More MIDI Questions

[Petary791]

But the more I know, the more questions I have.

Beforehand, i'd like to say, mods, I have no idea if this is in the right section so feel free to move.

And a quick off topic section to start it off. How much would an instrument like this run me?
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ANYWAYS, I have a few scenarios. In my current band I play bass and guitar. We have yet to gig, and i'm wondering how i'm going to play both. I would like to continue to play both live. I was thinking I could play bass with my hands a MIDI guitar with my feet ala Roland PK-5 and vice versa (only MIDI would not be absolutely neccessary for playing bass with my feet because it comes with a bass patch already on it.) How does one hook up a PK-5 to a MIDI device? Could I hook it up to a Roland GR-33? Also, i'm getting a Stick equipped with MIDI in about 8 months. Would it be possible to plug in the PK-5 and my Stick into it?

Scenario #2. What if I wanted activate some sounds via the PK-5? Could I activate a gunshot or siren or car starting or something like that? First of all, how would I make the sound? Second of all, where would I store it at so I could activate it?

I think that's all my questions for now. Thanks for all your help.

 

[tplyons]

Instead of a PK-5, I built my own pedalboard midi controller from an old Hammond organ pedalboard. Still haven't built a shell for it, but the parts cost me a mere $50.00 and it's fully functional for an octave. I run it through a Yamaha DX-7 for sounds.

You want to be able to play pedals with a stick? Good luck

 

[Petary791]

You want to be able to play pedals with a stick? Good luck

Say what? I'm such a noob when it comes to this.

 

[TL5]

DISCLAIMER: I don't own or use any of the gear in question. I'm basing my answers on a general knowledge of MIDI and the product descriptions listed on retail websites as I understand them - meaning, I could miss something.

And a quick off topic section to start it off. How much would an instrument like this run me?
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I have no idea. I used to own a similar guitar (Rickenbacker) and I bought it for $500, but that was many years ago.
I'm guessing that 3x that amount wouldn't touch it today. Then again, that's a Ric and not a Carvin.

I was thinking I could play bass with my hands a MIDI guitar with my feet ala Roland PK-5 and vice versa (only MIDI would not be absolutely neccessary for playing bass with my feet because it comes with a bass patch already on it.)

I'd tend to think you'd want to play vice versa (guitar w/hands, bass w/feet) on that device. Then again, I'm sure it's possible however, I've heard very few convincing guiatr MIDI sounds, YMMV.

How does one hook up a PK-5 to a MIDI device?

Out/Thru would be connnected via a MIDI cable to a MIDI device input.

Could I hook it up to a Roland GR-33?

Just looking at the prtoducts online, it appears YES that is possible. The GR-33 has a MIDI in for external control. However, you'd only be playing the sounds from the synth/tone generatior section of the GR-33, not a connected guitar.

Also, i'm getting a Stick equipped with MIDI in about 8 months. Would it be possible to plug in the PK-5 and my Stick into it?

Simultaniously? Maybe, you'd have to 'MERGE' the Midi signals OR the GR-33 would have to be able to accept multiple MIDI channels, I'm not certain of the GR-33 specs on this last point. For a sound module to accept multiple MIDI channel sources and play the sounds independantly, you need it to be "multi-timbral".

Scenario #2. What if I wanted activate some sounds via the PK-5? Could I activate a gunshot or siren or car starting or something like that? First of all, how would I make the sound? Second of all, where would I store it at so I could activate it?

The sound would have to reside in an MIDI equipped device. It could be the tone banks of the GR-33, another sound module or synth, you could even trigger the sound thru a MIDI based sequencer in a computer with soft synth sound banks loaded.

 

[superbassman2000]

Say what? I'm such a noob when it comes to this.

he is talking about playing a stick and also playing with midi foot pedals, at the same time...it'd be a lot of partitioning of the brain if you ask me

i hate to say it, but have you ever considered just bringing in another guitar/bass player?
because i have to agree with tplyons, in that the stick is going to take enough thought, try playing something else in addition to that...just food for thought

another idea to get a midi sequencer for guitar or bass and play along with that

or maybe you could buy a looper?

 

[TL5]

Yep. Back in the mid 80s I was in a similar situation. Switching between guitar and bass in a pop rock group.
I tried the double-neck bass/guitar (I had a Ric 4080).

In the end for us, it made a lot more sense to sequence the bass on the songs that I played guitar on. We were using Korg SQD at first, then went with an IBM 286 computer running a DOS version of Cakewalk. MIDI was stable even on that old gear.