You Rock Guitar "Gen 2"

Started by RicardoLove, February 20, 2011, 11:51:01 PM

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RicardoLove

This is an incredible "toy" that has serious applications both for instruction and as a midi controller.  Since so many are have problems getting there GK-3 set up right to have flawless triggering on the GR-55 maybe Roland will make an inexpensive controller (this one is $149.00 and is a close to flawless midi controller) Check this out for your kids, or yourself.  I'm getting one just to keep in my back pack (the neck comes off and it fits in a back pack) to get in more practice.

This video describes the teaching/game method: Note (two versions of guitars one with buttons like the Z guitar and one conventional type guitar a Fender Squire with special neck sensors. )  I think this is where where going as far as the next step. Pitch to midi conversion is not a great technology...that's takes it deeper. So imagine if Roland teamed up with these guys or improved on there tech like the V-drums.  The drummer does not have to worry about if there hit is gonna trigger or not, neither should guitar players.  See the whole video for the full picture. There even more on youtube

email: ricardolovemedia@gmail.com
demo web site: http://www.reverbnation.com/rlove
GR-55 demos http://www.soundcloud.com/ricardolove
For hire Music Producer/Remixer

RicardoLove

Another one featuring the Real Fender Guitar
email: ricardolovemedia@gmail.com
demo web site: http://www.reverbnation.com/rlove
GR-55 demos http://www.soundcloud.com/ricardolove
For hire Music Producer/Remixer

gumtown

The only disadvantages i see first off are

A. You would have to buy and use a special made guitar.

B. there is no note bending with fret buttons.

Reminds me of the first guitar synths, where you had the option of using one type of special built guitar.

Free "GR-55 FloorBoard" editor software from https://sourceforge.net/projects/grfloorboard/

RicardoLove

On the Fender Squire version there is all the same bending and other nuances of a regular guitar.  It is for all purposes a regular guitar with strings all the way done the neck and can be played through a normal amp like a normal guitar.
email: ricardolovemedia@gmail.com
demo web site: http://www.reverbnation.com/rlove
GR-55 demos http://www.soundcloud.com/ricardolove
For hire Music Producer/Remixer

stueym

It's interesting, and I'd love to have a go with one on Rock Band 3.  Not sure of its utility with MIDI. 

For those who want to know more, the Fender website for it is http://www.fender.com/promos/2010/rockband3/index.php

Not sure how long the frets will last if they are a part of the electronics and would love to know more about the reading technology that is managing all that.

lilbman

Is there a mod that could be done to the guitar for it to work with the gr-55?  I think the concept is great but how would this work with the gr-55 since the tech is different? We could only hope that there could be a way to merge both tech to create flawless operation without the hassle of ever worrying about a false trigger or bad note. I've wanted something like this to come along for the past 25 years. If Roland won't do it, I sure hope someone will.
lah dee dah tah dah

tracy

The Mustang Pro has a 5-pin DIN connector built in. MIDI straight out of the box for $150. I plan to get one this week and test with my GR-20. (Still waiting for the GR-55)



Grab on yourself at Amazon for $139.

http://www.amazon.com/Wireless-Mustang-PRO-Guitar-Controller-Wii-Nintendo/dp/B003RRTYEQ
@tracyevans    •     http://www.exhibitry.com

res075oh@gte.net

The GR-55 does not accept note data from an external midi source.

James
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Quote from: lilbman on February 21, 2011, 09:59:06 AM
Is there a mod that could be done to the guitar for it to work with the gr-55?  I think the concept is great but how would this work with the gr-55 since the tech is different? We could only hope that there could be a way to merge both tech to create flawless operation without the hassle of ever worrying about a false trigger or bad note. I've wanted something like this to come along for the past 25 years. If Roland won't do it, I sure hope someone will.

tracy

Argh! I forgot about that. Oh well. Maybe I should take my GR-20 off of Craigslist.
@tracyevans    •     http://www.exhibitry.com

res075oh@gte.net

I'd pick up one of these for bass practice if it were possible to tune it down by -16, -16, -17, -17, -17, -17 to get a BEADGC bass tuning output.  I presume that is not possible?

If not, what would I need to be able to convert the midi out to such a tuning?  Without individual hex output I don't even see how it would be possible???  It is with the YRG.

[Remember, I'm the village midiot...]

James
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Quote from: tracy on February 21, 2011, 04:57:32 PM
The Mustang Pro has a 5-pin DIN connector built in. MIDI straight out of the box for $150. I plan to get one this week and test with my GR-20. (Still waiting for the GR-55)



Grab on yourself at Amazon for $139.

http://www.amazon.com/Wireless-Mustang-PRO-Guitar-Controller-Wii-Nintendo/dp/B003RRTYEQ

tracy

Quote from: res075oh@gte.net on February 22, 2011, 06:48:41 PM
I'd pick up one of these for bass practice if it were possible to tune it down by -16, -16, -17, -17, -17, -17 to get a BEADGC bass tuning output.  I presume that is not possible?

There are a number of ways to acomplish this. Your synth should allow you to adjust parameters like this. You could alternatively run it through any midi sequencer (ableton live for example) and assign those note changes. If you just think of it as a midi keyboard, it has most of the same functions.
@tracyevans    •     http://www.exhibitry.com

res075oh@gte.net

I must reiterate that I'm a complete midi dummy but I don't see how it can be by note [rather than by string].  For example, the #2 string needs to be tuned down 16 semitones while the #3 is tuned down 17 semitones.  But you can play many of the exact same notes on both strings.  So the note it seems to me would be tuned down the same on both strings and that will not give the correct tuning.  What am I missing here???

Thanks,
James
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.


Quote from: tracy on February 22, 2011, 07:09:09 PM
There are a number of ways to acomplish this. Your synth should allow you to adjust parameters like this. You could alternatively run it through any midi sequencer (ableton live for example) and assign those note changes. If you just think of it as a midi keyboard, it has most of the same functions.

Elantric

On the You Rock Guitar, you can enable a mode where each string has its own MIDI transmit channel

Its simple to perform real time MIDI note transpose +/- 12 semitones  on a string by string basis using Sonar, Logic, Cubase, Reaper, etc

polaris20

Quote from: RicardoLove on February 20, 2011, 11:51:01 PM
This is an incredible "toy" that has serious applications both for instruction and as a midi controller.  Since so many are have problems getting there GK-3 set up right to have flawless triggering on the GR-55 maybe Roland will make an inexpensive controller (this one is $149.00 and is a close to flawless midi controller) Check this out for your kids, or yourself.  I'm getting one just to keep in my back pack (the neck comes off and it fits in a back pack) to get in more practice.

This video describes the teaching/game method: Note (two versions of guitars one with buttons like the Z guitar and one conventional type guitar a Fender Squire with special neck sensors. )  I think this is where where going as far as the next step. Pitch to midi conversion is not a great technology...that's takes it deeper. So imagine if Roland teamed up with these guys or improved on there tech like the V-drums.  The drummer does not have to worry about if there hit is gonna trigger or not, neither should guitar players.  See the whole video for the full picture. There even more on youtube

First, while the 55 isn't perfect, I've seen many, many people say how well it performs with soft synths/external synths. Second, I can't speak for the Mustang or Squire, but the other one is most definitely a toy, and plays as such. You get what you pay for.

If you want something more accurate than the GR-55 (or Axon, for that matter), I suggest you either pony up the buck for a ZTar, or wait for the Rock Controller to eventually hit the streets.

tracy

Quote from: polaris20 on February 23, 2011, 01:14:01 PM
First, while the 55 isn't perfect, I've seen many, many people say how well it performs with soft synths/external synths...

Very good point. As we debate, deconstruct and dis the minutia of the GR-55, it is easy to forget that in the right hands a penny whistle or tambourine can become a magical music making device.

Upon picking up a Mustang controller, no musician would mistake it for pro music gear. But while I would not go so far as calling it a "flawless" MIDI controller, it is a valid one. And I've certainly spent $150 on music gadgets less useful and less fun.


@tracyevans    •     http://www.exhibitry.com

Elantric

#15
QuoteI suggest you either pony up the buck for a ZTar, or wait for the Rock Controller to eventually hit the streets.

And give up bending strings ???? :-\

Neither  ZTar, or Starrlabs Rock Controller support string bending.(neither does the You Rock Guitar, new Fender Rock Band 3 oriented Mustang, or Strat)

For me the GR-55 fits the bill for my playing style, and allows me to play using my normal guitar technique.

ZenSonic

You Rock Guitar is developing a pro midi guitar controller. I have seen pics of a prototype that look interesting.

Elantric

#17
QuoteYou Rock Guitar is developing a pro midi guitar controller

Yes, I've played it at NAMM 6 weeks ago.

Zero string bending = zero interest for me.

I do own two of the $149 YRG's, and at that price point - nothing can beat it as a guitarist's direct music entry tool for Apple Garageband / Logic.

Read the full You Rock Guitar GenII thread here:
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=6204.0

Next step up would be a used Axon

ZenSonic

Quote from: Elantric on February 23, 2011, 02:40:09 PM
Yes, I've played it at NAMM 6 weeks ago.

Zero string bending = zero interest for me.

I do own two of the $149 YRG's, and at that price point - nothing can beat it as a guitarist's direct music entry tool for Apple Garageband / Logic.

Next step up would be a used Axon
Yup, got a You Rock Guitar too about 8 months ago. I love it for laying down keyboard and other instrumental tracks in Logic 9. String bending is a must for me for guitar applications..too much expression is lost without it IMO.

polaris20

Quote from: Elantric on February 23, 2011, 02:01:50 PM
And give up bending strings ???? :-\

Neither  ZTar, or Starrlabs Rock Controller support string bending.

For me the GR-55 fits the bill for my playing style, and allows me to play using my normal guitar technique.

No, I meant if we're talking about non-guitar solutions. The YRG's string sensitivity issues were always too frustrating to be worth dealing with. And it feels like a toy.

For overall MIDI use, I too prefer a guitar synth, in my case soon to be the 55, of course.

polaris20

Quote from: Elantric on February 23, 2011, 02:40:09 PM
Yes, I've played it at NAMM 6 weeks ago.

Zero string bending = zero interest for me.

I do own two of the $149 YRG's, and at that price point - nothing can beat it as a guitarist's direct music entry tool for Apple Garageband / Logic.

Next step up would be a used Axon

Do you have pics of it?

tracy

Quote from: Elantric on February 23, 2011, 02:40:09 PM
I do own two of the $149 YRG's...

How do the fret buttons on the You Rock work? I can't tell from the photos.
@tracyevans    •     http://www.exhibitry.com

ZenSonic

Quote from: tracy on February 23, 2011, 03:26:08 PM
How do the fret buttons on the You Rock work? I can't tell from the photos.
There are no buttons on the fret board per say..there is a touch sensitive membrane instead.

Elantric

The Fretboard is a pressure sensitive myler overlay on a plastic removable neck

Roughly a Les paul profile.
21 "frets" x 6 strings = 126 switch contacts (rather like a membrane keypad on a microwave oven)  under the fretboard.

ZenSonic

The info I have on the You Rock Guitar SE scheduled for release "later this year"  is that it is equipped with an "eccelerometer for bend and modulation". I am not sure what that is???