Cheapest usable MIDI guitar

[diatonic]

...

[Jim Williams]

Axon AX100 from Terratec.

Jim Williams
Audio Upgrades

[manning1]

diatonic .
fyi ..powertracks that i use has some interesting features for cleaning up midi guitar traks.
as well as a fretboard display n tons of other midi features if u need em.
(also chek out the real drums feature useing real drum session musicians
that users are into.)
i'm too busy to go into lots of detail.
but for user references n demo n also various posts on midi guitar devices.
pgmusic.com

have a merry x.

[diatonic]

...

[Tibbon]

Originally Posted by diatonic

Thanks for the advice. From what I can see, the Roland or Axon devices also need a hex pickup and a standard guitar. That probably means around 1000$ as a starting point.

Are integrated midi devices like the ztar and yamaha's cheaper ez-eg useful?

$1000?

Uh... you should be able to pick up a complete rig on eBay with a GR-30/33 or similar plus a GK2Ka for between 200-300USD.

[james.ca]

You can put a midi PU on just abouta ny guitar you want to install the unit to .
Roland makes a MIDI PU sytem with sound module cable ect all you need is the guitar it self and away you go .

Or buy a pre made ax with PU system built in but stil have to get as synth modle and cable to the syth module
You will want the most latest version of the Roland synth unit/controlle rthe lastest models have the better PU tracking in them as well.
The trick is finding to best spo to place the MIDI PU on the instruemnt to track best it's a bit of trial & error but once you find the sweet spot your in business.

James.ca

[diatonic]

...

[Tibbon]

Originally Posted by diatonic

Tibbon I haven't seen anything close to that but I will keep looking.

James, I think that the Roland PU needs a synthesizer like the gr-33 or gi-10 to turn the signal into midi. Perhaps there are integrated PU with midi out.

Finding one for that should be easy, moreso now that the USD sucks vs your dollar.

I just looked on eBay for GR-30s (ok not the BEST) unit, but it works. Many of the GR30s themselves closed around $150ish. The pickups even brand new retail for what... $200 now? You can get a used one for around $75-100 on eBay.

If you're really wanting to spend a grand, then at least get some Graph-tec saddles installed on your guitar with the 13-pin output option. Tracking is SOOOOO much better with piezos vs magnetic pickups.

Were I you, I'd get a piezo setup installed, and get the Roland GI-20. It's just a straight 13 pin -> Midi converter, so you still need external synths, but you can get something like a Kurzweil K-2000R or use your computer for a pretty sweet setup that kills the built in Roland sounds. Also programming the sounds on the roland units sucks. The Axon units I've heard good things about but only messed with a bit.

The GI-20 has been going for about $200ish on eBay.
Musician's friend and other retail outlets has it for $395.
They also retail the GK3 pickup for around $200.

I'm not sure how you're seeing upwards of $1000 unless you're trying to buy a guitar with it built in too (which is normally a rip off except on Godin and a few other guitars).

[manning1]

diatonic.
if u google theres a ton of info on recording midi guitar traks useing
various solutions.
from what ive seen i'm not sure there is any perfect solution.
due to the nuances of how one plays guitar.
various articles point to the fact for example that some guitar players have to adapt
their playing style...to minimise tracking problems.
lots of decent articleson the net n tips etc.