Strummed Acoustic 2 bar problem

Floyd · August 16

Hello there—

The Strummed Acoustic (1 and 2) manuals state that because the pattern files are 2 bars in length, it is necessary to begin a pattern on an odd bar, i.e. 1, 3, 5, etc.

My problem is that if, say, a song includes a 3 bar turnaround, the following patterns must now begin on an even bar. But when a pattern begins on an even bar it starts playing half way through the pattern, thus throwing off the timing and "feel" of the pattern.

Yeah, I could re-arrange the song, but I'd rather not have to do that. Is there any way to get these patterns to play from the starts of the pattern, even if it begins on an even numbered measure?

Thanks,

Floyd

Floyd · August 22

Hey there Studiowaves (and anyone else)…

I contacted Native Instruments about this 2-bar issue. They routed me to someone familiar with the Strummed Acoustic instruments and he suggested that I do basically what you suggested: i.e., bounce down an audio file of the pattern and, using fades/automation, work it into the rest of the performance.

I suggested that including patterns of 1 bar would be mighty helpful and he assured me he would "pass that on to the team." So there's that.

Jim

Studiowaves · August 16

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/34949/strummed-acoustic-2-bar-problem

Aren't the patterns triggered by a midi note so you can start and stop them at any time?

Floyd · August 16

Yes and no. Let's say a G chord is played at the start of bar 1 and held for 3 bars. Then a D chord is played at bar 4. The D chord pattern begins playing halfway through the pattern. So changing the chords themselves at any given point isn't the problem. But getting a pattern to play from the beginning if the previous pattern hasn't completed its 2 bars appears not to be possible.

There appears to be something in the instrument's internal logic that is locked to this 2-bar "requirement." It's a drag that no 1 bar patterns are available. And I've found nothing in the manual offering a workaround. (It's clear on starting on an odd numbered bar and that the patterns are all 2 bars in length.)

Studiowaves · August 16

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/172712#Comment_172712

That's pretty weird. One would think the pattern would restart with every key press. Seems like they mute the sound when the key is released. I imagine they it can change chords at any time but still maintains the same strumming action instead of starting over. If so you might try using a different track and see it the pattern starts over on bar four. My guess, they didn't want to break the flow or pattern of the right strumming hard if you change chords with the left hand. Can you play individual strings without any strumming by choosing a different patch. Maybe you can solve the problem by changing patches on bar 4 or something.

Floyd · August 16

Hey Studiowaves—

Thanks for your reply.

I'll try those suggestions. This instrument would be soooo much more useful if it also included 1 bar patterns.

Again, thanks for your time

Floyd

Studiowaves · August 16

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/172792#Comment_172792

I'm surprised it doesn't. Um, I think there's some in users library, maybe look around.

Floyd · August 16

Every pattern is 2 bar, as per the manual. (From the manual: "As STRUMMED ACOUSTIC 2 is based on two-bar patterns, make sure to start your song on bar one or any other uneven bar number [e.g. bar 3, bar 5, bar 17]"). It is possible to shorten a 2 bar patterns into, say, a 1 bar pattern, but then the next chosen pattern (2 bars in length) begins playing 1/2 way through, apparently to maintain the 2 bar length norm.

My main desire is to be able to trigger a pattern from its start, no matter 1) what pattern came before it and 2) where is occurs on the song timeline. I have concluded that this isn't possible.

Floyd · August 17

Still, in the next couple days I'll try some of Studiowaves' suggestions. Thanks for your interest.

Floyd

Studiowaves · August 17

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/172807#Comment_172807

That does kind of suck, If this is a kontakt instrument, id go into the Kontact forum and ask around. If you have reaktor you can make a delay that is one beat or even one bar. That'll delay the sound and it will start playing where you want it to. You should make a delay that follows the tempo, if you do that the delay time will vary with the tempo. If the tempo changes it will modulate the sound though. Have you tried tempo changes while it's playing. I wonder how well in stays in time.

Studiowaves · August 17

I had another thought. You should be able to record the part you want and bounce it to a wave file. Then place that wave file on an audio track that plays it where you want it. I surprised they didn't give you special keys to press that will strum it differently. I forget what they call those keys but they don't actually play anything, they just choose different samples to play. So you press on of those keys first and the next time you play the same note it plays something different. I don't think you have to hold those keys, just tap one before playing. If your guitar strummer doesn't have that, well I hope you got it on sale. I bet those keys are there and that's how it's done.

Floyd · August 17

You're right in that there are "ending keys" that stop a pattern wherever you wish. But the next pattern starts playing from its beginning only if 2 bars have passed since the "shortened" pattern began. It's as if there's a "2 bar engine" that runs constantly in the background, with no way to shut it off.

But you're right about bouncing to audio files and using those as I wish. It's clunky, but the thing is this instrument sounds so good. I'm a keyboard player. I can sorta get by on guitar, but I sure can't play like these people. Also, I'm working in a room that amounts to an acoustic nightmare. So if I want a decent sounding acoustic guitar, this really is the best way to go.

Again, thanks for your interest.

Floyd

Floyd · August 22

Hey there Studiowaves (and anyone else)…

I contacted Native Instruments about this 2-bar issue. They routed me to someone familiar with the Strummed Acoustic instruments and he suggested that I do basically what you suggested: i.e., bounce down an audio file of the pattern and, using fades/automation, work it into the rest of the performance.

I suggested that including patterns of 1 bar would be mighty helpful and he assured me he would "pass that on to the team." So there's that.

Jim

Studiowaves · August 22

Good, hope they update it. Sounds like all their patterns are one down stroke followed by an up stroke. I guess they have finger picking like that too or some variation. Is this a Kontakt instrument, if so you might be able to crop the second beat of each pattern and store that as a new instrument or something like a preset.

Strummed Acoustic 2 bar problem

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