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Post subject: B-Dec 30 and Jammer Songmaker=Killer Combo?
Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 11:54 am
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Being relatively new to the Bass World, I am amazed by the lack of conversation about the B-Dec 30, considering the value delivered by this amazing product.

The B-Dec and accompanying method book provide an amazing amount of tutorial material. It's one thing to have a book with a CD to practice along with as you study the material. The B-Dec rises to a whole new level by providing the ability to change performance tracks to meet just about every need. Just want to practice to a drum track? Done! Only want to use drums and 1 accompaniment track? Done! Want to change key or tempo dynamically? Done! What other product can do this (and more)?

Just when I thought things can't get any better, I discover the true power of Jammer Songmaker. Being a little dense, I was only using the program to play midi files through the B-Dec (yeah, I can hear all of you telling me that it can do so much more. Forgive me for being slow). As I was reading through the manual, I noticed that it said the B-Dec could download songs into the system. As I was trying to get this feature to work using song loader, I discovered that Songmaker does the same thing! So I asked myself, "What more can this sweet program do?" I went ahead and completed the tutorial. Man, was I blown away!

TO Fender Mods:

Pass the word to Marketing: you are missing a huge promotional opportunity by not emphasizing the marriage of the B-Dec and Jammer Songmaker. This powerful combination is not even mentioned in the owners manual or the method book! I was on the fence (for a minute) about buying the B-Dec. I wondered if investing in a more powerful amp would be a better use of my funds. If it was mentioned on the box (or stickers attached to the demo unit) that I could download software that would teach me to compose my own music, with little effort, I would probably had no reservations about my purchase. In fact, this feature needs to have a couple of pages in the Owner's Manual. You could probably add a small section to the Method Book about using the techniques we have learned to compose original songs using Jammer Songmaker.

To The B-Dec Owners:

If you haven't already done this, immediately go to the Downloads page and get this amazing piece of software. If you already have this software, why not share some of you original creations?

To Fender Mods:

The exandability of this product is found in Songmaker . It would certainly drive after purchase value if we could download additional songs that reinforce or expand the principles taught in the Method Book. While the option to download and use midi files is a wonderful feature, why not help out by offering additional files that focus on different techniques that changed the use of bass in music. A great example would be making the James Jamerson "Heard It Through the Grapevine" lesson found in the Fender's Players Club available as a midi file we could download into the B-Dec.

In closing, I hope this email will stir up the conversation about maximizing the potential of this amazing equipment. Before we look at what upgrades are possible, let's fully exploit what is already possible with the B-Dec and Jammer Songmaker.


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Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 7:54 pm
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Excellent suggestions!!! Anyone at Fender is listening?
-Eric


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Post subject:
Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 10:21 am
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Joined: Thu Jun 14, 2007 1:02 pm
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Location: Michigan
We at Fender do listen and do look at this forum. Keep in mind that the BDEC does also alow you to store midi files in the unit. All you have to do is go to your favorite midi website find the song that you are looking for and dump it into the unit.
Thanks for the great suggestions...keep them coming. It is the everyday players that make the difference.

_________________
Heath Bathgate
Midwest Product Specialist
Fender Musical Instruments Corp.


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Post subject:
Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 8:37 am
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Thanks Heath for replying. I agree with your suggestion concerning downloading midi files directly into the B-Dec. I have already downloaded a selection of songs that our Praise and Worship team are working on for an upcoming event. I was thinking along the lines of further instructional material. Over at "The Fenders Player Club" are lessons that not only give you notation and tablature, but provide insight to the music theory behind great sounding basslines (I'm sure you are aware of this fact already). The Method Book also takes this same approach, which I enjoy immensely. What you are suggesting is to download a midi, then through repeated listening, pick the song apart. This is a great way to learn but has one potential drawback: if I don't understand the theory behind the musical phrasings, then all I learn is how to "mimic" the bassline. I guess their is nothing wrong with that, but for me, it is far more enjoyable when I understand that I just played "two, four-measure phrases of i (Ebm)-V (Bb)-IV7 (Ab9)", and know why it works.

That is the beauty of the B-DEC and Method Book. Other books/CD may teach the same material. As already mentioned, the B-DEC takes this so much further. I think it would be a really neat after purchase add on to be able to get additional lessons that further the musical education we are receiving through your wonderful product. Or maybe once I become proficient enough, I could create a B-DEC specific book/CD that adds to the method book. Perhaps it could be something like this:

Study with the Masters: The Theory Behind the Hits
Tired of just mimicking the bass lines? Want to know what makes certain bass riffs work so well? Study at the feet of the Bass Masters. These note for note transcriptions uncover the theory used to create these timeless bass lines that changed the role of the Bass. The enclosed CD provides samples that work seamlessly with the B-DEC Phrase Sampler, providing the perfect training to take your Bass playing to the next level. So what are you waiting for? These masters are waiting in the shed to teach you their secrets

James Jamerson - Heard it Through the Grapevine
Jaco Pastorius - Kuru
System of the Down - Sugar
Blink 182 - What's My Age Again?
and more...

So what do you think? Oh by the way, for some reason the Fender Book store has no products for purchase. Thanks for listening (or reading).


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Post subject: Midi Files
Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 6:00 pm
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Curious if someone has posted any good sites with midi files that can be used with the BDEC? I am just ordered one so I am reading up on what the possibilities are. Thanks!


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