Suggestions for a VST to provide “Drum Machine” functionality for live performances/jam sessions where I can wire a plugin instance that’s pre-loaded with a kit type and a bunch of pre-written patterns the VST stores for a given song type - say a 16 bar blues, with the VST’s stock song parts/variations i.e. “intro” “verse” “fill 1” “chorus” etc. Then I select the pattern variations in real-time (live) on-the-fly as needed, directly through the plugin’s UI or maybe I navigate between Rackspace variations with different drum patterns - if that’s an option. I’m on Windows.
I want to avoid copying / pre-programming / loading / triggering MIDI patterns/variations/song parts from the VST- as I just want to trigger the preset patterns directly in the VST instead so I can jam as I do now with my crappy hardware drum machine.
I tried this with Addictive Drums by wiring AD2 to start/stop in GP - and the AD2 playhead starts/stops as predicted but there’s no audio unless I click the green Play button on the AD2 plugin. However, when I do click the Play on AD2, then Stop it in GP, the AD2 playhead jumps back to the start of the pattern then continuously plays the 1st beat of the pattern. I’m sure I’m doing something wrong.
But AD2 does not have that issue when I use it in a DAW (e.g. Ableton Live, Cakewalk) where I can Start or Stop on the DAW’s transport control and AD2 will start, play a pattern and stop the pattern accordingly.
I read some similar posts in the this forum but the use cases didn’t appear to specify the need for a simple drum machine experience for live and unstructured jam sessions (i.e. no programming set song / set lists and MIDI) so out of the plugins that were suggested - Strike 2, EZDrummer, Jamstyx, MDrummer, Grove Agent, MODO Drum and ToonTrack - I don’t exactly what fits my use case the best - nor could I tell if Addictive Drums can work - or why it works in a DAW but not with GP
I’m using MDrummer (Melda Productions) for live performance. I play guitar and using a midi controller I trigger loops for (for example) verse, intro, chorus, bridge, etc. MDrummer has an inbuilt loop designer. Loops can be triggered using a midi note. You can have multiple loops associated with one midi note. These loops are in that case played randomly. Lots of possibilities for some humanization.
The free version of MDrummer lacks the Loop designer functionality and other advanced functions.
Unfortunately the UJAM App needs to be running in the background while using UJAM with GigPerfomer. In addition to that I have not figured out how to sync the tempo between my Rackspace and UJAM Virtual Guitarist…
Hello All
I’m trying to set up Groove Agent SE in standalone mode for backing drum tracks on my laptop for live performance. (Win 10). Don’t have Cubase on my laptop as I do my writing and recording on my desktop.
My question is, in the standalone GA SE, does anyone know if I can adjust the tempo of a drum pattern? Is there a MIDI learn function in GA that I can assign to a knob on my physical controller to adjust the tempo of drum patterns in Groove Agent SE? Or is there a feature in GP that can control the tempo of Groove Agent SE?
I bought Airstrike 2 VST (produced by Air in Germany) after a suggestion from another forum member. I think its brilliant and have been using it for several years.
Ujam V Bass runs as you would expect. I route VB into a 4 channel mixer along with Airstrike 2. Airstrike 2 responds to midi from my iPad for fills, stops and starts etc. V Bass follows chord input from my virtual guitar and keyboard. Is that what you wanted to know?
That was one part of the question and yes it works, the UJAM Virtual Guitarist is in sync with the tempo of my rackspace, although the style has originally another tempo and shows the “wrong” tempo in the name of the style (124 bpm - Horde of demons).
Another question was: do you have to run the ujam app, where you register your Virtual Bass, everytime you use it with GigPerformer? Because that would mean, that I can only use it, when my MacBook is connected to the internet.
You need to use their app to register. You go online and download/register/install all using the app. Everything will work then without the internet. Using V Bass, V guitar (both Ujam) plus Strike 2 is the best setup I’ve have had ever. Sounds great and the best alternative to an arranger keyboard in my opinion.
Tank you! Now it works for me. Every day since I bought the V guitar I have to open the UJAM app and have to register again. Yesterday it suddenlay works…
