JABB Demos - Sonar and MIDI files

[Tom Hopkins]

I've received numerous requests for me to post the Sonar and MIDI files for the demos of Jazz and Big Band. I resisted these requests for a number of reasons, including:

1. I intend to bring out detailed tutorials for these demos and other interesting techniques once the library has successfully migrated to the Kontakt 2 player.
2. Sonar has a problem with file exchanges where the files include virtual instrument plugins. Pathways rarely translate between systems. With the more complex demo mixes this is a real problem because the configuration and use of advanced Sonar tools are inseparable from the final results. Very few systems will correctly load the JABB instances. This means that it is up to the user to reconstruct all instrument loads and assignments – not fun. By the way, this is a Sonar problem, not a JABB problem, and Cakewalk is aware of it. A fix should be in the works.
3. The basic MIDI files, without tutorial explanation, are only for skilled and adventurous users who are capable of analyzing the files to reveal the techniques being used and understand why they are being used in a particular way. JABB forensics! This, of course, leaves a lot of people out and I don't like to leave people out. Also, as mentioned above, the more complex demo mixes are a combination of MIDI editing techniques and audio mixing techniques. The MIDI data alone does not tell the whole story. People using just the MIDI files miss all the essential audio mixing information.

Despite these things I have decided to post some of the demo files anyway, partly because the transition to the new player is taking much longer than I anticipated and partly because it is probably best to release as much information as possible (however inadequately explained) for a product as intricate as Jazz and Big Band. The catch is that explanations and questions arising from these files will largely need to wait until the tutorials are released. It's an unfortunate fact of the hectic nature of Garritan life right now that I will have precious little time available to answer questions. So, with these files you will be pretty much on your own figuring things out (another thing I don't like to do, if I can help it.)

The files below are not “cleaned up” - they are as I created them while hurrying through the process, so errors and ambiguities no doubt exist here and there. It will be up to you to identify the chaff as you extract the wheat. So, without further ado, here are some of the most-requested files plus some brief thoughts about each:

Chuck Israels – Margot's Mood

www.garritan.com/JABB/SonarAndMIDI/CIsraelsMargotsMoodPost.cwp
www.garritan.com/JABB/SonarAndMIDI/CIsraelsMargotsMoodPost.mid


See the detailed treatment of key parts: The solo trumpet and tenor, plus the various lead parts. Once again, automated EQ is used throughout in certain parts.

Paul Read – Ballad for Mr. G

www.garritan.com/JABB/SonarAndMIDI/PReadBallad4MrGPost.cwp
www.garritan.com/JABB/SonarAndMIDI/PReadBallad4MrGPost.mid


Lots of detailed MIDI data in the flugelhorn solo to examine – watch the treatment of articulations including the octave slurs and runs. There are many doubled parts that required extra work to minimize phasing problems. Automated EQ again.

Tom Hopkins – Psychosis in Trumpetsville

www.garritan.com/JABB/SonarAndMIDI/HopkinsPsychosisInTrumpetsvillePost.cwp
www.garritan.com/JABB/SonarAndMIDI/HopkinsPsychosisInTrumpetsvillePost.mid


This demo concentrates on creating scream trumpet parts. Pay close attention to the use of the shakes layer switching. The shakes layer is a very powerful feature that is not limited to creating shakes. I use it for many things in the trumpets, including fast upper register runs and large interval glissandos.


Gary Lindsay – 5 saxes and 8 brass
www.garritan.com/JABB/SonarAndMIDI/GLindsay5Saxes8BrassPost.cwp
www.garritan.com/JABB/SonarAndMIDI/GLindsay5Saxes8BrassPost.mid


This is the most recent version of this example from Gary Lindsay's book, “Jazz Arranging Techniques.” Gary's book is highly recommended. This demo version differs from the earlier one in its attention to MIDI detail and use of automated parametric EQ in the audio.


Gary Lindsay – 5 clarinets
www.garritan.com/JABB/SonarAndMIDI/GLindsay5ClarinetsPost.cwp
www.garritan.com/JABB/SonarAndMIDI/GLindsay5ClarinetsPost.mid


Another brief example from the Lindsay book. Note the use of EQ on the clarinets to achieve the desired tone quality.


Gary Lindsay – Trombone section open and with mutes
www.garritan.com/JABB/SonarAndMIDI/GLindsayTBoneSectionMutesPost.cwp
www.garritan.com/JABB/SonarAndMIDI/GLindsayTBoneSectionMutesPost.mid


Use the keyswitch to change between open and mutes. The keyswitch is placed in each track preceding the first musical note. It is set to open as default.

There is a great deal of information contained in these demo files that show how to effectively use the myriad controllers designed to help sculpt various aspects of the sound. Good luck digging through these files and I hope you find them of value until the tutorials eventually see the light of day.

Tom

P.S. Just for convenience sake, here are the links to the mp3s:

http://www.garritan.com/JABB/JABBDem...rgotsMoodR.mp3
http://www.garritan.com/JABB/JABBDem...dMrGRemix2.mp3
http://www.garritan.com/JABB/JABBDem...mpetsville.mp3
http://www.garritan.com/JABB/JABBDem...ass5SaxesR.mp3
http://www.garritan.com/JABB/JABBDem...5Clarinets.mp3
http://www.garritan.com/JABB/JABBDem...enAndMutes.mp3

Also, keep in mind that I often used convolution for reverb in the final mixes above - sometimes different for each instrumental section of the band.

P.P.S. Here are versions of the Sonar files (supplied by TEZ) that may load better on some systems:

http://www.garritan.com/JABB/SonarAn...sMoodPostT.cwp
http://www.garritan.com/JABB/SonarAn...d4MrGPostT.cwp
http://www.garritan.com/JABB/SonarAn...villePostT.cwp
http://www.garritan.com/JABB/SonarAn...BrassPostT.cwp
http://www.garritan.com/JABB/SonarAn...inetsPostT.cwp
http://www.garritan.com/JABB/SonarAn...MutesPostT.cwp

[Little Red King]

Thank you very much for this.

I am sure that it will provide me with countless hours of 'JABB forensics' and that sounds like a lot of fun.

I am new to JABB and I really appreciate the chance to see how experienced users employ the large range of controls and techniques.

I am also very impressed with the general customer-responsive nature of the Garritan company. You all really inspire user-satisfaction and user-loyalty.

[sergiobklyn]

Thank you very much.

[thesoundsmith]

Thanks indeed for these midi files. While it will still take some sleuthing to figure out WHY something did what it did, seeing the controlled data interaction will be VERYuseful.

[Tom Hopkins]

I've received clearance to post the demos from Gary Lindsay's book so I've added them to the original post above.

Tom

[sergiobklyn]

Sonar has a problem with file exchanges where the files include virtual instrument plugins. Pathways rarely translate between systems. With the more complex demo mixes this is a real problem because the configuration and use of advanced Sonar tools are inseparable from the final results. Very few systems will correctly load the JABB instances. This means that it is up to the user to reconstruct all instrument loads and assignments – not fun. By the way, this is a Sonar problem, not a JABB problem, and Cakewalk is aware of it. A fix should be in the works.

Do you have any idea as when this will be fixed?
Thanks,
Sergio

[Tom Hopkins]

Do you have any idea as when this will be fixed?
Thanks,
Sergio

No, this is entirely up to Cakewalk. No one would like to see it fixed more than me!

Tom

[TEZ]

First, many thanks Tom for the demo Sonar files which I recently downloaded and they are much appreciated.

As per your caveat in reason #2 regarding the Sonar file exchange problem, the VST's wouldn't load on my system... fortunately the Sonar5 file for the first JABB big band demo had no problems at all. So being lazy I thought to fix the CWP binaries for the demos to get the VST's to load, which happily I did by making the VST references in each demo's cwp match that for the Big Band demo's GLinsay1a.cwp and all the JABB instances loaded up fine. Other people also seemed to have no problem with GLinsay1a.cwp Sonar 5 file so I zipped up the tweaks to JABB_Demos_cwp_Tweaks.zip (3.61 MB) and posted them at the link below:

http://www.yousendit.com/transfer.ph...7C02AE76AD9866

Each cwp name in the zip is suffixed with a " T" for tweak, so if you or someone wants to grab this file check it out and post it somewhere permanent, please do.
Others having the file exchange problem with the originals might well find these all load up fine.

Sorry about the YouSendIt limitations... but thought this might be of some use.

Regards,
Tez

[Tom Hopkins]

TEZ,

Many thanks to you for doing this. I'll download them tonight and replace the files in the original links. Tell us more: Exactly what did you do to fix this? This could come in very handy for other files in the future (assuming Cakewalk doesn't fix things at their end.)

This is another example of this forum having the best group of generous users anywhere!

Tom

[Tom Hopkins]

In the original post above I've added links to the files modified by TEZ. Rather than replace the originals I placed the modified files at the bottom of the original post. I did this because I found that, although they may load more successfully on most other peoples' systems, they wouldn't load on mine. Probably just the problem in reverse but, to be safe, I've given people the choice of both versions in the hopes that one of them will work.

Tom