I’m a guitar player interested in MIDI guitar–playing sounds (piano, etc) on my computer with my guitar. What interface would you suggest? Would my regular audio interface work (I don’t think so from the specs)?
Thanks again for your help.
You need a special interface to use your guitar as a MIDI controller. I do this, and I love it! You’ll be able to trigger pad sounds behind your playing, play strings/piano/whatever…even drums. You can even have each string trigger a different instrument. I recently worked on a session with the guitarist Adrian Belew, and he loves the MIDI guitar thing.
If you don’t have a special pickup built into your guitar, you can buy one separately or as part of a guitar synth package. Or, you can buy a guitar with the pickup built it. Keep reading for more info!
With the pickup, the output of your guitar is transferred over a 13 pin connector cable. This isn’t MIDI, it’s actually just audio, being taking independently from each string of you guitar (by a special “hex” pickup in the guitar). After that, all you need an audio to MIDI converter. Here are your options:
Axon AX50
$500 Strictly a guitar to MIDI converter, though it is certainly one of the best. It is also a very simple device (as you can probably see from the link). The Axon Ax100 is the big brother of the Ax50, and has sounds built into it. Might be overkill for you.
Roland GI20 A popular guitar-to-MIDI converter box. Sometimes these are bundled with the special pickup you’ll need, so you can save a bit of cash. You plug your 13 pin cable into the GI20, and connect the device to your computer via USB. There is also and instrument out on this that you would connect to your audio interface/amp. Remember, the 13 pin cable carries your regular guitar signal, along with signal from each of the 6 strings (that will be converted into MIDI). So, you only need to plug one cable into your guitar! The converter will break it out into an separate audio (guitar) and MIDI signal. It works great. This has an instrument out and connects via USB.
Roland GR20
This unit actually has sounds in it already. It has foot-switches and an expression pedal which you can use to change patches on the fly. You can also take MIDI out to the computer and control the devices in Logic (over MIDI cables, not USB). I own one of these, with a pickup mounted on a Strat. It works well, though I really don’t use the sounds on it. Having the footpedals is nice, for things like sustain pedaling (think piano) and volume. I’d say that the tracking (the speed/accuracy of the audio to MIDI conversion) is a little slower on the GI20, though by milliseconds. Remember, the GR20 has sounds in it (it’s a synthesizer, as well as a guitar-to-MIDI converter). So, if you just want to trigger sounds on your computer, then I’d recommend the previous product.
Roland VG99
This is the king of 13pin guitar interfaces. I really want one! It costs more–around $800-900 dollars, however. This device functions as a guitar to MIDI converter (USB to the computer), as well as amp modeler/effects device. You can create patches that virtually retune your guitar to an open G (for instance), though you haven’t actually retuned you guitar at all. Any amps sound or effect is in it. It even has a Dbeam infrared feature, where you can wave your hand and change parameters. There as some absolutely crazy/stunning sounds in this thing. It is a deep piece of gear. Again, if you want to stay entirely in Logic, this is not for you. It’s not cheap, and it may be overkill if you’ll only be playing nylon string. It would also be another relatively complicated piece of gear for you to tackle (along with Logic). Having said that, the VG99 is amazing
Ok, there you go. You’re really putting me to work! MIDI guitar is really fun, though.
Keep in mind that you may eventually want to get a MIDI foot controller to use for sustain pedal, patch changes, volume, or for other MIDI functions. There are several to choose from–let me know when you get there!
Thanks!
