MIDI Guitar

[Navdeep_Singh]

Just arrived, for the price of MIM Strat, the Jamstik Guitar. These have come a long way, plays like a regular guitar, with regular pickups and then you can also simultaneously play the MIDI pickup with it. It apparently tracks really well, and you can play ANY VST-Audio Unit MIDI plug in imaginable, just by connecting it, via USB, to a computer or iPad. It’ best to have some sort of FRFR if you want to hear the MIDI pickup live, and you can connect the guitar pickup to a regular amp. Eager to test it out. There are many positive sound examples of this on YouTube and social media.

[nyc chaz]

I had the Casio MG510 over 30 years ago.It was ok at midi but worked better as just a cheap strat.I bought the old Jamstik 7 years ago.It looked like a toy but was decent at midi.Unfortunately none of these midi guitars work that great.The best guitar like midi controller in my opinion was the Yamaha GB10, it didn't last long on the market because they all stopped working and Yamaha pulled the plug pretty quick.I have pretty much given up hope on a good midi guitar in my lifetime but looking forward to what you think of this model.

[Navdeep_Singh]

I had the Casio MG510 over 30 years ago.It was ok at midi but worked better as just a cheap strat.I bought the old Jamstik 7 years ago.It looked like a toy but was decent at midi.Unfortunately none of these midi guitars work that great.The best guitar like midi controller in my opinion was the Yamaha GB10, it didn't last long on the market because they all stopped working and Yamaha pulled the plug pretty quick.I have pretty much given up hope on a good midi guitar in my lifetime but looking forward to what you think of this model.

Just messing around with it, unplugged, while I have to work a long day, just to test the feel and set up. I’m impressed how well it’s set up, frets are perfect, no adjustments needed. This was out of the box.

Been such a long time since I played a 6 string guitar, the fingerboard seems so small and like a toy. But I would get that sensation with any six string guitar, really. So no fault there. Will plug in to computer after a long day at work and mess around with it. And post some instagram videos as well, when I figure out how everything works.

[Navdeep_Singh]

So, I played it through a Princeton Reverb Tone Master and it sounds GREAT as a jazz guitar, even with the light strings on it. It looks like it has two HB pickups and a three way switch (bridge, neck, middle), so it’s much more like a Telecaster type of guitar. Nice sparkling, clean, warm, crisp tone, as a straightforward guitar.

Going to do some research on how to use the MIDI pickup, next.

[Navdeep_Singh]

The thing about this guitar, each string can be assigned a separate MIDI channel, which means you can conceivably have six (6) different audio unit/VST/virtual instruments associated with the guitar at one time, simultaneously. Is that unusual? I know you can have splits on a MIDI keyboard, but this guitar allows you to do six splits (!)

[fep]

The thing about this guitar, each string can be assigned a separate MIDI channel, which means you can conceivably have six (6) different audio unit/VST/virtual instruments associated with the guitar at one time, simultaneously. Is that unusual? I know you can have splits on a MIDI keyboard, but this guitar allows you to do six splits (!)

Yes that's normal, midi guitar each string has it's own midi pickup.

[GuyBoden]

Yes that's normal, midi guitar each string has it's own midi pickup.

Jamorigin midi guitar software converts any normal six string guitar to midi. (No midi pickup needed.)

There is a new beta version of Midi Guitar software by Jamorigin called MG3. (Only the Mac version functions properly at present.) BETA Testing – Jam Origin

It's excellent, I use it all the time, but it needs to be setup properly, it's not really plug'n'play software in my opinion.

[RJVB]

Unfortunately none of these midi guitars work that great.

Doesn't the RMC Gold pickup system have a(n optional?) MIDI output? IIRC Slaman's Dome archtops have that output.

From what I gather, MIDI interpretation reliability will improve with having 1 channel per string so the fundamental frequency of the note you're playing on that string can be as strong as possible.

Using those six channels separately ... would there be an advantage of having 6 different guitar models with soundfonts tweaked for individual strings? If so that would seem to most useful way to exploit the available channels, given how the frequency ranges of the individual strings overlap but you can't use those ranges independently.

[jzucker]

Jamorigin midi guitar software converts any normal six string guitar to midi. (No midi pickup needed.)

There is a new beta version of Midi Guitar software by Jamorigin called MG3. (Only the Mac version functions properly at present.) BETA Testing – Jam Origin

It's excellent, I use it all the time, but it needs to be setup properly, it's not really plug'n'play software in my opinion.

Sadly there's an extreme bug with jamorigin. It cannot decode a min7b5 chord and has problems with chords with tritones with it. If you play a run of the mill Bm7b5 chord, it will transpose the B to a Bb. This is a known and reported bug that has existed across 2 versions now. It's been discussed a lot on the modern jazz guitar forum and in general.

[RJVB]

Frankly, hat off already if it can resolve a nicely played powerchord (where the notes start simultaneously and are played with comparable strength)!

[fep]

I've used the bottom two strings with a bass patch (an octave down) and the other strings being guitar.

[nyc chaz]

Just arrived, for the price of MIM Strat, the Jamstik Guitar. These have come a long way, plays like a regular guitar, with regular pickups and then you can also simultaneously play the MIDI pickup with it. It apparently tracks really well, and you can play ANY VST-Audio Unit MIDI plug in imaginable, just by connecting it, via USB, to a computer or iPad. It’ best to have some sort of FRFR if you want to hear the MIDI pickup live, and you can connect the guitar pickup to a regular amp. Eager to test it out. There are many positive sound examples of this on YouTube and social media.

So how are you liking the Jamstik?Looking at the video's online to me it seems no better than what Roland has had out for years,good with their own internal sounds but meh when used with external vst or sample library.

[GuyBoden]

Sadly there's an extreme bug with jamorigin. It cannot decode a min7b5 chord and has problems with chords with tritones with it. If you play a run of the mill Bm7b5 chord, it will transpose the B to a Bb. This is a known and reported bug that has existed across 2 versions now. It's been discussed a lot on the modern jazz guitar forum and in general.

I use MG2 for single note lines, using mono instruments; sax, trumpet, cello patches, with the JamOrigin MG2 software set to monophonic.

MG3 is in beta testing and will be available soon, so I'll test the bug when it's released.

[jzucker]

I use MG2 for single note lines, using mono instruments; sax, trumpet, cello patches, with the JamOrigin MG2 software set to monophonic.

MG3 is in beta testing and will be available soon, so I'll test the bug when it's released.

Joey Goldstein tested the beta and it still has the bug.

[GuyBoden]

Joey Goldstein tested the beta and it still has the bug.

Yes, it seems to be a known issue when playing chords with MG2, I don't know about version MG3.

Dominant 7#9#5 with 3rd in bass upsets the Midi Guitar 2 software - General - MIDI Guitar & MIDI Bass user forum

Quote: "Any chord with a maj7 hidden in it, is a chord with minor seconds in it ( 1 half step).
#9 clashes with the first harmonic of the third. this is due to the harmonics of every tone.
MG2 can not track minor second intervals, and it is not fixable in that version."

It's not a problem for me, because as I stated, I only use monophonic patches, sax, trumpet etc.

If I have time, I'll test these chords today with JamOrigin MG3 with a piano patch.

[GuyBoden]

Joey Goldstein tested the beta and it still has the bug.

MG2 midi

I've tested a three note chord: B-F-D

And the result was A#-F-D

See here:

Midi Guitar JamOrigin Bug: play a Bm7b5 chord, and it will be transpose the B to a Bb - #8 by GuyBoden - MIDI Guitar & MIDI Bass user forum


MG3 midi

Some users are saying that there is no problem.
Midi Guitar JamOrigin Bug: play a Bm7b5 chord, and it will be transpose the B to a Bb - #2 by Herold - MIDI Guitar & MIDI Bass user forum

[jzucker]

i think I specifically mentioned Bm7b5. Try these

[henryrobinett]

Just arrived, for the price of MIM Strat, the Jamstik Guitar. These have come a long way, plays like a regular guitar, with regular pickups and then you can also simultaneously play the MIDI pickup with it. It apparently tracks really well, and you can play ANY VST-Audio Unit MIDI plug in imaginable, just by connecting it, via USB, to a computer or iPad. It’ best to have some sort of FRFR if you want to hear the MIDI pickup live, and you can connect the guitar pickup to a regular amp. Eager to test it out. There are many positive sound examples of this on YouTube and social media.

You told me about this earlier. I'm anxious to hear how it tracks midi. I'm disappointed with the Ztar.. Let me know if I should spring for it. Not intersted in onboard sounds. I want to be able to track external midi instruments.

[Navdeep_Singh]

You told me about this earlier. I'm anxious to hear how it tracks midi. I'm disappointed with the Ztar.. Let me know if I should spring for it. Not intersted in onboard sounds. I want to be able to track external midi instruments.

I had some initial problems—it turns out there was no battery (!). Thankfully the battery is pretty standard, so I ordered it and it arrived yesterday. Plugged it in just now. Will experiment and get back to you. Got to work 12 hours today, alas. (!).

Who remembers “Pierre”, the “time on the instrument….” Guy?

[GuyBoden]

i think I specifically mentioned Bm7b5. Try these

Possible causes of problem with JamOrigin midi software and Bm7b5 type chords.

1. Using fingers to pluck the notes of the chord at the same time Does cause the problem.
2. Using a pick to strum the notes of the chord Does Not cause the problem.

So maybe, when using a pick and strumming a chord, each note will have a micro-second delay, so the problem does not occur in JamOrigin midi software. But, plucking the chord notes simultaneously does cause the problem because the notes have no micro-second delay.

So, a software defect.

This is not a problem for me, because as I've stated previously, I only use the JamOrigin software monophonic setting, using Sax, Trumpet etc.

[henryrobinett]

I had some initial problems—it turns out there was no battery (!). Thankfully the battery is pretty standard, so I ordered it and it arrived yesterday. Plugged it in just now. Will experiment and get back to you. Got to work 12 hours today, alas. (!).

Who remembers “Pierre”, the “time on the instrument….” Guy?

What’s your assessment? Have you had any time yet? I’ve been out of state for a few weeks. Still curious. I need to sit a while with my Zitar.


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