MIDI Guitar vs Keyboard

  • Thread starter Thread starter mastahnke
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mastahnke

mastahnke

Linux Man...
I am in need of a MIDI input device and I have a couple questions I guess. I mainly play guitar so I am wondering if a guitar with a MIDI pickup system would be a better choice for me than a keyboard. I have looked a lot at the Alesis QS8.1 as far as keybaords go and I really like it, but it doesn't have everysound I have ever wanted. The boards that do have the sounds I like are usually 500$ more and they have sequencers and samplers and a whole bunch of other stuff I don't think I will ever use.
MIDI guitars: I haven't played one in a few years, I remember it used to be that when you bent a note you could hear the pitch shift very squarly. I have heard that MIDI pickups have come a long way and that they are probably better now. I am also concerned about 9-pin vs 5-pin. Most MIDI guitars I know of use 9-pin and i have no need for that. I just want to be able to plug into my MIDISPORT and go.
So, is a guitar better because I know how to play it, or would a keyboard be better because it is designed to work with MIDI more?

MIKE
 
Hey Mike,
If you have a software sampler, you could always use some of the guitar CD samples that are out there. I have a couple myself. I own a Epiphone Les Paul but Im still learning to play and some things I would like to do are beyond my ability right now. The Cd samples are loaded to your sampler and triggered via midi with plenty of control and editing power only limited by your sampler. I use the EXS24 with Logic Audio.
I hav'nt looked into midi guitar, can you give me a good link about these devices ? Im interested and would like to do some research. Do you have to be an accomplished guitarist to utilize these things or is it a good cheater method for newbie's ?
 
Depending on your playing style you'll have to spend according to how fast you play.

Tracking is the issue for MIDI guitars. The ones that can keep up with the Al DiMeolas and John Maglauglins of the world are more expensive.

The borderline (economical with fair tracking) are the Roland GK units. They can still be beaten in a race, but they keep up fairly well if you watch your speed.

How much are you willing to part with?

Carl
 
theoratically, you'll have heaps of latency with midi guitar.
 
I have a Roland GR-33 gtr synth and believe it currently rivels the best MIDI guitar tracking available via its GK-2A pickup....which is a 13 pin cable, btw. Is it perfect?...no way, is it good?...yes. Do you have to play cleanly and watch how you set your hand across the stings to mute?...yes. Does it have latency?....yes...can it follow an Al DiMeola?...yes. Many factors, and I find it depends on how WELL the system is tweaked and setup, the abilities of the player (no campfire gtr jamming now...it's a new animal), and even the particular patches used at the time. You have to remember that the guitar and keyboard each have their own particular nuances, that each cannot duplicate. However, items like pitch bending, and a limitless amounts of sounds are now available to the guitar player. It also allows me to daisy chain my synths off my GR33 via MIDI too...so it opens up all the sounds you may have on modules, other keyboards, soft synths...whatever.

I would suggest going to a store and demo-ing the Roland unit, and see what you think. I think you might be amazed. However, if you have any type of keyboard chops, a keyboard probably is the way to go....or the both actually...which is what I have. Yeah, you can get organ sounds on a guitar, but the voicings will be different as played on a keyboard.... kapeesh?

hope this info helps. Midi gtr has come a long way, and it's a blast. But keyboard workstations are pretty incredible in their own right. Shoot, the Triton Studio is almost a complete studio in its own...complete with CD burner!
 
Decision Made

I played the "Roland ready" strat for about an hour today and I thought it was pretty cool, but it didn't cut the mustard. I would have had to spend 200$ on the Vk pickup then 529 for the GR33 just to have MIDI guitar that was pretty good, but not good enough. I see what you mean about playing too fast and it muting really easily. If it had had more sustain, I probably would have gotten it. The notes just didn't ring out logn enough, it felt like a gate on it or something.
So, I purchased an Alesis QS 8.1. Only 895 at Guitar Center this weekend!!! yeah, i am excited about that.

I will let you know how it works out for me.

MIKE
 
Re: Decision Made

mastahnke said:
I played the "Roland ready" strat for about an hour today and I thought it was pretty cool, but it didn't cut the mustard. I would have had to spend 200$ on the Vk pickup then 529 for the GR33 just to have MIDI guitar that was pretty good, but not good enough. I see what you mean about playing too fast and it muting really easily. If it had had more sustain, I probably would have gotten it. The notes just didn't ring out logn enough, it felt like a gate on it or something.
So, I purchased an Alesis QS 8.1. Only 895 at Guitar Center this weekend!!! yeah, i am excited about that.

I will let you know how it works out for me.

MIKE
Click to expand...

good luck with the Alesis....you should really enjoy it. However, I think you misunderstood me when I was talking about muting, fast playing, etc. I meant that you can accidentally trigger the gr33 thinking you are playing something, when you *loudly*just palm your strings to mute...and sometimes get a note you really don't want! The sustain thing is all programable, by the way. That is not a fixed feature, just like it won't be on a decent keyboard. and...playing fast usually means playing cleanly too...but it can be done. Listen to Pat Metheny...he makes good use of the Roland stuff.

So....record some new *inspired* stuff with the 8.1 and put it in the MP3 clinic...eh??
 
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