Sonoma Wire Works Riffworks

What is RiffWorks? In a nutshell, it's the world's simplest guitar recording software. You can select from standard drum tracks, set a tempo and then record multi-track guitar parts with different stomp pedal effects visually dragging and dropping sections to make up a song. It's so easy that you can download it and be up and recording in 15 minutes.

Line 6 sells a version of RiffWorks called RiffTracker for use with their GuitarPort package and you can also buy it directly from Sonoma Wireworks. The standalone version of RiffWorks works equally well with GuitarPort or any other input device whether from Line 6, M-Audio, Digidesign, Presonus, Tascam or most others.

Sure, there are other more complicated recording packages, but if you want to focus on your playing as opposed to futzing around, RiffWorks is a great way to get started. If you don't have the opportunity to play with a band, there are plenty of advantages to having the RiffWorks Instant Drummer lay down a track.

SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE

Playing in time is one of the most important skills a guitar player can learn and it only comes from hundreds, perhaps thousands of hours of practice with a drummer. Of course there are advantages to having a real drummer, but you can also be sure that RiffWorks Instant Drummer won't drink all your beer. With Instant Drummer, you just pick the tempo, set the drum style you want (Basic, Chorus, Verse, Latin, etc.) dial up or down the intensity and variation and you're ready to go. The controls work in real time, so it's easy to experiment; just turn the nobs and decide what fits your mood. Sonoma WireWorks also offers additional drum packs for $9.99, so if you want to add specialized sounds, you can do that.

Once you've put down the drum track, you can record a riff. I usually record a rhythm guitar track and then double track with slightly different effects or pickup settings to get a richer sound. You can record multiple layers with different effects, pan to the left or right speakers and so on. Just press the big red record button. If you don't like it, delete it and try again. Once you've got a few riffs recorded, you can drag and drop them to arrange a sequence that makes up a song. It's dead easy. Assuming you've got a microphone input into your PC, you can add vocals.

OVERALL OPINION

I find myself using RiffWorks just about every day. I'll put down some basic drums and rhythm guitar and then loop them for hours trying out different solos as a way to experiment. Believe me, this is much fun than practicing scales.

Riffworks_effects_1 RiffWorks also has its own built-in effects. These include distortion, modulator, delay, reverb as well as a pretty cool auto-wah and compressor for getting great sustain. I usually use the effects in my Line 6 GuitarPort, which sound a bit better to me, but for those who don't use the Line 6 gear, it's nice that RiffTracker has the basics built-in. You can also use the the built-in effects to tweak the sound after it's recorded which is a nice bit of added flexibility.

Once you've recorded your masterpiece, you can save it as a WAV or OGG Vorbis file and, if you like, post it to RiffWorld, Sonoma Wireworks' community site. (You'll need to use iTunes or another program if you want to convert it to MP3 format.) RiffWorld lets you collaborate online to create songs and share them on the web. It's pretty amazing to hear original songs as well as tributes to classic rock songs with all the parts. This is the best testament to the power of RiffTracker. You can find rock, metal, pop, ska, funk --you name it. And if it's good enough for Todd Rundgren on his latest CD Arena, it's probably going to to work for you.

If you're still not sure about RiffWorks, get the Free Download of T4, a slightly cut down version of RiffWorks, from the Sonoma Wireworks web site. It doesn't have all the features of the full version, but it has enough to get you going and make sure everything's working. RiffWorks is available on both Windows and Mac and costs $129. For that modest investment, you get some great tools that will not only make you a better player, you'll have a lot of fun to boot! There's also a RiffWorks purchase promotion going on right now. You can save $30 with their online promo code, getting the whole thing for just $99. Considering the hours you'll get out of it RiffWorks, this is truly a bargain.

Download demo version with the Line6 UX2 software, I quickly moved to the standard version on a promo. I did not have to worry installation and usage is quite simple, I have not even looked at the manual.

SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE

I installed this software on my old laptop running XP SP2 (intel 1.6GHz / 512MB RAM). This PC is far from being a racing but the software runs very well with the available Podfarm UX2 with my sound card.
on the other hand I put only 6 because I occasionally small bug, the software freezes and no longer answer. I do not know if this is due to the age of my computer or software but when it happens it's annoying.
There is also possibility of sharing his sound file online (good idea) but with me it never worked.

OVERALL OPINION

This is one month I squat software, it made me look good during my 3 weeks vacation. For me it is the first software of its kind that I have.
The +:
-Its structure and function provide good guidance to achieve its songs.
-Management of drum sounds is also very well thought out.
-Embedded effects add a little more.
The -:
-Good guide for their compositions but suddenly we lose in freedom, we can not have everything
-The price of extra battery sets
-Unable to export to MP3

Short to finish this is a nice software components, bought € 39 after a coupon I do not regret my choice. I will not hold probably not the same thing if I had lost € 129 (original price).

Purchased online via line 6, trouble free installation, immediately connects Pod, immediate pick very intuitive. The rewire is taken care of immediately with Reason 4. The big plus unparalleled:
- The drumkits that really give the impression of playing with a drummer, very realistic
- The ability to publish and share their pieces with a few clicks
- Especially the ability to collaborate with musicians from around the world
The manual is useless,
With a few clicks are made taken into loops, the battery is adjusted in intensity and variation. Adding bass tracks and vocals and the song is recorded. There are essentially effects and can be a mix already very clean with only Riffwork (eg http://www.riffworld.com/Members/chavilbus/promises)

SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE

I have a laptop HP i7, 8GB of RAM but it worked with a celeron 2.2 GHz without latency (except in rewire with reason)
Very stable with a pod studio asio. The rewire works well with Reason or Ableton Live as a slave

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for almost 2 years, it's a great tool for creativity and sharing. IT must invest in some drumkit but in dollar and discount codes can be 3 for € 20 which creates a lot of pieces already. Although this is very metal oriented there are also excellent shuffle, all styles of rock, Latin, jazz ... I played with in many styles (for examples of songs on my space http://www.riffworld.com/Members/chavilbus)
The ability to collaborate with other musicians (just post ideas or riffs or melodies composed to participate online) sample piece to get an idea: http://www.riffworld.com/Members/ chavilbus / blackcherrychocolatewinecollab

Installation without problem via the Line 6 software (I bought the version of these as there is a strong rduction for Line 6 hardware owners, and then with the strong euro, this software cot me that 60!). No problem of incompatibility.

No manual for online purchase but a manual is no use given the ease of use. Online help is more than enough.

The grip is IMMEDIATE and totally suited the guitar, play guitar in hand while having the software running, no need to have to put the guitar to start anything.

Using the image is easy to jam a man, are recorded riffs and can CRER layers and thus play with you even! But the addition does not s'arrte effects available (good quality), the nice thing is in RiffWorks InstantDrummer, a drummer just for you that can help the rgler sr good tempo and paramtres as the intensity changes, the atmosphere and gain. In addition, drummer The models are good quality and trs found even Matt Sorum! Some kits give the impression of playing with derrire You Could Be Mine!

The software allows very easy to record the riffs and then to compose his piece by joining them. A child's play.

In the end, have added APRS mix effects and can even share songs or riffs on the site of Sonoma. Trs trs is damn good.

SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE

My config Core2duo 2.16 Ghz iMac with 2 GB of RAM is ample sr. The perfs are excellent. The software is stable, I never had a crash.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for several months. I knew instantly the RiffWorks Line 6 dmo and I quickly bought and been adopted.

I love the simplicity of the interface is a MODEL of its kind, intuitive, well damn graphically. The ergonomics are also excellent and well suited to the guitarist trs.

What I like least? May be the limited number of kits available battery originally (at least for the Line 6 version), but it's really a small dtail.

I tried a lot of software in the same price. Also I use GarageBand to record my guitar but I did not beat RiffWorks is the tool of the guitarist, thinks for himself and not as a software gnraliste of others.

It has the advantage of a jam man, just as comfortable to use, you can easily erase a track, repeat a riff, add effects and composing his piece as a piece of furniture in kit)

The report is most excellent qualitprix (for the Line 6 by paying in dollars saw the rate of the euro), we can not get any better especially with a Designed interface as well. With exprience, I will make the same choice without hsitation. I also regret not having seen this software before because I lost a lot of time with others who n'taient not fit the guitar and all that complicated.

Riffworks is try! BMD is more available. Note that with the Line 6 version, you can use a Line 6 interface (Tone Port or other).