Riffworks Standard and Riffworks Professional

[Timejunkie]

Take the best (most commonly used) options and make it simple keeping in line with the RW philosphy...

[blue4u]

Ableton Live is a good example of what started out as a small looping program for DJs and grew up to be something pretty amazing!! I can see the same thing happening here. All the modern day DAWs are based off of reinterpretations of interfaces from the analog world (with some exceptions). Nothing innovative there. Just a digital replica of the real world with all it's faults and limitations. It's similar to what they do when they "model" guitar amps in software. They also model all the problems (i.e. noise, fizz, sagging, etc.) because they figure it makes the sound more "authentic". I guess it does but what's the point? If I want noise and sag I'll just find a good deal on a Bassman replica and an SM57 mic and have the real thing. I always thought this was strange.

RiffWorks' interface has the analog look with a more streamlined workflow that's better for writing music and assembling songs. That's where it's at! Vintage look with modern, innovative workflow They broke new ground with this. Best of the old and new together. I don't think they realize how special it is yet. I hope they find a way to compete with the big boys though. I'm really rootin' for these guys!!!

I find Pro Tools to be very underwhelming in comparison to what has come out in recent years. It is severely overpriced and overvalued because of it's industry standard status. Compared to something like Live it falls short IMO.

Rich

[JohnN]

This is a fascinating topic. I got the Riffworks Demo with something I bought - I think it was my M-Audio FastTrack USB. Anyhow, I liked it enough to buy the Standard version.

I don't like the other DAWs because they are not guitarist-friendly. They are track-friendly. This isn't bad, but we aren't all budding sound-engineers. Sometimes, I just want to plug in, grab a beat and jam. It's not all about creating the perfect song each time. Riffworks is easy in this regard - so much so that I have unplugged those horrid Roland drum machines that I used to use. (Anybody want to buy a used DR-5 or DR-220?).

I like Riffworks because it was easy to buy, install, load and tweak. And it felt intuitive to use. It asked to be tweaked with... to be played with. And the knobs made sense.

But I want more, and am prepared to pay a little ($100) for it.

Such as:

- some 3/4 or 6/8 ID kits, maybe even a coupon for 5 ID kits of your choice.

- ability to input WAV (or even MP3) files for multi-tracking from other programs (unless I missed that switch), or those bass grooves that I have recorded/downloaded in the past in non-REX2 format. I can use another Rewire application I guess, but I want to play, not tweak computer programs to talk to each other

- foot control - midi or even for you to make a cheapo USB footswitch (as kludged in other posts)

- many of the features mentioned in the previous posts (heck most of them).
- a couple of things I had in my mind which I forgot since I started this post (grin).

I'd gladly spend a couple hundred more to be able to master from within Riffworks, especially if it allowed layers to be moved or copied from riff to riff.

I went back and found the quote which made me join this thread.

But this is a good thread, and I have enjoyed it. I am happy to see good interest from Sonoma too.

cheers,
J

[geocare]

I, too, would pony up for more capability. I'm new to the program but find it good for "trial and error" writing. You can get through the errors and move on quickly to trying something else. I would go for most of the ideas for upgrades mentioned here.
Also, and I hate to use the word "midi," but as long as you are making this thing more capable... It just seems to me having it record and sync midi devices would make it more robust and flexible. Most of us wouldn't use midi sequencing much, but in some instances, it would be mighty handy.

[pooterpatty]

Glad to have you aboard John. You'll soon discover how addictive working with Riffworks is when you're a guitar player. And once you get into Rifflinking.....well, for a lot of people here it's "sleep, eat, Rifflink"

One of the main reasons you'll see people making these long-winded requests is that we know that Sonoma is listening. Unlike a lot of other companies that sell music gear, Sonoma really does listen to it's customers, and posting on the message board can actually get the attention of the higher-ups and decision-makers.

[28if]

I too would shell out some extra cash for more 'advanced' features. Advanced may be a poor choice of words - If that's what we all wanted we would be using one of software packages with an 8,00 page manual and a 3 year learning curve.

I love (and recommend) this software due to its brilliantly laid out UI and ease of use. Before purchasing RiffWorks, I played with numerous demos from other companies. If I wanted to be a recording engineer, I would have spent my funds elsewhere. I am a Guitar player plain and simple.

I think some of the suggestions are right on the mark. I also realize that as a business, Sonoma needs to push the envelope on development in order to keep growing revenue. The development team needs to keep focused on what the idea of the software was initially, you don't want to exclude your current user base.

Guys and gals, reflect back on what brought us all to this outstanding software - ease of use. Please keep in mind while deciding what options to include in a more feature rich version of RiffWorks - KISS or Keep It Simple Sonoma!

28if

[Timejunkie]

I agree that a "Pro" version should still be simple to use.

[SoCaljammer]

I would definately fork out the extra cash to get a pro version. This is by far the best and easiest program to use and I love it to death. Adding all the extra stuff you guys mentioned would make it that much better.
I had the oppurtunity to meet Dug, Michelle and Hayden at the NAMM show in January and they are great people. They are "definately" listening to us.
Right now their star is really starting to shine and keeping up with the growth is probably like trying to catch a greased pig!
I'm sure oneday we'll have RiffWorks Radio and a Pro version of our beloved, guitarist friendly software.
Jim

[Hemoglator2]

I too would buy into this idea for sure!!!!!

[AirmanSwi]

I would like to have a VST FX bin like Cakewalk for each individual track. That way you could easily reamp any track and wouldn't be locked into the effects you recorded with.

[JohnN]

Thanks for the welcome pooterpatty. I noticed how good the Sonoma folk are on this forum.

I have been playing more with Riffworks, and there are a couple of features that I'd like to see in a Pro version.

1. As mentioned before, copying of layers from riff to riff (given the appropriate tempo and length)

2. Adding MP3 or WAV clips to riffs

3. A start-finish loop bracket within a songlayer so that I can listen to goofs over and over to see how I would fix them, or so I could smoothen over transitions between riffs by adjusting a parameter or so.

4. To help with the above, the ability to tweak a predefined section within a songlayer -especially where 2 riffs overlap. (I know I can do this in external programs, but we are wishing here.

I'm having fun with the program!

J

[Timejunkie]

Welcome my fellow Canuck...yes you will be a RW addict very soon!

[czarnian]

Depending on the improvements, yes I agree with Chip there is a market for sure to have the extra functionality included. If you could fade, "master" and export to MP3 from withing RW, there would be no need for any other software at all.

I'd love to see a pro version of Riffworks and like the direction this thread is taking.

[ShredRex]

Great minds think a like........

[Timejunkie]

Shred your alive!!!!!