DarkPlayer backing track system

[decembersoul]

Hi Dirk!

On your site you mention that Soilwork uses the "DarkPlayer backing track system". I didn't manage to find any information on this, could you shed some light onto this subject please?

Also, great drumming! ;)

All the best //David Lindkvist
http://www.myspace.com/terminalfunction
http://www.terminalfunction.com

The owners of drumhall.com are not responsible for the content of this post on Mon Jan 05, 2009 7:02 pm by decembersoul. If the post may offend anyone, please inform the owner through eMail

[Dirk Verbeuren]

Hey there David,

The DarkPlayer was built by our good friend Jörgen Löfberg, bassplayer for the excellent band DARKANE who also use this system. It's a mini-PC built into a small rack with a touchscreen and a USB key for the click track/backing track files which are in Ogg Vorbis format. There are 6 different outputs, so the tracks can be stereo or 5.1 .ogg files.

The DarkPlayer uses a dedicated Windows Portable platform, and since it's memory-based, it's very fast and reliable unlike systems that use a harddisk which can break or hang- the last thing you ever want to happen on stage! It's extremely practical to use thanks to the touchscreen and clear interface. Unlike a laptop or iPod, songs automatically stop at the end which is very practical; and modifying the order of the setlist takes 10 seconds since it's a simple textfile on the USB key.

I have to be honest and say we've experienced a few glitches, probably because of harsh traveling conditions, but this is to be expected. After all, the DarkPlayer is still in an experimental stage.

Not sure if there are any plans to ever commercialize the DarkPlayer, but feel free to contact Jörgen for more details: jorgen@darkane.com

Cheers and thanks for your kind comments!
/Dirk

The owners of drumhall.com are not responsible for the content of this post on Wed Jan 07, 2009 3:03 am by Dirk Verbeuren. If the post may offend anyone, please inform the owner through eMail

[timebomb]

Hey there David an Dirk!

It sounds very interesting, I'm glad I discovered your thread here(thanks Henrik from Scar Symmetry who introduced me to drumhall.com)

That device is the dream of any musician!I think Jorgen should do something out of it.It may really be a great help and I soon know many people who could be interested in.

But, thinking otherwise, it's a Soilwork dinstinctive thing, like Meshuggah's breathcontroller...

Sorry, I'm digressing,but now I know.Thanks to you both.

Dirk, any tips for getting faster at playing single strokes with left hand,for blast beats?I'm ambidextrous yet I really want to develop speed(I don't mean Bjorn, of course.my bad) with right side matching the left side.

I've seen you're sometimes playing with different grips,that's why I ask, too, if there is a grip better than another, or, as I think,there is no MAIN technique for drums, but just a way of playing for each one of us?

Thank you for reading so far.

The owners of drumhall.com are not responsible for the content of this post on Sat Jan 10, 2009 10:43 am by timebomb. If the post may offend anyone, please inform the owner through eMail

[Dirk Verbeuren]

Hey mr. Timebomb,

I absolutely agree that the DarkPlayer should be commercialized! Hopefully it'll happen someday.

Regarding your question: in my opinion, the best way to bring your left hand up to speed is by making it work three times as hard as your right hand.

An easy exercise to illustrate this idea is: play 4 strokes with the right hand, then 3x4=12 strokes with the left hand. Repeat ad lib and at the highest tempo you can handle without hurting yourself!

Obviously, you can apply this idea to many other exercises and time signatures, as well as to your feet. Do this 30 minutes daily using a metronome, and you're guaranteed to see a steady improvement within weeks.

Because of its purely physical side, I view playing fast as a work-out. Therefore, as with any type of sports, it's essential to have a strict and regular practicing schedule which will allow your muscles and tendons to become stronger. So: practice as often as you can and keep raising that tempo!

Cheers!
/Dirk

The owners of drumhall.com are not responsible for the content of this post on Mon Jan 26, 2009 8:02 pm by Dirk Verbeuren. If the post may offend anyone, please inform the owner through eMail