MIDI at gigs.

[jaboggess]

Hi folks, I've been using sequencers since the first Sequential Circuits 6-track synth was around. The best software I ever used was a package called Texture. It was a DOS program so you know its long gone. I've yet to come across any software to match its live playing intuitiveness. Even the major programs today don't have all of these features (I've tried 'em all).

I checked the ShowPlay site. Kind of light on info so I emailed them. Anyone using ShowPlay know if it will do the following?

Texture Example

Pattern Measures/Beats Repeats

Intro 1-4 / (beats clock) options are 1-99 or loop
Verse 1 1-16 1
Chorus 1-8 1
Verse 2 1-16 1
Change 1-4 1
Chorus 2 1-8 1
Solo 1-4 loop
Verse 3 1-8 1
Outro 1-4 4
End 1-2 1

The way it works is you:

- create your patterns in pattern mode
- drag your patterns into song mode in the order you want them to play
- start the song
- each pattern will play in sequence as the current pattern finishes
- when you get to the pattern that loops, it goes into loop mode so you can solo as long as you want
- when you finish the solo, you hit the “L” key and as soon as the current pattern reaches the end, it moves on the next pattern in the list
Here are some added features:

- at any point in time, you can hit the “L” key to loop a pattern
- at any point in time you can use the arrow down keys to cue up a pattern. For example, if you’re nearing the end of the song and the singer wants to go back to the first verse, you just use the arrow key to go up and highlight the first verse. It blinks to indicate that’s where you’re going after the current pattern finishes.

Just these few features give you total control of the song. The clock lets you know how many measures are left in the pattern because it counts…ex: 1-4, 2-4, 3-4, 4-4 and then moves on.

A minutes/second clock was also included so you’d know how long your song would be once you lined up all the patterns.

[a.j.]

Hi jaboggess and terriandralph,

I know I'm starting to sound like I have shares in PG Music (trust me I don't), but I own two of their products which can help both of you.

Firstly, terriandralph, Powertracks allows you to type in scrolling lyrics on a note for note basis, and display them in a variety of ways. When you open a midi file, it also interprets the chords and displays them (sometimes with deadly accuracy, or not, depending on which track you tell it to interpret from). Makes for an instant rolling cheat sheet for your guitarist (but it does make them lazy!)

jaboggess, I think Band-in-a-box from PG Music (www.pgmusic.com) will do what you are looking for. It allows you to create song patterns (as simply as by typing in chords and selecting style - the new version has thousands). You can then decide which bars are intro, verse, chorus, etc and how many times to repeat. I'm sure it also does looping on the fly.

Its very powerful software - when the DOS version first came out it was really good, at the time midi files on the net were few and far between, it's a great one-man band tool. Because we've got so hooked into using ready made midi files (sorry Glenn!) we hardly use it for gigs, which is a shame. We mainly use it to write play-along practice patterns for teaching.

Check it out

[a.j.]

Hi Terriandralph,

Just another thought (use it, don't use it), even though my midi software can scroll lyrics, and I have tested it at home, I have never used it. I have seen artists who do, and there is nothing worse that watching a singer constantly glancing down at a screen (starts to look too much like karaoke). I think that having all these tools does not do the artiste any good.

There is no substitute for learning the words.

[charlie]

Hello jabogges,

wow...that sounds like an extremely intuitive program....ShowPLay is basically a GM software sequencer that is designed for live midi-musicians. Does not have recording capabilities as such, but key/tempo/patch changes/mute edit functions are possbile...while the sequence is running. Does have Karoake display or Word Doc. Song lists, sets, etc. I do my editing on Power Tracks Pro & load edited sequence into ShowPlay...play around with it...move key up/down...find tempo that feels best.....save...and there I go!