Guitar to MIDI?

[tburnham]

I just got myself a nifty USB interface that came with Studio One software - pretty impressive, but I can see I need a way of getting MIDI into it to make the most of it (I never recorded before). Since I don't play keyboard, does anyone have experience with a Guitar to MIDI interface?
Thanks Guys!
Tim.

[strumcat]

I've been using a Roland GK-2A into a Roland GI-10 into a MIDI-to-USB cable that came with 'Cakewalk USB Music Pack', which includes Cakewalk Music Creator recording software.

The first thing to know about guitar MIDI interfaces is that you're going to get some lag time between the pick hitting the string and the sound leaving the speakers, monitors, or amp, whatever you're using. I work around this problem by mainly using 'slow' instruments with swelling attack volume, like slow strings, sweep pad, etc. That makes the delayed timing almost imperceptible, but limits how you can use MIDI in a live situation.

The second thing to know is that the guitar strings become extremely touch-sensitive, and your playing technique has to change somewhat to reduce falsely triggered notes, doubled notes, dropped notes. The pickup adjustments and individual string-sensitivity settings on the GI-10 become critical here.

If you can accept the fact that guitar MIDI interfaces are in no way the equal of keyboard MIDI controllers, are limited in application, and are way too expensive for what you get, then there are a couple of uses for them.

You can use your standard pickups normally while simultaneously sending the MIDI output to a slow-attack instrument such as slow strings, for a really lovely backing sound that isn't pre-recorded. The slowness prevents the backing from stepping on your guitar part, or from sounding like two instruments playing exactly the same thing (even though they are).

Second, you can record laggy MIDI tracks with the inevitable dropped and doubled notes, then fix them manually via mouse and computer keyboard, and quantization function of your music program. But it's tedious and frustrating. However, once they're fixed, you can assign any instruments sounds and/or fx you want to them.

[tburnham]

Many thanks Strumcat - I'm glad I asked, and I appreciate the complete response. I think I'll work on my keyboard technique!

[jmstritt]

I do not use a ton of Midi, but I do use a guitar synth regularly. I have a Telecaster set up with the GHOST pickup system that I feed into a Roland GR-20 synth unit. Strumcat is completely right about everything he said. You have to accept that guitar midi/synth and keyboard midi/synth are two different animals.

99% of what I use the synth for are strings and pads usually while I am playing the chords on guitar.

With a keyboard, you press a key and that generates a signal, it is almost instantaneous. With a guitar, you play a note, the hexaphonic pickup analyzes the string vibrations and then determines what signal to send and then it is recieved by the midi unit and processed. It is a much longer process.

Using guitar synth has been very fun and definitely has become a part of "my" sound, but you have to understand the limitations from the beginning.

[newsense]

Probably the easiest and most cost effective option, that doesn't require you to modify your guitar or add pickups, are provided by Sonuus (www.sonuus.com). I haven't yet tried them myself, buut there are some impressive YouTube videos.

[cosmic gumbo]

You Rock Guitar YRG-1000 MIDI Controller Electric Guitar: Shop Guitars & Other Musical Instruments | Musician's Friend

[newsense]

Originally Posted by cosmic gumbo

You Rock Guitar YRG-1000 MIDI Controller Electric Guitar: Shop Guitars & Other Musical Instruments | Musician's Friend

Will it take flat-wound 13s ?

[ronjazz]

RMC pickups system is much faster than Roland; fast enough for McLaughlin, in fact, and I hear no lag on any of my RMC-equipped guitars.

[strumcat]

Originally Posted by ronjazz

RMC pickups system is much faster than Roland; fast enough for McLaughlin, in fact, and I hear no lag on any of my RMC-equipped guitars.

Sounds interesting and worth looking into. Guitar MIDI really is great when it works. I've heard that there are better pickups than the GK-2A, with less latency and better tracking. Thanks for the tip.

[jmstritt]

The GHOST pickup from Graphtech is similar to the RMC system. That's what I have in my guitar, and I have been pleased with it.

I have the GHOST pickup in my Tele, and I had a Godin with the RMC, and honestly I couldn't tell much of a difference. I know that Paul Jackson Jr uses the RMC system as well.

[ronjazz]

Graphtec GHOST system is equivalent to the RMC. The key is that they are not magnetic, which means they also work (and very well) on nylon strings. I have just outfitted my 7-string classical with the RMC rig, it's truly awesome. Generally, I leave the synth settings off for strings 5, 6 and 7, and use the first four strings for synth sounds.

[strumcat]

Played a nylon-string Godin with RMC at Guitar Center. Very nice guitar, but at $1495 out of range for me. Godin claims their MIDI guitars are designed to optimize the RMC system, so they may perform better than installed ones. I think there are less expensive MIDI Godins. I may start saving my pennies in hope of finding one with steel strings that works well as a MIDI instrument, and sounds and plays well as a guitar.