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Worlds First Drum Machine in Pedal Form!

#762
I have some rather technical questions. I've sent an email to beatbuddy, but they must be busy preparing the september deliveries. And the "Only X units left with discout" works wonders, so I'm hardpressed to make a decision and I need some info to add some pseudo-rational justification on a compulsive purchase :-) Darn marketing :-)

So, here are the questions you have probably already asked :-)

1) If I program a beat myself, how long can it be (number of beats)?
For example: if I program a 16th note beat at 80 bpm, can I make it 2 bars (8 quater notes) long? 4 bars long?
Or can I program an 8/4 beat based on 16th (a pattern that is 32 sixteenth notes long)? A 16/4 beat (a pattern that is 64 sixteenth notes long)?


2) As for beats other than 4/4: Can I program different sections with different time signature: for example a verse in 3/4 and chorus in 4/4?

3) Does beatbuddy have swing parameter? For example, can I make a beat with swinging 8th notes? A beat with swinging 16th notes?

4) The incoming power for beatbuddy is DC 9V 500mAh. That means I'll be able to buy/DIY an external battery pack for it?

5) Is there a specific software to program/backup beatbuddy? What operating systems can it be run on? Windows XP, Windows 7, Mac OS, Linux?

Thanks!
 
#763
I know the answers to some of these.

1. Not 100% sure, but my impression is that the BB will read whatever MIDI file you give it.

2. Yes. I'm pretty sure one of the videos demonstrates exactly this.

3. Don't know.

4. I think anything that will run a standard Boss pedal will run the BB.

5. Yes. It hasn't been released yet, but will run on Windows (presumably 7/8) initially and Mac OSX eventually.

belzebass said:
I have some rather technical questions. I've sent an email to beatbuddy, but they must be busy preparing the september deliveries. And the "Only X units left with discout" works wonders, so I'm hardpressed to make a decision and I need some info to add some pseudo-rational justification on a compulsive purchase :) Darn marketing :)

So, here are the questions you have probably already asked :)

1) If I program a beat myself, how long can it be (number of beats)?
For example: if I program a 16th note beat at 80 bpm, can I make it 2 bars (8 quater notes) long? 4 bars long?
Or can I program an 8/4 beat based on 16th (a pattern that is 32 sixteenth notes long)? A 16/4 beat (a pattern that is 64 sixteenth notes long)?


2) As for beats other than 4/4: Can I program different sections with different time signature: for example a verse in 3/4 and chorus in 4/4?

3) Does beatbuddy have swing parameter? For example, can I make a beat with swinging 8th notes? A beat with swinging 16th notes?

4) The incoming power for beatbuddy is DC 9V 500mAh. That means I'll be able to buy/DIY an external battery pack for it?

5) Is there a specific software to program/backup beatbuddy? What operating systems can it be run on? Windows XP, Windows 7, Mac OS, Linux?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
 
#764
belzebass said:
I have some rather technical questions. I've sent an email to beatbuddy, but they must be busy preparing the september deliveries. And the "Only X units left with discout" works wonders, so I'm hardpressed to make a decision and I need some info to add some pseudo-rational justification on a compulsive purchase :) Darn marketing :)

So, here are the questions you have probably already asked :)

1) If I program a beat myself, how long can it be (number of beats)?
For example: if I program a 16th note beat at 80 bpm, can I make it 2 bars (8 quater notes) long? 4 bars long?
Or can I program an 8/4 beat based on 16th (a pattern that is 32 sixteenth notes long)? A 16/4 beat (a pattern that is 64 sixteenth notes long)?


2) As for beats other than 4/4: Can I program different sections with different time signature: for example a verse in 3/4 and chorus in 4/4?

3) Does beatbuddy have swing parameter? For example, can I make a beat with swinging 8th notes? A beat with swinging 16th notes?

4) The incoming power for beatbuddy is DC 9V 500mAh. That means I'll be able to buy/DIY an external battery pack for it?

5) Is there a specific software to program/backup beatbuddy? What operating systems can it be run on? Windows XP, Windows 7, Mac OS, Linux?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

I'll add to what Limey said above.

(1) Just within the last couple of pages David (the Beat Buddy creator if you're new here) mentioned that it's a function of file size for the drum kits. The drum kits are a little different than the beats, but I imagine that's the issue. I don't know what those limits are or what they translate into in terms of beats.

(2) I'm not sure on this one, but like Limey said, I vaguely remember a demo showing switching time signatures.

(3) I think the answer to this is no, but with a caveat. If you can create MIDI files by recording them (which is what the Beat Buddy team is doing for the 200 songs that come on it), then those recordings can have any amount of "swing" that you want. But it won't automatically add "swing" to a standard beat you've programmed in another program, for example.

(4) What Limey said---Boss style 9V center negative. Will work off of a 1spot or most brick power supplies if you have enough current available.

(5) What Limey said, though I'll add this to be clear: the Beat Buddy software doesn't program the beats. You have to do that in another program (many exist for this). The Beat Buddy software lets you take MIDI files created in other programs and organize them into song parts for the Beat Buddy to use.
 
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#765
Adamixoye said:
I'll add what Limey said above.

(1) Just within the last couple of pages David (the Beat Buddy creator if you're new here) mentioned that it's a function of file size for the drum kits. The drum kits are a little different than the beats, but I imagine that's the issue. I don't know what those limits are or what they translate into in terms of beats.

(3) I think the answer to this is no, but with a caveat. If you can create MIDI files by recording them (which is what the Beat Buddy team is doing for the 200 songs that come on it), then those recordings can have any amount of "swing" that you want. But it won't automatically add "swing" to a standard beat you've programmed in another program, for example.

(5) What Limey said, though I'll add this to be clear: the Beat Buddy software doesn't program the beats. You have to do that in another program (many exist for this). The Beat Buddy software lets you take MIDI files created in other programs and organize them into song parts for the Beat Buddy to use.
Click to expand...

I really need to understand it how beat creation works. 300$ that's not given :-)

So if BeatBuddy software is for importing MIDI files only, what are examples of MIDI file creator software (I'm on Linux)? TuxGuitar/GuitarPro, Hydrogen Drums? Specifically for drum pattern creation. How are the sounds in beat creation software matched with sounds in beatbuddy?
I'm used to making drumbeats on Hydrogen Drums, but I'm new to MIDI and stuff.

Is there anyone kind enough to explain the creation and import of a beat in a step-by-step fashion?
So I start with a beat I've written on a paper, and I'd like to finish with this beat as a verse beat on beatbuddy.

The beat (capital letters are accented hits, "o" is open hihat)

Hihat |x-X-x-X-x-X-x-o-|
BassDr |x---------x-----|
Snare |----x-------X---|

I don't play drums, and I don't have electronic drums to record, so all should be done in software.
Will BeatBuddy be regulary adding new beats? Will they be free to Beatbuddy owners?
 
#766
As I understand it, the process is this:

1. Create your beats in, for example, Hydrogen. Save each section of your song (intro, verse, chorus, etc) as a separate MIDI file.
2. Import your beats into the BB software. Define which components of the available drum kits correspond with each MIDI trigger, and arrange the different sections of your song to your liking.
3. Send your completed song to the BB and start jamming.

If you don't have access to a Windows box for the BB software, I think you're going to be limited to the ~200 pre-defined song patterns that are supposed to come preinstalled on the BB.

belzebass said:
I really need to understand it how beat creation works. 300$ that's not given :)

So if BeatBuddy software is for importing MIDI files only, what are examples of MIDI file creator software (I'm on Linux)? TuxGuitar/GuitarPro, Hydrogen Drums? Specifically for drum pattern creation. How are the sounds in beat creation software matched with sounds in beatbuddy?
I'm used to making drumbeats on Hydrogen Drums, but I'm new to MIDI and stuff.

Is there anyone kind enough to explain the creation and import of a beat in a step-by-step fashion?
So I start with a beat I've written on a paper, and I'd like to finish with this beat as a verse beat on beatbuddy.

The beat (capital letters are accented hits, "o" is open hihat)

Hihat |x-X-x-X-x-X-x-o-|
BassDr |x---------x-----|
Snare |----x-------X---|

I don't play drums, and I don't have electronic drums to record, so all should be done in software.
Will BeatBuddy be regulary adding new beats? Will they be free to Beatbuddy owners?
Click to expand...
 
#767
theLimeyBrit said:
As I understand it, the process is this:

1. Create your beats in, for example, Hydrogen. Save each section of your song (intro, verse, chorus, etc) as a separate MIDI file.
2. Import your beats into the BB software. Define which components of the available drum kits correspond with each MIDI trigger, and arrange the different sections of your song to your liking.
3. Send your completed song to the BB and start jamming.

If you don't have access to a Windows box for the BB software, I think you're going to be limited to the ~200 pre-defined song patterns that are supposed to come preinstalled on the BB.
Click to expand...

Thank you! I can see clearly now....

As for a window box, I can have access to one, or I'll use Wine (Windows emulator) on my computer, there's no problem with it :-)

I wonder if there would be regular updates with different styles. I vote for soca, soukous and dubstep as next updates :-)
 
#768
theLimeyBrit said:
As I understand it, the process is this:

1. Create your beats in, for example, Hydrogen. Save each section of your song (intro, verse, chorus, etc) as a separate MIDI file.
2. Import your beats into the BB software. Define which components of the available drum kits correspond with each MIDI trigger, and arrange the different sections of your song to your liking.
3. Send your completed song to the BB and start jamming.

If you don't have access to a Windows box for the BB software, I think you're going to be limited to the ~200 pre-defined song patterns that are supposed to come preinstalled on the BB.
Click to expand...

This is all how I understand it as well.

belzebass said:
Will BeatBuddy be regulary adding new beats? Will they be free to Beatbuddy owners?
Click to expand...

They have said they will be adding new content (beats and drum kits I believe). They have not said what the business model will be that I can remember (free for Beat Buddy owners, subscription, per song charge, etc.?). They have also said there will be a forum where users can share beats and songs (this would be free I'm sure).
 
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#771
belzebass said:
Thank you! I can see clearly now....

As for a window box, I can have access to one, or I'll use Wine (Windows emulator) on my computer, there's no problem with it :)

I wonder if there would be regular updates with different styles. I vote for soca, soukous and dubstep as next updates :)
Click to expand...

The answers given to your questions are correct. Just make sure that your beat composition software is set up in the General MIDI format (I believe almost all of them are by default), so it triggers the correct WAV samples in the drum sets. For more info on General MIDI see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_midi

Please note: Though we have tried to keep all drum sets as close as possible to the General MIDI format, some specialist drum sets (such as the beatboxer drum set and the latin percussion set) deviate from this mapping, so they may not sound good with all beats. We have created beats for these specific drum sets.

Here is the drum map for General MIDI:

220px-GM_Standard_Drum_Map_on_the_keyboard.svg.png


Yes, we will be releasing more content on a regular basis. Some of it will be free, and some of it we will charge for (though we will keep prices reasonable). All content posted by users on the forum will be free.
 
#772
I forgot... yes, you can program your song parts in any time signature and have mixed time signatures within the song.

See this video:



The one limitation on MIDI files is that you can have a maximum of 500 notes per file.
 
#773
Kosko said:
I'm wondering if there's any "last day to preorder" set or coming soon. It looks like there's enough left to wait a few more days, but it would suck to lose out on that possibility. Thanks for all the updates on this David.
Click to expand...

It's on a first come, first serve basis. So when we run out of units, you'll be bumped to the next production run. I'd recommend you order as soon as possible ;)
 
#774
So have any of these shipped to regular users, or will that be the big September shipment? It seemed to me that the Kickstarters and a couple of batches shipped but I don't see regular users sounding off about the awesomeness of the pedal. I just placed an order so I'm curious to know if others have received them in a timely fashion.

I'm not too worried as long as Darrin Huff isn't the one making them! :p

After dealing with crappy phone apps (which get updated and often lag between loops *GRRRRR*) and overly cumbersome DAWs and drum machines, this is a NO-BRAINER to me. Thanks David, for making such a useful tool! Hope you get all the success you deserve.
 
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#779
Toolmybass said:
^^ lol
At this rate I hope you guys get your orders by xmas :banghead:
Click to expand...

I know we've had some private convos about this, but I'm curious, what's your skin in the game? Did you order one? IIRC you were one of the people who had problems with a particular builder, so I understand your frustration in general and appreciate you looking out for us up to a point. But it's also coming off as borderline trolling. We're all big boys around here, we kind of knew what we were getting ourselves into. It sucks but it's not a tragedy...yet.
 
#780
My "skin" as you put it, means that i would like to order one.......once people have been getting them and any of the potential "bugs" have been worked out.

If you think that me mentioning xmas is trolling....it isnt....thats your perspective. Mine is no worse than the Tom Petty youtube link.
I didnt have problems with that builder because i decided to, not hit the "send the money" button at the last second.... and im sure glad i didnt.
 
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