RiffWorks T4 for Recording & Practicing

RiffWorks T4 is a free 'lite' version of Sonoma Wire Works program Sonoma Wire Works RiffWorks Guitar Recording Software. RiffWorks is a 'riff based' multitrack recording program, which at first seems a little odd, most people who are used to recording think about laying down a whole track for a song at once. Instead RiffWorks lets you define 'riffs' that have multiple layers (the T4 version allows 4 layers and the paid version, 24) and an 'InstantDrummer' track. Then once each of your riffs is done, you arrange them into a song. 


Setup:


One requirement is an ASIO compliant input source. If you are running most types of audio interfaces, they should work, One case you might run into trouble is the line input on your sound card. If it doesn't show up, you may need to use a program called ASIO4ALL which emulates ASIO compatibility for your non ASIO sound card. For my setup, I am using an old Echo Layla PCI that seems to run well enough. ( I would like to upgrade to something like Echo AudioFire4 which is a Firewire interface, but that is beside the point.)


Effects:


There  is an 'amp' section where you can choose an amp VST plugin that will get recorded with your layer, there are 2 amp models included with T4, IK Multimedia AmpliTube® Duo LE & Studio Devil's BVC. If you have a VST based amp plugin already (or other VST effect) you could add it here. 


There are also real time effects you can add: filter, shaper, EQ section, compressor, modulation effects, delay and reverb.


InstantDrummer:


The InstantDrummer tracks are like an intelligent drum loop, that you can adjust drumming intensity and select various 'parts' to go with each of your riffs. There are over 150 InstantDrummer packs available for download from the Sonoma online store (for $9.99 each) in various styles, base tempos and time signatures. They all have a preview audio so you can check them out before you buy.


T4 as a Digital Audio Scratchpad


One of the things that I like to do when practicing a scale, or solo is to play it against changes. With T4, it is very easy to choose a drum track,a time signature,a tempo and a number of measures, then record a set of changes. After you stop recording and press play, your looping changes are ready to play against.



Other times I've used the InstantDrummer as a more tolerable metronome when my click click click becomes to annoying. You don't need to record to use it, just pick a drum part and press play. 

When it comes to recording though, to be honest, I have not attempted to record a full song with RiffWorks. For me it seems to work much better as a digital sound scratchpad. Great for demoing ideas for parts of song. Then taking them to something more full featured (like Cubase or Nuendo).

One area where I do plan on using more is in generating play along tracks for my guitar students.  Creating a riff, having it repeat 16 or 32 times, exporting it and sending my students an mp3 would be a pretty painless process.

So check it out and let me know if you are using T4.

Becoming a Better Musician - Part 1 - Going back to the Text

I want to start a series of blog posts here concerning how to become a better musician and some strategies for doing it. In this first post I wanted to start somewhere simple, that being on your main instrument. Whatever it may be: piano, drums, guitar, bass, whatever. When someone asks "What instrument do you play?" what is the first thing you say. That's the one we want to talk about.

If you have played an instrument long enough, you will no doubt get to a point where you feel you are proficient. Maybe not as good as you once hoped you would be, but at least good enough for whatever gig you find yourself in. I made the mistake of resting in this point for a couple years time and didn't grow at all because of it. Those are definitely years I wish I had back.

Well how can you stretch yourself in your main instrument? My first recommendation would be to find a lesson plan that you have not tried before that will challenge you. Get a method book of some sort that is a notch above your level and dig in. Don't be afraid of trying something a little tough. You want to be the best player you can be? Well, running over that same pentatonic scale for the 10,000th time isn't gonna get you there. Sometimes after beating your head against the wall for a while and not getting any results, you should try a different approach.

My main instrument is the guitar. So here is one recommendation. If you know how to read some standard notation and want a book that will challenge you to learn so much, check out A Modern Method for Guitar - Volumes 1, 2, 3 Complete this is used as the basic text for the Berklee College of Music guitar program. 


If you are a drummer, perhaps something like 4-Way Coordination: A Method Book for the Development of Complete Independence on the Drum Set might be a good challenge for you (It gets rave reviews on Amazon, I think I'll order it), I myself am new to the drums just this year and would love to hear from some drummers about their suggestions for good texts.


But really whatever instrument you play, I'm sure there is something out there what will do the trick. I would suggest that you read reviews of any text before you purchase it, because there is a lot of garbage out there. Spend a little time searching for the right book and dive in. 


What method books or skill books do you recommend for your particular instrument? Leave a comment and let us all know!