Guitar Synth? Midi?

[Warheart]

Hi,
I want to be able to get string sounds from my guitar...I've seen a couple of bands using something, I'm not exactly sure what, can you use the pitch of the guitar to give you the frequencies that you can then use to create piano/string/anything sounds? I think its something that has to be Midi, but the only time i've ever used the word midi was in reference to a midi foot controller. If anyone knows any specific processors that do this, please let me know.
Thanks,
Allen

 

[JLagoon]

Re: Guitar Synth? Midi?

Roland GR series, ex. GR20. It uses a special pickup to detects the string vibration and convert it into digital data in the processor, which then triggers the strings, warm pads, etc.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Guitar Synth? Midi?

you can do this a few ways...with effects on your regular guitar signal or a midi guitar setup.

For effects:
the Digitech Expression Factory pedal has a faux-string sound...sounds to me like a swell/pitch shifter delay combo...sounds cool, but not exactly like an orchestra.
Also, any multi-fx with a good reverb can work too...just set it for a long tail, 100% wet, and fade in your notes...long delays help too- its fun!

for midi:
You need a midi guitar setup. Either a special pickup on the guitar, or a special guitar with the pickup built in. Then you need something to plug it into: a midi converter or a guitar synth (check out the Roland GR-20, its cheap). Then you need an amp to play the synth through since it sounds, um, quite bad through a guitar amp- you need a full-range amp for this.

 

[Amateur]

Re: Guitar Synth? Midi?

You can use a guitar that is MIDI ready, like the Roland GR series to send the signal to a sound module or a synthesizer to give you the sound you want, or I understand some of the Boss guitar effect processors has MIDI capabilities that allow you sending MIDI program changes to a sound module or a synthesizer using a regular guitar.