MIDI pitch converters

[thisnameistaken]

I've got two bands on the go at the moment and both might benefit from me having a MIDI setup, which is all the excuse I need, frankly.

I've used a Roland GK3B and GR20 in the past and was surprised at how good it was, but the GR20 annoyed me because I didn't really want the converter and the sound module on the floor, I'd rather rack all that and just have a 'dumb' foot controller. I'd also rather have just a pitch-to-MIDI converter without its own sound module, so I can rack it with whatever I want.

So… What's on the market apart from the Roland stuff? I've seen the Axon AX100 but they seem to be pretty rare. Is anything else currently in production?

Pickup wise I was happy with the GK3B so I'm not looking at piezos or whatever. I'm more concerned with what's going to happen downstream of the pickup.

[Kiwi]

[quote name='thisnameistaken' timestamp='1395962990' post='2408564']
So… What's on the market apart from the Roland stuff? I've seen the Axon AX100 but they seem to be pretty rare. Is anything else currently in production?
[/quote]
The GK system works well with the Vbass set up. However you'll be limiting yourself to the usual issues of lag on low notes.

You could go with the new Steve Chick designed, [url="http://www.industrialradio.com.au/"]Industrial Radio[/url] system but you will be paying well over £2k for the bass and convertor unit. Still, its one the only string based system available which is lag free.

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGOICWocxVE#t=21"]http://www.youtube.c...GOICWocxVE#t=21[/url]

He licensed the technology to Valley Arts, then Wal (MIDIbass) and finally Peavey (MidiBass/Cyberbass). Don't buy one of these basses without the convertor unit or you'll be wasting your time. An ex Pino Wal MIDI was for sale this time last year in the Bass Gallery - really nice sounding and looking bass, but not cheap. They had a Peavey Cyberbass in a number of years ago too but without the convertor unit.

[pete.young]

Graph Tech Ghost - I think you get a bridge, or bridge saddles, plus a box called a Hexpander.

If you use a VB-99 rather than the G20, its not a floor unit. Mine goes on a drum module stand and is clamped to my Hercules bass stand. I have a floor unit which controls it, but don't usually bother with it because we rarely have enough space on stage!

Edited April 24, 2014 by pete.young

[ratman]

What about a Sonuus B2M?

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

[Kiwi]

[quote name='pete.young' timestamp='1398346780' post='2433221'] Graph Tech Ghost - I think you get a bridge, or bridge saddles, plus a box called a Hexpander. [/quote]
I have this system installed on my Shuker Headless 6. The hexpander is like a little mixer and filter circuit.

[quote name='ratman' timestamp='1398420908' post='2433880'] What about a Sonuus B2M? [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bzrzretvuw"]https://www.youtube....h?v=_bzrzretvuw[/url] [/quote]
For a box of tricks, the lag time is impressive. Would love to test the lag on a low B though. Shame Lee Sklar didn't explore that more on the other video here:

[u][color="#0066cc"][url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKJeT5wYoME#t=64"]www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKJeT5wYoME#t=64[/url][/color][/u]

It's hard to detect lag on this one when there's such a slow legato on the string patches though.

I think I will be giving this some serious consideration in the future too:
[u][color="#0066cc"][url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?list=RDrKJeT5wYoME&v=rKJeT5wYoME"]www.youtube.com/watch?list=RDrKJeT5wYoME&v=rKJeT5wYoME[/url][/color][/u]

[pete.young]

[quote name='ratman' timestamp='1398420908' post='2433880']
What about a Sonuus B2M?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bzrzretvuw
[/quote]
I had one of these for a while. Very sensitive to input, you need to be super clean. I also had some problems with lag and tracking. The i2M is supposed to be better.