IanWatson

I'm getting to grips with playing the old acoustic gee-tar - but don't have anyone to jam with in the evenings over here

I'm looking for a program that will let me put some backing tracks together to play along with. Want to be able to program basic drum patterns, a keyboard track and maybe some horn lines if I'm being ambitious.

I'm comfortable with on-screen keyboard input, or preferably clicking onto a stave/score - crotchets, quavers and such like.

I've just bought a Creative Audigy card - hopefully I can use the internal sounds on that as I've got no other MIDI equipment. I don't think anything was bundled with the card (OEM) and if it was, it's all in Dutch..

Other proviso is low price/freeware if poss (just bought a money-pit of an apartment) although I'd hate to rule any suggestions out.

ScoobyDoo555

The obvious one is Steinberg/Propellerhead Reason.

You can download it from here:-

http://www.propellerheads.se/

Granted, it's a demo version, but apparently, you can get a patch that turns the demo into the real thing

Otherwise, you could look at Steinberg Cubase VST (you'll have to use your sound card as the sound source), however, VST is cr@p (IMHO).

You can also look at Band-In-A-Box, Cakewalk....

The other one to look for is Emagic Logic Platinum - this is the easiest and fastest to use. It is also the most powerful.

Before anybody challenges, YES! I know EXACTLY what I'm talking about - don't argue!!!!!!!

Hope this helps.

Dan

IanWatson

Dan- you're a diamond - I'll check 'em out tonight..

If they're rubbish, I'll know who to blame

Dizzy

www.guitar-pro.com

iirc its great for playing along with as it shows the tab u want to learn and all the backing

[edited to say]
maybee its not quite what your after but I know what you mean I'll have a look myself 2nite

[Edited by Dizzy - 7/23/2002 4:57:15 PM]

IanWatson

does look v interesting Dizzy - cheap too, so may give it a whirl.

Have you used it much? Maybe mail me offline?

Would probably need something like the Propellorhead Reason as well, though..

GaryK

you might want to check out www.line6.com/guitarport its a hardware effects unit but also has an online (subscribtion based) website with *loads* of tunes you can jam along too, have only had a brief look so far.

Gary

ScoobyDoo555

Apologies - I've just read back my post (the phrase "Never post in anger" springs to mind)

Everybody - sorry if I sounded like a ****!!! Had a REAL bad day - still, NO excuse...

Forgot about the Line6/Pod stuff.... really good

Reason is easy to use, however, please bear in mind that these are professional packages (the stuff that the big boys and studios/MIDI programmers use......) I only mention this because they're designed to be used with synths, samplers etc..... although sound card compatability is pretty good too.

Still, they're not THAT difficult.....

I'll just call security and have myself thrown out of the building.......

Dan

IanWatson

Dan - your post seemed OK to me!

Cheers for the help - downloaded the Guitar Pro thing and the Propellerhead Reason last night (120k per sec and 140 k per sec simultaneously I love Broadband in Amsterdam)

Couldn't seem to get any sound output from Reason - need to mess with the sound card I think.

cheers for the help

ScoobyDoo555

Reason - you need to select the right sound output in the preferences menu..... IIRC....

Dan

Dizzy

I've never payed a penny for Guitar pro... although as you say it is cheep.

I've never done anything with it except load a song and play along with it... there are literaly thousands of songs if you download the full songbook