KVR Audio

jdoggmasterflex · Post by **jdoggmasterflex** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 11:12 pm

Thanks, I'll do some research and look into MIDI Program Change messages

jdoggmasterflex · Post by **jdoggmasterflex** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 12:46 am

I figured out that by changing the program map in my sequencer, I was able to play more than the 20 preset tones through my keyboard. Im still working on playing the internal tones through the ez-ag without using a keyboard though.

Markleford · Post by **Markleford** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 3:23 am

Ah, you'll need a loopback from your MIDI Out to MIDI In, then! I think someone here has done that sort of thing with a little bit of hardware: hopefully they'll speak up.

- m

jdoggmasterflex · Post by **jdoggmasterflex** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 8:02 pm

FIGURED IT OUT!!!

- you run midi out to your sequencer
- Insert a program change in the sequencer and click which ever instrument you want
- midi out from the sequencer back to the ezag
- you can turn the local control off on the ezag (press capo and tuning together and then use value to change from on to off) so that you only hear the internal or you can leave it on and have a layered sound.

Thanks for the help, guys

Markleford · Post by **Markleford** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 8:07 pm

Cool! Have fun!

- m

llcoolj · Post by **llcoolj** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 11:58 am

Hi,
I do strumming and fingerpicking abit.
Which is better for this play - the eg or the ag?
thanks in advance

Kenmac · Post by **Kenmac** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 5:09 pm

The AG is better for strumming and fingerpicking. The EG is more suited to solos and more of an electric guitar style of playing.

llcoolj · Post by **llcoolj** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 10:44 pm

I really would enjoy the use of a whammy bar, so the Ez-eg can not be used for strumming and fingerpicking without a pick?

Markleford · Post by **Markleford** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 10:46 pm

llcoolj wrote:I really would enjoy the use of a whammy bar, so the Ez-eg can not be used for strumming and fingerpicking without a pick?

They both can be used for strumming and fingerpicking.

I believe that the AG is said to have thicker "string-bars", which would be better for fingerpicking. I only have an EG, though, so I cannot truly confirm this comparison.

- m

jancivil · Post by **jancivil** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 11:15 pm

the page linked from the original post, sez: discontinued in the US.
Anyone wants to sell theirs, PM me asap.

pixelslave · Post by **pixelslave** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 1:21 am

AUTO-ADMIN: Non-MP3, WAV, OGG, SoundCloud, YouTube, Vimeo, Twitter and Facebook links in this post have been protected automatically. Once the member reaches 5 posts the links will function as normal.

Just when I was about to open my wallet to purchase an EZ-AG, I found this:

http://www.ezgear.com/GS/YouRockGuitar.html (http://www.ezgear.com/GS/YouRockGuitar.html)

With a multi-touch fretboard, it might be possible to do sliding. Even if it's not possible out of the box, with a SDK, it may be possible to add the feature. Bending, however, seems to be difficult to simulate (may be thru some gesture recognition)?

Anyone on this board knows about this "You Rock Guitar"?[/url]

RunBeerRun · Post by **RunBeerRun** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 2:17 am

Cool, no strings, MIDI, string triggers, $150.

I reserved one, they don't ask for payment info right off the bat.

I don't see why there aren't more midi guitars, Roland stuff is expensive and not cool. I had like 3 or 4 of them.

But I mean, the Casio DG-20 body, it weighs a ton and is shaped weird, I like that. Pretty cheap to buy.

desrochers · Post by **desrochers** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 6:44 am

Markleford wrote:Ah, you'll need a loopback from your MIDI Out to MIDI In, then! I think someone here has done that sort of thing with a little bit of hardware: hopefully they'll speak up.

- m

Yep. I have been playing an EZ-AG with a few add-ons weekly as a live accompaniment instrument for the past two years. I do use the technique of looping the EZ-AG's MIDI out to its in, but with a couple of pieces in-line. I have been through a few refinements of my setup leading to the present. Here's the most efficient, flexible, and compact setup I have achieved so far:

1) The EZ-AG as the main controller and sound source.
2) A MIDI Solutions event processor plus to combine the EZ-AG's six independant string MIDI channels into 1, and then mirrored on ch's 1, 2, & 3 to feed a MIDI stack (using all EZ-AG internal sounds). The event processor also has rules to filter and tweak certain playing style MIDI messages that I did not like on the stock EZ-AG.
3) A Behringer Nano MIDI controller for program change and volume setting of the three instruments in my stack.
4) A beefed-up 12V AC adapter with more robust cords than the factory EZ-AG.

Price for all parts ~$600, including the EZ-AG.

Items 2-4 are mounted to a small percussion rack that clamps to a sturdy music or mic stand. The entire setup fix in a soft guitar bag and a small gig bag. I can set it up and be playing in a couple of minutes. I have used this setup and earlier clunkier incarnations for two years now - hundreds of hours of playing time on my original EZ-AG.

The result is a very full-sounding stack of 1, 2, or three instruments. In the Berhinger nano, I have presets for all my common combinations. All of them involve:
1) A primary accompaniment instrument:
Acoustic Piano, Muted Elect Piano, Bright Elect Piano, Classical Guitar, Church Organ, Vibes
2) A soft, pad sound - a variety of strings, warm pads - chosen for soft attack and good sustain.
3) A "color" sound - new agy synth, ooohs, bells, brass, ... Channel 3 is set to only sound when note velocity is above a certain threshold - so I can make brass or bells "pop" only on certain notes more emphasis, then let 'em ring. By leaving that string alone for a bit.

With these combinations, I find I can make a large variety of pretty decent-sounding accompaniments. It doesn't sound canned or sequenced because I am playing live and expressively and the EZ-AG's sounds (or a lot of them) are clean, rich and can really sing in a large church. The dynamic range of the EZ-AG's string trigger is also great for playing expressively.

It's been so successful for me that I've considered writing some good documentation on construction and use. (I may have leave out some important programming details that I might offer for a nominal fee

For the past two years that I have been playing my invention, I have also been drooling over the $2K-$4K Z-Tars from Starr Labs, but for the $600 I've got in mine, I am pretty happy.

Markleford · Post by **Markleford** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 6:05 pm

pixelslave wrote:Anyone on this board knows about this "You Rock Guitar"?

First I've heard of it, but I'm very curious now!

- m

joe5009 · Post by **joe5009** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 8:07 pm

desrochers,

Huge thanks for listing your setup here!! A few weeks back a friend of mine asked me and one of my brothers to play at her wedding in May, and she really likes Norah Jones-type stuff so I figured it'd be nice to bust out some piano sounds, but I wasn't sure about what a suitable live rig might look like. Looks like you put quite a bit of time and thought into your rig and that you've put it through the paces, should give me a nice starting point (if I don't end up copying it exactly). Again, it was very kind of you to share

One of my concerns with using the EZAG at a wedding is that it does have a bit of a Fisher-Price look to it, especially for a formal event. I was thinking about either a) straight gutting the EZAG and tucking its innards neatly inside of an acoustic; or b) taking the "face" off the acoustic, removing the bridge, carving out a hole for the EZAG bridge (and whatever else)to poke through, and cutting it down the middle so I can slide both pieces underneath the strings, and then secure it all in place. Both a) and b) would require that I carve out some room for the EZAG neck to fit inside the acoustic neck.

Has anybody tried this? I mean, I'm sure somebody out there has tried it but has anyone in this thread tried it, or does anyone have pictures or a link?

Also, if anyone has a nice Taylor that they wouldn't mind being sacrificed for this project, just PM me!!!

The Yamaha EZ-EG Guitar Midi Controller Thread