Software RiyazStudio
RiyazStudio is a time-tested tabla, tanpura and drone software, which can completely replace electronic tabla and tanpura machines. The programme is easy to work with, relatively cheap and runs on all Windows systems software from Windows 98 upwards as well as on Mac or Linux systems with the necessary emulations.
"Riyaz" means "practice", and RiyazStudio with its great sounds and many functional options is indeed a wonderful inspiration and support for regular practice. RiyazStudio's heart is the tabla. With good speakers, it produces a very natural sound and realistic phrasings. The tanpura sounds great, too. The set includes an installation CD and a registration code for two computers.
- nine classical Indian rhythm cycles (tala, number of beats in brackets), each with several variations: Teental (16), Ektal (12), Roopaktal (7), Jhaptal (10), Addha / Sitarkhani (16 syncopated), Deepchandi (14), Jhoomra (14), Dadra (6), Kaharva (8)
- speed adjustment in beats per minute at four different levels (laya) from slow (vilambit) to fast (drut)
- visual and digital beat display
- tanpura tuning alternatively with fifth (Pa), fourth (Ma) or special tunings for ragas Puriya, Marwa or Gujari-Todi
- drone with either just the tonic or additional fifth or fourth
- separate volume control for tabla,tanpura and drone
- tonic selection based on Western chromatic half note scale from low g up to high c?- micro tuning in between half note steps
- automatic tuning of tabla, tanpura and drone to the same tonic
- switch of tanpura and drone to lower octave
Technical details
Hardware requirements: Systems software Windows (98, ME, 2000, NT , XP, Vista, Windows 7 - or any other systems software with Windows emulation), at least 756 MB free hrd disc memory for the installation, central processing unit at least 400 MHz (e.g. Celeron or Pentium II).
For installation you will receive a CD-Rom from India Instruments. The software will ask you to enter a registration code when you first start RiyazStudio. You receive this registration code together with the installation CD. The code allows use of RiyazStudio on two separate computers. You can also copy the installation CD and pass it on. In order to use RiyazStudio on more than two computers, you will have to buy more registration codes. Minor updates for the software are free.
RiyazStudio is developed and produced by Jonathan Lawrence, a software developer based in London. He has been studying bansuri since 1999 at London's Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan with Clive Bell, a disciple of Ragunath Seth. RiyazStudio started with Jonathan recording tabla loops from a friend for his practice, because he didn't like the mechanical sound of the available electronic tabla machines. The first version of RiyazStudio was published in 2006. Since then Jonathan is permanently working on improving it. The loops of the standard version have been played by Stewart Fenwick, a student of Faiyaz Khan (Delhi gharana).