Convert Tripleplay MIDI to Roland hexaphonic

Started by Godin1000, December 28, 2021, 11:00:28 AM

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Godin1000

Hello, newbie here. I've searched the forum on this topic, and there are plenty of threads on converting Roland hexaphonic info to midi, but none on the reverse.
I have a Godin Session Custom with the Fishman Triple Play pickup, and I LOVE being wireless! The Roland 13 pin cable can be cumbersome. However, I DON'T love having to haul my laptop and midi interface (along with midi pedal board) to every gig.
So here's my question: Does anyone know of a device that will convert a standard midi signal into the Roland hexaphonic signal so I can use my Roland synth pedals with my FTP? Or is anyone out there capable of building such a device? Seems like a device that would benefit anyone with a Roland guitar synth who also plays keys and would like to use it as an additional sound module.
Thanks in advance for your help!

admin

#1
Quote from: Godin1000 on December 28, 2021, 11:00:28 AM
Hello, newbie here. I've searched the forum on this topic, and there are plenty of threads on converting Roland hexaphonic info to midi, but none on the reverse.
I have a Godin Session Custom with the Fishman Triple Play pickup, and I LOVE being wireless! The Roland 13 pin cable can be cumbersome. However, I DON'T love having to haul my laptop and midi interface (along with midi pedal board) to every gig.
So here's my question: Does anyone know of a device that will convert a standard midi signal into the Roland hexaphonic signal so I can use my Roland synth pedals with my FTP? Or is anyone out there capable of building such a device? Seems like a device that would benefit anyone with a Roland guitar synth who also plays keys and would like to use it as an additional sound module.
Thanks in advance for your help!
.rather useless endeavor

Why
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=14088.0

Older Roland GR units do accept MIDI NOTE ON/OFF.

a few Tripleplay users employ the Fishman FC-1 unit to drive Roland GR-33 via 5 PIN MIDI

gumtown

#2
You will need something like a midi sound module which can work in midi mono mode (one string per channell), and also has 6 individual outputs.
The FTP needs to work in midi mono mode to be able to have the sound module distinguish each string separately.
The midi sound module would then have a tone selected similar to the basic guitar tone you require.
Your output is going to be in 7 bit midi resolution so you lose some fidelity there, and lose a lot of the dynamics, like your playing is over compressed.
The 6 outputs would then feed into a GK 13 pin adapter to your Roland HRM modeling device.
So in theory it can be done, but at the expense of added latency, lower resolution, and added costs.
Free "GR-55 FloorBoard" editor software from https://sourceforge.net/projects/grfloorboard/

philjynx

#3
I think you're going to be out of luck.
Nice to see such a concise question (i.e. hexaphinic signal), eliminates spurious answers about the few Roland/Boss 'guitar' devices that WILL respond to incoming MIDI.
It's clear you're after six analogue signals generated from MIDI input. 


A standard MIDI signal for a played note will be Note on, Note pitch and note velocity, with a corresponding Note Off at some point.


Ignoring (for a moment) any other considerations, the GK world has six analogue inputs, so there's also the need for String ID from somewhere. Not a standard MIDI concept.


If a fishman x3play outputs that String ID, you need a gadget to take each of six potential note ons and offs and velocities and synthesise an analogue output to each of six analogue output lines to be then interpreted by you GK synth.


I don't know of such a device, and I think if there is one, you can expect an unacceptable delay between you playing a note and such a chain of conversions finally playing something on your target GK synth. The word most here use is latency, I prefer the word delay.... But whichever word you favour, more than around 10 milliseconds tends to be dissatisfying.



Godin1000

#4
Thanks for the info- sounds like I'm out of luck. The one thing I really like about the FTP vs. the Roland GK is the quick response. Would not want to give that up (not that the Roland is unacceptably slow, they both track very well. Just like the freedom that comes with wireless).

admin

#5
A workaround is a raw hex pickup output Y adapter cable and passive attenuator,. Allow one divided hex Pickup to drive both Tripleplay DSP MIDI transmitter,  and a Roland GK-3 GK 13 preamp
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=11397.0

philjynx

Quote from: admin on December 28, 2021, 11:36:39 AM
A workaround is a raw hex pickup output Y adapter cable and passive attenuator,. Allow one divided hex Pickup to drive both Tripleplay DSP MIDI transmitter,  and a Roland GK-3 GK 13 preamp
Wireless? OP doesn't want wires.

gumtown

#7
Quote from: Godin1000 on December 28, 2021, 11:34:32 AM
Thanks for the info- sounds like I'm out of luck. The one thing I really like about the FTP vs. the Roland GK is the quick response. Would not want to give that up (not that the Roland is unacceptably slow, they both track very well. Just like the freedom that comes with wireless).
Roland GK (the tech as a whole) is three different things.
From slowest to fastest response.
1: guitar to midi
2: PCM synth
3: HRM instrument/synth modelling.

The GR-55 contains a bit of all three tech in one box.

So things will depend from a point of reference as to required expectations.

For GK wireless, there is a new gizmo being developed by BlueCo Electronics
https://www.blucoe.eu/
Free "GR-55 FloorBoard" editor software from https://sourceforge.net/projects/grfloorboard/

admin

#8
Quote from: Godin1000 on December 28, 2021, 11:34:32 AM
Thanks for the info- sounds like I'm out of luck. The one thing I really like about the FTP vs. the Roland GK is the quick response.

Must have never used the  GK-3 with a Roland /Boss Vguitar system (VG-8, VG-88, VG-99, Boss GP-10, Boss SY-1000 all much lower latency than any guitar to MIDI System

Details
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=14088.0

Demo of GP-10


QuoteWireless? OP doesn't want wires.

Put in your email here for
BluCoe GK 13 pin wireless waiting list

https://www.blucoe.eu/the-gk-wireless-system-retail/
https://www.blucoe.eu/faq/

jassy

#9
Quote from: admin on December 28, 2021, 02:57:02 PM
Must have never used the  GK-3 with a Roland /Boss Vguitar system (VG-8, VG-88, VG-99, Boss GP-10, Boss SY-1000 all much lower latency than any guitar to MIDI System

Details
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=14088.0

Demo of GP-10


Put in your email here for
BluCoe GK 13 pin wireless waiting list

https://www.blucoe.eu/the-gk-wireless-system-retail/
https://www.blucoe.eu/faq/

Wow, what a great discovery this musician is! and what a great result she brings out the GP10.