MIDI Pickups and Systems Questions

alankroeger · #1 09-01-2003, 02:18 PM

I was wondering if anyone has used or worked with MIDI on the Bass Guitar. I have most of the equiptment for the guitar already (Roland GR-09 and GK-2a, yes I know there is a GK-2b) of coarse I won't make this a simple question. I want to know if anyone has tried this with a fretless (which I don't currently have) and particularly a 5 string or more Bass. If you haven't used the Synth/Sound modules but, have used one of the Roland VG systems feel free to add your comments too. I realize some people hate this synth stuff but, having used it on the guitar I find some of it's possibilities intriguing. So, any takers here?

Here's whats inside of a GK-2a pickup

http://www.akroeger.com/midiviolin/gk2aopen.jpg

alankroeger · #2 09-02-2003, 09:47 AM

No interest?, no knowledge? or no takers?

FretNoMore · #3 09-02-2003, 10:02 AM

Sorry, no experience with Roland guitar synths...

I have used a Yamaha G50/B1D/MU100R (interface/pickup/synth, that is) on five string basses on and off, but not yet with fretless. I would think there are some setting that need to be adjusted and that there could be some issues with string bending/glissandos. Have to try this sometime.

I sort of stopped using the MIDI stuff for anything other than note input into PC/sequencer notation software, I think the V-Bass is more interesting for bass, and that works very well with fretless.

alankroeger · #4 09-02-2003, 10:44 AM

Thanks for the opinion/comparison on the MIDI. The GR has a setting for Port. or step available which I played around with just a bit (that might take care of the sliding note issue) on the guitar. I don't have a six string to use it with just yet but, the GR and the GK worked pretty well on the guitar. I was thinking of using it like this Lower strings essentially either a parallel note and top three high notes set/tuned an octave higher then true value (I suppose it would be nice to have individual output on the analog pickups, so you could avoid having a parallel octave together) this way I could have some intesting high and low splits in the voicings. Yes the VG's do interest me but, I can currently avoid the upgrade as I have enough processing power with the Adrenalinn II (Adrenalinn I upgraded) and a G-Major I have mainly used these with Electric Violin and hadn't yet bothered to try it with the cheapy bass I have (probably wouldn't help this one too much) so, six string on the way!

FretNoMore · #5 09-02-2003, 10:52 AM

Just remembered that I asked a sales person once about using a Roland guitar synth with my bass pickup, and he said "it won't work". He couldn't give any more details, and he hasn't been all that knowledgable (is that a word?

) before, so I'd take that with a grain of salt. The Yamaha G50 MIDI converter has a Guitar/Bass switch, so I think there is a difference in how the MIDI conversion is done. My guess is that it primarily has to do with the sampling/frequency detection, the algorithms are probably optimized for different note ranges. If that is the case you may find that the MIDI interfacing works, but not too well...

alankroeger · #6 09-02-2003, 12:01 PM

Well I tell you what I will try this in the near future using the GK-2a (save the cost of a 2b for later) and see if it functions at all. It might not be too bad as I am mostly interested in using it in the higher ranges and am not all the interested in going to a Low B tuning (probably string it as guitar an octave lower) so, it's possible this could function somewhat better using that type of configuration/tuning. It could be interesting if it could function.