Re: Roland Synths (GR20, 33, and 55)

[TripleOhNine <3x09@carlsonarts.com>]

Hey, I've got a G2M that I'm using for voice-to-MIDI, and it works  
pretty well, especially when I use compression and set the ratio and  
attack just right.  Again, the technique you use vocally makes a big  
difference.  You have to make yourself sound like a guitar if you  
can!  I seem to be getting slightly better results with the G2M than I  
did when I was experimenting with the Roland VP-70 and Fairlight  
Voicetracker VT-5 (which I still have on hand).  There seem to be less  
"artifacts" with the G2M (i.e., less stray midi note signals generated  
from harmonics), and a lot less latency (which makes sense since  
computer technology has advanced so much since, er, the 1980s).

Pitch-to-Midi seems to work best vocally when you sing higher  
frequencies, or even whistle. That way you aren't generating so many  
higher harmonics that whatever gear you are using might accidentally  
perceive as a pitch to follow.  You can always have whatever MIDI  
instrument you are using transpose the MIDI data down an octave to  
generate lower pitches than what you are singing.  And try starting  
each syllable/note out with a consonant that has pitch like M or N.   
"Noo noo noo" works pretty well.

If the GR units work well for pitch-to- MIDI then maybe I should find  
someway to get a mic signal into just one of the six pickup lines,  
since I really only need it to track my voice.  Has anyone tinkered  
with this?  I also have an Pitchrider 7000 that I could rewire a  
pickup to try the same thing perhaps.

I love this list!

Michael Carlson (TripleOhNine)


On Dec 1, 2011, at 1:40 AM, andy butler wrote:

> Mike Fugazzi wrote:
>
> > Anyways, I would love some of the sounds I've heard on YouTube  
> > (assuming they work with chords and harmonica).
>
> No pitch to midi converter will work with chords.
> (in a guitar synth, there's a converter for each string)
>
> > Assuming it would work with harmonica and my vocalizations, it  
> > seems worth checking out.  Any thoughts on the GR-20?  I am most  
> > intrigued by the bass, organ, piano...I am confused by the pick-up  
> > part.
>
> The only way to find out is to try.
>
> The
>
> sonuus peterson g2m
>
> is cheap enough to give it a whirl.
>
> One problem is that pitch detectors rely on the attack of
> the guitar to tell them a new note has started, so you probably
> have to use a special playing technique to simulate that.
>
> Another thing is that the G2m will only be happy with pitch bends
> of exactly a tone, or under.
>
>
> andy butler