranger part will not be to bad afterall...


Good luck with the implementation of this awesome new tool.

So basically with the version 5.3 there is (temporarilly) no arranger in the groove XR, while many people might have bought it as an arranger because you guys advertised it like that?

How long is it Jorgen going to take before any stable arranger functions will work out of the box in Energy XT?

Hi Dan,
thank you for that.
LoopBe1 has been almost useless to me. I first tried it with Band in a Box. Everytime I switched my laptop on, I received some sort of error notification which was related to LoopBe1. I persisted with it for a while, and then found a way of loading Midi Yoke, so I unloaded it again. Recently tried to use it again with VArranger, sometimes it worked sometimes it didn't. I thought it was something to do with my laptop, so glad to read it's LoopBe1 that's the problem.

Great, I'll try the the one you suggested with SampleLord & let you know how I go with the SD2 soundfonts.