Update....

Disaster...

After all the work I did, I lost all my music settings and samples after a virus on my PC.

 For that reason, I didn't come back early.

Yes, I lost all the samples I had and all the drum patterns... everything!

Luckily, some loops I have saved in my Studio PC (where I make master and work with Ableton)

Doesn't matter, cry now... It's all gone.
All the backgrounds and textures, as well as the drum patterns and some tracks I had uploaded to the software, were gone.

I did get disappointed, but I didn't give up. I have been looking to get an old laptop (IBM) only to work with this machine and finally be mobile to make live shows, but... I HAVE A STORY FOR YOU:

Since I lost all my work due to the virus on my PC, I reinstalled the software and started from scratch.
I want to take things one step forward, so I decided to look for an (OLD IBM LAPTOP) because the old IBM laptops have the right connections to use with the machine (as you know from chapters before, this machine only works with tower PCS because they have a PS2 connection and a regular soundcard connection. Without these connections, the machine does not work, even using adapters.

However, after searching for a while, I found a solution to connect my laptop (Dell) to the machine, so I purchased it on eBay...

Brilliant, is it ???

It was... if the machine worked on it :( :( :(

It does work, but for some stupid reason, the drum loops don't keep the exact BPM.

The BPM fluctuates, so it's not possible to get the loops playing at the same tempo.

I don't know why... Everything looks and plays fine, but the Drum loops don't stay stable in BPM.

I know it's ridiculous, but I really don't know why this happens!

I installed and reinstalled multiple times, but the issue persisted.

I LOST MY DREAMS OF PLAYING LIVE WITH THIS MACHINE!!! 

(Unless I can take my PC to the stage, but that will look like a Jean Michel Jarre in concert)

No more live sessions !!

I did lose my expectations... I really want to make (WHATEVER)  from this machine.

I can always make home sessions 0, and that is what I want to show in the next chapter.

I will create a professional (Studio/Music) video.

This will be :

*VIDEO  0 - Sound introduction

* VIDEO 1 -  Play the track live

* VIDEO 2 -  Recording the individual sounds (drums/ percussions/ FX/ track)

* VIDEO 3 -  Add the sounds to Ableton

* VIDEO 4 -  Track construction

* MP3    - -   Track already made

Let's wait for the best.

Keep an eye on the DaDa Project Blog, I will be updating this shortly.

Project Zoom in

 Zoom into the Track Project

I'm going to take a close look at what I do to construct a track.
(NOTE: This may change until I have the first track ready to show) But anyway, these are the main buttons I use to construct a track.
Composition:
1 Drum loop
3 backgrounds
3 different sound patterns on the kaossilator

Drums

The first 2 lines of 6 buttons are the styles. The third line of buttons is the drums for each style. If I click the first button in the first line, I will have six different drum loops in the third line of buttons. This happens with all the style buttons.

So, I now have 6 drum loops set in the 3rd line. I click the first button of the 3rd  line and the drum loop starts.

Background

Once I have the drum loop playing, I need a background. I click the first button in the first line of buttons in the wavdj FX board, where I have uploaded the background sounds I want. This is not synchronised. I have to click the button at the same time as the crash in the drum loop, because they play as if they are synchronised. (precession.)
The first 3 buttons are 3 different backgrounds, set to play with the first drum loop button. Now I have the drums and the first background playing simultaneously (tempo - BPM).

Kaossilator

I have chosen 6 or 7 sounds that complement the drum and background. The sounds of the kaossilator really transform all the feeling of the track once I start to apply sound FX. Sure, I can put more drums with the kaossilator.

Mixer

The mixer is where everything comes together. It's all connected on wavdj channels, I can drop the sound of any one of these loops in and out without needing to turn off the sound himself. If I stop 1 of the loops playing, he will desynchronize from the others, but with the mixer, I can switch on and off the loops without needing to turn off the loop totally; he will be synchronised again when I drop him in.)



After playing around for some time, I changed to the next background.
In this case, I stop the first background loop completely and leave the drums and kaossilator running. together.

Now, I start the second background. Sometimes I need to start the background sound and stop a few times because I cannot always get the sound to start precisely at the same tempo as the drums. However, I usually get it right after 2 or 3 attempts, which makes for a nice intro to the sound as well.

Next, I hope I can post a track :)
I am delaying this because there are many things that can be explored and utilised in WavDJ that I want to try before presenting the final result.

Will be here at some point !

Chapter 18 - Resume

 Track Structure Resume

Expanding on this, it is challenging for some people to understand what I am really talking about.
That's why I like resumes!
It's where you read the important things at once and dont need to go into the whole story.

This is the resume of the Track Structure.

1- Drums
2- Background
3- Kaossilator

Drums

1 drum loop (64 or 128 bars)
These drum loops all include percussion and were created using the software program.
* Read more about the drums here
http://wavdj.blogspot.com/2009/12/chapter-4-drum-loops.html

Background

This consists of a sound or noise looping at the same tempo as the drums.
This background is totally independent of the drums and can be used with other drums (how far the drums are from the exact bpm)
Because this part of the WAVDJ machine does not loop, I have to import the sounds into Ableton and then place them at the same BPM, include more sounds, add voices, and loop the sound for around 10 minutes to provide enough space for improvisations.
* Read more about the FX part of the WAVDJ here, where the background loops are stored
http://wavdj.blogspot.com/2009/12/chapter-8-sound-fx.html

* Read about the backgrounds here
http://wavdj.blogspot.com/2010/01/chapter-14-background-sounds.html

Kaossilator

I pre-choose a group of 6-7 sounds that are similar to the background music playing.
Now I just start creating :)

Having the 2 parts of the wavdj (drums & FX - background sounds) and the kaossilator working at the same time, I  can take sounds off and put them on again, through the mixer of the wavdj

Many things have changed, and new ideas have emerged since I started writing this blog.
I created two tracks in Ableton with no drums and imported them to WavDJ. Then, I made two drum loops to accompany the tracks, but this time, I used the WavDJ software to produce the drums.

Questions ??

Next, I will post a detailed Zoom of these three elements and explain exactly how I am working and what I am doing with the WaveDJ and the Kaossilator.

Chapter 17 - Track structure (part 2)

Track structure (part 2)

NO BASS !
After some experiments with bass in the tracks, I decided that bass is not very good to be included in this type of track.
The track's structure is minimal, when I drop the bass in the track, most part of the other small sounds are inaudible. I don't know why, but this could be due to the frequency of the sound.
Another thing that put me off the bass was the minimal feeling of the tracks changing totally, and I was forced to have a melody; I wish to change all the direction I want to take on this project.

Currently, I am selecting the appropriate sounds for the Kaossilator for each background sound and drum loop. More updates soooooooon :)

Hello Friends

 Hi Friends

The reason I am contacting you now is that I have some tracks nearly ready, and I would like to show them to you and listen to your opinions.
Who's best to do that ?? YOU!

I know it can be painful, but I can handle some earplugs just in case :)

Meanwhile, this was intended to draw your attention and keep you involved in the project's progress.
Until then, please keep reading, as I am close to the end of the first round of tracks.

Speak soon and thank you for paying some attention to the weird shit I do :)

Chapter 14 - Loops VS Kaossilator

Him and Her !!

Kaossilator and WAVDJ.
Now I have the background sounds in the buttons (by now I have 18 backgrounds)
I have six different drum loops assigned to the six drum buttons. This makes:
18 background sounds
6 drum loops
= 3 background sounds for each drum loop, so that I can change the background sound 3 times in 1 track.
They are all at the same 110BPM.

Putting all together and start to play....

After I have both playing at the same time, I start the kaossilator at the exact BPM and I make some sound effects; by now, the drums and the background are looping at the same time and the kaossilator sounds are giving a colour to the music as I add many other effects.

As I go along with the sounds and loops, I can adjust the mixer on the machine (WavDJ) and toggle the drum loop, background sound, or Kaossilator on and off.
This helps prevent the same sounds from looping for too long.

The kaossilator is a very nice complement for the wavdj.
I have been constructing this track with a vision of an Industrial Ambient style, so I have been looking for Industrial sound loops for the background. I made the Drum Loops sound Industrial, too, but the sounds of the Kaossilator make the track much softer and more Ambient.

My Drum loops are a bit too (breaks) even at 110BPM.
(Later I will write about the Track structure)

This explanation of the track construction is the result of my first experience; I will likely modify aspects such as the structure of the tracks, tempo, or other elements.

3- Backg. VS Drum Loops

Project Start - Backgrounds VS Drum Loops

I did talk about this in the chapter before but I still looking the best way for start the tracks.
The Kaossillator is good to start with sounds but the drums never start on time because wavdj have a big delay, this make the first sounds of the track to be off tempo.
On other hand ,this make a very interesting sound pattern in the melody and is always an improvised sound that will be arranged during the track

After I did some backgrounds and try, I realize that the backgrounds with rhythmic (nuances) sounds are more hard to get at the same drum tempo when I try to mix (background + drum loop) in the machine.

This difficulty didn't happen before with the first background sounds I did ,because they are not so much Industrial .
The first lot of backgrounds I did was more melodic , with long pads and they always go fine with the drum loops at first.
Basically, backgrounds have to be stable sounds and long, not short and rhythmic but I have choose some very rhythmic backgrounds for this Industrial tracks :(

2- Drum Loops

Project Start - Drum Loops

Drum Loops
Part of the WAV file used to change the drums in the program.

I can change all the patterns in the drums, including percussions.
This feature is minimal (as with all), with the only changeable elements being the BPMs and loop patterns; however, the instrument sounds will remain the same.

This is the loop part of the wavdj machine.
(Here are the drum loops buttons on the machine. 6 different drum loops for each style)

Here is where things get complicated, as this loop machine is not synchronised with anything.
For this reason, the background sounds and drum loops must be precisely at the same BPM and started at exactly the right time..

The next mission is to get these two parts playing at the same time (drums & Background sound). This requires a lot of precision to click the effects button at the same time as the first kick of the drum. Let's see !!

Go well :)
How I started the tracks before:

1- I have to start with the drums
2- Then, I can start the background sound at the same tempo as the beat.
(This is because there is no synchronisation in the machine, but the sounds are at the exact BPM, and I start at the right beat.)

But now I do like this: 
1- I will use the KAOSSILATOR to make some noises at the start.
2- I start the drums,
3- I start the background sound.
4- I take off the KAOSSILATOR sounds and delete the first sounds to start new ones while the first drum loop and background sound is playing...
YES !!

Track is on ;)

Chapter 13 - Project Start

 Project Start - The Intro

After all the story and all the WaveDJ and Kaossilator presentations, I will now be more specific about the project and what I am doing.

First, I need to make:
1 - Background sounds
2- Drum loops
3- Ad 3 background sounds for each drum loop
4- Make short keyboard melodies
5- Make the background sounds at the same tempo as the drum loops in Ableton
(No sounds synchronised here.)
6- Found the best sounds in the kaossilator to use in each track.
(I will specify all this later)

This sounds easy, but it is not!
The wavdj software has too many bugs and dont work as a professional music program.
The wavdj (machine = console) makes a delay in the sounds.
(NOTE)  Delay is the time it takes for the sound to actually be heard on the speakers after I press the buttons of the wavdj (machine)

For a delay example:
If I press the keyboard, the sound takes about 2 seconds to be heard in the speakers. (delay)
If I press the FX buttons, the sound takes about 1 second to be heard in the speakers. (delay)
If  I press the drum loop button, the sound takes about 3 seconds to be heard in the speakers (delay)
This makes it a hard job to get the music all synchronised (drums + background sounds + keyboard)
In this case, I have to know precisely the tricks of this machine, but the most important thing is to have the sounds and drum loops at the same tempo.
IF I press the FX button (background sound) just 1 second before or after the beat of the drum loop, the sound will start out of tempo... I really need to be precise here or all the music will go into a mess!
Luckily, I can stop the sound if I press the button at the wrong time and restart again, which plays a sound intro while the drum loop continues to play.

Experiments to start.
My first experiment was to create Minimal Ambient music, but I soon realised that the drums of the wavetable don't allow me to make much, as the sounds are the same and only the loops can be changed (as I mentioned earlier). However, I did give it a try anyway.

My second experiment (still ongoing) is to make Minimal Industrial. A'm a bit more satisfy with the results but still a long way to go as I have to search a lot in the web to find some good free sound loops and after that, I have to put the loops on Ableton to make some arrangements and get the background sounds at the same tempo (bpm) of the drum loops of the wavdj.

My last experiment will be minimal Ambient, but this time without drum loops, just sounds.

I would never have got into this if I hadn't found the Kaossilator to be a good supplement for the WaveDJ.
One time, I had the WAVDJ looping the sounds and the drums at the same tempo, I would have time to go into the Kaossilator and add more sounds.
After I have enough sounds playing in both machines, I can return to the wavdj and adjust the background sounds, create short melodies, pause the drum loop, and drop in another sound or any other playing sound, because the wavdj features a 6-channel mixer where the sound can be turned on and off.

In fact, I can go mad and connect all this to my CD decks mixer, which has a surround button and will give me the possibility to equalise the sound while I am playing (low, med, high).
But I am not that mad... am I !?
If so, it's just a music issue! :)

Chapter 9 - Drums pad

Drums Pad

Apart from the drum loops in WAVDJ, the drum pads are one of the cool features of the machine.

They are 6 (pad) buttons
1- Tom 1
2- Tom 2
3- Crash
4- Hi Hats
5- Snare
6- Bass Drum

Very friendly and helpful, but it has an audio latency.

When pressed, the pads give the sound late (as happens with the Korg, too)
I click the button and 1 second later, the sound is heard.
No way to make something with this...

If this were working as it should be, it would be great fun.
Again, after I know the machine very well, it is possible to play around with these faulty buttons too, it's just a matter of time ;)

I can understand why this WAVDJ was discontinued! :(

Chapter 4 - The Drum Loops

 The Drum Loops

  While I was waiting to get my hands on the kaossilator, I started reconstructing some drum loops using the machine's software.

WAVDJ has 12 different drum loop button styles:
Funk, techno, rap/hip hop, dance, jazz/blues, rock, country, alternative, pop, reggae, ragtime, world / new age, and March/polka.
Each of these styles has six different drum loop patterns, making a total of 36 configurable drum loop patterns.
This drum loops are made in 64 bars but can be stretch to 128 bars or how long I want hem to go, as I can change the tempo (bpm) wile I do the beats or in real time wile I play.
That means I can create a drum with percussion as long as I want and will continuously loop it at the bpm I want.
 Fine :)

The sound of the Drum loop is limited to 47 Percussion sounds, and there is no way to change these sounds. The only thing I can do with the sounds in the drums is adjust the volume up or down or change the patterns.
I can reconstruct all the drum loops in the machine, or I can delete them all and start from scratch, but that is a very time-consuming process.
The drums sounds are very basic, they have the basic kick, hit-hats,c rash, tom, etc... and the percussions are basic like: ride bell, cowbell, vibraslap, stick, bongo, triangle, etc... but they are all inside of the same drum board and I just can use this instruments... or not, depending of the patterns I create!

You can see the drum part of the software :

And here you have the drums part in the machine, this, as you may have guest, its all working with the software but the main point is to trigger the sounds in the buttons, the software just carry the sound files to the machine, the trick is to put the sounds inside of the software program to be activated any time I click one of this buttons :)
Basic, I click the button and it will play the drum loop I set up in the software ;)

In the case of the drum loops , there is no other way than to reconstruct the drums, beat by beat!
I can not add drum loops from other sources.

  This Drum loop part is versatile, but there is no way to change the sound of each instrument.
The sound of drums and percussion will always remain the same; the beats are different, but the drum sounds are always the same. (
The only way to change this is to have drum style files in  (.sty files) or .osm files, this (.sty files are used by Yamaha korgs) but I have been looking in the web for some time and I dont see a way to get this files with drum loops other than salsa, pop, rock and other styles not applying to me.

ABOUT THE.STY FILES
These files are pre-made with all the sounds and instruments.
I need these files with many more instruments and sounds.
This is the significant limitation of the program (machine)

I uploaded 1 of the .sty files (rock) for reference in case someone can help me out.
If you have any knowledge of this type of file, just let me know:
http://www.sendspace.com/file/f9aqkq

(Link outdated)