Squier Rockband 3 Game Guitar as MIDI controller?

Started by audiotrax, June 01, 2011, 12:12:59 PM

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audiotrax

Well, the Squier Rockband 3 Strat controller is showing up now on a bunch of music gear sites, like Guitar Center.  It's been out for awhile now, and I still can barely find any information about how it works as a MIDI controller.  From what I've seen in the few You Tube vids is that it looks like it could be interesting after it's been set up and tweaked a bit (like any new guitar).  Less than $300 for a Strat with built in fret-sensing MIDI!  I'm sure it's all too much to be true, and after the inevitable let-down from the Industry, it'll be yanked from the market. 

Still.........one can't help but wonder if a couple years from now it'll be the mythical collectible MIDI guitar that everyone wishes they would have snapped up when they were cheap  ::)

Has anyone had a chance to get hands on with one of these and a DAW, beyond that idiot Rockband game??  The string note-on triggering is basically the same technology as the Roland gear, so I'm thinking....hmmmmmmmmm....why isn't anyone talking about this?
Owner of: VG-88, GI-10, Cubase 5, Kontakt, SampleTank, var VSTI's, Roland JV1080.  Strat with GK-2A, two Roland GR500 analog guitar synths

Elantric

#1
I played one at NAMM, and basically felt it was a toy.

But your mileage may vary

I would wait 6 months when they blow them out for $79 - since the "Guitar Hero" and "Rock Band" titles did not set sales records at 2010 Christmas season and Activision discontinued Guitar Hero:
http://gamekrib.com/13th_Gunslinger/blog/activision-quits-the-band/comment_8202/#comment-view


The technology is basically the same is the PowerGig Rise of the six string

http://www.powergig.com/

Grab one here for $55 with free shipping.
http://www.amazon.com/Power-Gig-SixString-Guitar-Xbox-360/dp/B003N13ZRI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1306956727&sr=8-1

I use these as a source for  hex mag pickups
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=3115.0





audiotrax

Cool info - thanks!  Beyond it feeling like a toy, how did it actually respond to your playing?
Owner of: VG-88, GI-10, Cubase 5, Kontakt, SampleTank, var VSTI's, Roland JV1080.  Strat with GK-2A, two Roland GR500 analog guitar synths

Elantric

There are many videos of it in action:




But basically the Neck PU is spring loaded and you must move it into the "string damper" position prior to using it for MIDI.

And there is zero possibility for string bending - which lowers my enthusiasm tremendously.

At the end of the day - for a similar type of instrument ( poor mans MIDI guitar ) I get more enjoyment from my You Rock Guitar.   
http://www.yourockguitar.com/



audiotrax

Hey Elantric,  I didn't know you had a You Rock.  When those things first came out all I heard on the 'net was what a piece of unplayable junk they were.  Lately (after reading about a lot of firmware upgrades to improve string triggering) I've been finding quite a few videos that show some VERY impressive stuff for what you can do with a $200 MIDI guitar.  Particularly for finger picking piano parts.  Now I'm getting intrigued again......
Owner of: VG-88, GI-10, Cubase 5, Kontakt, SampleTank, var VSTI's, Roland JV1080.  Strat with GK-2A, two Roland GR500 analog guitar synths