Midi Guitar Jam (with Native Instruments FM8 and Ableton Live)

I recently got Native Instruments FM8 software synth and I've been getting some good sounds for Midi Guitar with it. Using Ableton Live 6 I am able to load (and arm for recording) six instances of FM8. That way I can play the synth in a natural guitar-like manner. What I mean is that I can bend one string, sending a pitchbend message for one string (one midi channel) without that message bending the pitch of what's happening on all the other strings. It seems to work rather well. I thought that it might be of interest to other midi guitarists.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Guitar
• lead
• midi
• Ableton
• Live
• Native
• Instruments
• VG-8
• VG-88
• synth
• FM8
• Roland
• GR-30
• GK-2A
• strat
• stratocaster
• synthesis
• synthesizer
• frequency
• modulation
• FM
• DX-7
• DX-21
• Yamaha
• controller
• pitchbend
• loop
• looper
• looping
• jam
• jamming
• recording
• Novation
• Remote
• Remote61SL

[maxMastermeister]

Amazing stuff! Thanks for posting. Does NI software synth respect the pitch bend range msg from your guitar MIDI controller (i.e. when it sends a MIDI RPN 0,0 to set the number of semitones for pb). A lot of software synths ignore the rpns and then hammers and bends sound awful because they are not set to same range. Some are even hard-wired to +/- 2 semitones

[WeakEndProductions]

I had set each one of the six monophonic instances of FM8 ( one for each of the six single string pickups on the hex pickup) to accept pitchbend data (+ 2 semitones). Some patches (not the ones I programed) might default to an octave pb which would start sounding awful for guitar playing. Other patches may have no pb programed at all. Thanks for taking a listen!

[CrlFrl]

@WeakEndProductions What interface are you using to get your guitar into the computer -13 pin ?

[WeakEndProductions]

I use a built-in Roland GK-KIT pickup (that uses a 13 pin connection) to go into a Roland GR-30 to convert guitar into midi and a Midiman Midisport 2x2 USB to get midi into the computer.

[milowagon]

Nice sounds and great playing. I have gigged for the past twenty two years with a Casio MG510 midi strat. It has been my workhorse, and never let me down. There seems to be no noticeable delay on your guitar and and responds to bends really well. Can you mix the midi with the natural guitar sounds? Thanks for posting.

[WeakEndProductions]

Yes, there's a little switch on the guitar that allows for mixing natural guitar sound with the midi. Thanks for checking out the video!

[SparcoC4]

Sounds like a porn video. :D

[WeakEndProductions]

So you're saying that there's a opportunity for me in composing for the film industry? Watch out John Williams, Hans Zimmer, and Danny Elfman!

[maxMastermeister]

Very cool! Actually, there should be no need to program pitchbend range into the patch at all if the synth lprocesses RPN 0,0 sent by guitar/midi controller (GR30 sends this when you change patch) to set pb range. If NI handled RPN 0,0 I might go for it. Best!

[TCDauria]

midi guitar is a pretty cool guy and doesn't afraid of anything

[FantomenK]

where do i purchase a midi guitar? i've searced the web for it, but i cant find anything.

[naminnooman]

What a profound statement you just made about that travelling musician exchanging a meal for a song. Wow, things truly are different now. I feel I have learned more in the last 4 years than in the 34 previously before that. All thanks to you tube. University has become home now! Truly or its pretty close, well almost. Its not far this much I can see!

[ivancho6365]

Did you use a midi connection For  your guitar?

[H4RM0N1C5]

I've been listening to deep forest all night.......Randomly searched "Using guitar as midi controller" because it was a brainwave I had..... and got this video, that is VERY Deep foresty........Anyway, cheers for the video, this has inspired me to look into this MIDI guitar option.