guitar like a midi keyboard....

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wishmaker

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is possible with a midi pick up (what midi pick up?) play my guitar like a midi keyboard in reason software (from propellerhead) withouth latency ? if anyone knows the necessary devices to do this ...help me .
thank you.
 
Yep, it's possible, but without latency...well that would depend on your soundcard. A Roland style pickup , like the GK-2A would work, but you also need an interface for the pickup which could be sent out a standard midi cable. Or, you could get a guitar with built in midi output. I use a Roland GK-2A into a Gr-33 and out to a Midiman 2X2 ISA midicard. Never tried triggering Reason's sounds, but it works pretty good with SONAR's softsynths. This is using an M audio soundcard with those WDM drivers which lowers the latency a bunch.
 
To minimize latency you need to get one of the dedicated guitar midi controllers that were manufactured during the stone-age. They don't make any guitar-noises at all, but only outputs MIDI.
 
I'm with Elco.

A couple of ago, I investigated just about every guitar MIDI controller available. The choice pretty much came down to the Roland GK-2A pickup with the GR-33. There were some specialty brands that were a tad cheaper, but they didn't have as good of sounds as the GR-33.

Unfortunately, you're stuck shelling out for both the pickup and the synth/controller/converter. I.e., the pickup does not go direct to MIDI; a controller has to be used.

Stay away from the little devices available at Best Buy. Huge latency and terrible tracking.
 
I have a Roland GR-09 (early guitar synth) triggered with a GK-2A. I recently got this gear mostly for fiddle and banjo (for country songs) and strings, harmonica and brass (for realistic slides).

When I store a MIDI performance from the GR-09 to Cakewalk - and then sequence back to the GR-09 everything tracks properly. But if I sequence the same stored performance to a differnt synth I get choppy notes.

By this I mean, if I slide on the guitar from F to G - I get a smoth slide on the GR-09 but sending that same slide signal to a "keyboard synth" gives me 3 distinct notes (F-F#-G) as if I played the keys one at a time (rather than a slide).

Anybody else run into this (with a GR-09 or a GR-33) and if so is there a solution? I don't think it's a Cakewalk problem I think it's a GR-09 vs. keyboard synth (I'm thinking the GR-09 is designed for "guitar slides" whereas a "keyboard synth" is designed for note "bends" useing an expression "knob").
 
Check out the axon neural network. Do a search for axon on the web and you will find it.
 
mikeh,
I've got a GR-50 with a Godin LGX-SA, and I ran into a very similar problem this weekend with sending MIDI from the GR-50 to another synth (i.e. the bends were not bending).
What I had to do was change the MIDI output from CHR (chromatic) to a specific bending range (I used the maximum value for the smoothest bend possible - 64). This cured the problem (even into my Soundblaster synth).
I'm not familiar with the GR-09, but I would think you can set the same parameter. From my poor memory, I set this in the patch external area - if you want more detail I can get back to you when I get home.
BTW, (IMHO) the LGX-SA is THE way to go for MIDI guitar - my GK-2A tracks like cr@p in comparison (and at the time I thought it was GREAT !). I suppose, though, if I didn't already have a GR-50, I may be looking at AXON...

Cheers,

mike
 
I have a GK2A that I mounted on one of my Gibsons...and it tracks ok...not great, but ok. Has anyone tried one of the Strats with the pickups mounted in it? I don't feel like shucking out $800+ for a Brian Moore or Godin, but $500 or so for the strat would work for me. Do you think the tracking would improve over the GK2A?

oh...on the note bending, you have to set the bend parameters on your synth to match your controller....I had to do this when running my Gr33 into my Roland XP50. I had the same bend problems at first, until I addressed this issue. They tell you in the (actually decent) GR33 manual.
 
Look for a casio dg 20 on ebay. or yamaha g 10.

Or..bone up for the axon ax100. The yamaha g 50 uses older axon technology, not as good.
Or the best option Ive seen is the starr labbs ztar, its sort of a variation of regebro's suggestion, but all grown up.
www.starrlabs.com

The roland units are good for the crappy internal sounds, but otherwise both the shadow midi system, and axons eat its lunch. But the axon has to be properly set up first to work well. Also the gk 2a is kind of clunky there arethe rms pickups though, such as are featured on godins lxg sa guitar. Also top of the line parkers and brian moores have a system I forgetm its name but it does it all inside the guitar..oh I remember, midi axe.
 
mixmkr,
Yeah, my tracking was always *ok* too - I really didn't think It could have been better - I always assumed it was an inherent technology limitation.
When I tried the Godin, I was just FLOORED !
I just didn't realize it could be that good...and the GR 50 was made in 1988 !
So, yes, the tracking CAN be improved over the GK-2A.
And you're lucky the GR 33 manual is good - the GR 50 manual is awful. It is very *accurate*, but phenomenally confusing.


The way I see it, if you're just getting into MIDI guitar, unless you've got the cash to throw at it, go simple and see if it appeals to you. Then you can improve on the situation later if you like it.

Good luck, wishmaker, hope it comes true...

mike
 
Thanks for the replys.

I tried one of the Roland ready Strats. I't basically a standard Mexican Strat with a GK2A built in. The main advantage is you don't have to tape/glue/screw the GK2A onto a guitar (and you don't have that big box attached to the guitar).

I thought it tracked a little better then the external GK2A mounting. If I didn't already have a GK2A (and a Strat copy) I would have been willing to by the Roland ready Strat.

I ended up mounting a GK2A on a $150 Charvel Strat copy. (I didn't care if I hade screw holes in this cheap guitar).

From my experiance a Strat (or Strat copy) has the best guitar set-up for placing a GK pick-up in the best position - in fact every GK2A that I've seen in use is on a Strat style guitar.
 
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