making the guitar sound like a violin, piano, drum kit and bass

scotty_b · #1 July 14th, 2006

I just did these on the Axon midi converter. I received it yesterday, and have to learn how to use it in the next few days. I have a casual job at a music shop that deals primarily with school music - stage and concert bands etc - and music technology. This new unit is on the market, and I have one in my possession for now....
I will be conducting some workshops on music and technology, and demos of this thing throughout the remainder of the year. I just installed the pickup on my strat and plugged it into give it a try. It tracks really well. The first thing I played simultaneously, I often play walking bass lines and chords if I am playing jazz with a singer or horn player, just that it never sounds like this.
The violin patch I used must have been modelled of a little kid - I sound terrible on that!!!!
If you are like me and from the Mike Tyson school of piano playing, this could be a great breakthrough for us with playing in drum parts etc. The old problems of tracking seem to have been fixed up with this.I have just used the general MIDI sound module that comes with it for now, but I am going to assign the usual drum and bass samples to it soon.
It does need some tweaking within the unit to adjust it to my playing style, and it will probably go onto another guitar that is being provided so that the pickup can be screwed in properly. I just taped it on my strat for now.
If anyone is interested check out Terratec on the web.
Sorry if I sound like a used car salesman!!! Not trying to, just think it may be useful to those of us who play parts in from a keyboard.
When I get it setup properly I will post something using this for everything.

fly135 · #2 July 14th, 2006

I'm a sucker for gadgets but at $650 I can wait on this one...

http://www.macmidimusic.com/prod.itml/icOid/12902

Rockerbob · #3 July 14th, 2006

I've had a guitar synth for many years. I don't use it much anymore, but they are lots of fun!

Jim · #4 July 14th, 2006

That's so cool Scotty!

It's amazing that all that's coming from a guitar... but I've studied MIDI and I should know this stuff is out there!

Jim

joe_strummer · #5 July 14th, 2006

Real neat Scotty, fine job, sounds like fun using the midi convertor

scotty_b · #6 July 14th, 2006

Thanks guys
the difference this time is that this pickup actually tracks the notes very well. I was talking to another guy who is demoing the unit and he showed it hooked up to Sibelius (music notation) and it worked very well.
It is a bit pricey now but I think technology has finally caught up with this, so price should come down.
As I have to prepare a demo showing the capabilities I will get to find out the shortcomings too.