The Yamaha EZ-EG Guitar Midi Controller Thread

[mbncp]

Here is a graph that shows the ramp with different settings: http://mypage.bluewin.ch/ncplus/download/chart.gif

updated wrong axis titles

[barryfresca]

"Updated the EZ_AG 3.hta app to version 3.09"

just downloaded, can't wait to give it a whirl.

[RunBeerRun]

Hi, my question is:when functioning as a MIDI controller to control my Casio keyboard, (I don't use software synths) does it have the range of a guitar only, or can I switch it to bass mode, and get a bass-MIDI-controller? Thanks

[AndrewSimon]

Updated the EZ_AG 3.hta app to version 3.09

COOL - THANKS MARC

This is pushing the limits of what can be done with the EZ-AG but since you are pushing, here are my thoughts.

Hammer on and pull off is very cool and can be adjusted to work the way I want it.
The problem is that you can't really tell the system when it's a wanted hammer on and when it's just a change of hand position ....... or maybe it can be done.

What if we can set up a

Fret Down = Note Off
Fret Up = Note Off

But at the same time we also set up

Fret Down = Hammer On
Fret Up = Pull Off

And have a foot controller switch between the 2 settings.
So if Hammer On/Pull Off is desired you push down on the pedal, when changing hand position you simply remove your feet from the controller.

I think it can work and feel natural to the player.
It is very similar to sustain pedal on a piano.

What do you think?

[mbncp]

What do you think?

version 3.10 is out

Only the "EZ_AG 3.hta" file has changed.

To bypass hammer on/pull off, set the foot pedal function to "Bypass HO/PO", and set min / max to 0 and 127 (bypass when pedal down) or 127 and 0 (bypass when pedal up).
Also, the fretboard and the midi playback stuff is now hidden on start up.

marc

[AndrewSimon]

THANK YOU MARC
I L VE IT

I found that using the modulation pedal feels more natural.
It's a little getting used to but I am learning fast.
Right now I need to "think about it" while playing but with some practice it will come naturally.
And this natural feel leads me to a new idea.
I would like to set up the pedal as follow.

0-64 ----------- Bypass HO/PO
65-110 --------- HO/PO is on
111-127 -------- HO/PO is on + Bypass Open String Muting

So we need a "Bypass All Open String Muting Scenarios" in the "Function" drop down list.
If you can do it that would be great.

Thank you again for all your wonderfull work.

[AndrewSimon]

Hi, my question is:when functioning as a MIDI controller to control my Casio keyboard, (I don't use software synths) does it have the range of a guitar only, or can I switch it to bass mode, and get a bass-MIDI-controller? Thanks

If you connect the EZ-AG directly to the keyboard you can use the built in "sound presets".(even with internal sound off)
Some of them will go 1 Octave down (preset 18 )
Some of them will go 1 Octave up.....
But you will still have the usual problems of open strings and the low velocity notes that get triggered during change of hand positions.......

So to get the most out of it you should use Marc's script.
I see he now made an "EZ-AG/EG(MIDI OUT)" port setting.
So you can send the midi notes from the EZ to the Script, make the necessary processing (you can go -3 to +3 octaves and anything in between) then send it out the Casio Keyboard.

[mbncp]

I see he now made an "EZ-AG/EG(MIDI OUT)" port setting.

This is only used to display chords, scales or Capo on the EZ (leds). (connect to the MIDI IN connector on the EZ).
Now, it is also possible to set Left/Right Split MIDI OUT to the EZ, so you can use the internal EZ sounds, and even set the MIDI playback to that port.
Now, who wants to do this ...

[RunBeerRun]

Cool, definitely checking out that script.

[mbncp]

EZ AG/EG 3.11 is out.
Added "UnMute Open String" and "Velocity Offset" for the foot pedal mapping.

For "UnMute Open String", like "Bypass HO/PO", the function is active if the resulting mapping is greater than 63.

For the velocity offset, the offset is the resulting mapping value - 64. So a value of Min = 32 and Max = 96, will allow velocity offset of -32 to +32.
Now, the offset is made on input (EZ), so if you set your output range to 30-90 (velocity fields), your min and max output range will still be 30 and 90, whatever the offset you use.

0-64 ----------- Bypass HO/PO
65-110 --------- HO/PO is on
111-127 -------- HO/PO is on + Bypass Open String Muting

Assuming you are using cc1 (modulation)

Code: Select all

CC, 001, 000, 127, Left Split, Bypass HO/PO, 001, 127, 000
CC, 001, 000, 127, Left Split, Unmute OpenS, 001, 000, 073

But if you want a 3 way switch (0-27, 28-99, 100-127):

Code: Select all

CC, 001, 000, 127, Left Split, Bypass HO/PO, 001, 81, 000
CC, 001, 000, 127, Left Split, Unmute OpenS, 001, 000, 081

why 073, 81 ??
The mapping system is ok when we have a logic like:
my controller is in the range min1 to max1 and I want the output being in the range min2 to max2.
Now, wich range should I enter, to get a value of 64 (switch) when my controller is at 30.
A little tricky, that's why I added a file called "EZ foot pedal util.hta" in the midix folder, that will give you the min and max values to enter for the two last fields.

[AndrewSimon]

Hey Marc it is a little confusing but it works!
Now I will have to buy the Behringer foot controller, practice and put up some demos here.

Thank You So Much!

For people who use the EZ, maybe a foot mod wheel is not your cup of tea but Unmuting Open Strings with a foot switch is just perfect, very easy natural feeling for a guitar player.
Check it out, it's great!
You can use your keyboard sustain pedal for now! It's CC 064.

[tq]

Ok, finally I got my cheap EZ-AG, and I was pleasantly suprised - for finger picking, it is great.

However, I cannot use the tools described here since I am on a Mac...

So a question for the guys who wrote the tools: How do you filter out the fret sounds? I just would like to hear a sound when I touch the strings, not the fretboards. I guess the fret keys put out some fixed low velocity notes; so probably, I would be able to program a simple MIDI filter for Logic's environment.
Any help would be higly appreciated...

By the way: The EZ-AG works great with Real Guitar. Sounds better than my 'real' guitar...

[mbncp]

The fret velo is always 16 on the AG.
The only problem is that the synth will receive more 'note off' events than 'note on'.
I don't remember wich VSTi, but I had a problem with this.

[tq]

Ok, filtering works using a transformer object in Logic. I get much better results now, even with strumming. However, two problems are still there: (1) EZ-AG sometimes does not send note offs (guess it decides that its nicer to sustain the notes - for whatever reason, I could not find out). (2) When you hit a string and then you touch the corresponding 'string' on the fret (-> the keys on the fret corresponding to the respective string), then it's *not* velocity 16, but the velocity of the still sounding string, therefore it is not filtered. How did you solve this problem?

[mbncp]

In our scripts we are not using the notes sent by the EZ, but the sysex instead.
But here, the messages are very raw (fret down/up, string velo), so you need some programming to keep track of the current fret state.
Isn't there some scripting tool that can deal with MIDI for the mac platform or within Logic ?

The scripting engine from kontakt doesn't deal with sysex (and it's pretty buggy at current stage), so it's not an option either. And, unless I'm missing something, there is no way to record the scripting output to the host, making editing pretty difficult.