The Yamaha EZ-EG Guitar Midi Controller Thread

[Markleford]

Hammer-ons are sent out as low-velocity MIDI data.

They shouldn't sound too different, unless the synth that's responding to it has some modulation routing that reacts dynamically to velocity (in a way besides merely volume).

- m

[dadsquared]

This is my first post here- and I'm pretty intrigued by the possibilities of the EZ guitars!

I'm also a "MIDIOT".... so please forgive me if my questions are stupid. In my studio, I have an iMac G5 with an Mbox 2 and Reason 3.0 I have a midi controler hooked into the mbox 2 that I play around in Reason with. Could I just swap out the keyboard with the Yamaha EZ AG/EG, and use that to interface with Reason? Will the EZ transmitting on channels 1-6 cause a problem with Reason?

Sorry if these questions are elementary/laughable.... but I look forward to finding out more about this instrument!

Jeff

[Markleford]

Will the EZ transmitting on channels 1-6 cause a problem with Reason?

Yes it will. However, you can somewhat rectify this by using Reason's MIDI Bus assignments (all the way at the top of the rack) to route ch 1-6 to whichever devices you want, including to all the same device.

That'll work fine live. However, so far as recording with this setup, Reason won't record those channels to the appropriate sequencer tracks. Pity, that!

- m

[dadsquared]

Markleford,

THANK YOU!! not only are you an expert with the Yamaha EZ series, but you've clearly put in some time with Reason.

regarding Reason: it won't record those channels to the appropriate sequencer tracks? I agree- a MAJOR pity! Mostly, what I'd be interested in doing is something akin to what I now do with reason- namely, just use one of the samplers. If I'd route all channels to the NN-XT, for example- would I be able to record with that? Please say yes... I don't really use the synth function or the drum machine function

of course, what I'm looking for is something that will help me reproduce in a live setting the ambient guitar music I perform on my cd's. To that end, I've been doing a LOT of recording into Pro Tools of various samples of my playing, and have been experimenting in the studio with triggering these sounds with a keyboard controller -with some decent results. However, when it comes to playing live- I'd like to have something that's at least set up like a guitar to trigger the notes.

....on the plus side, I could end up being a WHOLE lot more mobile; my rack of gear is a wee bit on the heavy side......

Thanks again!

jeff

[Markleford]

THANK YOU!! not only are you an expert with the Yamaha EZ series, but you've clearly put in some time with Reason.

I've done some live jamming with the EZ hooked up to Reason, even.

If I'd route all channels to the NN-XT, for example- would I be able to record with that? Please say yes...

I'll say.... maybe!

Actually, I'm going to have to take a step back and reassess my claims. The limitation on the channel routing most likely comes from the fact that I had it Rewired through SONAR.

Conversely, if the EZ is used *directly* as the input to Reason, I think it probably ignores the channel altogether, meaning it probably does exactly what you want! All it cares about is if the little "active" and "record" icons are set on the appropriate sequencer track.

So let me finally break the EZ out of its box, almost a year after my last move, and I'll get back to you. I have to update my script program anyway!

- m

[dadsquared]

Thanks, Markleford! I scanned through my Reason manuals and books today, and didn't find anything one way or the other. I'll look forward to hearing what your experiments produce!

Jeff

[CapnLockheed]

So let me finally break the EZ out of its box, almost a year after my last move, and I'll get back to you. I have to update my script program anyway!

Glad to hear you're getting back in the saddle!!
I've been playing the hell out of mine lately but
mostly out of the box with hardware synths and
a midi events processor...its whole different
animal,(and a lot more ornery!!), without the scripts.

Happy Holidays!!

Cheers......CL

[Kenmac]

Hello there. This is my first post on this forum. I've been interested in MIDI guitar since 1985. Back then I bought a Roland G-50 Guitar synth and I've been messing around with different pickups, pitch to MIDI converters and guitar synths since (Roland GK2, GR-1, GR-33, GI-10) and I have to say that I'm pretty impressed with this Yamaha EZ series. I finally bought an EZ-AG at a Future Shop (kind of an electronics superstore) here in Toronto yesterday. I've downloaded and installed Marklefords script although I haven't really had a chance to mess around with it yet.

I'd like to get Marcs script as well to compare it but it looks like I have to join a Yahoo group to do that now. Now I have a question for both of you guys: Suppose for example I wanted to set up an alternate tuning using the scripts, e.g. Open C, DADGAD, etc., is it possible to do that? Also the one thing that I wish these controllers had is a way to bend notes like an actual guitar. Is this possible with scripting as well? Maybe assign the "Tuning" button to raise or lower the pitch? Also (and I know this would probably be hard to implement) being able to play harmonics would be nice.

I also noticed some people were saying that Yamaha should make a "Pro" version and that would be cool. Drop the teaching and song modes, use a standard 22 or 24 fret neck with a whammy bar for the electric model and use real wood for the neck and body of the acoustic version. Anyway guys, looking forward to your answers and have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

[AlanB]

Hi Kenmac

I know that individual tunings for each string can be done in Marc's (mbncp) VB Script, but I'm not sure if it is still available.

Are you using the EZ/AG to trigger sounds on a PC? If so, a VST with harmonics sounds (or anything else for that matter) would work fine.

To bend notes I think you need to use another controller (keyboard pitch bend or foot pedal) because there isn't a suitable device to use on the EZ/AG.

Hope that helps
Alan

[Kenmac]

Thanks for your answers AlanB. Unfortunately I haven't really had time to mess around with the AG too much but I do have a Roland GR-33 guitar synth with a built in foot pedal which I could probably set up to use for bending notes. I've never really gotten into programming MIDI very much but I would imagine this would probably be pretty easy. Yeah I guess I'd have to use a VST with harmonics sounds if I wanted that type of effect and I guess I'll have to join Marcs Yahoo site to get the script if it's still available. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours.

[desrochers]

Please keep us posted on your experiments
with the Event Processor. I've been using a Yamaha MEP4
midi event processor which has greatly enhanced the EG's
usefullness but I feel like I've barely scratched the surface
of what I can do with it!

After a number of late nights programming my Event Processor from MIDI Solutions, I have prepared a short demo of the EZ-AG's internal sounds with program changes done on-the-fly from frets 10-12. I recorded the entire sampler directly out of the EZ-AG headphone/line-out jack. No other synths. No effects. The only edits I made were to remove a few ~ 1 second pauses during the trickier program changes (see reference to an FCB-1010 below).

http://home.surewest.net/desrochers/Chr ... ampler.mp3

The setup details are as folows:

- A MIDI Event Processor box linking the EZ-AG's MIDI out to its own MIDI in.
- The EZ-AG is in local off mode to disable the front panel's sound.

The rules in the event processor set up the following ensemble strategy:

1) Fret 12 buttons select a primary sound (Piano(s), Elect Piano(s), Organ, Guitar) on internal channel 1 with a MIDI volume of 120.
2) Fret 11 buttons select a pad sound (Strings, Voices...) on internal channel 2 with a MIDI volume of 40.
3) Fret 10 buttons select a "color" sound (Bells, Brass, Ooos, Aaaahs, ...) on internal channel 3 with a MIDI volume of 120. This sound only triggers for note-on velocites of 70 or greater.

The event processor is also programmed to do the following playing style filtering:

1) All note on/off from channels 1-6 (all strings) are sent to internal channels 1 & 2 at the played velocity.
2) Note on from channels 1-6 is sensor to internal channel 3 only when the velocity is 70 or greater. The velocity is also scaled down to the range 50-100.
3) All note-on events with velocity 16 are blocked.
4) The "all notes off" message from ch 1-6 is sent to internal channels 1-3.
5) Everything else sent out by the EZ-AG is blocked.

The resulting playing style is that I only get a note on when I hit a string. I only get a note off when I press a fret button for a string that I have previously played, or when I hit a "ringing" string a second time. This results in a fairly "sustainy" response, but that is what I am going for. I can also mute individual strings with my left hand this way.

It is not perfect yet, but it does allow many more musical possibilities than the stock EZ-AG provides. I have an FCB-1010 foot controller coming the day after Christmas which will greatly enhance my access to the program changes and allow for cross-fading the three sounds more expressively. (In early testing, I found 3 to be about the limit for sending all six strings without getting notes cut off.)

Merry Christmas everybody.

[Markleford]

Thanks, Markleford! I scanned through my Reason manuals and books today, and didn't find anything one way or the other. I'll look forward to hearing what your experiments produce!

Well, the EZ still worked after a cross-country move and sitting in a box for 11 months...

And indeed it works just fine with Reason 3.0: enable the appropriate hardware input port, enable the 'input active' icon on the appropriate Reason sequencer track, and you're ready to go! All strings record to the same track, since Reason really doesn't have much of a care what a 'channel' is.

So no worries there. Sounds like it'll do what you want! If you have any other questions, ask here or shoot me a PM.

Cheers,
- m

[Markleford]

After a number of late nights programming my Event Processor from MIDI Solutions, I have prepared a short demo of the EZ-AG's internal sounds with program changes done on-the-fly from frets 10-12.

Wow, that's pretty good! Should be even better once you get your pedals.

Seems like that Event Processor is quite the power-house and worth looking into for people who want to stick to a strictly hardware setup!

- m

[desrochers]

It definitely makes the EZ a more powerful live instrument. For now, I have maxed out the 32 filtering rules that the event processor allows. When I get the pedals, I'll free up a lot of program change rules and have room to work on some more playing style enhancements....

...but for now, I need to practice a couple of my front panel program changes before heading to church. Going live with the new sounds tonight at Midnight - wish me luck. The organ and brass in a giant brick building (and six huge EV main speakers) should be some fun.

[stayne]

can anyone tell by the pictures what midi guitar this guy uses? btw, his music is great! i found 'Monuments of Mars' in a bargain bin today for 2 dollars .

http://www.markdwane.com/