Guitar synthesizer

A Guitar Synthesizer is a musical instrument with synthetic sound production. Unlike the keyboard, the instrument is not controlled via a keyboard, but on strings, which allows play on a guitar. Early instruments consisted of a control guitar (similar to a piano keyboard) and the actual tone generator in a ground effect case. The Japanese company Roland had several such combinations in the program, for example, the tax Guitar G- 707 and the tone generator GR -700 in the 1980s. The development led the mid-1980s to the guitar-to - MIDI interface, which by special transducers ( pickups ) produced a stream of MIDI data on the guitar.

• 2.1 Restrictions on the use

Principle

For almost 30 years, manufacturers of musical instruments and studio equipment try to bring solutions to market that convert to a different principle played on the guitar sheet music into digital MIDI data:

MIDI guitars

For MIDI guitars are special guitars that are intended solely to serve as notes played digitally sample and deliver MIDI data. MIDI guitars can be played like a conventional guitar, but mostly have no real strings. Here the data is produced by a plurality of sensors which are available to both the neck and the body. Advantage of a real MIDI guitar is that while playing a variety of MIDI parameters can be directly interpreted, the latencies are relatively low and a MIDI guitar is to have cost-effective than solutions to real electric guitar MIDI compatible retrofit.

MIDI pickups

Various manufacturers offer special pickups for standard electric guitars and basses, which are firmly bolted depending on the design or glued under the existing pickup. The additional pickup is then connected by cable to a converter box that is attached to the body of the guitar. However, the pickups not yet digitized in this case the string vibrations, but these scans from only individually to produce an audio signal that can be easily digitized. A MIDI pickup used, so an additional converter is still required, which produces the actual MIDI signal. Alternatively, a special synthesizers are used, having an input MIDI pickups. Advantage of this solution is that almost any electric guitar can be retrofitted midi capable and despite retrofitting alternatively continue as a conventional electric guitar can be played. Current MIDI pickups are also arranged frequently so that they can be easily removed and then installed on another guitar. Disadvantage is that this is a very expensive solution. While MIDI pickups are included converter already been for 100 euros available for purchase, the required converter is offered on the market for under 500 euro barely. Synthesizer, which can process the signal of a MIDI pickups directly, there are not less than 1,000 euros.

MIDI Converter

As a cost -effective solution converter are already available for under 100 euros, which scan the analog sound signal of a guitar to produce therefrom MIDI data. Special or upgraded guitars are not necessary here for. Disadvantages are the high latency times and the fact that only single notes in MIDI data can be converted and no chords. This solution requires players to be very patient and does not allow it mostly to play traditional guitar notes on a synthesizer.

The guitar synthesizer converts the vibrations of the strings into digital audio information (MIDI) that can convert a (built-in or external ) in almost any synthesizer sounds.

Application

The field of application is the same as that of the "normal" Synthesizers only that the possibilities are open, also the guitarist and not only the pianist or keyboard player. So you can with a guitar imitate real existing instruments / sounds or create Fantasy sounds. The guitar synthesizer can therefore be used as an alternative to the keyboard. Often a synthesizer sound is mixed to the normal guitar sound, making almost in unison created. Also MIDI recordings in sequencer and music programs are possible with a guitar-to - MIDI converter, such as the guitar synthesizer is also called.

Many guitarists look at guitar synthesizer is a useful tool which offers various possibilities of sound production. Pat Metheny saw this as a chance to sound synthesis in a similar way to approach such as saxophonists it with the breath controller attempted. Others avoid it because they see in the connection of guitars and digital technology an insurmountable paradox or simply keep it for a gimmick whose benefit is out of proportion to the cost. Awareness in the German zone is likely to have Mario Hene, of such a solution takes over the accompaniment to the live programs by Jürgen von der Lippe.

Restrictions on the use

Since electric guitars provide an analog output signal, the oscillations of all strings are transmitted on a channel, it is difficult to discern the individual notes of a chord and to walk. So you need a special pickup ( hex Pick-Up), which decreases the vibrations of the strings individually. This is mounted on the guitar and connected with an extra cable at the guitar synthesizer or on a polyphonic instrument - to-MIDI converter.

Another problem is the so-called tracking. The vibration of the string must first be converted into a MIDI signal. This requires computation time, making the sound even with modern equipment is still slightly delayed. The pitch of the played note is crucial. The deeper the sound, the higher the latency between troubled string and synth sound. This allows rapid sequences of notes or choppy sound muddy. Moreover, it is thereby difficult to have a correct timing in the game. Also the detection of so-called bends does not always work properly.

• Synthesizer or sequencer