Silicon Drums & Strums

BY J. ARIF VERNER

Two interesting software programs have recently crossed my product review desk: Five Pin Press' Instant Drum Patterns and Six String Software's Chordworks For Guitar. Let's take a look at each one.

Instant Drum Patterns

If you're like me, you would rather play guitar or program a synth than wrestle with a drum machine. Five Pin Press to the rescue. This packet comes with a Hal Leonard book by Rene-Pierre Bardet called 200 Drum Machine Patterns. Each pattern is shown in a musical and grid illustration. Also enclosed in the packet is a disk by Joel Sampson with each drum pattem. Simply load the disk into your computer sequencer, set your sound module to the appropriate drum kit and go to town.

A dozen or so styles are covered from Rock to Afro-Cuban to Samba. Each file on the disk includes the names and tracks for each drum sound. A total of eleven percussion sounds are used. GR-50 owners will be happy to know that the default drum assignments are based on the Roland D- 110 (the GR-50 and D- 110 are compatible). A MIDI Drum Note Assignment chart is also included for 13 other sound module drum kits.

Additional editing can be done through your sequencing program or with Cool Shoes Software's Drummer program (these pattems were originally created with Drummer). I used the IBM version which utilizes standard MIDI files, so compatibility is not a problem. Macintosh and Atari formats are also available.

You say 200 drum patterns are not enough? Well then, order the second set of 260 additional pattems. This will give you a total of 460 pattems. That should keep you busy for awhile. Simply put, these pattems are excellent and at under thirty dollars each set, how can you say no?

By the way, does anyone want to buy a used drum machine?

Instant Drum Patterns: $29.95
Five Pin Press
Box 550363
Dallas, TX 75355-0363
(214) 328-2730

Chordworks

When was the last time you worked on expanding your knowledge of chords? If its been awhile, then you might want to check out Six String Software's Chordworks For Guitar.

Chordworks is comprised of four main sections: Tuner/Setup; Dictionary; Clipboard; and Recorder. Tuner enables the musician to tune to any note within a 22-fret guitar range. Setup enables the musician to customize the program for MIDI interfaces and sound boards in addition to setting volume, strum speed and guitar body style.

The Dictionary contains 5300 different chord positions and inversions. Chords are illustrated in diagrams, on the guitar neck, and in standard music notation. Output options include the computer's internal speaker, Sound Board or MIDI.

The clipboard lets you create chord progressions from the Dictionary or create and arrange your own chords. Up to 72 chords can be entered into the Clipboard. MIDI guitarists can play directly into the Clipboard in Mono mode using any of MIDI's 16 channels.

The Recorder lets you compose and play songs. Chord charts to each song are illustrated on the screen. You can even watch the chord progressions being played on a guitar neck! The Recorder also shows the song's current beat-number and tempo. Tempos can be set between 6 and 600 beats-per minute. Additional functions include Auto-repeat/Loop, Punch In/Out and a preselected Auto-locator.

Hey, this is a neat program that's fun and easy to use. There are enough chords to keep even the experienced player busy for awhile. Guitar players new to MIDI will find the program a good introduction to sequencing. Also of special note is a thorough tutorial and manual.

Additional add-on modules are planned for the future. What a good idea—I'm surprised someone didn't think of Chordworks sooner!

Chordworks For Guitar: $99.00
Six String Software
Box 6608, Kent, WA 98064
(206) 631-5855