To midi or not to midi

[Glenn Mitchell]

I have a GR20 Guitar Synth that has midi in and out.
I also have a recorder (Korg 1200) that has midi in and out.
I have a keyboard (Tho I'm not fluent on keys) with midi in & out.
For recording guitar tracks I'm just using the analog output of the GR20 into the Korg.
I have been able to use the GR20 sounds on the keyboard.

Seems to me I'm not taking advantage of my tools here but I have no clue about midi.
Every time I start looking into it I immediately get scared off by the terms.
Is the GR20 an MMC device? is it a sequencer? What IS a sequencer?
Do I need to buy a lot of other hardware?
Would looking for "MIDI for Dummies" be a good idea?
Is this a can of worms, or simple once you understand the basics.

[cuthbert]

Hi Glenn,

I'm not fluent in MIDI, but I have used it in the past (but not much lately) - I think I can help with your questions.

Is the GR20 an MMC device? is it a sequencer?

It's neither - the GR20 is a MIDI controller (your notes converted to MIDI in the GR20 by converting the pitch from the hex pickup to MIDI data, plus there are knobs and a pedal for other MIDI messages), and a MIDI sound module (all that MIDI data is applied to the internal sounds).

MMC is an acronym for MIDI Machine Control. It's a MIDI protocol for controlling audio recorders, which is useful for synching sequenced MIDI information (more info on that coming up), and audio recorded on the recorder.

What IS a sequencer?

A sequencer is similar to an audio recorder, but it's used to record MIDI data such as note on/note off, note velocity, and other MIDI control data. MIDI data should not be confused with audio - it's much smaller, and there's nothing to hear unless it's being sent to a sound module that sports MIDI In.

Do I need to buy a lot of other hardware?

If you get into it, you might. Otherwise, I'd try to think of it this way: what can I use MIDI for? It can be used to control sound modules of course, but also effects. What kind of controller can I use? It could be a MIDI keyboard, a guitar with a hex pickup and pitch-to-MIDI conversion, or it could be a drum head, or something that looks like mixer.

Would looking for "MIDI for Dummies" be a good idea?

Definitely - if you want to learn about its potential.

Is this a can of worms, or simple once you understand the basics?

On a high level, it's pretty easy to understand. Mainly it's a complete system to control various musical devices.

On a more subjective level, that's up to you. I'd use it for what I need, but I found it easy to get overwhelmed by all the information and I prefer to use it mainly as a controller (for instance, I use a MIDI keyboard attached to my computer to run a VST Mellotron - I really like it for that).

Ultimately, you'll have to decide if it's for you.

Hope it helps,
cuth

[Glenn Mitchell]

Well that does help put it into perspective. Thanks Cuthbert.

[Scorpios]

Cuthbert explained it all well it seems. With my experience with MIDI, using a midi keyboard to control software vsti's Reason, etc, it is both extremely useful and fairly easy to set up. Though if I ever try to sync for example my boss drum machine to a roland 16 track to a roland vs880 track to sonar so I hit play on one button and everything runs in sync, it tends to be a lot more manual reading for each device to set master and slave, MMC etc and is a bit of a hassle.

I have always wanted a guitar synth, as I am more comfortable with playing guitar than keyboard and would find it much easier to record keyboards that way, not to mention the potential for experimentation. - It becomes really great when you use something like that to control software based sound modules/vsti's. I would prefer a midi controller and reason with a nice sound bank collection over an expensive synthesizer any day to be honest.

[Glenn Mitchell]

It seems second hand guitar synths are common and inexpensive.
My GR20 was $300 off craig's list I think.
The extra sounds are great but playing a guitar to make it sound like a piano or sax takes a bit more practice than I expected.
Fun tho.

[64Guitars]

I have a GR20 Guitar Synth that has midi in and out.
I have a keyboard (Tho I'm not fluent on keys) with midi in & out.

If you plug the GR20's Midi Out into the keyboard's Midi In, you can play your keyboard's sounds from your guitar. You might have to read your GR20 and keyboard manuals to get the settings but it's not difficult.

Here are a couple of links that might help you to understand the basics of midi:

http://cms.rolandus.com/assets/media/pdf/INFOCUS01_MIDI.pdf

http://www.proaudiodvds.com/product-p/um-uss.htm?Click=2040

[Glenn Mitchell]

"you can play your keyboard's sounds from your guitar."
Meaning I play the guitar (with the GR20 synth pickup) but it uses the keyboards samples?
I take it I would use an analog out from the Keyboard to record it?

I have already done the reverse, using the keyboard to play the GR20's sounds.

Thanks for the links.

[cuthbert]

"you can play your keyboard's sounds from your guitar."
Meaning I play the guitar (with the GR20 synth pickup) but it uses the keyboards samples?
I take it I would use an analog out from the Keyboard to record it?

I have already done the reverse, using the keyboard to play the GR20's sounds.

cuthbert here again - yes, using your guitar and GR20 MIDI out to play notes from your keyboard - just attach a MIDI cable from GR20 MIDI out to keyboard MIDI in, make sure your MIDI channels match, and then you should be able 'play' your keyboard with your guitar.

[Migs]

I am in the same boat as Glenn so did a search on midi and came to this thread.  I have been given on long term loan a Casio digital piano with weighted keyboard.  It is pretty limited in its output BUT it does have midi I/O.  Now that I have re-taught my fingers how to navigate black and white keys after a decade absence, I'm thinking of buying a new toy.

To add to the links above, I found this a particularly useful source of info and Q&A for noobs like me:

http://www.tweakheadz.com/midi_synth_modules.htm

[kurrykid]

I just got an e-mail today regarding this video training from Macprovideos.  It is also 25% off right now:

http://www.macprovideo.com/tutorial/midi101

HTH

Dave