13 pin MIDI with piezo guitar and VSTs

[samesung]

So, I'm considering buying a guitar with 13 pin MIDI and individual saddle transducers since I'd like to have an option of controlling my VSTs on my PC with it. I saw some guitar synths like Roland GR 55 can send the MIDI signal to PC and play VSTs. Does that work well - I mean latency, signal mix up, not picking up the signal, playing more than one string at the time and correctly identifying the notes, VST compatibility?

Also, are there any solutions other than the Roland?

[CapnLockheed]

Roland synths play their own internal sounds fairly well but do not have great MIDI output.
If you're going the 13-pin Roland route, it's been my experience that the GI-20 MIDI
converter tracks external synths and VSTi's better than any of the actual GR synths.
That being said....the Fishman Triple Play MIDi converter blows all of that away.
It uses a hex pickup like Roland GK's but the similarities end there. For one thing it's
wireless. The pickup transmits to a USB receiver connected to your pc. This provides
the best MIDI tracking for VSTi softsynths IMHO. Also, tho it was designed primarily for use
with a PC and VSTi's, it can also be used to control hardware synths with addition of
a USB2MIDI host box. Kenton and iConnectivity both make good ones.

[samesung]

Thank you for info! It looks like the GI-20 unit can be hard to track down so I don't think that's what I'll go for.

I read some reviews of Tripleplay at Thomann. It seems the installation and calibration can be a bit tricky, but there are few who complain about the performance. Initially I was considering buying a nylon Godin Multiac with 13pin, but I'll get a cheaper model without the pin jack and this thing for my electric.

[Yadrichik_Chaya]

For the best tracking, either Boss GP-10 or SY-1000 - via USB you can record each string separately and by doing so open six instances of Jamorigin's MIDI Guitar 2 in monophonic mode for each string.
In the upcoming MIDI Guitar 3, which will be released this year, there will be an hexaphonic option so the setup will not be so cumbersome!

[samesung]

For the best tracking, either Boss GP-10 or SY-1000 - via USB you can record each string separately and by doing so open six instances of Jamorigin's MIDI Guitar 2 in monophonic mode for each string.
In the upcoming MIDI Guitar 3, which will be released this year, there will be an hexaphonic option so the setup will not be so cumbersome!

That's cool, but the investment is higher than tripleplay so ai'm not sure about it.

Also, doesn't Jamorigin Midi guitar allow you to convert the signal from the standard 6.3 jack to midi without the need for 13 pin or any other midi connection? Can you elaborate how that works with gp10 or sy1000?

[Yadrichik_Chaya]

For the best tracking, either Boss GP-10 or SY-1000 - via USB you can record each string separately and by doing so open six instances of Jamorigin's MIDI Guitar 2 in monophonic mode for each string.
In the upcoming MIDI Guitar 3, which will be released this year, there will be an hexaphonic option so the setup will not be so cumbersome!

That's cool, but the investment is higher than tripleplay so ai'm not sure about it.

Also, doesn't Jamorigin Midi guitar allow you to convert the signal from the standard 6.3 jack to midi without the need for 13 pin or any other midi connection? Can you elaborate how that works with gp10 or sy1000?

Yes just a standard jack and great polyphonic tracking.
But since the Boss GP-10/SY-1000 has recording of each separate string on its own audio track you can get even better midi tracking that way - by putting 6 monophonic MG2 instances - one for each string - instead of a just a normal cable doing polyphonic stuff

I suggest you wait for MIDI Guitar 3 to be released since it will come with several improvements and you can use any guitar/bass even violin(!) you feel like.

[Uncle E]

If I may suggest an alternative, the Fender Mustang Rock Band game controller guitar has a MIDI output and works great. New ones are selling on all the big marketplaces for $90 right now.

[samesung]

I didn't know all that stuff about Boss. Interesting to keep in mind!

Rock band game controller, wow! That's thinking out of the box, but I saw a demo on yt and it seems to work! I'll consider it!

[Uncle E]

Rock band game controller, wow! That's thinking out of the box, but I saw a demo on yt and it seems to work! I'll consider it!

There’s also a “high-end” version that has real strings. I have it and it’s pretty good, although I haven’t gotten the sensitivity dialed in yet and it sometimes misses notes. Can’t bend strings on either version but I actually always found that to be a hindrance with the Roland’s, which pick up every out-of-tune or flubbed note.

[tapper mike]

I had played and hoped that the next version of pitch to midi or button guitars would finally be the one. Never happened.

Now I play the linnstrument. It's perfect.