Use my guitar as midi controller?

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magik570
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2014/04/18 12:55:36 (permalink)

Use my guitar as midi controller?

I am in need of playing some keyboard heavy songs in couple of gigs without a keyboardist. 
Don't want to buy GK2A pickup or Roland GR Synths (too much). 
Am I out of luck or I can use some adapter to make use of Cakewalk synths (I have Sonar X3 Producer) and play it through my laptop/with external UA25EX soundcard? 
Is "You Rock Midi Guitar" an option?
Any idea would be greatly appreciated. 

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    Mesh
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    Re: Use my guitar as midi controller? 2014/04/18 16:41:04 (permalink)
    Check out Midi Guitar by Jam Origin: http://jamorigin.com/products/midi-guitar/
     

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    ShellstaX
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    Re: Use my guitar as midi controller? 2014/04/24 03:53:40 (permalink)
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    Mesh
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    Re: Use my guitar as midi controller? 2014/04/24 11:36:02 (permalink)
    ShellstaX
    http://www.fishman.com/pr...less-guitar-controller


    Do you have the Fishman and (if yes) what do you think of it?

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    ShellstaX
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    Re: Use my guitar as midi controller? 2014/04/24 18:30:52 (permalink)
    No I don't have one.
     
    Not cheap at $399 but web reviews appear overwhelmingly positive. Check out the YouTube videos too.
     
    I know the Cakewalk guys got a couple to 'test' after NAMM (Andrew Rossa via Steam forum). I wonder how they got on?
     
    Oh - the OP on the Steam forum did have an issue with Rapture and DimPro (but suggested the VST worked fine otherwise) ...
    http://steamcommunity.com.../0/540732596458837876/
    post edited by ShellstaX - 2014/04/24 18:38:28
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    Mesh
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    Re: Use my guitar as midi controller? 2014/04/29 13:44:41 (permalink)
    ShellstaX
    No I don't have one.
     
    Not cheap at $399 but web reviews appear overwhelmingly positive. Check out the YouTube videos too.
     
    I know the Cakewalk guys got a couple to 'test' after NAMM (Andrew Rossa via Steam forum). I wonder how they got on?
     
    Oh - the OP on the Steam forum did have an issue with Rapture and DimPro (but suggested the VST worked fine otherwise) ...
    http://steamcommunity.com.../0/540732596458837876/


    Yeah, they sure aren't cheap......I did see a NAMM video on it (maybe a year ago) and it looked impressive. I never check the forums/community on Steam.....I just go to my fav. game TF2.

     
    I'll check with Andrew R. on what he thinks....

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    BenMMusTech
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    Re: Use my guitar as midi controller? 2014/05/25 21:32:56 (permalink)
    Sorry I have come to the party late.  I have just purchased a yourock guitar and would highly recommend it but, you will need to work on technique.  It's like playing a guitar but it's also like playing a keyboard.  You will also need to adjust parameters to get it to work the way you want it too.  But it is a great piece of kit.
     
    Ben

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    Mesh
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    Re: Use my guitar as midi controller? 2014/05/27 12:20:28 (permalink)
    BenMMusTech
    Sorry I have come to the party late.  I have just purchased a yourock guitar and would highly recommend it but, you will need to work on technique.  It's like playing a guitar but it's also like playing a keyboard.  You will also need to adjust parameters to get it to work the way you want it too.  But it is a great piece of kit.
     
    Ben


    Hi Ben,
    I was thinking about getting this (before getting Midi Guitar), but NOT having strings (on the neck), discouraged me. Being a guitarist, I suppose it's the "feel" of strings in my hands that I personally like.  How's the response (playing/tracking) when using this?
     

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    BenMMusTech
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    Re: Use my guitar as midi controller? 2014/05/28 19:32:17 (permalink)
    Hi
    The response is excellent, mind you I have not really sat down and fully set the thing up, too busy, in the middle of a project.
     
    The string thing was a worry for me too but I haven't noticed it too much.  What I miss is being able to slide up and down strings...yes there is a button that lets you do that but it doesn't feel great.  This is a problem with a plastic neck.  Although you can upgrade the neck to a more responsive one an done that has a proper guitar specification.  I also play a lot of staccato runs and I have not been able to translate that yet but as I say I have not set the thing up properly.
     
    What it is good for is recording midi into the machine, I am an alright keyboard player but if I don't know a chord I have to look it up and work out the fingering.  With this device I can now go you know what I want a cmaj7 bingo strum.  The sound is different because you have six notes instead of 4 but that's also cool because you get a thicker sound, it creates a new texture so to speak.  It's also great because I know enough scales on the guitar but not that many on the keyboard, so again it translates my guitar skills into something that is useable for midi and DAW technology.
     
    For 300 bucks and another 160 for the "pro" neck I highly recommend it, remember that this is new technology, think the mellotron.  The mellotron was great but you couldn't play it live or if you did you took the risk. And the same is for this device.  In 10 years when they perfect the technology it may usher in a new guitar age.  You know you are playing something highly experimental when it says on the thing patent pending.
     
    Ben

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    Mesh
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    Re: Use my guitar as midi controller? 2014/05/29 09:34:43 (permalink)
    Thanks Ben for the review, I appreciate it. I do like Midi Guitar, but it doesn't seem to pick up on the faster picking/playing which I'd like it to do. So, when funds are more available, I just may look further into getting YRG2.
     

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    57Gregy
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    Re: Use my guitar as midi controller? 2014/05/29 09:48:09 (permalink)
    I keep hoping one of my Cakewalk friends will buy this and give a review of it.
    http://www.guitarcenter.com/Sonuus-i2M-Musicport-Universal-Midi-Converter-and-USB-Interface-107407405-i1709789.gc
     

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    Mesh
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    Re: Use my guitar as midi controller? 2014/05/30 09:33:09 (permalink)
    A fellow Sonarite (smallstonefan) has ordered this and it looks to be a real cool midi controller.....with also a higher pricetag it comes.... 
     
    I hope he gives us a review on this after testing it out.....
    http://www.gizmag.com/misa-digital-tri-bass/28662/

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    ShellstaX
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    Re: Use my guitar as midi controller? 2014/05/30 21:16:49 (permalink)
    If we are are taking a look a at the big league ... and price tag ...(and recognising it’s a midi controller - whilst similar to a guitar it’d have a different playing technique).
     
    Pendulum’s Rob Swire use(d/s) Starr Labs Ztars (incl Z6S-XPA)
    http://starrlabs.blogspot.com.au/2011/05/new-ztar-for-rob-swire-of-pendulum.html
    http://www.starrlabs.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=59 
     
    In Action:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVI-fMA7qW0
    (notice he plays it more like a keyboard, seldom strumming if at all, but using a control knob for modulation).
    Plenty of ‘hits’ on Youtube. 
     
    He use(d/s) Z3TA too :)
    http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jun08/articles/pendulum.htm
    http://www.musicradar.com/news/tech/in-pictures-pendulums-studio-and-live-setups-323465/4 
     
    A bit OT but interesting - Studio interview hands on insights
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqmFl_tOvc0 
     
    [Update] ... or the more affordable iTar on presale:
    http://www.starrlabs.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=67&product_id=69
     
    post edited by ShellstaX - 2014/05/30 21:51:04
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    gswitz
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    Re: Use my guitar as midi controller? 2014/05/30 22:17:21 (permalink)
    I have the Roland GR-20 with the GK3 Divided pickup. I always run my strat straight (bypassing the GR20) and the synth out separately (2 cables from the guitar).
     
    I'm a total junky. It's the pedal I never put away. My foot is on it right now. I was just looking at the GR-55 which has looping and stuff. I tend to use my old boss looper, but it would be nice to have looping in the unit.
     
    I've just checked out the owner's manual here...
    http://www.rolandus.com/products/details/1148/support/
     
    It is pricy. I'll give you that.
     
    But it's sooo much better than the midi that get's produced by the same unit. It's really fantastic at tracking the sound. I regularly record the Midi from the GR20 along with the guitar direct to my interface and the left and right from the GR20 direct too. It's a ton of fun. The midi isn't as good as the GR20 at detecting and responding to pitch bends and slides. Subtle differences.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r335J6CILig
     
    I installed mine myself. I will say that if you're in a hurry for a gig, idk if I'd try it. It took me some time to really learn to set it up and be comfy with it on stage. There's a lot to know in the old GR-20. From the patch list for the GR-55... oh my.
     
     I took a vocal from a December Jam and pieced it together in this midi guitar lighthearted tune making tonight...
    http://stabilitynetwork.blob.core.windows.net/g-tunes/20131218_PaulReb_03_LongWayHomehaha2.mp3
    post edited by gswitz - 2014/05/30 23:46:09

    StudioCat > I use Windows 10 and Sonar Platinum. I have a touch screen.
    I make some videos. This one shows how to do a physical loopback on the RME UCX to get many more equalizer nodes.
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    gswitz
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    Re: Use my guitar as midi controller? 2014/05/31 12:35:37 (permalink)
    http://forum.cakewalk.com/GR20-decay-envelope-controlling-synth-parameters-in-Sonar-m3046149.aspx#3046149
     
    I posted a new thread showing how to use the decay envelope from the GR20 to control synth parameters in Sonar.

    StudioCat > I use Windows 10 and Sonar Platinum. I have a touch screen.
    I make some videos. This one shows how to do a physical loopback on the RME UCX to get many more equalizer nodes.
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    Mesh
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    Re: Use my guitar as midi controller? 2014/06/02 11:56:20 (permalink)
    I have a GR-9 (yes quite old) which I think should work. When I have some time, I'll tinker with it and see if it can be used.....IIRC, the response wasn't that good, BUT wasn't really bad either. Like you said gswitz, it needs to be set up properly first.

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