The MIDI Guitar Synthesizer

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The MIDI Guitar Synthesizer

• Richard Repp, Ph.D.
• Association for Technology in Music Instruction
  Conference
• San Antonio, Texas
• September 15, 2006

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Early Electronic Music

• New palette of sounds
• Technological limitations in performance
• Lacked visual element

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Early Controllers

• Keyboard
• Ribbon
• Theremin
• Produce sounds characteristic of the controller

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Pete (1987)
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Operating Principles

• Fret Tracking
• Pitch Tracking
• Latency

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Early Guitar Synths
Korg X911
ElectroHarmonix MicroSynthesizer
SynthAxe
Axon AX100
Some images from http//www.stoffelshome.de/alt_co
ntroller/alt_midi_controller.html
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Casio DG-20
Yamaha EZ-AG
Yamaha G10
Starr Labs Mini-z, Mini-zx
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Lonestar Key
Korg Ztar
Casio MG 500, MG510
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Roland GR Series
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Modern GRs
GR-20, GK3 pickup
GR-33, GK2 pickup
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Built-in Pickups
Fender Roland-Ready Stratocaster
Starr Labs Doubleneck Z2
Godin Synth Access
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Brian Moore iGuitar Series
13 pin RMC pickup (not MIDI) Traditional
pickups Now with USB for audio out
i9.13
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Connections
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Demos

• Sound bank
• Editing
• Pedals
• Playing techniques

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True MIDI

• I am not demonstrating true MIDI
• Possible for use with software
• Not great results
• Use dedicatedconverter (GI-10)
• Filter out pitch bends
• Notation 6 different MIDI channels

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Famous Players

• Pat Metheney
• Allen Holdsworth
• Robert Fripp
• Steve Morse
• Adrian Belew
• Al Di Meola
• Andy Summers
• John McLaughlin

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References