2SYNts- regular guitar to poly MIDI and synth

[nix808]

Heya 8D
I have finally prepared my 2SYN midi guitar software->

2SYN is a VSTfx that takes the 6 signals from a hexaphonic guitar pickup,
and outputs MIDI.
So some hardware is required, a hex pickup,breakout box,soundcard and windows computer.
The UI should be easy to use, it is necessary to set the gate to trigger note ons for the pickup and
soundcard you have. I am using a Roland GK3 pickup exclusively.

It works nearly 100% of the time to track pitch correctly.
It's based on a zero crossing time counter.
My necessary innovation is to feed back the counter's reading into cutoff of an LP filter.
So a feedback path is used. This has an analog to electric motors and valve pumps,
in that it uses it's own mechanism to function. It's also a dynamic creation.

EDITS-
2SYNmidi & 2SYNth GK3, x86 & x64, VST 2.4 & 3 for Windows:
https://www.sendspace.com/pro/dl/mtcjg9
The .zip now includes the source and resources again 8D
17 of April 2020

These builds require you GK3 equipped guitar to be strung with all C strings(.711mm .028" 22 gauge, MIDI note 48)

I have been working on this since 2008

Cheers all, Nick- PhonicsAudio

edit-Jan 2021,
heya, I have been refining this for Roland GK3 in Flowstone and Reaktor,
but as of now I would like to release my latest TS build, which is just for ts(tip/sleeve) jack.
So for regular electric guitar! It is for Windows in x86/x64 VST2
It's polyphonic!-but has some caveats, ie. the volume and tracking are lost in very high frets
-sometimes it can also warble some
I hope to work on the GUI more upcoming.
Here's a screen==>

2SYNts screen.png

I have now added MIDI out

The project(VSTfx,Flowstone Alpha source, resources to build/modify etc.)
is here-> https://www.sendspace.com/pro/dl/nspad2

Please check to see if u can use it in your music, and drop me a line in this thread to let me know how it's working for you

NOTE: all the 2SYN devices require a samplerate of 44.1 k, I will remedy this shortly

[nix808]

Here is a piano demo with no velocity->
edit- here is the piano demo, with velocity:
https://soundcloud.com/nix808/2synpiano
You can hear that it misses the right note like 10 times in 5 minutes--
but certainly it is not back to the drawing board for me

I will make another piano demo(I'm not happy with it),
but first analog synth and VSTi synth will be in a couple of days at most

[neshel]

I recommend setting velocity; it'll give a better idea of how it handles in 'real life'.

[nix808]

OK mate,
velocity isn't that stable value wise,
but it is a good start to it if anyone needs it.
The velocity and OI is done using Bootsy's fast RMS,
much thanks!
Fast refers to the CPU- it is infinitely adjustable from 1 sample upwards window wise I think.
Here are some similar lines to the first one, with the Bechstein D again->
edit-- https://soundcloud.com/nix808/2synpiano
I think on the very high velocity the string becomes a lot closer to the pickup magnet

[nix808]

Here is some more of my shonky free-form playing->
<edit- I have taken this down, it was played too badly>
This time I was playing the Cheetah MS6 DCO analog synth,
it makes something of a chirpy 303 this time

[RunBeerRun]

Cool, I'll try it out soon. Thanks!

[anti_phase]

It should be cool
unfortunately I don`t have a hexaphonic pick up

[nix808]

Oh darn,
- the hardware is difficult to get.
A hex pickup, breakout box and 6 in soundcard is required.

I have been working on this so much-
and it's a little better, nearly perfect.

Here is the current code and VSTfx->
(^^see first post)

I love this thing.
There is a place for this even with JamOrigin MIDI guitar,
because it's 2 modes are different from JamOrigin,
ie. it responds differently but equally desirably

[anti_phase]

well, it`s good for those who already has hex pickup and records each string separately. But for those, who don`t, it`s a strange choice: or buying breakout box and 6 inputs sound card or buying, say, Axon AX-50. Almost the same price. Though I`ve been thinking from time to time installing a hex pickup and buy a bigger soundcard and breakout box to try such type of recording. But it turns out that boutique monophonic pickups sound better than any polyphonic one, but they don`t have the MIDI advatages. Nothing`s ideal so far

[nix808]

I thought I would let you know about the 2 pickups I have tried.

The Roland GK3 is better at not getting cross-string interference.
The string separation is excellent. However it requires 7-12 volts DC power.

Ubertar(Paul Rubenstein) pickups are passive and sound better,
but string interference is a problem. I broke mine modding it,
but the 2 Ruby modules in the schematic help alleviate this by not cutting the note off
if it is triggered dually.

I will annotate the schematic better when I up it next

I find hex processing very rewarding, because I like to tinker technically.
I do things with audio too, not just a MIDI output.

[anti_phase]

yes, I can only imagine possibilities of hex processing)

[werp]

Sold my gr20 with the gk3 pick up on Saturday.
Such is life.

[anti_phase]

Sold my gr20 with the gk3 pick up on Saturday.
Such is life.

did you find smth better to use or you`re not insrested in midi conversion anymore?

[fischkopf]

Sold my gr20 with the gk3 pick up on Saturday.
Such is life.

did you find smth better to use or you`re not insrested in midi conversion anymore?

+

Well, JamOrigin Midi Guitar works very well with the new beta and it's all software. There's also Migic and ImiTone but I didn't try those.

[anti_phase]

I had a problem with MIGIC, once it worked for 5 mins and then it stopped working for ever. I even tried installing it in different PC`s. The strangest plugin ever)
ImiTone looks cool, but it seems it was designed for voice, though should be tested with a guitar also.

JamOrigin Midi Guitar was too bad but since it`s 2.0 now, gonna check it again.

Owned Sonuus G2M, sold just cause it was monophonic. I didn`t want using midi only for solos