The Yamaha EZ-EG Guitar Midi Controller Thread

[SecondSkin]

Speaking of which, my wife is letting me play with the EZ-EG again with the promise that I *must* give it back to her for gift-wrapping before xmas-eve! - m

...just sitting here laughing at the thought of you wrapping and unwrapping that ez-eg several times before xmas...

[mbncp]

Wow I am lost.
I couldn't make the MIDI-OX code work.
Then again my computer skills are limited.
Is the MIDI-OX program suppose to be open and running?
When I click on the .vbs file it opens MIDI-OX and the script seems to be running but if I open my DAW
it reports that the MIDI ports are "used" by another application and can not be initiated.
Also if I do not connect my EZ-AG port to the Virtual port I do not get MIDI to get through to the DAW.

When setting-up Midi-Ox set the midi input port to the EZ- EG/AG and the output to a virtual port (midi yoke,..).
In your app select the virtual port (same name, but input this time) as midi in.
It may be a good idea to hide or remove the guitar midi in port from the host to avoid duplicate data. Also make sure to hide the virtual output port we used in midi-ox, to avoid a loop feedback.
Close all instances of midi-ox before starting the script, and things should be ok.

In this script example, program change, capo, volume, tuning, .. won’t work at all. Some of the functions could be implemented thought, but the problem is that we have only access to the Sound Select, Song Select and the +/- buttons.

I'm not sure about the EZ-EG, but on the EZ-AG you should set sync (hold tempo + volume) to external, this avoids sending unnecessary data( midi timing) and will prevent from accidentally starting a song.
When using the script, you should set local to off (capo + tuning) as we are not using these events, and it will also turn off the internal speaker ( a dead jack will do too).
You may check page 23 of the pdf files from the yamaha site for more info.

They are different ways to handle note off. A trick would be to turn all notes off when all frets have been released, or when the first fret is pressed.
You can make an easy hardware solution by fixing a wire on the metal plate under the neck and another one to the plate right to the strings, then creating a simple footswitch, but this may not be faster than using your hand directly on those plates

For now, we might as well collect ideas for features and prototype in MIDI-OX!

Then how do you get events from midi-ox in an html page ?
<OBJECT id=mox classid="clsid:604C8481-5054-11D5-9B01-006008C4F4C8"> </OBJECT> doesn't seem to work, and
Set mox = WScript.CreateObject("Midiox.MoxScript.1", "Mox_")
works only in wscript or cscript, vbs or js CreateObject functions doesn't support event handling.

[Markleford]

I set up a new home for my EZ-EG programming efforts:

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

Also, version 1.06 of my script can be found there:

http://www.tencrazy.com/gadgets/ezeg/ezeg106.js

Then how do you get events from midi-ox in an html page ?

Marc, I assumed that a JScript page could make a MIDI-OX instance via:

Code: Select all

var mox = new ActiveXObject("Midiox.MoxScript");

I'll test this theory soon!

- m

[Markleford]

It's after xmas, and I've had some play-time!

Here's a bit of video of me playing GPO solo violin:

http://www.markleford.com/music/tmp/e-guarn.mov (1.5Mb)

Fun stuff!

- m

[PaintedBlue]

Awesome video!

I recently picked up an EZ-AG, so I'll make sure to try out your gadgets.

[Soniccat]

That is pretty cool Markleford. I hear no glitching at all. It is amazing that Roland and the rest have not figured a way to combine string pickups with some sort of key activation. I might have to pick this gadget up at some point

[mbncp]

Updated and added a GUI (nothing fancy) to the EZ-AG/EG script (dble-click the EZ_AG.hta file).
But make sure to register the midix.ocx first (db-click register.bat).
You will need at least directx 8.
Download the script and the ocx here: http://www.mypage.bluewin.ch/ncplus/download/MIDIX.zip

[Markleford]

Ah! Marc, we're going to have to come to an agreement on a design and work together so that we don't continue to split the userbase for these scripts!

- m

[vurt]

i enjoyed the video except the bit where i felt inadequate regarding my playing skills

[Markleford]

But make sure to register the midix.ocx first (db-click register.bat).

There also seems to be a 'Tools' control that we're missing.

i enjoyed the video except the bit where i felt inadequate regarding my playing skills

And here I thought you'd be as confident with your atonal widdling as I am!

- m

[mbncp]

There also seems to be a 'Tools' control that we're missing.

Oops , the tools control is now part of midix.ocx (includes MidiIO, MidiFile and MidiTools) but I forgot to update the clsid. New version (hta file):
- Added a version number (2.1), bank, patch, volume and pan for each split, be aware that these are sent each time ANY of the controls are changed, unless set to off.
- v2.2 few bug fixes (some list boxes would not update internal values).
Controls that are not used with some configs are now greyed out.
Tip: for checkboxes and texfields, you need to click on the form for the changes to be applied.
- v2.3 more bug fixes, ask for save dlg, layer mode (at the end of the split fret listbox)
Although we can do layering with a plug or a host, I set the second layer Fretdown mode to fixed velo and check the Ignore String Play, so one layer plays while strumming and the second only when pressing down the fret (great with an arpeggiator or pads). I also set one of the foot pedal to control the second layer's volume)
- v2.31 Bug fix. Holding down a fret while changing settings would call for trouble.
- v2.4 Nasty bug when saving presets with multi-line comments (fixed)
New: Hold down the Sound or Song button or both, then hit the + or - button to transpose the left, right or both Splits/Layers by +/- 1 octave
Hold down the +/- buttons (both) and hit either the Song or Sound button to select the next/previous preset
- v2.5 Added a button to close all ports, a Trigger Only Once option for both Splits/Layers.
Still experimental : sending a Patch Change or NoteOn 0,1,5,6 will respectively select next track, next ‘chord’, first track, first chord of a midi file (EZ_AG.mid) from the data folder. All notes that have the same timestamp on a given track of that file will be used for a single chord. Use channel 1-6 to define what each string should play. If a String(channel) is missing, that string will be muted.
This is to be used with Split = 1 (F), and you will need a foot pedal to trigger the chord change. It works a little like the STRUM mode of the EZ, but you need to send a signal for the ‘chord’ change, and frets 1-12 can still be used (right split) to play other stuff. You may want to experiment with different settings (Play Always, Trigger Only Once, Ignore String Play, Fixed Velo fret down mode,..)
For those who have a FCB1010 I added a utility to edit the presets (Behringer FCB1010.hta)
- v2.51 :Fixed 'ask for save' dialog showing the wrong preset name.
Closing - reopening all ports is now only done when changing presets or port (Midi Yoke input ports being very slow at closing )
Added: Chord Port (midi In), you can now send midi notes from your host to define the open string for the left split. It's a little the same as using the pedal trigger of v2.5, but sending a note on (chan 1-6) will set the note for the open string, while a note off will 'mute' that string. Unless your timing is good or late, set the events a bit early (1/8 - 1/32) or use a negative time offset for that track in your host.
- v2.52 Added Legato And Mono for both splits/layers
Legato: As long as one fret is down on a given string, NoteOff will be sent after the NoteOn event. To make some nice glissandos (or what ever it's called), use two fingers so one is always pressing a fret while sliding. Both fret down/up modes can still be on Note Off mode, without affecting Legato. (Had some great fun playing with Trilogy )
http://www.mypage.bluewin.ch/ncplus/download/MIDIX.zip

[mbncp]

Ok, that's about it .. at least for now, as the rest of the implementation I'm working on is too gear (foot controller) and synth specific (articulation).

Marc

Waiting for Makleford's plug ..

[Markleford]

Waiting for Makleford's plug ..

Well as luck would have it, I just shipped my film score off last night, so I'm back to having time for developing stuff.

- m

[davenow]

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Brand new in box ez-eg midi controller, with midi interface, manuals, etc. Used twice, but just not quite the same as my Roland GR33, so it has to go. It cost me £275 to get this from the USA, I'll sell it for £200 plus postage to UK buyers.
email davenow@hotmail.com (mailto:davenow@hotmail.com) for more info.

ps apologies for selling something in this post, but I thought it more relevant

[whyterabbyt]

Argos have got the acoustic one in their new catalogue. £200 new.