Midi stupidity

[dragonworks]

I have a QS8. If I buy a midi pickup for my guitar can I use the QS8 for my sound source?

[AlChuck]

You need more than a MIDI pickup, you need the "brain" that knows how to decode the signals coming from whatever MIDI pickup you use and turn them into MIDI messages. For example, if you have the Roland GK-whatever divided pickup, you need a GR-30, GR-33, or another Roland-compatible brain; and so on. Once it's MIDI, you can drive any other synth or MIDI-capable device you want.

[dragonworks]

AlChuck, thank you. I would like to use my guitar for midi; is there any way for me to do this without spending buko amounts of money and what do you recommend? Remember, I am completely new to doing this so be gentle and go slow. I have recorded with midi into my mac with my QS8 and am familiar with the basics of this application. I have cakewalk guitar studio which I bought about 3 years ago and have never used.

[AlChuck]

There is some inexpensive software on the market that purports to be able to change audio signals into MIDI signals. This might work for you -- just plug the guitar into a soundcard and let the software figure it out from the audio waveforms. However, I have heard very few people that have said they were able to do this satisfactorily. You need to play extremely cleanly and monophonically, and you still have to fix 25% of the notes after the fact. After a lot of this you will probably end thinking it would have been more effective to have taken piano lessons

[dragonworks]

You make it all sound so easy. I can play pretty clean when I want to, thats half the battle. Do you know the names of any of this software or where to go to get this info?

[getuhgrip]

What's the benefit or effect of using guitar as midi source? Sounds interesting.

[AlChuck]

getuhgrip,

Well, the only real benefit is that if you can play the guitar but not the piano, you can still input MIDI parts into a sequencer. I guess it also allows you as a guitarist to have access to synth and sampler sounds, thus widening your expressive potential...

dragonworks,

I don't know... I asked the same question a year or so ago, maybe here, maybe elsewhere, and there were several suggested links. However, I failed to find it using the search thing here. I'll see if I can find any trace of any info I might have had. Otherwise, try a search using Google or something.

[dragonworks]

Getugrip,
I have done a few classical pieces but I am not a real keyboard player. I have to do alot of editing to fix my mistakes. The real reason I want to do this is because I cant play real fast passages on the keys but I can on guitar and I figure I could do the difficult passages I want to write on guitar. At a 25% edit rate such as AlChuck mentions for guitar wouldnt be much different that what I have to do with my keyboard work anyway.

[Blue Bear Sound]

One of my guitars has been equipped with a midi pickup - I use the Roland GT-10 interface...

It works surprisingly well, but tracking isn't as fast as on a keyboard. I'm not a keyboard player as such (but I play one on TV! ), but I;ve always found that there are samples that are difficult to emulate the playing style on due to the fact that a keyboard's interface is so unlike the original instrument.

For example, a can't do a convincing horn or brass sound (ie, trying to replicate the expression of how the instrument is played) via keyboard, but via the guitar interface, I have much more control over the expression. The end result are samples that ending up sounding more like the actual instruments.

Another example, using a midi wind controller would allow an even closer approximation of the wind instrument interface, since it is designed to be as such.

It's all about 1) finding the midi controller that's easiest and most comfortable for you, and 2) if you have a choice of controllers, use the one that best lets you articulate the expression of the samples originating instrument.

Bruce

[dragonworks]

Back to the original question, If I buy the pickup and midi interface or "brain" can I use my qs8 as a sound source or does the "brain" have patches I use? How much does this pickup and brain cost? and what do you recomend? I was planning on redoing my Jackson, make a stainless steel pickguard and make it two pickups, active. Now it has three pickups, I could substitute the midi pickup for one?

[Blue Bear Sound]

The midi pickup, combined with the guitar interface can be used to send midi to ANY midi-enabled sound module, sampler, or other midi device.

I'd recommend a Roland pickup and trying to find a used Roland GI-10 interface - it was around $750 for both....... the midi pickup installation is a huge pain in the ass (seriously!) - you're better off taking it to a tech. As well.... I like the flexibility it offers, but it is not perfect, so I wouldn't have any high expectations - it works, but there's latency (ie, there's a few mS delay between striking a note and it being played) - plus the latency isn't consistent - it varies depending on the register you play in... also, tracking is not perfect, you have to play VERY cleanly to avoid triggering notes you don't want... it really isn't the same as playing midi via keyboard.

Bruce

[AlChuck]

The GR-33 has sounds in it too... basically a Roland JV1010 or part of one...

[drstawl]

You need an Axon Neural Net. The only Guitar to MIDI interface that actually works, as opposed to sort of working some of the time. They offer a model with its own synth or you can use any other synth with a MIDI in port.

[dragonworks]

After hearing those prices I was getting ready to throw in the towel, will take a look at the axon neural net ( this isnt like flight line or a sky crane is it Dr.) Theres many higher priorities on the list like getting the studio done but if something is reasonably priced that works reasonably well I will consider it at this point.
Thanx again Dr. now we know why your the doc.

[dragonworks]

Went to Axons site and didnt find a price but did read about the unit. Sounds promising but also sounds like another 1000 dollar item?

[drstawl]

Yes- I've seen it online at a Music Store in Queens or Brooklyn and it's as you say: $1K without the synth, about $1200 with. The pickup is another $250, but it's compatible with Roland's GK-2A.
My main point was: why pay $300, $500 or even $700 for something that almost works? Save up and get the Real McCoy.

[dragonworks]

Well Doc, its gonna havta go on da back burner for now cause I got that sudio to build and if I suddenly come into a grand its going on building supplies. I was hoping for under 400.00 but I might as well rub a lamp. Maybe I'll get lucky and find some rich
bratty kid selling one his daddy buys him for christmas for 250.00 .