Ask Justin Frankel

justin = { main feed , music , code , askjf , pubkey };

Ask Justin Frankel
No reasonable question unanswered since 2009!

Suggested topics: programming, music, sleep, coffee, etc.

Note: please do not ask questions about REAPER features, bugs or scheduling, use the forums instead.

[newer questions]

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[older questions]

Question: Have you tried Waveform free? What do you think about Tracktion's business model? Are you planning to make old Reaper versions free for everybody? Like version 1 and 2.
Asked by Vitali (148.81.197.x) on March 22 2020, 3:08pm
Reply on March 22 2020, 6:59pm:

I haven't, no. REAPER 0.999 is free if you are so inclined... 3 Comments...

Question: Has the introduction of development version devXXXX help the team or pace/quality of development in comparison with the previous model used? In general never liked the date versioning scheme because people can perceive a software product as ``old'' or ``outdated'' --- Obviously not the case with dev-versions of yours but curious enough to know what problems solved.
Asked by Gio (85.72.89.x) on March 21 2020, 4:26pm
Reply on March 21 2020, 4:33pm:

It solves ambiguity about what "current" is, there are two branches, one is version the other is by date. It's been pretty smooth. Comment...

Question: Hey Justin, I am considering launching a tech/infrastructure product with licensing similar to Reaper's. Do you recommend it? Are there enough honest businesses to support a solo developer/tiny team from your experience? Thanks!
Asked by Mauricio Gomes (98.250.148.x) on March 21 2020, 1:52pm
Reply on March 21 2020, 4:34pm:

Yes there are plenty of honest people out there! Comment...

Question: Can you come to the assistance of music teachers everywhere? - so basically, music teachers are having to deliver lessons online for the foreseeable. Unfortunately all the online communication tools are built around voice, so they don't work at all well with music. Dropouts, poor sound etc. Is there anything that can be done inside the reaper infrastructure, or maybe could something be built - like 1:1 skype, but for music? big ask, I know, but if anyone could do it, its you. Music teachers need help!
Asked by Mark Edwards (60.224.34.x) on March 21 2020, 11:19am
Reply on March 21 2020, 4:38pm:

I thought FaceTime worked pretty well, no? 2 Comments...

Question: Hey Justin, are you still watching Better Call Saul? If yes, don't you agree that it keeps getting better and better each season? This season is awesome so far.
Asked by Mommy (107.150.31.x) on March 20 2020, 7:48pm
Reply on March 20 2020, 11:11pm:

I need to catch up! I watched the first episode of this season but haven't seen the rest yet. It is very good though incredibly depressing, but these last days it might be relatively uplifting! Comment...

Question: Are you satisfied with FastSpring as your payment processor? What are the pros and cons?
Asked by ruchira (175.157.47.x) on March 20 2020, 3:57pm
Reply on March 20 2020, 4:07pm:

Yes, they have been really great. I don't have any cons to list. Comment...

Question: how can I DM you? I'm from a major music festival confronting an existential crisis and wondering if NinJam could be a solution....thanks ben@heifetz.co
Asked by roedeo (71.62.69.x) on March 20 2020, 1:03pm
Reply on March 20 2020, 4:08pm:

Send me an email (you can guess my address, first name at company dot com) Comment...

Question: What's the logic behind drums? Like to cover low frequency, KICK. To cover mid frequency, TOMS & SNARE. And to cover high frequency, CYMBALS? Why a basic beat suppose to have kick & snare? Also music means sound which feels pleasant & have pitches. Drums doesn't have pitches. Are drums only suppose to give music a flow, a speed? Like to determine whether a song is slow or fast? Even playing a rock song without drums feels incomplete. If there were no drums at all, would people still like music like now?
Asked by Abhi (117.225.43.x) on March 20 2020, 4:46am
Reply on March 20 2020, 4:08pm:

Sometimes things are less about logic and more about feel? Comment...

Question: Hi justin, would you be interrested in implementing a webhook link for Ninjam in Github whenever you update Ninjam, it gets automatically sent to my community? Discord has a webhook function for Github to send POST events to Discord, and I feel like it might be a good idea to keep me and my community updated in any changes you've made in Ninjam.
Asked by David (96.224.215.x) on March 19 2020, 10:28pm
Reply on March 20 2020, 4:08pm:

Hmm it's rare that we update anything Comment...

Question: hmm- did you see what marvel have made of the New Warriors? (youtu.be/5PCWUCv1rnU?t=68 thoughts??
Asked by 2020 (95.149.70.x) on March 19 2020, 7:09pm
Reply on March 20 2020, 4:08pm:

I don't really follow comic book movies much... Comment...

Question: Can I play kick drum and snare drum together in a rock or pop song?
Asked by Abhi (110.227.153.x) on March 19 2020, 5:28pm
Reply on March 19 2020, 5:29pm:

Definitely! 1 Comment...

Question: Why did you name JSFX the way you did? Was it influenced by javascript in anyway?
Asked by trajan (138.68.19.x) on March 19 2020, 5:11am
Reply on March 19 2020, 1:35pm:

It originally was from the "JesuSonic" guitar processor. Not related to JavaScript. Comment...

Question: Don't know if it is inappropriate to ask here but I haven't found any information about how to properly layer instruments (like 2 or more VSTi plugins) and play all of them with just one MIDI item. And also able to apply different different effects to each instrument. All other DAWs have this. And this is very very helpful for layering drums, instruments in electronic music. If it is possible, can you pass on this to Kenny sir so that he will make a video in this topic? Or maybe you can tell us here?
Asked by LAYERS!!! (104.131.19.x) on March 18 2020, 9:03am
Reply on March 18 2020, 7:04pm:

You should ask on the forum, but in short: there are many ways, the easiest way is to route the MIDI from one track to two tracks, each with a VSTi+FX on it. But go to the forum or the tutorial videos... Comment...

Question: Did you ever had a moment, where you actually dreamt of code? As if like "ok, I suppose I need a vacation now!" ?
Asked by Mespotine (109.104.53.x) on March 17 2020, 10:46pm
Reply on March 18 2020, 2:49am:

More often is dreaming of music, where you come up with the most amazing riff... Comment...

Question: dude-you have entered my dreamspace 2x now,and both have been a disaster-- lol...wtf's going on here? (never invited this!) *grumble* :/
Asked by 2020 (95.149.70.x) on March 17 2020, 6:18pm
Reply on March 18 2020, 2:49am:

Sorry! I try to stick to my own but you know... Comment...

Question: A movie released on 2011 - Contagion, is becoming popular now because of covid19. That movie is 2nd most popular watched movie currently. Same story. A virus is leaked from an Asian country (don't know if it's China or other, I didn't watch that movie yet). And people have flu like condition and in the end, around 25 million people get die worldwide. More like a drama movie, not horror (like zombie movies). Are you going to watch it? Or maybe you have already watched it?
Asked by Abhi (117.234.163.x) on March 17 2020, 4:25am
Reply on March 17 2020, 2:07pm: