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I was watching some Adrian Belew videos (there are a couple from his Power Trio show a couple weeks ago on youtube) Then I stumbled on this one. It's a few years ago. and you should skip the first 3 minutes to see what I am mentioning. He gets a pretty cool piano sound from his guitar just after 3 minutes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjWWZaWVBMUActually earlier in the video he makes good use of a looper that is pretty cool also, but my point of this thread is somehow he got a pretty cool MIDI sound from that guitar.. I'd like to know how. (again 3 minute mark or so) yeah I'm old too
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Thanks
It appears unavailable (discontinued maybe?)
Do you know of another that is more current? The tracking seems pretty accurate on it.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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Pretty much any guitar synth. Check out the Roland Guitar synths. I have a 10 year old Roland Synth pickup built into my Fender Strat. It came with a control unit and can be switched to midi, midi + guitar or just guitar. I sure the new ones track really well. You can also buy guitar synth pickups that can be added to an existing guitar. Not sure how good the tracking is. Unless you are lightning fast, shouldn't be too big a problem. A lot depends on how well the setup is done. At 4:43-45, you can see him switch between synth and guitar. My Strat has a 3 way switch near the tone controls.
Last edited by lambada; 02/26/17 08:30 PM.
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Lambada is right as most guitar MIDI controllers track about the same. I have an old Casio MG510 Strat MIDI controller: http://www.futureguitarnow.com/forum/index.php?topic=961.0There are also external guitar to MIDI interfaces like the Fishman Triple Play: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/970869-REG/fishman_119297_wireless_midi_guitar_controller_software.html/?c3api=3679%2Cbing%2C2764376398%2C1105202454813With all guitar MIDI controllers the thinner the string the better the latency. That is because the string has to make a couple of complete vibrations so the controller can determine what note is being played. On my Casio I use .008 to .38 strings. There still is a little latency on the bass strings using them while virtually none on the treble strings. I have used this guitar may times both live and on showcase songs. If you want a guitar like MIDI controller with absolutely no latency then you need a Ztar: http://www.starrlabs.com/Not exactly a guitar but a guitar body with micro-switches for frets. Standard guitar fingering with no strings. I would love to try one someday. Probably the day after I win a lottery. I hope this helps.
Forbidden fruit causes many jams!
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With all guitar MIDI controllers the thinner the string the better the latency. That is because the string has to make a couple of complete vibrations so the controller can determine what note is being played. On my Casio I use .008 to .38 strings. There still is a little latency on the bass strings using them while virtually none on the treble strings. I have used this guitar may times both live and on showcase songs.
Great tip about the strings, thanks. I've been experimenting with some software solutions and I think I'll try using some thinner strings, see if it makes a difference. I use .12-.56s right now so I'm sure it'll be an adjustment! If you want a guitar like MIDI controller with absolutely no latency then you need a Ztar: http://www.starrlabs.com/Not exactly a guitar but a guitar body with micro-switches for frets. Standard guitar fingering with no strings. I would love to try one someday. Probably the day after I win a lottery. For a pretty stunning demonstration of the Ztar, see Stanley Jordan (although he already plays normal guitars like the Ztar anyways!): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzoKIdwGRJs
Will - PG Music
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Yes Will there will be a some adjustment! I have 13-56 flat wounds on my jazz box and if I plan on going from that guitar to my MIDI guitar I have to practice some with those light strings. Without getting use to them I can very easily push them out of tune.
Good luck and let me know how the light strings it works for you.
Forbidden fruit causes many jams!
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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Yes Will there will be a some adjustment! I have 13-56 flat wounds on my jazz box and if I plan on going from that guitar to my MIDI guitar I have to practice some with those light strings. Without getting use to them I can very easily push them out of tune.
Good luck and let me know how the light strings it works for you. Awesome, good to know! Thanks, I'll keep you posted 
Will - PG Music
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NO, THEY still make Parker MIDI guitars as a matter of fact (that was Parker's thing anyway - beyond the high tech stainless frets and carbon fiber) http://www.parkerguitars.com/products/signature/DFAB842.html when they have them they are $5K'ish but MarioD is correct there are a LOT of MIDI guitar "solutions" out there FTP, Jam Origins MIDI Guitar 2 (it's only $100 and all you need is a GUITAR, even a nylon string ACOUSTIC since you take audio into PC and MG converts audio to MIDI in the PC - even has free demo but the DEMO is like 8 versions old so not a lot of bells and whistles and maybe not even best Audio TO MIDI tracking) and a bunch of HW solutions as well. I have FTP (set up for/on multiple guitars), the MG2 SW I mentioned above, a Roland Ready Strat and some other GK2/3 configured guitars, and a You Rock Guitar (that's a hoot) ============ However, I have to disagree with MarioD about string gauge on GK-2/3 type guitars. The low E String, when tuned properly on a standard EADGBE tuned guitar, when in tune is set to 82.4 Hz and that is irrespective of string gauge. (for ref: http://www.daddario.com/upload/tension_chart_13934.pdf ) That is, it does not matter if the string gauge used for that low E string is 38 gauge or 58 gauge - it will vibrate exactly 82.4 cycles per second when tuned properly. And the time for one complete string vibration (cycle) is ~12.136 milliseconds, again irrespective of gauge. Good software, especially on a HEX PUP (e.g., GK-2/GK3 systems and even the FTP) can "cheat" a little since the string the signal is coming in on is already "a known." So the interpreting firmware/software MIGHT (could) be able to get away with only sampling the first half, or even the first quarter of a cycle (if the engineers really try hard) - and cut down by half or a little more the amount of time it needs to "decide" the MIDI note; thus improving tracking for low notes. Of course the SW designers may want or need to "over sample" to be sure (e.g., read one full cycle or at least more than half) to be sure, thus trading "fast(er)" for (more) accuracy. Larry
Win10Pro,i9,64GB,2TBSSD+20TBHDDs,1080TI,BIAB'24,Scarlett18i8,Montage7,Fusion 8HD,QS8,Integra7,XV5080,QSR,SC-8850,SPLAT,FL21&others,Komp.14,IK suite&others, just a guitar player-AXE FX III &FM9T, FishmanTP, MIDIGuitar2, GK2/3'sw/GI20
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.................. However, I have to disagree with MarioD about string gauge on GK-2/3 type guitars. The low E String, when tuned properly on a standard EADGBE tuned guitar, when in tune is set to 82.4 Hz and that is irrespective of string gauge. (for ref: http://www.daddario.com/upload/tension_chart_13934.pdf ) That is, it does not matter if the string gauge used for that low E string is 38 gauge or 58 gauge - it will vibrate exactly 82.4 cycles per second when tuned properly. And the time for one complete string vibration (cycle) is ~12.136 milliseconds, again irrespective of gauge. Good software, especially on a HEX PUP (e.g., GK-2/GK3 systems and even the FTP) can "cheat" a little since the string the signal is coming in on is already "a known." So the interpreting firmware/software MIGHT (could) be able to get away with only sampling the first half, or even the first quarter of a cycle (if the engineers really try hard) - and cut down by half or a little more the amount of time it needs to "decide" the MIDI note; thus improving tracking for low notes. Of course the SW designers may want or need to "over sample" to be sure (e.g., read one full cycle or at least more than half) to be sure, thus trading "fast(er)" for (more) accuracy. Larry Thanx for that info. I was not aware that the controllers are that good now. I have read as they haven't changed much since the early days. Like I indicated in my old Casio it takes 1 - 2 string vibrations for it to determine what note is being played. Thus thinner strings work the fastest on my controller. I have tested a number of gauge strings over the years and the 8s worked the best. YMMV.
Forbidden fruit causes many jams!
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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I just read this article about guitar strings and found something interesting. It states " However, note that guitarists who play MIDI guitar often find tracking is more reliable with flatwounds due to the reduced harmonic content; flatwounds are also popular among jazz guitarists." I have flatwounds on a couple of my guitars but I never thought about putting them on my MIDI guitar controller. I'm going to have to try this. Here is the full article: http://www.harmonycentral.com/articles/flatwound-vs-roundwound-strings
Forbidden fruit causes many jams!
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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A little off topic, but I've never used my midi unit on BIAB. I guess you guys do. How are you using midi guitars with BIAB? I reckons there's a gold mine of information in this forum.... if we just dig.
Windows 10 Home 20H2 Build 19042.487
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Intel(R) Core(TM), i3-4160, CPU @3.60 GHz RAM 16 GB, 64 Bit X64-based processor
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the clarity thing makes sense.
I use half rounds on my jazz boxes anyway - I don't like tone of flat's.
Win10Pro,i9,64GB,2TBSSD+20TBHDDs,1080TI,BIAB'24,Scarlett18i8,Montage7,Fusion 8HD,QS8,Integra7,XV5080,QSR,SC-8850,SPLAT,FL21&others,Komp.14,IK suite&others, just a guitar player-AXE FX III &FM9T, FishmanTP, MIDIGuitar2, GK2/3'sw/GI20
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A little off topic, but I've never used my midi unit on BIAB. I guess you guys do. How are you using midi guitars with BIAB? I reckons there's a gold mine of information in this forum.... if we just dig. I do not record in BiaB. I only record in my DAW Sonar. But recording with a MIDI guitar controller in BiaB would be the same as recording with a keyboard controller. That is using the thru channel. Someone with experience can be more helpful. I would start a new thread asking for this information.
Forbidden fruit causes many jams!
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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This is just supplied as INFO Since both MarioD and I mentioned the Fishman Triple Play (and I own & use one) I thought I mention that the big guys (Sweetwater, Amazon, MF, AMS, GC, etc.) they seem to all list it for $399. I paid (back in 2014) $335 at Amazon Sweetwater does has a DEMO unit (until it's sold) for $359. JRR shop has NEW FTPs' for a lot less (btu you have to put in cart then look at cart to see price - no not obligated to buy). https://www.jrrshop.com/fishman-triple-play-wireless-guitar-controlleryou can find it in the %20 off page: Like I said put it in cart at $339 go to cart and it's being sold for $319.20 with free shipping. I've bought from JRR shop before they are the real deal. You can also find a USED FTP's for from $290'ish to $310'ish on eBay or Reverb Larry
Win10Pro,i9,64GB,2TBSSD+20TBHDDs,1080TI,BIAB'24,Scarlett18i8,Montage7,Fusion 8HD,QS8,Integra7,XV5080,QSR,SC-8850,SPLAT,FL21&others,Komp.14,IK suite&others, just a guitar player-AXE FX III &FM9T, FishmanTP, MIDIGuitar2, GK2/3'sw/GI20
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