I've always been something of a computer user. So naturally, I have used whatever tools that have become available on the computer to help me learn to play.

I was introduced to Guitar Pro a few years ago, and immediately brought a copy. At version 6 now, it is still used a lot, for new tabs, playing along and practicing scales and modes.

Rocksmith came out last month in Australia, and I find it an average game, but a very enjoyable practice tool - and it convinced me to finally buy a bass. I particularly like the "highway" interface, which to me is more intuitive and 'real-time' than sheet music or tabulature.

Then, two days ago, I got a demo of Riffstation, and I was impressed by the ability of the program to interpret MP3's (not by any means perfectly). Best of all, one can filter out the band, and listen to the guitar, OR, filter out the guitar and play with the band.

My taste in music is mostly mainstream (very heavily Beatles influenced) and based on 50's and 60's rock'n'roll - there is a huge base of information out there for this already. But I find this (Riffstation) useful because I also love Australian music, and particularly folk, folk-rock type stuff (Weddings, Parties, Anything; Redgum, songs like "Waltzing Matilda", "Botany Bay", etc.) This has also led me to other streams of folk music, (Pogues, Woody Guthrie... anything!) - and information on this is a lot more scarce.


The point of my thread is this:
My dream guitar program needs elements from all three of these software packages, or least some sort of integration.

Essentially, I would like GuitarPro to have the "highway" interface from Rocksmith, and the ability, however rudimentary, to interpret audio and somehow dissect the elements - and display them as sheet music/tabs.

Judging from what is happening with Rocksmith and Riffstation, there is a lot of progress towards computers being able to 'listen' to music, rather than relying on midi interfaces and the like.

Ideally, my dream program would also include a Pod Farm/Amplitude/Guitar Rig guitar interface, and even GarageBand/Pro tools/Logic Pro recording abilities... but perhaps I go too far!

Software like Photoshop (I was once a graphic designer) highlight how good a tool computers can be - they can't imbue an individual with artistic talent, but they can aid expression.

I am more of a poet than a musician, so any help I can get is good. Not having natural gifts for music, my learning stems more from determination than anything else at this stage.

I understand that people can be wary, or even downright derisive when it comes to using computers for music. Given the evolution of some modern genres, I more than understand. I have never picked up a plastic "Guitar Hero" toy, nor will I. Singers using pitch correction software INFURIATE me. I admit I have a Line6 interface for practicing, and even modding amps - but I have beautiful real guitars and tube amps too!! Nothing substitutes for hard work and practice.

Anyway, sorry for the wall of text. I was hoping some of my favourite forumites might offer an opinion on what they would like to see in their "dream program". (No, Ceri, woodworking simulations are not part of this package!) At least it is better than reading spam.

I have just started to learn guitar again. I say again because a s a child of the 50's I played a bit to copy the Beatles etc in the 60's as a teenager. I took up keyboard about 6 years ago and still play using a Yamaha Tyros 4 which has the ability to do anything you could dream of including use of backing tracks as midi or mp3/wave files etc, rcords, takes in audio from a mike or line input etc etc. Before going to a keyboard school I used an on line school called "Gigajam". This had videos, pdf sheet music and an analyser which measures what youo do against what you should do!! To do this it uses MIDI as tghis is the easiest way on precisely analysing music in terms of notes, timing, note length etc. Having just taken up Guitar again I resubscribed as they also do Guitar and drums. UNfortunately, whilst videos and sheet music are OK to get the same interaction for analysis you have to invest in an expensive analogue to midi converter costing around £400 or us e a silly little guitar heor style Roland Midi guitar again costing more than an entry level proper guitar. Shortly later I bought "Rocksmith" which for a beginner wanting to get into the techniques whilst having fun I think is brilliant, albeit for from perfect on useability and a bit quirky. So I spoke to the guy who runs "Gigajam" and suggested he might collaborate with Ubisoft who make Gigajam. They are into games not education so why not? The feedback was that for small companies the investment in the software is too great and he had already thought of this as he knows Ubisoft men. So like a lot of things in Industry over the last 10 years, whilst what you would pay today to develop it is prohibitive, the games industry being cash rich often develops it for you, even if it is not as quickly as you might like. A lot of VR and 3D design tools were based on games applicationos or cinematography applications e.g 3D studio max . I personally think we are therefore at the mercy of the games industry who are unlikely to incorporate MP3 compatibility as there is no money in it for them! They would rather charge you £3 a shot to buy the "Rocksmith programmed music modules!

It would be nice if they went down the midi route and one of the music hardware companies brought out a resonable priced interface cheaper than the Roland units as MIDI files are available all over the Net at prices ranging from nothing upwards. Trouble is, the number of professional guitarists using MIDI is I suspect pretty small so who is likely to bother?
I think for now we will have to keep dreaming.

Regards
Phil

Sadly, the costs of developing software have more to do with copyrights and people wanting a large slice of whatever pie is being offered. Changes to the actual interface are very easy to accomplish in many instances, I know, I've created interfaces before.

In the case of GuitarPro, introducing the "real-time highway" would be easy, as most of the information is already there for the fretboard window.

I also understand that Ubisoft with their Rocksmith game know they are on to a money spinner with their expensive songpacks. But now the PC release has come along, I would be surprised if someone doesn't figure out how to mod it for their own purposes (adding custom songs, etc.)

I would prefer a legal combination of these programs, but I believe that if that does not show up, people will create one. The tools for an ideal guitar program are out there now.

The online collaborative community is unbelievable at the moment. TuxGuitar is an open source program that is a clone of GuitarPro, reading .gpx files, for example. What I was hoping was that software developers actually take note and create a full, well rounded product before individuals create a half-baked one.

I'm happy using the software I have at the moment, but frustrated that so much more could be done, and isn't. I believe it will happen, one way or another.

So I thought I'd put my ideas out there, and wait. In a forum like this, I was hoping that people could improve upon them, helping to define what would be the ultimate guitar software.