Idea for Riffworks Pro?

[spenno]

Hi all,

I love riffworks, it rocks, without it I wouldn't have written anywhere near the number or quality of songs that I have been able to, so thanks!!

I had an idea last night for a possible pro version of the software, basically I was imagining a Riffworks DAW hybrid such as Cubase or Sonar but one that works like riff tracker. Bear with me.... Imagine a DAW that you could go to a Riff window and create riffs just as you do in riff tracker now then go back to a main window and drag them into a composition just like you do now (also think Cakewalk Acid). Imagine being able to use a VSTi drum kit and midi within the riff to create custom drum tracks or just use the riffworks ones as you do now. Imagine in the main project window being able to view the entire composition and record vocal lines over the top just like you would in Cubase, this would be kept separate to the riffs, you could drop a guitar solo over the top, but keep it separate to the riffs and move it around as you would in cubase. Imagine being able to mix and master all the parts, add vst/dx plugings to riffs, parts of riffs, who tracks or just sections of the project as you would do now in cubase.

I my eyes this would take what is already a fantastic piece of software and make it amazing.

You with me?!!!

[r1ffraff]

totally, I think it's a great idea!

a good incremental upgrade (in case they don't want to do all the sequencer stuff) would be for RW to act as a audio plugin host app. It seems like RW can host gtr plug ins, some more plug in channels would be most useful.

I also think they should make instant drummer available as a plug in for other sequencer apps, I would totally buy it to use in logic.

[gatorjj]

It kind of sounds like what Ableton Live does, though I never got around to figuring that program out!

[camaro24gold]

though I never got around to figuring that program out!

oh yeah.....and scare the crap outta us when you do !!!!!!

[synterx]

Actually, I'm wondering what the "Standard" represents in the name? Is there another version coming that's not Standard, like said above, Pro? I love the program too, but boy, I find it is missing a few very, very important features to make it really useful.

1. Shut offable Limiter on the outputs
2. Some way to see/edit what drum tracks/Rex files are playing, and a way to edit them in a basic format. Put a cymbal crash in, or take one out, basic stuff.
3. A way to drop real WAV or AIF drum loops in
4. An expandable window - I have a 23" monitor, and it's all wasted.
5. A better way to see the patterns in the song order at the top. Put two greens in, and it looks like one big green one.
6. Definitely a way to use 3rd party drum programs, EZDrummer for example.

The riff-based workflow is great, but I feel so tied by not being able to do drums properly.

I wait for a new version, as I think it's on the right track.

[Hayden]

Here's a spinoff of Spenno's idea that I think may be more usable for more people, if it could be done. (I don't know if the technology exists yet, but maybe we should make it.)

You ran your DAW of choice alongside RiffWorks, kind of like ReWire with RiffWorks as the slave. But then, you were able to drag and drop RiffWorks riffs into your DAW of choice and have them turn into loops automatically. Maybe you could have a mix down setting, so one Riff turned into a stereo loop, or a multi track setting, where each layer in each riff got its own track.

That way, Sonoma wouldn't have to spend years and years of development to catch up to where all the DAWs are now, and you could continue using your DAW of choice like Sonar, Cubase, Protools, etc.

Yep.

[r1ffraff]

It's actually funny, after I seconded the original post, I thought that actually, what would really be better is for RW to act as either a AU/VSTi plug in or rewire slave within your preferred sequencer/DAW environment. Since the major DAW apps have plenty of loyal users, years of refinement, well thought out and implemented features (well, at least enough , I think that Sonoma would be better off making RW the best at what it does, and have it play well with others...

I therefore now second Hayden's recs....

[Uobvious]

How about being able to select a "group" of riffs within the song timeline in order to record layers into each of those riffs without stopping or "cropping" the end of a solo or vocal line. Similar to "songlayers" but cropping those layers into selected riffs instead. This would eliminate the "cut-offs" of solo or vocal note-holds!

[pbbobkanobi]

A ton of great ideas here...getting my brain a grinding......

[dbagchee]

What Hayden is suggesting would be awesome. The ease of use of RiffTracker with editing power of ProTools would be sick! An instant drummer plugin would be great too, I can't program my own drums for the life of me, it would be great to be able to use instant drummers in other apps.

[allanacefyer]

like the drag waves from and into rw idea.then rw just does what its best at. instant riffs.no set up input output fxs . wot was that riff anyway?

[Timejunkie]

One thing to remember though folks is that part of RW's appeal is it's simplicity.

Yes more technical functionality would be nice but not at the cost of complicating the recording process (for me anyway...LOL)

[a345stud]

i just want a talk back function, and maybe realtime viewing, making it easier to comunicate

[Timejunkie]

Cool idea....never thought of that.

This may be a silly question but is there a way to have someone record with cans on and have myself listen via monitors??? I use GP by the way....

[Hayden]

The Toneport UX2 and KB37 have a Headphone volume that's completely independant of the main output volume. You could have someone in another room on headphones and you could listen via the main speakers. You would be hearing the exact same thing though. Your musician wouldn't have his own mix by any means.