What's a MIDI pickup?

EAdanikDG · #1 02-03-2010, 11:37 PM

Hi guys, just curious what a MIDI pickup is for no particular reason. Thanks in advance.

bongomania · #2 02-03-2010, 11:48 PM

Well, assuming you know what MIDI is, or you're about to go Google it right now: all MIDI sound sources need to be triggered by something. It could be a drum pad, a keyboard key, a hand crossing a beam of light, a clock, or... a device that converts string vibrations into pitch and amplitude data. That device is a MIDI pickup.

EAdanikDG · #3 02-05-2010, 04:25 AM

Ok, i THINK i get it. But what's the difference between a MIDI pickup and a normal (magnetic) pickup?

Hoover · #4 02-05-2010, 05:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EAdanikDG

Ok, i THINK i get it. But what's the difference between a MIDI pickup and a normal (magnetic) pickup?

A normal magnetic pickup responds to everything; it extracts the MAXIMUM amount of information from your vibrating string. A MIDI pickup extracts a little bit less information; not quite as little as a MINI pickup, but less than the MAXIMUM. It's in between MINI and MAXIMUM, so it's called MIDI...y'know, like those skirts in the '60s that were above the knee but not too short.

BruceWane · #5 02-05-2010, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EAdanikDG

Ok, i THINK i get it. But what's the difference between a MIDI pickup and a normal (magnetic) pickup?

Jokes aside......... the main attribute that separates a MIDI pickup from a regular pickup is that a MIDI pickup has a separate output for each string. This makes it a whole lot easier for the MIDI interface to convert string vibrations (analog) into pitch data (digital) to be sent on to a MIDI sound source (synth, sampler, etc.).

bongomania · #6 02-05-2010, 10:22 AM

While the thing about separate outputs per string is true, a more salient point is that regular pickups are only designed to convert string vibrations into wave-shaped voltage fluctuations, while MIDI pickups are designed to also convert those vibrations into digital data (001101010010110010101 etc.).

Edit: Correcting myself a bit, the MIDI pickup by itself is usually not the part that contains the A/D converter, it's just that its output has been optimized for sending input to an A/D converter module.

EAdanikDG · #7 02-05-2010, 05:18 PM

Ok, i get it now. MIDI pickups are more complicated, un-necessary pickups used for recording?

bongomania · #8 02-05-2010, 07:13 PM

Well, it's not about recording, it's about playing a synthesizer, a sampler, or any other digital instrument by playing your bass. If that's what you want to do, then the more complicated pickup is necessary. If you don't care to do that, then it would be a total waste of money.

DudeistMonk · #9 02-05-2010, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EAdanikDG

Ok, i get it now. MIDI pickups are more complicated, un-necessary pickups used for recording?

When you change the instrumentation on garage band or cake walk or finale or your digital keyboard it's changing the MIDI instrument. Same buttons pressed, keys hit or in this case bass notes played, but different sound. So yeah for quick and dirty recording. or for taking a horn solo with your bass?