yrg thread

[Elantric]

FWIW -
I just installed Snoize MIDI Monitor for OSX

The YRG generates true MIDI Note On and MIDI Note Off events
And the MIDI Velocity values I'm seeing are between 49 and 120 - very useable.


Pressing the "Tap" key removed the need to touch the strings - essentially makes the YRG a non velocity Touch instrument - like a Chapman Stick.

I'm triggering an external MIDI synth and playing the Tony Levin Stick intro to "Elephant talk" just perfectly.

[mac wilson]

Ok so the drama continues......

"At first, they tried the internal sounds. Only great self control prevented them from smashing it too pieces."

" But wait! Garageband to the rescue!. It actually works! the POS is saved!

phew......"

[MRKiammi]

Hi you were right about the palm mute
is for gaming ón the yrg, it also says so in the manual.
Starpower/overdrive is when a rockmeter
i filled up then you Can activate that ingame
and cheer the audience up, if you fx are about to loose it in a tough song.

[tapper mike]

I hate you guys. I wanted to be the first on the block with a yrg. anyway real guitar/real strat has dial in features for palm muting but you'll prolly have to access it via your computer as from my understanding YRG doesn't have a way to set/access the cc parameters.

[Elantric]

. It actually works! (as a MIDI Controller) the POS is saved!

phew......"

In a nutshell - yes!

And extremely well I might add.

I already own most all my favorite guitars, and I'm just an "ok" keyboard player.
My Prime reason for getting the YRG is to trigger synths, and capture MIDI notes/events for creating Tabulature in Guitar Pro 6 - So I can easily make Tab charts for members of my band of my songs.
The YRG is Well worth $200! Nothing comes close at this price point (well ask me next week after the E3 show)

Here's my score card for You Rock Guitar (1st day of use) : (1-10)

YRG as MIDI Controller: Score 9

YRG's internal guitar sounds: Score 4

YRG's internal synth sounds: Score 5

YRGS Neck feel/fretboard Playability: Score 8

Side mounted control panel (Brilliant) : Score 9


Other info

The Volume knob generates MIDI Volume commnads

The adjacent Mushroom 4 way control generates MIDI Mod wheel data.
The "Whammy Bar" defaults to MIDI Pitch Bend Data - Up/Down one whole step,

The "Mute bar" - is actually two small metal rails at the rear of the bridge. you rest your hand there and all sounds Mute and MIDI Note Off events are sent.

The two buttons below the bridge generate nothing ( and they should be user definable for MIDI CC# data IMHO)

[mac wilson]

One of my biggest concerns with this type of controller is the string trigger sensitivity.

With all the varied styles and techniques, there's no way to accommodate everyone.

For instance, that last unpacking video has that guy playing Flamenco. Flamenco really hammers the strings as does any kind of strumming. But fingerpicking and certain types of flat picking are so different, something has got to suffer.

I'm just wondering what.

In other words, are we going to be able to adjust this?

I don't really think that would be possible but you never know.

[Elantric]

Hey - I'm generating a lot of traffic and getting some inside info

I'm told indeed User defined MIDI sensitivity will be available in a near future update.

They seem to be tweaking the firmware release every few weeks:

More technical details:

"The YRG has 12 bit A/D range on the strings and uses complex aalgorithms to determine triggering and sensitivity. Editor applications will give the YRG user a wide variety of control over trigger and sensitivity in addition to 8 velocity tables assignable to each of the internal GUITAR and SYNTH voices as well as the MIDI output. MIDI velocity output is only 7 bit "

To adjust String Velocity:
"Try the OPEN button: when ON the trigger sensitivity is lower and when OPEN is off the trigger sensitivity is higher. There will be many apps that will allow you to fine-tune your YRG to your own playing style.

[cj31387]

Elantric -- I was hoping you could palm mute and it would make lower velocities and then trigger strum electrics mute. Or other guitar vsts that can mimic palm mute by lower velocity. Does palm muting on the YRG make lower velocities?

[Elantric]

Yes,
With careful technique. Not impossible but not ideal. At the YRG "Bridge" - the short "trigger" strings emerge from a sandwich wedge of two rubber pads that help to dampen the strings so these don't create unwanted resonance.

Its possible that when using YRG as a MIDI controller a dynamic velocity crossfade could be setup in your VSTI that supports this feature.

You can rest the edge of your hand directly on the YRG strings , and this will lower the MIDI velocity value sent. But it does require learning a modified "palm mute" technique to accomplish this.

But so far I'm happiest using the YRG to trigger "non guitar" sounds of an external MIDi device - in todays example, a Macbook with a USB cable triggering AU Instruments in Apple Garageband 09

[cj31387]

well if its not ideal, hopefully apps or firmware updates/software can fix that.

[Elantric]

KEVIN KENT WROTE>
"You might want to loosen the string tension a little bit on the bridge. Were doing a video on this after the E3 show, but its very simple. Everyone says its more sensitive with the strings a little loser. Factory testing equipment tweaks we need to do for a few more week. (Thanks)

Just look at the back of the bridge and you'll see 6 pretty good sized phillips heads, loosen is to the left, loosen to your preference. It will definitely change the sensitivity, when you start banging on it like Pete Townsend you just might want to tighten it a bit. It's a tweak, small steps..."

[JAMES L. HARRISON]

The Ztar's are IMHO in a completely different league. What I had reference to is the new crop of game controllers under development that also to some extent serve as midi controllers for music. I've seen none with a list of features as extensive as the YRG. The one from Starr Labs may change that but I don't have the info yet.

The lack of dynamics from the string triggers are IMHO a huge negative that the YRG has WRT musicians. I don't know yet if there are others or not; mine isn't here yet.


EDIT: Since I posted the above I've found that the string triggers do in fact send midi velocity info. I'm not sure yet about the internal sounds. Sorry for the incorrect info, and many thanks to those who have posted it here.

James
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So far I haven't seen anything that poses any kind of challenge to the YRG from the viewpoint of someone interested in midi guitar. IMHO Inspired has really stolen a march on the competition so far WRT features.

And the volume of gaming offerings tends to support Inspired's marketing decision re: The gamer function of the YRG, which is of no interest whatsoever to me. But if it helps them sell a zillion then great...

James
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Challenge in terms of what? Features, or marketing hype?

The Ztar certainly poses more of a challenge feature wise for midi guitar (having more features excluding the gaming), and they are coming with their own low cost game controller, and Starr Labs already has the expertise in this field.

In terms of marketing, IF the new Fender controllers do midi also, Fender should be in a position to almost completely dominate both markets, since they have the capital, brand recognition, and the retail reach to do it.

Think of it this way, If a young kid has the choice between the "You Rock!" guitar (complete with ultra cheesy marketing videos), or a damn cool "Fender Strat" controller that looks like the same big boy guitar that their favorite band endorses (and says "Fender" on the headstock), which one do you think they are gonna choose?

(*edit - apparently the Fender/Harmonix Rock Band 3 controllers are also full midi controllers, at least the Mustang pro one is - http://kotaku.com/5560679/rock-band-3-p ... controller, and they are going to be around $150 retail according to that site).

[tapper mike]

Yes ztars are for control freaks. They are professional midi controllers first and foremost.

[JAMES L. HARRISON]

As I've already posted: IMHO lack of velocity curve/dynamics from the string triggers are a HUGE negative. I hope Inspired has something in the pipeline to address that. How about it Kevin?

James
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I have not has a lot of time to spend with my YRG, which arrived yesterday. First of all it's never going to replace a real stringed instrument. Only been able to use the internal sounds. I experience zero velocity curve when picking strings. If you pick too lightly, no sound. You pic a little harder, no sound, then eventually you reach the threshold of response - but you trigger the full force sound of whatever the sampled sound is currently selected. No dynamics. No palm muting. No ability to manipulate individual string to string volume level. High E always sounds lower volume than the rest. About as satisfying as playing a 1980s Casio Keyboard with no velocity. The two buttons below the bridge change the current alternate tuning.

I do like Tap Mode as this removes the poor string triggers from the equation. Had not time to try YRG as a MIDI controller yet.

[JAMES L. HARRISON]

In the video below starting about 6:35 the sounds are pretty usable IMHO:
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<>
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That's the "unpacking" YRG video for those who have already seen it.

James
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Think back, in any of the vid demos we saw, were there any picking dynamics/velocity dynamics in any performance? None that I heard.