KVR Audio

Maruuk · Post by **Maruuk** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 11:38 am

Ok, latency is no prob with Tone Direct. The problem is needing to turn off the %^&^%$# fretboard notes.

You don't notice them much with the onboard sounds, but the moment you go to controlling external modules they create a total sloppy mess. Does this YEZge221 have a mode which can mute the fretting note-ons such that all you hear are your plucked notes and note-offs from the left hand fret-off? That's the only way you could could play this thing clean as a midi controller. Otherwise you get this constant echo-effect as your left hand slightly precedes striking the same notes you're about to pluck as you depress the frets, just a tiny bit ahead and softer. Disaster.

Markleford · Post by **Markleford** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 6:28 pm

Maruuk wrote:You don't notice them much with the onboard sounds, but the moment you go to controlling external modules they create a total sloppy mess. Does this YEZge221 have a mode which can mute the fretting note-ons such that all you hear are your plucked notes and note-offs from the left hand fret-off?

Yes, it cleans these up, as well as the hanging note problem.

- m

Maruuk · Post by **Maruuk** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 8:16 pm

Ok, lemme get this straight. I first download this complicated Midi Yoke thing, which the author warns us "if you set it wrong DISASTER will strike!!!" This involving very confusing and esoteric internal midi routing issues with your DAW which only techies could grok. And the author admits "is beta only for XP and NOT SUPPORTED."

Then assuming our PC survives this extreme sport, we download the YEZge221 and do something mysterious with that. "Run the script"? Load it into the Yoke? Not clear.

Then in one mysterious line, we find that the control over the "features" of this app are handled by pushing a button on the EZ. But there's no documentation of what any of the features or states are, just that there's "20 of them". And now confirmed I guess one of them turns off the fret note-ons, critical to using this thing clean as a midi controller. Which one? Who knows.

Yikes. This is like performing an appendectomy on yourself with Drs. Black & Decker in attendance.

I'm not saying this won't work, but the descriptions are basically "load the Midi Yoke and hook it up to your DAW right". That alone is pretty scary. I have no clue what it is or does, and I've worked with midi since the MPU-401 days. And what to do with the YEZge221 is even less clear. "Load it". Hmmm. "Run the script". Yeah. Right.

Well this is gonna take some research and hours, if it's even worth it. I may have to hire a programmer to figure this stuff out.

Maruuk · Post by **Maruuk** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 10:41 pm

I love the Midi Yoke developer's Alice in Wonderland-speak: "Now, you'll notice the outs are ins and the ins outs compared to what you're used to, it's completely non-intuitive. And if you get it wrong and run an out-in, you'll crash your computer, or worse!"

At least he's honest about it.

CapnLockheed · Post by **CapnLockheed** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 10:50 pm

100 pages YAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAY!!

I have no clue what it is or does, and I've worked with midi since the MPU-401 days.

Well then brother, seeing as how I was always a technophobic guitar midiot
until fairly recently and yet even I still figured it out, my adivice is
stop being such a girlyman and dive right in...the water's fine!

Seriously tho, if you're as experienced as you say, you should'nt have that much trouble wrapping your head around it.

Cheers.....CL

Maruuk · Post by **Maruuk** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 11:25 pm

Probably this stuff all makes sense and works, but if coders took about an extra 30 seconds to write the Read Me notes in non-geek speek so that the average musician could clearly understand what to do, hours would be saved. Not to mention PCs.

If I can make this work, I'll write out the process in English for everybody.

Markleford · Post by **Markleford** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 1:13 am

Maruuk wrote:Probably this stuff all makes sense and works, but if coders took about an extra 30 seconds to write the Read Me notes in non-geek speek so that the average musician could clearly understand what to do, hours would be saved.

Speaking for my own software, I didn't have the budget for documentation.

If I can make this work, I'll write out the process in English for everybody.

I think it's been done a few times in the thread already, though at our new milestone of 100 pages I understand it can be hard to find!

But that's pretty much how we've always done it: either people "get it", or they come here ask ask, or they send me email. (However, my email form on my site is currently non-functional, so that's a bit of an issue.)

Honestly, for the 10 or so people who've used my app? I don't mind answering questions personally.

- m

thegodofbass · Post by **thegodofbass** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 1:46 am

This is what I get when I go to your site:

Maruuk · Post by **Maruuk** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 2:34 am

You don't go to his site as you were directed, you have to go to:

http://www.tencrazy.com/gadgets/ezeg/

Like I said, communication is difficult right from scratch. I downloaded Midi Yoke, installed it as instructed, and just as you'd expect, it's totally disappeared. Not in Programs, nowhere. Poof. Up in smoke. Programmers.

garyfwayne · Post by **garyfwayne** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 3:10 am

Maruuk wrote:
I downloaded Midi Yoke, installed it as instructed, and just as you'd expect, it's totally disappeared.

Hey Maruuk,

I use maple virtual midi cable. It works great with my EZ and was easy to install. http://www.hurchalla.com/Maple_driver.html

garyfwayne

uppercase · Post by **uppercase** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 3:29 am

Maruuk wrote:
Like I said, communication is difficult right from scratch. I downloaded Midi Yoke, installed it as instructed, and just as you'd expect, it's totally disappeared. Not in Programs, nowhere. Poof. Up in smoke. Programmers.

-----

I think you want to install midi ox also. Midi yoke provides you with a virtual midi driver - a midi interface without hardware.

MidiOx will allow you to do all sorts of interesting and powerful things with midi (both virtual and hardware driven). It is a little complex, but don't worry about your computer, I highly doubt it's going to damage anything. Jump in with both feet and try stuff you'll get it.

MidiOx: http://www.midiox.com/

Maruuk · Post by **Maruuk** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 3:51 am

Thanks guys, will do!

thegodofbass · Post by **thegodofbass** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 1:37 pm

Right - my site is up: http://www.brokebust.com/ezag/

Please go there even if it's just to come to terms with the fact that after 4 years there's finally going to be somewhere dedicated to these little beauties!

There's no real content or styling up yet, but hopefully if people lend me a hand I can start setting up a FAQ by the end of the weekend.

As ever, if anyone can help drop me a mail @ brokebust@gmail.com - after all, I hope the site becomes a place to inspire and be inspired - to share the wealth!

Cheers!

Maruuk · Post by **Maruuk** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 9:24 pm

Well this is a potential powerful little midi axe if you could just filter out some of the Yamaha silliness which ruins it for recording input. Sure it's weird with the little levers and the too-soft strumming wires, but once you get the hang of it, you can play real no-latency midi out of it. I mean, you guys have looked at what a real rig costs: $400 for the GI-20, $175 for the pickup, $35 for the cable, plus installation charges, and you still get latency, especially in the lower range which takes the reader longer to interpret.

I'm still dreaming that Yamaha or somebody will take this core unit, throw out all the kiddie junk, strip it down and really make it rock solely for midi controlling, pure and simple. It would revolutionize the market.

Markleford · Post by **Markleford** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 9:27 pm

Maruuk wrote:I'm still dreaming that Yamaha or somebody will take this core unit, throw out all the kiddie junk, strip it down and really make it rock solely for midi controlling, pure and simple. It would revolutionize the market.

Exactly: and we have absolutely no idea why they didn't realize that!

- m

The Yamaha EZ-EG Guitar Midi Controller Thread