The Yamaha EZ-EG Guitar Midi Controller Thread

[Markleford]

Hey warza!

Yes, Yamaha has dropped the ball, if only for the fact that I believe that the best support for the EZ has come from this little forum thread and two independent developers! An "EZ-Pro" would be an awesome idea, and they could sell a ton of them. Adding velocity would most likely add a lot of cost, but at the very least they could add some extra trigger buttons and controller knobs.

As to the EZ-EG's whammy bar, it does come in handy as an extra input device for expression data. Mind, it's not very precise mechanism: it outputs perhaps 8 values in each direction from detente so it may seem a little "chunky" for particular applications. However, my script app will smooth this data out.

Really, the big question becomes "Is the whammy and body style worth the extra $100?" You can find the power supply bundled with the AG these days, so that's no big deal. The EG does come with an extra USB MIDI adapter, which came in handy for my laptop. But if you don't need it, you could probably sell it to make up some of the price difference.

I don't have a breath controller, but both the available processing scripts allow you to specify a "merge port" from another piece of hardware. Many of use expression pedals in this manner.

String sensitivity can't be adjusted internally, so you have to rely on the software to do that processing for you. Pretty much you'll want to use the script app for everything: plugging an EZ into another hardware unit will not give good results because the "native" MIDI output stream relies on the sound module to be aware of a few things to sound its best. Even if you're going from hardware to hardware, it's best to loop it through the computer.

I don't think the strings are spaced wider on the AG, but I hear they're perhaps a little thicker and "more comfortable" for finger-picking.

Whether you end up with the AG or EG, I imagine you'll be happy. I'm still looking toward getting an AG sometime so I can have both.

- m

[CapnLockheed]

Hi Warza, welcome to the club!! I love
my EG...tried many different guitar/midi
systems myslef and, like you, was always dissapointed in them...the EZ's are a lot
more fun to play and don't leave you with
all that slop to edit when recording midi.

Really, the big question becomes "Is the whammy and body style worth the extra $100?" You can find the power supply bundled with the AG these days, so that's no big deal. The EG does come with an extra USB MIDI adapter, which came in handy for my laptop. But if you don't need it, you could probably sell it to make up some of the price difference.

- m

He..he...got $50 for mine on E-Bay!! So
the reality of it,(for me), was that the EG was $50
more than the AG and more than worth the extra $
for the cooler body and the pitch-bend,(which I
really like and use a lot!). And yeah a pro version
would be the dog's bollocks!!

Cheers....CL

[Max el Belga]

Markleford and Marc, for once I am going to be serious (it´ll give me a headache). Contact Yamaha. I´m sure they´ll have an ear for you and some guitars (they can´t stay that stupid, can they ?). If I were them I would (and on top I´d give you my sister´s phone number).

Cheers (and if you talk to them, ask them if they could make a self-cleaning garage, for me)

[kara]

Max , what wrong with you ? you're serious....

Rony

[Markleford]

Markleford and Marc, for once I am going to be serious (it´ll give me a headache). Contact Yamaha.

I don't know: considering the crappy job they've already done with the EZ line, I have my doubts they'd listen!

Actually, the best thing they did with the EZ guitars is implement SysEx data for controller actions: that one decision is what made it all possible. Unfortunately, their EZ-TP Trumpet does not have SysEx data generation, or else I'd be importing one already!

- m

[CapnLockheed]

Unfortunately, their EZ-TP Trumpet does not have SysEx data generation, or else I'd be importing one already!

Aw....that's too bad....I've had my eye on
that one.. I saw that in addition to playing
it's keys it also does pitch2midi,(although
how well is a big question!). I've wanted
something like that for a while I remember
there used to be some sort of collar thingy
you wore around your neck that claimed to
do the trick....then there was the Roland
GI-10 but it did'nt track very well. I have
gotten some good results humming into Nuton
Muziciendos pitch2midi plug...great fun to
play chords on the EZ and hum a lead line!

Cheers......CL

[warza]

Thanks everyone for the welcomes. Thanks also Markleford and Marc (hope I got the right names) for all your work on the software apps. I have them running in my computer, can't wait to try them out when the EZ's get here:)

I don't know if you guy's were serious, but I'm going to contact Yamaha as well. We're their paying market and they should ....well, listen to us...
I'll just send them a link to the first page of this forum.

By the way, I tried that link to the Synful Orchestra. Pretty amazing stuff.

[mbncp]

What are the prices for the EZ-AG ?
I just ordered a new one for less than 95 US, includes shipping from germany (to switzerland).

Also I didn't find a single EZTP (trumpet) here in europe (the only site I found didn't have it anymore and told me that they couldn't get them anymore).

[Bosco Adama]

Well, I finally got my EZ-AG setup with the scripts from TenCrazy.com. And it works very well!!
Ah, a midi guitar interface for under $2k that works! I've been searching for 20 years.
Great discovery guys!!

Now, I am going to try to fashion this little toy into an instrument.
A COUPLE OF IDEAS TO TRY-
-postion it like the Chapman stick with a strap
-sitdown with it wedge between knees like a cello
-lay it down and play it like a keyboard

WHAT IF?
If I had a second EZ-AG, is it possible to have them both hooked up and running at the same time?
Why you ask?
-extended range while playing it like a keyboard
(one for each hand)

Has anyone thought of modifying the EZ?
-reinforcing the neck
-altering, replacing the body

QUESTIONS-
Is there a mode that will completly stop the open string from ringing out by playing a fretted note on that string?
e.g. pluck the D string( it sustains)
fret the E note, (this should stop the open string)
release the E note.( nothing or pull off to open string optional)

COMMENTS -I was confused for a while on how to hook everything up. A lot of time was spent searching for concise info. Is there a web page with setup instructions and script editing options? besides these 45 pages?
It would be great if all the info could be organized in one place.

[Markleford]

Well, I finally got my EZ-AG setup with the scripts from TenCrazy.com. And it works very well!!

Good to hear!

A COUPLE OF IDEAS TO TRY-
-postion it like the Chapman stick with a strap

I used to play Chapman Stick, so that's generally how I play, via two-handed tapping.

If I had a second EZ-AG, is it possible to have them both hooked up and running at the same time?

Just run another app and set up a different MIDI Input port.

Has anyone thought of modifying the EZ?
-reinforcing the neck
-altering, replacing the body

Though about it, but not too much! No ideas yet.

Is there a mode that will completly stop the open string from ringing out by playing a fretted note on that string?

I have a few "clean mode" configurations that ignore open strings. Most of my "guitar modes" will go to an open string on release only if the open string was originally plucked (or so I seem to remember, but keep in mind that I'm usually playing in "fretboard" mode!).

COMMENTS -I was confused for a while on how to hook everything up. A lot of time was spent searching for concise info. Is there a web page with setup instructions and script editing options?

Not yet, but you're right that it's gotta be done. I recently PM'd someone some more explicit directions and managed to save them to a file, so I'll make them available sometime soon.

RECENT EXCUSE: My wife and I are packing up the house to move cross-country in the near future to her new job, so I'm a bit short on time!

- m

[Bosco Adama]

RECENT EXCUSE: My wife and I are packing up the house to move cross-country in the near future to her new job, so I'm a bit short on time!

Good luck with the big move! Which city are you headed?

[Markleford]

Good luck with the big move! Which city are you headed?

Clemson, South Carolina.

- m

[CapnLockheed]

Clemson, South Carolina.

Well kiss my grits and welcome to the south!!
My wife and I just did the same thing two
weeks ago....re-located to Knoxville, TN
and we're LOVIN' IT!!

Cheers....CL

[warza]

Hey everyone. I just received my AG today. I was checking the tracking online and it wasn't supposed to get here until December 2nd. My roommate came home, and discovered it had been sitting out on the patio in the cold all afternoon.

After ripping the box open like a little kid at Christmas; here are my first impressions. I only had about an hour to play around with it, and haven't had a chance to try it with MIDI, or through my computer set up.

I like it! This thing is really cool After some of the things I read, I was really expecting a flimsy, Casio toy thing. It's not. First of all, it sounds really good. I didn't think I'd be using any of the internal sounds, but right now that's all I have to judge it with. I was really surprised at how solid the sounds were coming out of its nice internal speaker. Those guitar samples are actually pretty decent. I've played some of the internal demos and they sound full and not toyish either. (I also caught some funky wrong cords in some of those songs....) Too bad you can't use all of the sounds in its internal general MIDI set up to play with from the guitar. I heard some nice organs and strings in there. The one included playable piano sound is nice.

The string triggers feel really good. I was surprised by that. I can't figure out what they're made of. They feel like rubber/plastic rods that are somehow mounted internally on springs. The aliens that built them came up with a good design.

It was weird at first playing the fret buttons on the neck. In about two minutes I got used to it and compensated my playing technique for them pretty well. What I noticed right away is that I really miss the feeling of having string tension across the fret's. I was immediately aware that almost half of my technique depends on hammer on's and pull-offs, even when chording. Bummer. Hopefully trying the AG through the control software that you guys have so thoughtfully provided in here (thank you!), will compensate for at least some of that. It's occurring to me that for certain things my Roland GI-10 pitch to MIDI interface on my Strat might actually still work better.

Because there is no actual string tension to pull off from on the neck, it's hard to play fast lead lines. I'm used to throwing in some 16th and 32nd note accents here and there. The fret buttons and string triggers are really good for importing cords though. It's pretty amazing: there are no glitches here! You can also strum on it, which is a big NO with normal MIDI guitar. It handles finger picking VERY well. I can't wait to try the EG version and see how it compares.

On the visual side, the AG looks a lot better than I thought it would. It's pretty small. Smaller than my Yamaha classical guitar, but it feels right and solid when you are playing it. It actually looks like a pretty cool alternate controller. It's black and looks and feels right, not like a cheap consumer toy. Yamaha did a great job here for less than $200. I don't see how anyone could complain about this very useful, creative tool, at this price. Not a pitch-to-MIDI glitch in the house. Now I'm really curious about trying a StarLabs unit. I wonder if they really play that much better/faster. As far as I can see the use pretty much the same technology.

A couple more thoughts: I really wish the string triggers had adjustable sensitivity. I noticed that the D string is not as sensitive as the other ones. It isn't really apparent when I'm playing it though. If they ever make a pro model (please!), adjustable triggers would have to be mandatory. I liked the mute pad on the bridge. The neck does not feel loose. It is weird though, how if you pull on it while you are playing it bends slightly, but I wouldn't call it a structural problem.

Can't wait to 'till I get a chance to try this with my computer. I also can't wait to compare it with the EG model that's supposed to show up on Monday. I'll post some more thoughts about these later.

Oh yeah: good luck and congrats Markleford on your big move. I moved twice this summer. Hope it all goes smooth for you.

Kevin

[midiboss]

Hi all. I may ask some already answered questions, but anyway
Also big "Hi!!" to Markleford, who already helped me out with his useful "Program bump" MFX (Check it out, it rox and is a big timesaver!!).
I also own EZAG and use it with wonderful tools from Markleford and mbncp. Big thx, also from yamaha, since I wouldn't have bought it anyways!
Q:
1.Don't you think EZAG topic is worth it's own forum, where "subtopics" are separated for easier viewing? (Yamaha can sponsor it ). Any volunteers?
2.Tracking latency? I use it mainly for playing bass guitar, but latency stops me for using softsynths realtime, so I use internal sounds first, and softsynths only afterwards. Tracking differs, of course, also internal sounds are not state of the art and midi editing is necessary! Is there anything I can do about latency?
3.Can software be ported to VST or MFX for easier integration?

YAMAHA, wake up!!! Can't you see the big potential of your EZ- series??? EZ-PRO with SW support from Yamaha would be a hit, also "$maker"!