[
Date Prev][
Date Next] [
Thread Prev][
Thread Next]
[
Date Index][
Thread Index][
Author Index]
Some interesting JamMan experiments
Hey all...
With all the recent, and never-ending, posts on the amazing abilities of
both the EDP and Repeater, I thought I might toss in some relevant tidbits
about the much maligned and greatly outdated JamMan.
In the absence of a 'peater or EDP (tho there is about to be some news on
that front) of my own, I have been pushing the limits of my JamMan.
I recently put in a new upgrade chip from Bob Sellon (my previous efforts
with this wre plagued by a bug), and lo and behold the results are
fascinating.
1) Multiple loops running simultaneously: One of the great flaws of the JM
was it was set up more as a "phrase sampler" designed, methinks, to allow
grtists to set up rhythm patterns which they could endlessly solo over ad
nauseum. And while you could select up to 8 different loops, they each
had
to be run seperately. With the new upgrade, lops can be run
simultaneously,
thus aloowing greater laying possibilities.
Add to this that each loop has its own independent fade, replace, mute,
restart and pan position within a stereo field (that right, stereo), this
opens up a whole new horizon of inter-active looping with this box.
2) loops can be inverted...much as on the DL4 or Boomerrang.
3) there is now included a seperate, and adjustable (even programmable)
delay feature which may be applied pre-looping.
4) Although the loops themselves cannot be stored, the setup (pan, level,
MIDI Channnel, feedback, delay level) can be stored in memory on different
pages which are footswitch accessible, allowing different setups to be
"played" in a perfomance".
5) a mellotron like sample playback feature allows loops to be pitched and
played from a midi kybrd of CC pedal.
None of this really puts the JamBoy into the league of the Repeater or
EDP,
but it does open up new roads of creative looping with this archaic
device.
The interface for the upgrade is really not the easiest to navigate, and
requires some forethought, but nonetheless iy si a helluva improvement.
With
solo bass I have been greatly enjoying useing multiple loops which I can
fade (up or down) and create new mixes, mute at will, and replace as other
loops are running (kinda tosses away the filling up the box and stopping
paradigm which I know irks Kim to no end ). The assignable and r/t
controllable pan allows loops to "slide" in under others, whether in
stereo
or mono, sometimes acting as a rather crude "undo" function.
...and all of this is possible sans-midi! (If any of you remember my MIDI
meltdown at Loopstock, you can imagine my joy of being able to do this
with
just two Digitech FS300 footswitches!).
But, on the other hand, hearing all about the marvels of LoopIV, and
playing
some duets with Andre (that EDP uber-badass!) really opened my eyes and
ears
to the wonders of that box...as did Bill Walker's incredible Repeater
displays of late. That, in a way led me to really digging into the JamMan
(which along with my DL4, are my looping tools thus far), and working it
until I could, as has been noted on recent threads, turn what might have
been designed as an fx box into an interactive instrument.
....and, I might note, as soon as my escrow closes I am ordering an new
EDP.
Next thing, I suppose, is to send Kim a check for Loop IV and take some
private lessons with Andre!
Yours in loopage,
Max
_________________________________________________________________
Send and receive Hotmail on your mobile device: http://mobile.msn.com