RE: Expressive MIDI guitar (a looping source!)

["Michael LaMeyer" <m.lameyer@verizon.net>]

Here's the link to the V2 synth resynthesis sample I heard:
http://www.voes.be/vg-88/sounds.html - specifically, the Wave-synth sample.

Btw, the Sitar model now included in V2 (a sample is also featured on the
page above) is not intended to be a model of an acoustic sitar, iirc, but a
model of an electric guitar that has a special bridge which electronically
provided a sitar-like tone (I've seen this instrument played before,
specifically by Dean McGraw, but cannot recall the name at the moment).

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Michael LaMeyer [mailto:m.lameyer@verizon.net]
> Sent: Friday, February 14, 2003 5:21 PM
> To: Loopers-Delight@loopers-delight.com
> Subject: RE: Expressive MIDI guitar (a looping source!)
>
>
> The closest thing to what you want, that I'm aware of, would
> be a Roland VG
> system.  The VG-8ex is thought by a number of folks to have the best
> selection of synth type models, or at least, to get you the
> most synthy kind
> of tone from a guitar, while retaining all of the nuances of a guitar
> (because the engine resynthesizes the harmonics of the guitar
> signal).  I've
> heard this firsthand (Philip Lampe, Repeatpeak, et. al.) and
> I was _very_
> impressed with the sounds obtainable.  I've even heard/seen
> Philip use an
> acoustic sitar processed through a VG-8ex to transform/double
> his amplified
> sitar signal with some really unique and pleasant tones.  You
> can use all of
> the guitar techniques you mention, afaik.
>
> The VG-88 just got a V2 upgrade which adds some synth style
> wave resynthesis
> along the lines of the VG-8 (Roland apparently had reduced
> the abilites of
> the original VG-88 in this regard in order to fit more/better
> guitar and amp
> models in; opinions vary on the guitar models, and some even
> adamantly claim
> that at least some of the pickup models are better on the
> VG-8, but many
> folks seem to agree that the amp models are better on the
> VG-88).  I heard
> someone's own samples of the new V2 resynthesis (an analog
> style tone) and
> was very impressed.  The player was able to even use guitar
> harmonics and do
> things that you could not do with an analog synth, all the
> while maintaining
> the expressive techiques available on the guitar.  If I can find some
> samples online, I'll post them.  Another big advantage of the harmonic
> resynthesis approach is that there is no MIDI conversion
> latency (in fact
> the VG processors do not perform guitar/MIDI conversion at
> all, it's all
> voltage).
>
> Having toyed with guitar synthesis myself for about 10+ years
> (started with
> a Yamaha G-10, which I still have), I decided for myself that
> processing a
> guitar to be 'synthlike' was a far more achievable and
> expressive option at
> this point.  I have a VG-88 myself, and will be upgrading at
> some point
> (probably when I get my GK guitar back from the shop).  If I
> were going to
> look at a true MIDI converter for Guitar, it would be an Axon
> AX-100.  I
> doubt I will do this now, however, as I have invested in a
> doubleneck Ztar
> combining a ztar (which is currently driving a Microwave XT)
> and electric
> guitar with GK hex pickup output (for my VG).
>
> With respect to tracking, all of the testaments I've heard/read on the
> Digital Guitar, Midi Guitar, and VG forums I've subscribed
> to, or browsed,
> over the years seem to say that in-saddle piezo pickups are
> the way to go
> for MIDI conversion or VG processing.  I'm still wondering if
> anyone's going
> to pursue MIDI/VG processing using optical pickups, but maybe
> they are and
> I've just missed the press.
>
> Hope this helps,
>
> Mike
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Kirkland Mack [mailto:kirklandmack@sbcglobal.net]
> Sent: Friday, February 14, 2003 4:48 PM
> To: Loopers-Delight@loopers-delight.com
> Subject: Re: Expressive MIDI guitar (a looping source!)
>
>
> I'm totally skeptical about all the midi pickups and midi conversion
> systems. I wonder if there is anything out there with no
> tracking/latency/interface problems at all? I mean I want to
> play a guitar
> synthesizer, which means it really is a guitar, and it also
> really is a
> synth. I want to be able to use all the methods of producing
> sound that I
> currently use with just my guitar (bending, vibrato, tone
> control from the
> pick/fingers, legato, palm muting, pick scrapes, muted
> strumming, harmonics,
> picking behind the nut, altered tunings etc). I want every
> nuance of my
> playing to come through as much as it would with a good
> overdrive pedal. As
> a lower priority, if it were possible to also use digitally controlled
> analog design methods, and use things like midi in/out, a
> sequencer, an
> arpeggiator, and split sound strings/fretboard areas, that
> would be my other
> request. But, the fact is, I doubt all this is possible in
> one unit. Maybe
> my bes! t bet is to go for a GR-300, or build my own, and use
> it with just
> looping, in lieu of a sequencer? I honestly haven't done
> enough research to
> know.
>
>