When will there be "pickup" modeling?

[Aceman]

So, we can take the IR from a speaker, and model that, and then add it to a signal to simulate a particular speaker or cab.

So why not a pickup? If I can get an "IR" from a given pickup/magnert, and compare it to a different one...why can't I model pickups?

1. Create a "Generic" base pickup
2. Install it in a guitar
3. Generate all the dynamic data
4. Put say, a JB in the same guitar
5. Generate all the data again...
6. Create algorithm to modify the "Generic" pickup to the JB characteristics

Then lather/rinse/repeat with as many pickups as you want.

When you are done, you put the Generic pickup in the guitar, along with a little PC board and chip, or whatever in the control cavity, and select whatever pickup you are feeling like using, that was modeled.

 

[ICTGoober]

Isn't that what Billy Gibbons basically does with a graphic EQ? Sampled Pearly Gates, and then set up all other guitars with the same EQ...

 

[RanchManSandy]

Doesn't the Blue Cat Audio Re-Guitar plugin kinda do this?
Didn't Roland's VG processors kinda do this?
Didn't/don't Variax guitars kinda do this?

 

[beaubrummels]

I wouldn't want a sampled pickup. An IR is a flat sample and won't give you all the dynamic nuances of laying into the strings and then playing delicately right after that. I don't think I would want to use an IR to drive all the other equipment in the chain. It's not the right signal for that.

 

[justFred]

you might want to check with Fishman. Have heard that they have a patent on multi-voiced pickups or something like that.

 

[beaubrummels]

you might want to check with Fishman. Have heard that they have a patent on multi-voiced pickups or something like that.

Fishman aren't sampled or modeled. They are actual pickup coils. They do something like connect different coil turn counts with external switching. It's PC board coils/traces, not traditional wire coils.

 

[justFred]

Fishman aren't sampled or modeled. They are actual pickup coils. They do something like connect different coil turn counts with external switching. It's PC board coils/traces, not traditional wire coils.

Not certain this is it but it sounds similar to what I was told:
https://patents.justia.com/patent/9355630

 

[freefrog]

Ace, here is something apparently related to your idea:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYOT6Ql1iGE

About Roland/Variax modeling : they were not yet based on impulse responses.

Roland/Boss was mostly using comb filtering as explained here: https://www.till.com/articles/PickupResponse/

Variax modeling was more complex : it involved pickup(s) modeling + pots & caps modeling + resonance modeling for the whole guitar (body, neck, hardware).

Impulse response modeling in the strict meaning of this expression is already present in cheap multi-FX's but for acoustic guitar emulations rather than electric instruments. For instance, the super cheap Valeton GP100 and more expensive but still cheap NUX MG30 allow to emulate acoustic guitars with electric guitars filtered by IR's. And it works rather well.

That said, there's also "tone capture" IR based modeling units for guitars. Examples:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6AMX52A6gE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMczv5CPcmk

I've no experience with the Blue-Cat thing. RanchManSandy, thx for sharing.

To be continued and subject to change without notice. I've just wrote what was coming to my mind on an "impulse", without filtering it. ;-)

 

[beaubrummels]

Not certain this is it but it sounds similar to what I was told:
https://patents.justia.com/patent/9355630

Right, as stated in the patent, it's a printed coil (e.g. layers of PC boards) with magnets and poles to sense the string vibration, like a regular passive pickup. The part I didn't recall is they are applying passive filters; caps and resistors, to shape the response. There's mention of the possibility of digitial filters, but I don't recall if they actually do that in the product currently. (Sometimes patents mention other 'embodiments' to protect future development ideas, but they aren't actually feasible at present.)

Either way, it's not an emulation, sample or IR. It's an actual coil with magnets, like other passive pickups.

It would be better to DM Frank Falbo to explain it properly. I'm just stating the bits I recall about it.

 

[Overlord]

Bias FX 2 has a guitar match feature, which is kind of like a profiler for guitars/pickups.
I thought it was genius when I first heard about it some years ago.
Only a matter of time before technology catches up...

https://www.positivegrid.com/blogs/positive-grid/bias-fx-2-guitar-match

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Fishman aren't sampled or modeled. They are actual pickup coils. They do something like connect different coil turn counts with external switching. It's PC board coils/traces, not traditional wire coils.

I thought it was a bit more in-depth than that, because they can control both EQ response and output independently as well as phase alignment and whatnot.

 

[Mincer]

Roland's VG series of processors did this. Line 6's Variax electrics do this as well. The technology will get cheaper, and work better.

 

[nienturi]

So, we can take the IR from a speaker, and model that, and then add it to a signal to simulate a particular speaker or cab.

So why not a pickup? If I can get an "IR" from a given pickup/magnert, and compare it to a different one...why can't I model pickups?

1. Create a "Generic" base pickup
2. Install it in a guitar
3. Generate all the dynamic data
4. Put say, a JB in the same guitar
5. Generate all the data again...
6. Create algorithm to modify the "Generic" pickup to the JB characteristics

Then lather/rinse/repeat with as many pickups as you want.

When you are done, you put the Generic pickup in the guitar, along with a little PC board and chip, or whatever in the control cavity, and select whatever pickup you are feeling like using, that was modeled.

Mooer has already done this on GTRS Guitars

https://gtrs.tech/single-product.html?id=132