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MIDI pickup for electric guitar

  • 27-03-2003 08:43PM
    #1
    Moderators, Arts Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 9,877 Mod ✭✭✭✭


    I'm going to be doing a C++ project over the summer, which will involve controlling a MIDI sequencer.

    Using a MIDI pickup on my electric guitar, I shall send input to the C++ program, which will play for example a bass line in key harmonically and in tempo.

    Thats the basic frame, will be expanded on once I get it together.

    Anyone have experience programming these type of systems before? Where can I get a good cheap MIDI pickup for my electric guitar?


Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,036 ✭✭✭✭Giblet


    I remember Roland released a Strat with one built in, could be expensive though.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 389 ✭✭Morello


    MIDI Guitars are SO cool...

    Loads of info here: http://home.epix.net/~joelc/midi_git.html

    And here's your MIDI pick up:

    http://www.netzmarkt.de/thomann/thoiw6_artikel-104406.html

    It's €145 + €21 shipping

    Can't help you with the programming... sorry

    Have fun!

    :) Alessandro


  • Moderators, Arts Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 9,877 Mod ✭✭✭✭BossArky


    Morello, thanks I'll take a read through those pages.

    Buying a new strat could be problematic!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 389 ✭✭Morello


    Originally posted by BossArky
    Morello, thanks I'll take a read through those pages.

    Buying a new strat could be problematic!

    No probs. I don't really think you need to buy it even though it's cool. Tell you what, you can try drop an email to Neosupervital. He's a Dublin solo artist who makes elettropop with a guitar Synth, maybe he can give you some more advice.

    By the way, he's playing DA2 this Sunday and he's ****ing deadly

    http://www.neosupervital.com/

    Cool idea for a project anyway... the most exciting thing I did at school was a digital termometer :)

    Take it easy, A.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,402 ✭✭✭Ardent


    Are midi pickups any good I wonder? Surely there has to be limitations, I find it hard to imagine that the distinctive sound of a strumming guitar can be replicated successfullly using midi software? Anyone have any experience in this?


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 230 ✭✭musician.ie


    I think the biggest problem is missing notes or false triggering from scratch noises etc. A strum is basically a 6-note chord, with a progressive offset. I've heard midi files generated with midi guitars and they sound fine in a mix, but obviously synthetic in isolation.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 45 markisevil


    Bonus points if you code an analog-to-MIDI routine so that you can just plug in any old guitar and have the computer determine the pitch/key from the audio input and harmonise around that...


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,117 ✭✭✭Eoin Madsen


    The reproduction is invariably limited by the quality of your samples. You probably won't find a realistic guitar sample set available - it's too hard to do, and there's no real demand. I think people with MIDI pickups are generally trying to sound less like a guitar.

    The real question is how accurate the pickup is. Whether it reproduces sustain correctly, can it interpret mutes, harmonics etc. I haven't had opportunity to use one yet, so I can't answer these questions... :) A MIDI pickup for a bass would be a very useful thing though.


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