Got a Wal MIDI bass, need some suggestions...

[BlackElan]

So I picked up a Wal Midi bass today and it came with the original harness, cable, etc...

I wanted to know what you guys would recommend for a Midi interface/module for this bass?

I have a extra Macbook Pro I can use for recording.

Just for refrence I am into Indutrial stuff like NIN, lets not forget Tool.

Planning on running the midi as effects with my bass or if you guys got ideas I am open to whatever.

[skb5string]

Is it a 13pin MIDI RMC set up like Roland uses or straight 5pin MIDI cable? If its the 13pin RMC cable I would look at the Roland GI-20 MIDI Converter. I own this and it tracks well for bass. You can interface with any standard MIDI 5pin Unit, sequencer..Keyboard, Synth, controllers..etc..

[Stick_Player]

Plug it into this:

[Kwesi]

Roland GR-20, it sounds awesome and the people that use it love it.

[NecroticImbecil]

Originally Posted by BlackElan

So I picked up a Wal Midi bass today and it came with the original harness, cable, etc...

I wanted to know what you guys would recommend for a Midi interface/module for this bass?

Hopefully, the actual proprietary interface is included in the "etc..." and you really just need a sound module. A Roland or equivalent MIDI converter is not going to work. The Peavey Midibass is a newer version of the same basic technology, and I have tried mine with only the few synths I own.

Of those, the EMU XL-7 responds better than the vintage analog Sequential Circuits and Akai synths do. Perhaps newer synths work better with this system, though it could just be the early MIDI synths I won aren't very compatible.

Another thought is the Peavey "Midibase" sound module that was paired with the Midibass. It uses a standard MIDI in, it was just set up with the Midibass in mind. Could be easier to use, its stock sounds make use of 4 strings, etc. I did not much care for the sounds, and no longer use mine. It has pretty deep editing capabilities, but I didn't want to take the time to coax better sounds out of it.

[Caca de Kick]

You lucky dog, and I was thinking the same thing. I watched a youtube video not long ago of a guy with his Midi Wal layering violin sections, and I thought that was brilliant. It seems like the answer to what we want to do in the studio without bringing extra musicians in. Heck even the stage show.
But man those basses are hard to find.

[BlackElan]

Originally Posted by Caca de Kick

You lucky dog, and I was thinking the same thing. I watched a youtube video not long ago of a guy with his Midi Wal layering violin sections, and I thought that was brilliant. It seems like the answer to what we want to do in the studio without bringing extra musicians in. Heck even the stage show.
But man those basses are hard to find.

I seen that video too, that is why I called the guy local to me that had it advertised, made him a straight cash offer and it worked out. For the price I could not turn it down, I will post some pics in the next few hours. This one came with EVERYTHING including the pedals that sometime I dont see these come up for sale with.

EMU XL-7 I will look into it.

[BlackElan]

Can anyone recommend some rack mount Midi items?

[Caca de Kick]

Ahhh, I know which one you bought...1990 Mk II shedua...right?

[Marco A. Mayer]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygGVogfSn1c

This bass here?

Wow, you got a nicee bass.

And I love what that guy did with the piano midi.

[BlackElan]

[NecroticImbecil]

That looks beautiful. Wish my Peavey had 24 frets. Sorry I don't have too much experience with current production synths, my budget forces me to stick to used.

The EMU has been out of production for years, but it's still probably my newest synth. They had a range of rack mount modules; vintage keys, world sounds, etc, that would be simpler and cheaper. The XL7 is one of their "command stations," expandable up to 4 sound sets on ROM banks (in other words, 4 modules' worth of sounds), able to function as a sequencer, mixer, and kitchen sink. I mostly bought it for its expandability and the abundance of knobs it has, similar to old analog synth controls. I hate trying to edit sounds with nothing but a tiny screen, a wheel, and a couple of buttons, I find a whole slew of properly labelled knobs to be much more intuitive.

Recently picked up a Roland JV1010, lots of features and sounds for a half rack sound module. Not sure if it's newer than my Emu or older. Pretty happy so far, but haven't messed with it much. I bought it to have something I could stick in the gig bag pocket along with my Sonuus B2M for (extremely) slow, simple background stuff where fast tracking is not important. The Sonuus is exactly what you pay for, very limited but portable and good for the odd background swell of ambient noise.

I tend to like Korg and Roland products, but haven't spent much time with anything new.

There's probably a keyboard forum that might be more help.

[Pandafist]

MIDI MURF!!!

[NecroticImbecil]

Originally Posted by Pandafist

MIDI MURF!!!

??

[DerHoggz]

I have an E-MU Proteus 2000, really sweet sounds. I just need to find something to trigger it.

[SFjonstarr]

I would look for a Studio Electronics ATC-1. I got both of mine for less than $400 on Ebay.

[Chronicle]

Stop showing off your Wal ;P

[BlackElan]

Bump, still looking for suggestions, want to do stringed instruments like cellos and violins with the Wal...

[kevteop]

Sorry I don't have any suggestions but it's so rare to see one of those, it's a really pretty one too. Nice one.

[A440Hz]

If you could afford a Wal, perhaps you could afford a Muse Receptor and get one of the string virtual instruments (EastWest Strings, Vienna Symphonic Library, etc.). Prolly set you back about $2500 total.