There's a mountain of useful stuff in this video. Thank you! Your trumpet lines sound like something a real trumpet player would play. Very cool. It's really awful when people use MIDI Guitar 2 to strum 6-string cowboy chords through a piano sample or something. You've really learnt to play like the real instruments with true expression. Freakin love it!
Hi Ross! I hope you get as much out of this little piece of software as I have. The most important key to success with it, in my opinion, is probably patience and practice. It would be interesting to know how much of the stuff in this video you’ll be able to actually use for yourself? If you have the time somewhere down the line, I’d love to hear about your progress? 😀👍
Hey hey!! I’ve been looking at Gig Performer to run MIDI Guitar outside of my daw to route the audio to my daw. I saw this incredible video showing the near 0 latency while their daw was running a high buffer size. Since the program runs outside of the daw, uou can have a separate buffer size for quick playing. It’s magical!
Hey there! I haven’t tried Gig Performer myself, but the guys at the MIDI Guitar2 forum are speaking highly of it. But there shouldn’t be any claims to 0 latency in any sincere discussion about MIDI Guitar 2. There is going to some degree of latency however you set up. The software doesn’t have any optimal settings that would render it 0 latency. You can run it standalone and lower the buffersize until the audio starts crackling or drop out. Somewhere below 128 or 64, depending on computer. But even if you minimize buffersize to say 64 and get a ”3 ms” larency, that is only speaking of the supposed translation process. Myself I use a buffersize of 128 or 256. I get a pretty decent tracking from the software, I think!👍
Thanks 🙏 If you liked this, don’t fprget to check out the version, MIDI Guitar 3. Starting with MIDI Guitar 3 - Things you need to know ruclips.net/video/x_OUNKdIE20/видео.html
Leif, just tuned in to your channel. You are absolutely incredible. What guitar are you using and what wind controller are you using. It sounds so realistic. Thank you Leif, keep on keeping on.
Thanks a bunch 🙏🙏🙏You are most welcome here! I use a lot of different guitars, and it really makes very little difference for the actual tracking, but my goto ones are a Steinberger Spirit, a Carvin HH2, and a few Parker Flys. I also use a pair of special ones, a Vigier Surfreter (Fretless) with both a Sustainiac and a GK2 on it. And an Ibanez with the same setup. The Breathcontroller is a TEControl BBC2 (Breath/Bite cobtroller), and I am very happy with this setup. You can check that out here: ruclips.net/video/fnj5Q_kjpdM/видео.html
@@lofileif I am messing around with the trial version. Thanks to you, I decided to buy it as you cleared up all the doubts I had. That'll be next month though -credit card is on fire this month LOL! Can't wait though -great software.
Great video. A lot of useful stuff. You confirm my expectation that I will have to kinda relearn the guitar playing, and actually treat it as a new instrument when combined with MG2. Which is totally fine with me. When I discovered MG2 I didn't see a guitar per se. I saw the guitar as another expressive midi controller, with it's own capabilities and restrictions that you need to learn. It just looks like a guitar. I can't wait to have some more time on my hands to dig into it. I wish I could afford some SWAM collections too, but I can't at the moment. So I will have to explore the possibilities in my NI Komplete instead. You weren't really satisfied with the Kontakt instruments, I recall from another of your videos, but that's what I've got right now. So I will just have to try and use it until I can afford any of those. It should be fun anyway.
Thanks! Yes, I think you are doing yourself a great favor in viewing the guitar in this new context as a ”new instrument” to explore. Almost every new plugin (virtual instrument) I pick up have me alter or add something to my approach, and that is great because it helps me incrimentally with the overarching goal of getter better at MIDI Guitar in general. And when it comes to what instruments are good or bad, I just voice my opinions obviously. There are a few great Kontakt instruments out there, as I have reported on as well, but the problem I had with the new Komplete bundle was that it was kind of stiff and lifeless in comparison to the new generation of physically modeled instrument that are a way better match for midi guitar. But there is plenty to discover, and it is best to start in medis res, and go with what you already got. Best of luck on your journey! 👍
Very helpful. Thanks! This is a different experience than my GR55 and I sound pretty sloppy. I won't throw away my GR55 just yet but now I understand about adapting to the instrument and I can see how it could be more organic.....eventually. I'm also excited about MG3 whenever tha comes out. So, do you think active pickups work better for digital uses like this? i know the Parkers have a piezo. Do you ever use that?
Thanks Joe! Yeah, the GR-55 (as all Roland devices) filter out quite a lot of stuff. Not all bad of course, but at the expense of dynamic headroom also playability as you don't get to play the softer dynamics at all. So it is indeed somewhat of a recalibration of ones own playing that needs to take place. I haven't thrown anything away (ever) but I just don't use it anymore. ☺️ I wouldn't say I feel a fantastic difference between using a Parker with the Piezo blended in, as opposed to my (budget) stock EMG PUs on my Steinberger Spirit. A too hot PU isn't good either. So as long as you have a clean (noise free) relatively strong signal, use the brightest option (bridge pickup), volume and tone on full, you should be good with almost whatever Pickup you choose (in my experience). Use what you have, and don't invest in new gear. The tracking part is so much more of a picking clean and stopping notes issue. 👍
Thanks. i rewatched your video with the hex pickup and 6 tracks/interface. That seems to help the playability and ideal. I suppose I could use both the GR55 and MG2 as long as I want. I like the guitar modeling in the GR55 too. The availability of synth sounds and other plugins for MG2 is great. Exciting time. And we only have MG3 and higher to look forward to. @@lofileif
Yes, you can use the Hex PU on your guitar, but the GR55 does not relay or pass on the 6 channels of audio you need for that setup. But perhaps you have the GP10 or SY1000 as well? Those are the only Roland units that support this AUDIO multichannel out over USB, that makes that setup work. But if you don't, no worries. MG3 is coming pretty soon. 👍
Also, did you mean MG3 will be so good at tracking and minor 2nds that we won't desire the hex pickups, ..that it is good at detecting the various strings? I am excited thinking about rolling into a gig with a iPad and interface on nothing else! I just got Ableton and already doing hands-free looping, many instruments and complex arrangements of old songs, backing tracks, videos and maybe lighting cue eventually. I won't have to tap or stomp on anything for a lot of songs. I already found sounds I'm using with the MG2. @@lofileif
This is most likely the incorrect video to ask this but here goes. After watching your video with the Roland pickup I am curious if a hexaphonic pickup like the ghost or fishman could send the 6 analog audio signals out into a 6 channel audio interface? It seems like that would be a lot of fun you could even play with the analog signal on each string. That way each instance of Midi Guitar 2 would only be working a monophonic signal. You sir really got the gears turning (they already were somewhat). Thank you
Hi Allan. I don’t know which of my Roland pickup videos you have checked out, but I ususally point out the break-out-box (or cable) options, where you would use your hex-pickup with an multi-channel audio interface to get just what you are asking about, six channels of audio to manipulate. You can the choose to open MG2 on some or all of the strings individually. I have a few videos where I play around with ideas like that. I did a little thing with analog (non-midi) six-string separation and an instance the new Waves Harmonizer on each string that never made it to a full video. It is featured as the popsegment in my MIDIGUITAR MPE video though. But you are completely right in that there is a myriad of ways to use this hardware and software together. Love to see the stuff you come up with. 😀👍
I know it's not for everybody, but I'm really happy with my YouRock guitar. It's the old v1 with no firmware updates. Many people would consider it an awkward paperweight but with some practice and changes to picking technique (and using a really stiff short pick) it's possible to trigger more or less reliably and get 2 levels of dynamics. I also got a Lineage which is even better. The point is, those and other directly midi driven devices can help considerably with delay on the device side, though everything else in this video applies. If you're recording, you might want to render every other track, because all of this affects your performance. Also, I suggest considering a lower resolution alternative for tracking then switching to the much nicer sounding full plugin afterwards. Personally I think of these different midi inputs similar to how I think of say a humbucker vs a single coil or a Floating tremolo Ibanez with 24 frets vs a Fender Stratocaster. To me (this may not be to you) the strengths, weakness and downright limitations allow you to explore a wider range of possibilities that otherwise you might miss out on. Also, keep in mind many people hate YouRocks with a passion and prefer other alternatives (such as the Roland adapter, Jammy, Expressiv, Jamstick, the Mustang controller, the expensive Ztar, old Yamahas, the mythical SynthAxe, or a gazillion others I failed to mention). That's fine, just consider A) This software allows your 4 string ukulele, 7/ 8/9/12 string to be used as a midi controller, B) You can perform dive bombs (which can be retrofitted to your normal guitar if you're using Fishman / Roland pickups but it's one installation per guitar), C) use classical technique naturally, etc. So this regardless of anything else is a really an essential tool. It can even help you have quick notation for any improvs you may have done so, again invaluable even if not for performance. All I'm saying is that there are other tools that can also bring a lot to the table for some of use (not everyone likes them tho, so check them out before spending money on the others but keep an open mind and don't dismiss something because it's awkward at first - its a different instrument that allows some of your abilities to carry over)
I was looking to buy a YouRock for the longest time, and if an opportunity showed today still, I would probably go for it. It has some great features, but it also is rather limited compared to the next generation of the MIDI Guitar software. Polyphonic bends and MPE are really imporant concepts if we want to use guitars as controllers. But as I said, I don’t look past YouRock or any other controller. I would happily try one out, given the chance. 👍
@@lofileif I have dedicated more time than I should perhaps to this topic, but got an unopened YouRock and went down the rabbit hole. I'll summarize by saying that it was a controversial device, and that there are some available on Ebay as of now. Its price makes it rather affordable. Below is basically a published article's worth of research if you're up to it. First of all bending is achieved via the tremolo bar which is somewhat unique (like a pitch wheel mod on a keyboard, there's also a mod Wheel equivalent on the YouRocks - a tiny joystick - and the bar serves as a mod wheel on the Lineage, toggling between both modes by clicking on a button at the tip) What I personally like about these controllers the most is: A) Extremely low latency. There is nothing like having a natural midi device, you have no conversion just an electric signal being transmitted at a 3ms delay (same as a keyboard). B) Tap mode. Now this allows the user to tap on the fretboard without the need for picking the notes. Unfortunately, it has no dynamics (but you can always use alternate means of regulating expression). C) You can configure it to use a single channel output, but also multi channel output, so you can route each string independently (which I think is an extremely powerful ability, like keyboard sections but you have 6 each with 22 keys all bundled neatly in a guitar like neck) D) Due to the lack of strings you can make the mental leap of disassociating physically possible tuning ratios from the configuration of the instrument. And this really opens up the mind - tuning by 4ths, 6ths, different octaves... E) This I have to dig into, but Gen2 devices and the Lineage have the ability of also splitting the fretboard by Zones like a keyboard. This I have yet to explore (got the Lineage just a week ago and haven't given it the necessary time) but in theory the guitar is split vertically and configuration of these is independent. F) You can set it to multiple different tunings, and in the case of Gen2/Lineage transpose as well. If you combine all of these, you can really get lost in it. That said people tend to hate them. The main issues people tend to have with the YouRock as a midi controller are: A) Tts rather weak "string" sensors (which is a moot point when using an expression pedal or the controller featured here), B) The lack of actual strings - "It doesn't feel like a real guitar" which goes back to preference, I think it's great because this software also exists but yes:no left hand based string bending, again must rely on the whammy bar, and sliding can be done in a limited fashion at the expense of hammer/pull-offs), C) Lack of aftertouch D) Its underwhelming appearance (and hideous marketing). E) The company has gone under so there's no firmware updates for any of these devices and only the 1st gen has any software and due to lack of firmware updates some options are unavailable F) Its built - in sounds that are really only usable for practice but might be overshadowed by a very low end kid friendly Casio. G) Lack of headstock (which I like because you can place your hand in ways otherwise impossible). They did sell some headstocks but they were not bundled in and some people complained about not having anything to guide them (I mean headless guitars are a thing, heck the Jamstick is one of them and no one complains, guess people just got used to that by now) G) For whatever reason this extremely sophisticated instrument was aimed at Children. Specifically RockBand aficionados who largely ignored it (opting for a cheap controller or the cooler looking Fender Mustang shaped alternative, which happened to support midi which went largely unnoticed). It packed a considerable amount of learning tools that only people who already knew could appreciate. Which unsurprisingly led to it being picked up mostly by recording artists and producers, who were not at all interested in gaming and were fewer in number (it did get some attention as a travel instrument since you can split it in two and put it on your backpack like the Jammy) G) The more pedestrian MIDI issues such as lack of palm muting which are intrinsic to this specific medium. And since it was a pioneer in bringing this stuff to the masses, it received all of the grief from guitarists who hadn't invested a family fortune's worth that expected MIDI to conform to their expectations (so, lots of bad press). H) Finally, there's a lot of complaints from owners of extremely high-end alternatives such as the Ztar. Which I guess is understandable but also somewhat unfair. Now, personally if I could, I'd have both and that would settle the argument for me. Heck those limitations can help you approach things from different angles ... but that's how it went. Anyway, I think this was a fun journey reading forums, press releases, interviews, etc found scattered around the web. Hope this was a rewarding read. Who knows where they could have taken this family of instruments had they remained open...
Thank you for the detailed video. But suddenly I understood that your using the standalone version, that's why you have a volume knob, which does not appear in the vst version. I have a very powerful computer (4.8 ghz) and I'm unable to ave a decent latency with the vst version ....
Hi! I am using the plugin version and the standalone version interchangeably, depending on situation. And I get the same results from them. No one is better or worse latencywise. There is latency, but I have learnt to cope with it, by practicing a lot with just the MIDI Guitar output (some software instrument I like). The computer and the settings matter, but probably not as much as you initially would assume. 👍
Very interesting your video. I would like to assign Native Instruments sounds to MIDI Guitar 2 via VST, how do you need to proceed step by step? I use Reaper as my DAW. Thank you
Thank you! I haven't used Reaper myself, so I can't be all that specific. But traditionally, for most DAWs you set up MG2 on an audio track and your software instrument on a MIDI track, and then it is a little depending on which platform you are using (Mac or PC), and what version of the plugin (AU or VST) you are using. JamOrigin has a lot of DAW guides on their page, and this is what I found for Reaper. I hope it helps: ruclips.net/video/3mawYUI1dJA/видео.htmlsi=_F-uW6sK0CXQYoWe
P.S.: This great video really demonstrates how much the „latency“ topic is ALREADY history due to a.) technological advantage (MG) b.) studying the ENTIRE signal chain from state of your fingerskin to distance to speaker is mandatory, so HOLISM is key c.) playing approach (the synthaxe manual. Wow!)!
Hi Luis! This was one of the first videos I did here, so there is not a lot of talk, but there is some info on MG2 and the McMillen Softstep. ruclips.net/video/EBXID-u7GkU/видео.html
Well, there are only notes here. Everything translated into midi is going to be a note with some properties to it. Long , short, pitch, pitch bend , velocity , and so on. So yeah, as short as possible. Your ear won't detect the pitch but rather just a rhythmical component. But that demands a lot of you as a player. It all comes down to the noble art of "stopping notes" from ringing. 👍
@@lofileif Thanks. Your suggestion of indicating a ghost note by very brief duration makes sense, but does not seem practical, considering that 16th notes are already quite brief even at moderate tempos. Is there an example where you do this? (BTW, Jaco's Kuru groove would make a good demo of this.)
@@ExplodedViewsMedia It is by no means easier to execute some particular acoustic instrument articulation in a fast tempo live, with MIDI guitar as opposed to playing the real instrument. Every new articulation, be it a Sul ponticello for a Violin, or a ghost note for a fretless Fender bass takes some sort of research into, how to best achieve it. Some instruments have ghost notes as options, but you get no real variation, and most often these are achieved by key switching which isn't the most practical thing for guitar/bass players when it comes to live performance. So I tend to go for the attainable instead. I would probably look for a muted note articulation -and use my expression pedal for that. But you still need to trigger the notes that are to be interpreted, so I guess the execution issue will not disappear this way either? 🤔
@@lofileif Thank you. Indeed, I was thinking you might have a "trick" (I mean a "technique") making use of a pedal or one of the several other gadgets that you have so impressively mastered. I'm going to try it with a pedal, preferably one that responds without too much foot travel (e.g., maybe KMI soft step 2). As you say, coordination between hands and feet will still be a challenge!
I have watched the video again. I just did a small experiment after our discussion of the noise gatem i was playing with my volume knob in my guitar and for the midi guitar software, it works as a noise gate, so i avoid the use of the gate in the app, so maybe this helps to reduced the latency generated on midi guitar? The output sound level is the same with low or high volume at the guitar :)
Ok, so let me be clear here. Noise gate is reported by JamOrigin themselves to add latency. I have never felt any actual difference when trying it myself. The primary reason for me not to use Noise gate is that I feel it takes away from my abilities to play really soft. The absolute softest dynamic layer gets filtered out. But it is not considered safe practice to use your guitar volume as noise gate either. It is volume control, and it changes the sound waves characteristic to lower it. I would rather use my audio interface gain instead. It should give you a better control over the incoming signal.
What is the best kind of guitar or bass for the tracking? I have an Industrial Radio midi bass. Would that be an advantage? Would it be best to get a Jamstick 2 guitar? I will be doing EDM/sound design and not crazy fast runs. Mostly just using the bass and guitar to write.
Hi Michael. If you are asking about what is the best kind of instrument to use togethetjer with the MIDI Guitar 2/MIDI Bass software, the answer is generally something like a solid body, hard wood, good sustain, little resonance, and decent pickups. A strong clear signal in is the best way to ensure good tracking. If you on the hand ask me to compare this software to the hardware solutions (Industrial Radio or Jamstik), I can’t help you much. I haven’t tried any of those. I came from having worked with Roland gear when I started using MIDI Guitar 2,and I haven’t looked back really. I love the idea of a dedicated hardware controller too, but looking at all the videos with Jamstik or any other hardware controller (except perhaps ROR Guitars) hasn’t really given me any hope. If you are looking to do EDM (with no crazy fast runs) my guess is that all of the setups you mention will do the job. The question could be, are you thinking of performing with it or is it just for producing? There, I think, you may have a difference. A closed system, such as a dedicated controller with its accompanying sounds will of course give you a sense of security in a live setting? I don’t know? Do try the trial version, if you haven’t already. www.jamorigin.com/download/
Hello. Something is wrong. Even when selecting the tones, the clean guitar sound comes out along with the chosen tone. I've tried adjusting the mix, but it didn't solve the problem. Do you know how to fix this?
That is most likely a ”INPUT MONITORING” issue. You may have little settings knob (or switch) on your audio interface. Turning this fully on or off (depends on model and make) should fix this. Good luck! 👍
For input at gate you mean ! o clock? For the gate and in my experience, i have set it to 1 O clock as well, because i think my guitar pickups (EMG.Z) are ultra sensitive and when i use the Kontack Accordion sample (Guerrini) it just starts to ring with i am varely touching the strings
@@lofileif noise gate is too kow for me (and my scenario) have you tried higher noise gate values? As you said, depending of the instrument and (on my case) the pickups you have. But i can feel more confident when i hit the strings a little hard due to the high level of noise gate i use
@@pepedecoatza Of course I have tried different values, on the noise gate, but since noise gate adds latency, and I don’t have any issues with my signal chain, I can keep it at 0. There is no reason to have it set higher if I don’t need it, right?
@@lofileif well. Amazingly for me it does not really add too much latency. So it is interesting to hear this statement, but again, i guess depends on a dozen of things
Sure, and I am not sure it adds enough latency for anyone to actually notice. I included it in the video because it isn’t mentioned that often. I mean, I don’t feel any difference in using latency settings between 128 or 256, so it is not like I have ”felt” that higher noise gate increase latency. It is a factual statement from the software DEV himself.
Hi! Sorry to say, I don’t know of any great books on the subject. I haven’t written anything, and I haven’t heard of anyone else writing something about MIDI Guitar 2 ( The software I am using). I am sure there are books on MIDI guitar in general though. But, again, no titles that comes to mind. Sorry!
Thank you Pastor! I just might do a really deep dive into what the BBC2 breathcontroller brings to the table. It is also long over due. I have featured it in almost all my videos but I have yet to do a ”special” on it. So thanks for the tip. 🙏🙏🙏
Hi! No, not in my experience! The signal chain should be as clean as possible. No pedals, no nothing. If you are looking for a more dynamically even output you have the compressor/expander ”curve” knob in the interface, but it deals with MIDI Velocity, so it is really after the tracking has taken place already. A light touch is the best way to control dynamics for me personally! 👍
Well, there are no settings to adjust specific string volume/sensitivity since MIDI guitar listens to your guitar's audio output. And if you are using traditional magnetic pickups and not divided pickups there is no way for the software to know what string is producing a certain pitch. But there is a way to tilt the dynamics balance with the TONE button in the MG2 interface. If you guitar PU is weaker in the higher strings register you turn that knob clockwise al little to tild the dynamic balance. But remember, you are also decreasing the dynamic response from the lower strings when doing this, so be careful not to over use this button.
5ms latency in and out of ableton, and playing the built-in MG2 instruments is okay. but simply setting an ableton midi track to take midi from the MG2 audio track introduces audibly about a second of lag. Any idea why?
Turns out the Disk Overload indicator in the top right was flashing. Changing to an instrument with a more lightweight sample set fixed it. Simple restart fixed it in general after.
I am glad to hear you found the solution yourself. It is most of the time incredibly hard to troubleshoot without more information that what goes into a standard comment. Not to mention the fickle nature of Abelton itself. What instrument was it, that was causing the overload? Do you remember?
Yes, it was a very heavyweight sample set, Grand Piano Equal Temperament Production which I think comes standard with Suite. But the disk overload indicator lighting up on every sample trigger shouldn't be happening on a good computer with fast storage so I don't know what was happening there. Nothing to do with MG2 and more about my computer, and the restart did fix it. Thank you for replying and for the content you put out @@lofileif - this is really good stuff. I struggled for a long time with the fact that keyboard has all the compositional advantages for music in the DAW, but now finally I can just compose on guitar and put it straight into MIDI and I love it. Are you excited for Midi Guitar 3? I wonder what improvements it'll bring.
Yeah, I have been part of the testing of MG3 for a long time now, so I have a pretty good grasp of what is going to be in there. And I have a hard time seeing how most people can be anything other than happy with what they get. But you have Improved tracking, Infinite sustain, MPE and crazy amount of assignable external control and modulation for starters. ruclips.net/video/SX0jdGMSGcY/видео.html
A trick that I've found works for me is to switch to the neck pickup and turn the tone knob all the way down. Can't use the actual guitar sound like that but it tracks perfectly
Ok, that would be the complete opposite of anything that works for me on any of my guitars. But I woun’t argue with what works for you. It would perhaps be interesting to know how this can be, in general? 🧐👍
@@lofileif Indeed it does sound counterintuitive but for me it seems to give me less of those little ghost type notes. I'm too lazy to learn to play it properly lol. The idea came from a guitar setup class that I did where we used fancy strobe tuners and the instructor suggested to use the neck pickup and turn the tone down which made it so much easier to tune with such a precise gadget
@@yllekjs76 Yeah, well, if it works for you, awesome! What you do that way is just to make the translation process less sensitive, and I guess some qualities might not come through as well, but if those are expendeble for you, there’s obviously no need for another approach! 😀👍
Jokes aside, i downloaded the demo last night and i have a bunch of settings to try until its alright i think. I just have one question: that Sax bit at 17:00, is it a VST that like reads all the articulations you are doing without any keyswitches? Because i cant think of any of my VSTs where i can load one instrument and it will just do everything i want. There were just so many articulations you got out of it
No key switches! It is a modeled instrument from @audiomodeling. This is actually one of the great advantages of playing those SWAM engine instruments. Much time and effort have been put into you not having to switch between something like articulations. If I play a short note with soft dynamics, it will give you that. If I play short note with much velocity and more expression it will give you something else. Those instruments really follow your playing better than almost anything else I 've used. Check them out at www.audiomodeling.com
What settings are you trying to adjust? If you are talking about MIDI Guitar 3, you might want to check out ruclips.net/video/TBhyLVOL-_k/видео.htmlsi=Gkqn_LPPM9Vjxvzr
Your instruments..especially the horns sound very natural. I don't think I can tell the difference as a non-horn player. I use MidiGuitar myself for things I can't do real world..like strings, horns and even things I CAN play like hammond organ. While mg2 works with all my guitars, it really favors a particular single humbucker, no tone knob superstrat. So if it helps anyone, try all your guitars and definitely follow the bridge pickup+full vol+full tone recipe.
Thanks so much for your input. I am pretty sure you'll get more out of more instruments when MG3 finally will be released (still don't know when, though), and that last advise will still be as valid for that as well. 🙏 👍
Work is very much being done on it, but there are still no dates set for release. We have been working on MPE implementation for one thing. Did you have a chance to look at this already? ruclips.net/video/pPqPrIo70Cs/видео.html
I'm not getting any sound, the MIDI Velocity isn't moving. None of my other software have issues with my guitar. Cubase doesn't recognize it as a plug-in either.
Hi man! I haven’t heard of multiple reports of recurring issues with popping, but of course some occasional ones. I’ve had times where some pop leads to to total silence, and where I have to quit/restart MG2. But these are few and far between, so I haven’t bothered looking into it. Under what conditions do you popping sounds occur?
I guess you mean on the respective instruments? That is of course different for each instrument and occasion. Depends very much on what effect I am looking for!
@@lofileif I'm trying to find the right settings to play piano more dynamically, it's pretty hard balancing out the low and the high notes so each string would have the same amount of velocity when you use the same force. It'll be interesting to see how MG3 handles this
Ok, I never used that, so I can't give you my exact settings. But on my VI Labs Ravenscroft 275 (desktop version, not iPad) and my Modartt Pianoteq, I tend to use a steep curve for velocity and somewhat limit the dynamics range to around 50 %. So it is quite a subtle difference between playing hard and soft. It shouldn't be like you feel that you have to pick really hard at any time. That would only hinder you when going to the next note.
I think you were wrong here when you talked about total latency through the system. When you listen with your headphones bypassing the buffer (real time), delay is negligible, but adding 2 or 3ms latency gets felt. 10 or 20 more would be a real pain to deal with , at least with a patch with no attack in it.
Sure, I could be wrong. Maybe I can't play with whatever amount of latency I am assuming there is? I don't use headphones, I never listen to the incoming unbuffered signal. It is completely uninteresting to me. I have conditioned myself to play with whatever is the actual output. But you think I am wrong.
@@lofileif Historical hardware timings would make you think that it would be a normal value since it has often been quite high but it is not like that. After playing with a 2ms buffer for a decade feel 5 is already awful. Cant step away from a speaker. By the way, congratulations for your channel, I've just discovered it and find it very interesting. Thank you
@pablon9269 Ok, but you still haven’t told me what I was wrong about! Please be very explicit. I don’t believe I have referred to ”total latency through the system”. I know I am talking about the percieved ”round trip latency” (from me picking the note on the guitar, until I audibly percieve it) and juxtapose this to the ms value suggested in the MG2 software. I say these are not the same, and people should be aware of that. 2 ms is nothing. Church organ players learn to play with a 100 ms latency. It is very much a question of practicing with that instrument, under those conditions. If you haven’t, it will feel awkward. But again, where exactly am I wrong?
@@lofileif On minute 23 you talk about a 20ms total latency. By a 3ms per meter (aprox.) sound speed, that would only be correct if you are on the other side of a room. The total latency time shown by the DAW is accurate. Organ players have to deal with much greater latencies than that, same as playing the keyboard for the bell tower, but that doesn't mean they will ever be on time. It is not possible to play a fast sequence with a percussive instrument that way
I’m able to load it up in the FX rack of a mixer channel but it doesn’t give me any midi output. I’ve been able to use it as a standalone but then my DAW can’t use the same driver. I’d like to try it as a plugin and see if I like it any better. Also couldn’t figure out how to load plugins into the standalone.
Also, is there a way to have it load without the stock piano sound by default? Every time I open it I have to turn it off and I wish I could just delete it permanently.
Hi Micah! What kind of setup are you talking about? Traditionally I talk about Audio tracks or Software instrument tracks when I am talking about a DAW, so I guess it is something else? And to your second question; you find all you vst/AU instruments and effects clicking the INSTRUMENT or the FX slot in the INSTRUMENTS box. If you haven't let MIDI Guitar scan for your vst' plugins yet, you do that under the PLUGINS tab (upper left corner) Choose Scan (SAFE).
Usually, MG2 opens with the patch you closed it with, but I don't know if that is 100%. I have a template in my DAW opening up with MG2 loaded, and then it automatically opens the preset I saved it with.
@@lofileif Yeah, I didn’t think it showed up as an option for vsti, only vst in the mixer. I have not checked to see if it will re-open with my last used settings in plugin mode. In standalone mode it does not remember my settings. Maybe if I save a preset and then double-click that to launch the program?
Thanks a bunch, man! 🙏I agree with you on that MIDI Guitar sometimes can be the better/best choice of controller. If you give it a try, be patient. It does usually take a little getting used to! 😀👍
Hey! It sounds like an interesting idea, but as I am fully occupied with other engagements at this time, I am not likely to be writing anything for voice in a while. Most of the stuff you hear is done in the context of presenting a certain virtual instrument or software. So that is mostly improvisations and snippets. I wish I will have more time to write stuff soon enough! 👍
The unfortunate stalling of development in midi guitar is proof to me how stupid most guitar players are: They rather spent a few k‘s for a new slash signatur gibson, or some big ass tube amp, that they will never fully play, instead of investing in the countless midi guitar options, that were on the market, thus helping with the development. The guitar is actually much more useful as a midi controler for Solo instruments like sax, violin etc. then a piano, cause the modulation of sound are actually very similar in most of those instruments. Imagine a sax growl that could be triggered by a pinch harmonic…
I absolutely 100 % agree with you on that guitar is a super alternative as a midi controller in that its expressive capabilities (if we include bends, slurs, slide and vibrato) lends itself perfectly to emulate a lot of instruments. Better in many cases than keyboards, even if count Seabords and the like. I am not sure though, to what degree the stalled MIDI Guitar development is a consequence of lack of funds. Of course, if it had been at the top of everybodys wishlist we would have even more gear and software to choose from. But would it be better, thst is the question? I don’t know.🧐
@@lofileif well you never know, but tracking is still a massiv problem as is latency, as far as I know many people say that a double sensor, one on the bridge and one on the neck would be a pretty good solution. I mean if there was more money in this, someone would come up with a „better“ idea for an instrument to make more money. It is still beyond comprehension that there is no cheaper alternative to a synthaxe.
Absolutely! Some sort of fret(board) scanning system would probably be an enormous improvement on any MIDI Guitar controller. The RoR guitars seem to have chosen that route. Too bad I haven't seen any convincing videos of anyone using their guitars to their full capacity, I would surely have invested in such a solution had I known it would work. But a big problem I see is that people demoing stuff like Jammy, Jamstik and other controllers hardly play guitar as their main instrument. It feels like unsound business to not engage people with a genuine interest in the product itself. But we see that with every sort of attempt at (over)reaching for a bigger market share. People playing EDM music on plastic controllers in a beach setting with bright neon and smoke. 😬
@@lofileif yeahs its horrible, problem too is that a lot of guys that buy midi guitars can barely play. They buy a jammy to produce edm music, which they could learn to do on a piano within 3 months. But if youre a jazz or fusion player, getting your chops on a piano down will take you years. I am also considering to buy a midi guitar, but am pretty sure that I wont like it. Had the gr-55 and the fishman, and they are both absolutely mehhhhh.
@@lofileif but thanks a lot man, I had absolute no interest in the last few years in midi, but I then saw your channel and was so blown away by your performances with the swam sax and trumpet that I actually got excited again for the whole midi guitar realm
Under what circumstances? I guess you are referring to your experience and not my video? What software are you trying to play, and what is your setup! Desktop, iPad or phone? What audio interface do you use, etc?
@@lofileif Thanks for replying. Yes, referring to me and not your video. Scarlett 18i8, Windows 11 i9 13th Generation 32 GB Ram. Gretsch G5222. Upon further review I find that even the raw recording of the guitar sounds like it is picking up my finger pressing the fretboard a millisecond before picking. So it may not have anything to do with MG2. However since my system upgrade from an i7 8th Gen my Fishman TP has been working great. I was hoping to get the same increase in performance from MG2
@gerardlanphear9185 I think you might be right in your analysis. MG2 obviously translates all that goes into it in terms of pitch information. I doesn’t matter, of course, if we mean to trigger it or not. That is the beauty of the software, but obviously also the curse of it. I find MG2 to be way better in terms of dynamics, but less forgiving in terms of mistakes than any competition (FTP included). But I wouldn’t expect any sort of permance improvment switching from a i7 to an i9 , whatever RAM and other specs differ. An i7 is already fast enough to get everthing that is possible preformancewise from MG2. What is left to do now is just to clean up your input some more, if you still experience problems.
You have truly elevated MIDI guitar and your music is genuinely beautiful.
Thanks a million, Milton! 🙏🙏🙏
This is the Bible right here!! You’re the man thank you so much
That makes me so happy to hear! Thank YOU! 🙏🙏🙏
There's a mountain of useful stuff in this video. Thank you! Your trumpet lines sound like something a real trumpet player would play. Very cool. It's really awful when people use MIDI Guitar 2 to strum 6-string cowboy chords through a piano sample or something. You've really learnt to play like the real instruments with true expression. Freakin love it!
Thank you so much!🙏🙏🙏 I absolutely agree with you on strumming piano. Why is that even a thing? 😄
Thank you for your thoughtful, knowledgeable sharing of your experience with MG.
Thank you, James. 🙏😀👍
Thanks so much! I just bought this plugin today. So excited to explore the possibilites
Hi Ross! I hope you get as much out of this little piece of software as I have. The most important key to success with it, in my opinion, is probably patience and practice. It would be interesting to know how much of the stuff in this video you’ll be able to actually use for yourself? If you have the time somewhere down the line, I’d love to hear about your progress? 😀👍
Excellent video - with really good info that players need in order to get the best out of MG2. Thanks for making it.
Thanks a bunch. Glad you like it! 🙏🙏🙏
This video was immensely helpful. Thanks Leif!!!
That’s wonderful to hear! Thanks, man! 🙏🙏🙏
A great software suited for guitarist. And yes for your great jazz too!
It sure is! And thank you 🙏
Thank you for taking the time to put all the information in a nice concise video! It helped immensely
My pleasure! Thank you for letting me know! 😀🙏
Hey hey!!
I’ve been looking at Gig Performer to run MIDI Guitar outside of my daw to route the audio to my daw. I saw this incredible video showing the near 0 latency while their daw was running a high buffer size. Since the program runs outside of the daw, uou can have a separate buffer size for quick playing. It’s magical!
Hey there! I haven’t tried Gig Performer myself, but the guys at the MIDI Guitar2 forum are speaking highly of it. But there shouldn’t be any claims to 0 latency in any sincere discussion about MIDI Guitar 2. There is going to some degree of latency however you set up. The software doesn’t have any optimal settings that would render it 0 latency. You can run it standalone and lower the buffersize until the audio starts crackling or drop out. Somewhere below 128 or 64, depending on computer. But even if you minimize buffersize to say 64 and get a ”3 ms” larency, that is only speaking of the supposed translation process. Myself I use a buffersize of 128 or 256. I get a pretty decent tracking from the software, I think!👍
Awesome and straight to the point info, time to work to get those MIDI outputs as clean as I can 🙃 thanks!
Thanks Alex! 🙏 Yeah, cleanliness is a virtue! 😀👍
My favourite guitar software! 👌👌
Yeah, mine too! 😄Thanks for stopping by Rodrigo. 👋
very helpful thank you, great sound you have good sir.
Thanks 🙏 If you liked this, don’t fprget to check out the version, MIDI Guitar 3. Starting with MIDI Guitar 3 - Things you need to know
ruclips.net/video/x_OUNKdIE20/видео.html
Great video, stumbled upon this when searching Guitar to midi solutions, i am going to do some experiments wit this software now!
Thanks man! Good luck with experimenting, but remember to give the new setup some time. Patience is a virtue (here too)! 😀👍
Leif, just tuned in to your channel. You are absolutely incredible. What guitar are you using and what wind controller are you using. It sounds so realistic. Thank you Leif, keep on keeping on.
Thanks a bunch 🙏🙏🙏You are most welcome here! I use a lot of different guitars, and it really makes very little difference for the actual tracking, but my goto ones are a Steinberger Spirit, a Carvin HH2, and a few Parker Flys. I also use a pair of special ones, a Vigier Surfreter (Fretless) with both a Sustainiac and a GK2 on it. And an Ibanez with the same setup. The Breathcontroller is a TEControl BBC2 (Breath/Bite cobtroller), and I am very happy with this setup. You can check that out here:
ruclips.net/video/fnj5Q_kjpdM/видео.html
Thank you for this. 👏🏻
Thank you 🙏! I guess this will need to be updated now when MIDI Guitar 3 is finally on its way! 😀👍
Crystal clear! Thanks.
Thank you, Barry! 🙏
@@lofileif I am messing around with the trial version. Thanks to you, I decided to buy it as you cleared up all the doubts I had. That'll be next month though -credit card is on fire this month LOL! Can't wait though -great software.
Great video. A lot of useful stuff. You confirm my expectation that I will have to kinda relearn the guitar playing, and actually treat it as a new instrument when combined with MG2. Which is totally fine with me. When I discovered MG2 I didn't see a guitar per se. I saw the guitar as another expressive midi controller, with it's own capabilities and restrictions that you need to learn. It just looks like a guitar. I can't wait to have some more time on my hands to dig into it. I wish I could afford some SWAM collections too, but I can't at the moment. So I will have to explore the possibilities in my NI Komplete instead. You weren't really satisfied with the Kontakt instruments, I recall from another of your videos, but that's what I've got right now. So I will just have to try and use it until I can afford any of those. It should be fun anyway.
Thanks! Yes, I think you are doing yourself a great favor in viewing the guitar in this new context as a ”new instrument” to explore. Almost every new plugin (virtual instrument) I pick up have me alter or add something to my approach, and that is great because it helps me incrimentally with the overarching goal of getter better at MIDI Guitar in general. And when it comes to what instruments are good or bad, I just voice my opinions obviously. There are a few great Kontakt instruments out there, as I have reported on as well, but the problem I had with the new Komplete bundle was that it was kind of stiff and lifeless in comparison to the new generation of physically modeled instrument that are a way better match for midi guitar. But there is plenty to discover, and it is best to start in medis res, and go with what you already got. Best of luck on your journey! 👍
What kind of instrument is it at 17:40. I can barley read it. A Saxophone or clarinet?
That’s a SWAM Soprano saxophone!
SUUUUUUUPER EXPLANATION THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!
Glad you liked it. Thanks for stopping by and commenting. Much appreciated!🙏🙏🙏
Very helpful. Thanks! This is a different experience than my GR55 and I sound pretty sloppy. I won't throw away my GR55 just yet but now I understand about adapting to the instrument and I can see how it could be more organic.....eventually. I'm also excited about MG3 whenever tha comes out. So, do you think active pickups work better for digital uses like this? i know the Parkers have a piezo. Do you ever use that?
Thanks Joe! Yeah, the GR-55 (as all Roland devices) filter out quite a lot of stuff. Not all bad of course, but at the expense of dynamic headroom also playability as you don't get to play the softer dynamics at all. So it is indeed somewhat of a recalibration of ones own playing that needs to take place. I haven't thrown anything away (ever) but I just don't use it anymore. ☺️ I wouldn't say I feel a fantastic difference between using a Parker with the Piezo blended in, as opposed to my (budget) stock EMG PUs on my Steinberger Spirit. A too hot PU isn't good either. So as long as you have a clean (noise free) relatively strong signal, use the brightest option (bridge pickup), volume and tone on full, you should be good with almost whatever Pickup you choose (in my experience). Use what you have, and don't invest in new gear. The tracking part is so much more of a picking clean and stopping notes issue. 👍
Thanks. i rewatched your video with the hex pickup and 6 tracks/interface. That seems to help the playability and ideal. I suppose I could use both the GR55 and MG2 as long as I want. I like the guitar modeling in the GR55 too. The availability of synth sounds and other plugins for MG2 is great. Exciting time. And we only have MG3 and higher to look forward to. @@lofileif
Yes, you can use the Hex PU on your guitar, but the GR55 does not relay or pass on the 6 channels of audio you need for that setup. But perhaps you have the GP10 or SY1000 as well? Those are the only Roland units that support this AUDIO multichannel out over USB, that makes that setup work. But if you don't, no worries. MG3 is coming pretty soon. 👍
Also, did you mean MG3 will be so good at tracking and minor 2nds that we won't desire the hex pickups, ..that it is good at detecting the various strings? I am excited thinking about rolling into a gig with a iPad and interface on nothing else! I just got Ableton and already doing hands-free looping, many instruments and complex arrangements of old songs, backing tracks, videos and maybe lighting cue eventually. I won't have to tap or stomp on anything for a lot of songs. I already found sounds I'm using with the MG2. @@lofileif
This is most likely the incorrect video to ask this but here goes. After watching your video with the Roland pickup I am curious if a hexaphonic pickup like the ghost or fishman could send the 6 analog audio signals out into a 6 channel audio interface? It seems like that would be a lot of fun you could even play with the analog signal on each string. That way each instance of Midi Guitar 2 would only be working a monophonic signal. You sir really got the gears turning (they already were somewhat). Thank you
Hi Allan. I don’t know which of my Roland pickup videos you have checked out, but I ususally point out the break-out-box (or cable) options, where you would use your hex-pickup with an multi-channel audio interface to get just what you are asking about, six channels of audio to manipulate. You can the choose to open MG2 on some or all of the strings individually. I have a few videos where I play around with ideas like that. I did a little thing with analog (non-midi) six-string separation and an instance the new Waves Harmonizer on each string that never made it to a full video. It is featured as the popsegment in my MIDIGUITAR MPE video though. But you are completely right in that there is a myriad of ways to use this hardware and software together. Love to see the stuff you come up with. 😀👍
Very interesting..
I know it's not for everybody, but I'm really happy with my YouRock guitar. It's the old v1 with no firmware updates. Many people would consider it an awkward paperweight but with some practice and changes to picking technique (and using a really stiff short pick) it's possible to trigger more or less reliably and get 2 levels of dynamics. I also got a Lineage which is even better. The point is, those and other directly midi driven devices can help considerably with delay on the device side, though everything else in this video applies.
If you're recording, you might want to render every other track, because all of this affects your performance. Also, I suggest considering a lower resolution alternative for tracking then switching to the much nicer sounding full plugin afterwards.
Personally I think of these different midi inputs similar to how I think of say a humbucker vs a single coil or a Floating tremolo Ibanez with 24 frets vs a Fender Stratocaster. To me (this may not be to you) the strengths, weakness and downright limitations allow you to explore a wider range of possibilities that otherwise you might miss out on. Also, keep in mind many people hate YouRocks with a passion and prefer other alternatives (such as the Roland adapter, Jammy, Expressiv, Jamstick, the Mustang controller, the expensive Ztar, old Yamahas, the mythical SynthAxe, or a gazillion others I failed to mention). That's fine, just consider
A) This software allows your 4 string ukulele, 7/ 8/9/12 string to be used as a midi controller,
B) You can perform dive bombs (which can be retrofitted to your normal guitar if you're using Fishman / Roland pickups but it's one installation per guitar),
C) use classical technique naturally,
etc.
So this regardless of anything else is a really an essential tool. It can even help you have quick notation for any improvs you may have done so, again invaluable even if not for performance. All I'm saying is that there are other tools that can also bring a lot to the table for some of use (not everyone likes them tho, so check them out before spending money on the others but keep an open mind and don't dismiss something because it's awkward at first - its a different instrument that allows some of your abilities to carry over)
I was looking to buy a YouRock for the longest time, and if an opportunity showed today still, I would probably go for it. It has some great features, but it also is rather limited compared to the next generation of the MIDI Guitar software. Polyphonic bends and MPE are really imporant concepts if we want to use guitars as controllers. But as I said, I don’t look past YouRock or any other controller. I would happily try one out, given the chance. 👍
@@lofileif I have dedicated more time than I should perhaps to this topic, but got an unopened YouRock and went down the rabbit hole.
I'll summarize by saying that it was a controversial device, and that there are some available on Ebay as of now. Its price makes it rather affordable. Below is basically a published article's worth of research if you're up to it.
First of all bending is achieved via the tremolo bar which is somewhat unique (like a pitch wheel mod on a keyboard, there's also a mod Wheel equivalent on the YouRocks - a tiny joystick - and the bar serves as a mod wheel on the Lineage, toggling between both modes by clicking on a button at the tip)
What I personally like about these controllers the most is:
A) Extremely low latency. There is nothing like having a natural midi device, you have no conversion just an electric signal being transmitted at a 3ms delay (same as a keyboard).
B) Tap mode. Now this allows the user to tap on the fretboard without the need for picking the notes. Unfortunately, it has no dynamics (but you can always use alternate means of regulating expression).
C) You can configure it to use a single channel output, but also multi channel output, so you can route each string independently (which I think is an extremely powerful ability, like keyboard sections but you have 6 each with 22 keys all bundled neatly in a guitar like neck)
D) Due to the lack of strings you can make the mental leap of disassociating physically possible tuning ratios from the configuration of the instrument. And this really opens up the mind - tuning by 4ths, 6ths, different octaves...
E) This I have to dig into, but Gen2 devices and the Lineage have the ability of also splitting the fretboard by Zones like a keyboard. This I have yet to explore (got the Lineage just a week ago and haven't given it the necessary time) but in theory the guitar is split vertically and configuration of these is independent.
F) You can set it to multiple different tunings, and in the case of Gen2/Lineage transpose as well.
If you combine all of these, you can really get lost in it. That said people tend to hate them.
The main issues people tend to have with the YouRock as a midi controller are:
A) Tts rather weak "string" sensors (which is a moot point when using an expression pedal or the controller featured here),
B) The lack of actual strings - "It doesn't feel like a real guitar" which goes back to preference, I think it's great because this software also exists but yes:no left hand based string bending, again must rely on the whammy bar, and sliding can be done in a limited fashion at the expense of hammer/pull-offs),
C) Lack of aftertouch
D) Its underwhelming appearance (and hideous marketing).
E) The company has gone under so there's no firmware updates for any of these devices and only the 1st gen has any software and due to lack of firmware updates some options are unavailable
F) Its built - in sounds that are really only usable for practice but might be overshadowed by a very low end kid friendly Casio.
G) Lack of headstock (which I like because you can place your hand in ways otherwise impossible). They did sell some headstocks but they were not bundled in and some people complained about not having anything to guide them (I mean headless guitars are a thing, heck the Jamstick is one of them and no one complains, guess people just got used to that by now)
G) For whatever reason this extremely sophisticated instrument was aimed at Children. Specifically RockBand aficionados who largely ignored it (opting for a cheap controller or the cooler looking Fender Mustang shaped alternative, which happened to support midi which went largely unnoticed). It packed a considerable amount of learning tools that only people who already knew could appreciate. Which unsurprisingly led to it being picked up mostly by recording artists and producers, who were not at all interested in gaming and were fewer in number (it did get some attention as a travel instrument since you can split it in two and put it on your backpack like the Jammy)
G) The more pedestrian MIDI issues such as lack of palm muting which are intrinsic to this specific medium. And since it was a pioneer in bringing this stuff to the masses, it received all of the grief from guitarists who hadn't invested a family fortune's worth that expected MIDI to conform to their expectations (so, lots of bad press).
H) Finally, there's a lot of complaints from owners of extremely high-end alternatives such as the Ztar. Which I guess is understandable but also somewhat unfair. Now, personally if I could, I'd have both and that would settle the argument for me. Heck those limitations can help you approach things from different angles ... but that's how it went.
Anyway, I think this was a fun journey reading forums, press releases, interviews, etc found scattered around the web. Hope this was a rewarding read. Who knows where they could have taken this family of instruments had they remained open...
🙏 so helpful, as usual!
Ahh, Thank you! 🙏🙏🙏
Thank you for the detailed video. But suddenly I understood that your using the standalone version, that's why you have a volume knob, which does not appear in the vst version. I have a very powerful computer (4.8 ghz) and I'm unable to ave a decent latency with the vst version ....
Hi! I am using the plugin version and the standalone version interchangeably, depending on situation. And I get the same results from them. No one is better or worse latencywise. There is latency, but I have learnt to cope with it, by practicing a lot with just the MIDI Guitar output (some software instrument I like). The computer and the settings matter, but probably not as much as you initially would assume. 👍
Very interesting your video. I would like to assign Native Instruments sounds to MIDI Guitar 2 via VST, how do you need to proceed step by step? I use Reaper as my DAW. Thank you
Thank you! I haven't used Reaper myself, so I can't be all that specific. But traditionally, for most DAWs you set up MG2 on an audio track and your software instrument on a MIDI track, and then it is a little depending on which platform you are using (Mac or PC), and what version of the plugin (AU or VST) you are using. JamOrigin has a lot of DAW guides on their page, and this is what I found for Reaper. I hope it helps: ruclips.net/video/3mawYUI1dJA/видео.htmlsi=_F-uW6sK0CXQYoWe
@@lofileif thank you very much
Good work, LoFiLeif.
Thank you Bernard! Much appreciated!🙏 🙏 🙏
great video...
Thanks Miroslav!
thank you again I look at many time video
Hey man! Glad to hear. Much appreciated! 🙏🙏🙏
Great video and great playing. What's the piece you're playing at the end?
Thanks a million Michel. That is from an improvisation over "Porla", a composition of mine!
17:26 Grandmaster 💪🌟💫👏
P.S.: This great video really demonstrates how much the „latency“ topic is ALREADY history due to a.) technological advantage (MG) b.) studying the ENTIRE signal chain from state of your fingerskin to distance to speaker is mandatory, so HOLISM is key c.) playing approach (the synthaxe manual. Wow!)!
You are truly too kind, my friend! 🙏🙏🙏
Excellent vid!!!
What Trumpet software were you using for the “outro” of this vid?
Thank you! That is the flugelhorn from Samplemodelings ”The Trumpet”.
@@lofileif V3? Thx!
Hi...I'm Luis from Argentina. I can't connect my SoftStep to control de MIDI Guitar 2... Can you suggest any tip? Thanks for your geat videos!
Hi Luis! This was one of the first videos I did here, so there is not a lot of talk, but there is some info on MG2 and the McMillen Softstep. ruclips.net/video/EBXID-u7GkU/видео.html
Do you have a way of deliberately playing ghost notes, e.g., as frequently used by Jaco in his 16 note lines?
Well, there are only notes here. Everything translated into midi is going to be a note with some properties to it. Long , short, pitch, pitch bend , velocity , and so on. So yeah, as short as possible. Your ear won't detect the pitch but rather just a rhythmical component. But that demands a lot of you as a player. It all comes down to the noble art of "stopping notes" from ringing. 👍
@@lofileif Thanks. Your suggestion of indicating a ghost note by very brief duration makes sense, but does not seem practical, considering that 16th notes are already quite brief even at moderate tempos. Is there an example where you do this? (BTW, Jaco's Kuru groove would make a good demo of this.)
Also, some VIs interpret very low volume notes as ghosts. This too is very hard to execute in moderate to fast tempo 16th note tines.
@@ExplodedViewsMedia It is by no means easier to execute some particular acoustic instrument articulation in a fast tempo live, with MIDI guitar as opposed to playing the real instrument. Every new articulation, be it a Sul ponticello for a Violin, or a ghost note for a fretless Fender bass takes some sort of research into, how to best achieve it. Some instruments have ghost notes as options, but you get no real variation, and most often these are achieved by key switching which isn't the most practical thing for guitar/bass players when it comes to live performance. So I tend to go for the attainable instead. I would probably look for a muted note articulation -and use my expression pedal for that. But you still need to trigger the notes that are to be interpreted, so I guess the execution issue will not disappear this way either? 🤔
@@lofileif Thank you. Indeed, I was thinking you might have a "trick" (I mean a "technique") making use of a pedal or one of the several other gadgets that you have so impressively mastered. I'm going to try it with a pedal, preferably one that responds without too much foot travel (e.g., maybe KMI soft step 2). As you say, coordination between hands and feet will still be a challenge!
I have watched the video again. I just did a small experiment after our discussion of the noise gatem i was playing with my volume knob in my guitar and for the midi guitar software, it works as a noise gate, so i avoid the use of the gate in the app, so maybe this helps to reduced the latency generated on midi guitar? The output sound level is the same with low or high volume at the guitar :)
Ok, so let me be clear here. Noise gate is reported by JamOrigin themselves to add latency. I have never felt any actual difference when trying it myself. The primary reason for me not to use Noise gate is that I feel it takes away from my abilities to play really soft. The absolute softest dynamic layer gets filtered out. But it is not considered safe practice to use your guitar volume as noise gate either. It is volume control, and it changes the sound waves characteristic to lower it. I would rather use my audio interface gain instead. It should give you a better control over the incoming signal.
What is the best kind of guitar or bass for the tracking? I have an Industrial Radio midi bass. Would that be an advantage? Would it be best to get a Jamstick 2 guitar? I will be doing EDM/sound design and not crazy fast runs. Mostly just using the bass and guitar to write.
Hi Michael. If you are asking about what is the best kind of instrument to use togethetjer with the MIDI Guitar 2/MIDI Bass software, the answer is generally something like a solid body, hard wood, good sustain, little resonance, and decent pickups. A strong clear signal in is the best way to ensure good tracking. If you on the hand ask me to compare this software to the hardware solutions (Industrial Radio or Jamstik), I can’t help you much. I haven’t tried any of those. I came from having worked with Roland gear when I started using MIDI Guitar 2,and I haven’t looked back really. I love the idea of a dedicated hardware controller too, but looking at all the videos with Jamstik or any other hardware controller (except perhaps ROR Guitars) hasn’t really given me any hope. If you are looking to do EDM (with no crazy fast runs) my guess is that all of the setups you mention will do the job. The question could be, are you thinking of performing with it or is it just for producing? There, I think, you may have a difference. A closed system, such as a dedicated controller with its accompanying sounds will of course give you a sense of security in a live setting? I don’t know? Do try the trial version, if you haven’t already. www.jamorigin.com/download/
Hello. Something is wrong. Even when selecting the tones, the clean guitar sound comes out along with the chosen tone. I've tried adjusting the mix, but it didn't solve the problem. Do you know how to fix this?
That is most likely a ”INPUT MONITORING” issue. You may have little settings knob (or switch) on your audio interface. Turning this fully on or off (depends on model and make) should fix this. Good luck! 👍
@@lofileif Thanks!
For input at gate you mean ! o clock? For the gate and in my experience, i have set it to 1 O clock as well, because i think my guitar pickups (EMG.Z) are ultra sensitive and when i use the Kontack Accordion sample (Guerrini) it just starts to ring with i am varely touching the strings
Input Gain = Nothing (0), and for Noise gate = 0 or 1 (not o'clock, actual values)
@@lofileif noise gate is too kow for me (and my scenario) have you tried higher noise gate values? As you said, depending of the instrument and (on my case) the pickups you have. But i can feel more confident when i hit the strings a little hard due to the high level of noise gate i use
@@pepedecoatza Of course I have tried different values, on the noise gate, but since noise gate adds latency, and I don’t have any issues with my signal chain, I can keep it at 0. There is no reason to have it set higher if I don’t need it, right?
@@lofileif well. Amazingly for me it does not really add too much latency. So it is interesting to hear this statement, but again, i guess depends on a dozen of things
Sure, and I am not sure it adds enough latency for anyone to actually notice. I included it in the video because it isn’t mentioned that often. I mean, I don’t feel any difference in using latency settings between 128 or 256, so it is not like I have ”felt” that higher noise gate increase latency. It is a factual statement from the software DEV himself.
hello where can I find your book for midi guitar thank you I am flamenco player
Hi! Sorry to say, I don’t know of any great books on the subject. I haven’t written anything, and I haven’t heard of anyone else writing something about MIDI Guitar 2 ( The software I am using). I am sure there are books on MIDI guitar in general though. But, again, no titles that comes to mind. Sorry!
Awesome! Along this line, you should do a video on your breathing device as well!
Thank you Pastor! I just might do a really deep dive into what the BBC2 breathcontroller brings to the table. It is also long over due. I have featured it in almost all my videos but I have yet to do a ”special” on it. So thanks for the tip. 🙏🙏🙏
Does a compressed guitar signal help with tracking?
Hi! No, not in my experience! The signal chain should be as clean as possible. No pedals, no nothing. If you are looking for a more dynamically even output you have the compressor/expander ”curve” knob in the interface, but it deals with MIDI Velocity, so it is really after the tracking has taken place already. A light touch is the best way to control dynamics for me personally! 👍
Question: my guitar's pickup is not balanced very well; there are settings to adjust each string. Anyone know where?
Well, there are no settings to adjust specific string volume/sensitivity since MIDI guitar listens to your guitar's audio output. And if you are using traditional magnetic pickups and not divided pickups there is no way for the software to know what string is producing a certain pitch. But there is a way to tilt the dynamics balance with the TONE button in the MG2 interface. If you guitar PU is weaker in the higher strings register you turn that knob clockwise al little to tild the dynamic balance. But remember, you are also decreasing the dynamic response from the lower strings when doing this, so be careful not to over use this button.
That's strange....I don't have a 'Input Gain' button under the 'Interface' tab?
Are you looking in standalone mode? If you are using MG2 as a plugin it is not a choice,
@@lofileif well, there you go, that explains it then, thx! 😉👍
5ms latency in and out of ableton, and playing the built-in MG2 instruments is okay. but simply setting an ableton midi track to take midi from the MG2 audio track introduces audibly about a second of lag. Any idea why?
Turns out the Disk Overload indicator in the top right was flashing. Changing to an instrument with a more lightweight sample set fixed it. Simple restart fixed it in general after.
I am glad to hear you found the solution yourself. It is most of the time incredibly hard to troubleshoot without more information that what goes into a standard comment. Not to mention the fickle nature of Abelton itself. What instrument was it, that was causing the overload? Do you remember?
Yes, it was a very heavyweight sample set, Grand Piano Equal Temperament Production which I think comes standard with Suite. But the disk overload indicator lighting up on every sample trigger shouldn't be happening on a good computer with fast storage so I don't know what was happening there. Nothing to do with MG2 and more about my computer, and the restart did fix it.
Thank you for replying and for the content you put out @@lofileif - this is really good stuff. I struggled for a long time with the fact that keyboard has all the compositional advantages for music in the DAW, but now finally I can just compose on guitar and put it straight into MIDI and I love it. Are you excited for Midi Guitar 3? I wonder what improvements it'll bring.
Yeah, I have been part of the testing of MG3 for a long time now, so I have a pretty good grasp of what is going to be in there. And I have a hard time seeing how most people can be anything other than happy with what they get. But you have Improved tracking, Infinite sustain, MPE and crazy amount of assignable external control and modulation for starters. ruclips.net/video/SX0jdGMSGcY/видео.html
A trick that I've found works for me is to switch to the neck pickup and turn the tone knob all the way down. Can't use the actual guitar sound like that but it tracks perfectly
Ok, that would be the complete opposite of anything that works for me on any of my guitars. But I woun’t argue with what works for you. It would perhaps be interesting to know how this can be, in general? 🧐👍
@@lofileif Indeed it does sound counterintuitive but for me it seems to give me less of those little ghost type notes. I'm too lazy to learn to play it properly lol. The idea came from a guitar setup class that I did where we used fancy strobe tuners and the instructor suggested to use the neck pickup and turn the tone down which made it so much easier to tune with such a precise gadget
@@yllekjs76 Yeah, well, if it works for you, awesome! What you do that way is just to make the translation process less sensitive, and I guess some qualities might not come through as well, but if those are expendeble for you, there’s obviously no need for another approach! 😀👍
I hear exquisite swedish accent, i upvote
Haha! Yeah, can’t rid myself of that! Too old I guess. Thank you for noticing🤣🙏🙏🙏
Jokes aside, i downloaded the demo last night and i have a bunch of settings to try until its alright i think. I just have one question: that Sax bit at 17:00, is it a VST that like reads all the articulations you are doing without any keyswitches? Because i cant think of any of my VSTs where i can load one instrument and it will just do everything i want. There were just so many articulations you got out of it
No key switches! It is a modeled instrument from @audiomodeling. This is actually one of the great advantages of playing those SWAM engine instruments. Much time and effort have been put into you not having to switch between something like articulations. If I play a short note with soft dynamics, it will give you that. If I play short note with much velocity and more expression it will give you something else. Those instruments really follow your playing better than almost anything else I 've used. Check them out at www.audiomodeling.com
Where would can I adjust the settings? I cant find it plz
That window is no longer their in the new version
What settings are you trying to adjust? If you are talking about MIDI Guitar 3, you might want to check out ruclips.net/video/TBhyLVOL-_k/видео.htmlsi=Gkqn_LPPM9Vjxvzr
Your instruments..especially the horns sound very natural. I don't think I can tell the difference as a non-horn player. I use MidiGuitar myself for things I can't do real world..like strings, horns and even things I CAN play like hammond organ. While mg2 works with all my guitars, it really favors a particular single humbucker, no tone knob superstrat. So if it helps anyone, try all your guitars and definitely follow the bridge pickup+full vol+full tone recipe.
Thanks so much for your input. I am pretty sure you'll get more out of more instruments when MG3 finally will be released (still don't know when, though), and that last advise will still be as valid for that as well. 🙏 👍
Is there any news about Midi Guitar version 3 ? I saw it on the website sinc e 2020, but it is not any update...
Work is very much being done on it, but there are still no dates set for release. We have been working on MPE implementation for one thing. Did you have a chance to look at this already? ruclips.net/video/pPqPrIo70Cs/видео.html
I'm not getting any sound, the MIDI Velocity isn't moving. None of my other software have issues with my guitar. Cubase doesn't recognize it as a plug-in either.
Big fan of midi guitar 2. Has anyone been having trouble with popping sounds while using it?
Hi man! I haven’t heard of multiple reports of recurring issues with popping, but of course some occasional ones. I’ve had times where some pop leads to to total silence, and where I have to quit/restart MG2. But these are few and far between, so I haven’t bothered looking into it. Under what conditions do you popping sounds occur?
What kind of velocity curve do you use with virtual instruments?
I guess you mean on the respective instruments? That is of course different for each instrument and occasion. Depends very much on what effect I am looking for!
@@lofileif I'm trying to find the right settings to play piano more dynamically, it's pretty hard balancing out the low and the high notes so each string would have the same amount of velocity when you use the same force. It'll be interesting to see how MG3 handles this
What piano are you using?
@@lofileif Keyscape's library
Ok, I never used that, so I can't give you my exact settings. But on my VI Labs Ravenscroft 275 (desktop version, not iPad) and my Modartt Pianoteq, I tend to use a steep curve for velocity and somewhat limit the dynamics range to around 50 %. So it is quite a subtle difference between playing hard and soft. It shouldn't be like you feel that you have to pick really hard at any time. That would only hinder you when going to the next note.
I think you were wrong here when you talked about total latency through the system. When you listen with your headphones bypassing the buffer (real time), delay is negligible, but adding 2 or 3ms latency gets felt. 10 or 20 more would be a real pain to deal with , at least with a patch with no attack in it.
Sure, I could be wrong. Maybe I can't play with whatever amount of latency I am assuming there is? I don't use headphones, I never listen to the incoming unbuffered signal. It is completely uninteresting to me. I have conditioned myself to play with whatever is the actual output. But you think I am wrong.
@@lofileif Historical hardware timings would make you think that it would be a normal value since it has often been quite high but it is not like that. After playing with a 2ms buffer for a decade feel 5 is already awful. Cant step away from a speaker.
By the way, congratulations for your channel, I've just discovered it and find it very interesting. Thank you
@pablon9269 Ok, but you still haven’t told me what I was wrong about! Please be very explicit. I don’t believe I have referred to ”total latency through the system”. I know I am talking about the percieved ”round trip latency” (from me picking the note on the guitar, until I audibly percieve it) and juxtapose this to the ms value suggested in the MG2 software. I say these are not the same, and people should be aware of that. 2 ms is nothing. Church organ players learn to play with a 100 ms latency. It is very much a question of practicing with that instrument, under those conditions. If you haven’t, it will feel awkward. But again, where exactly am I wrong?
@@lofileif On minute 23 you talk about a 20ms total latency. By a 3ms per meter (aprox.) sound speed, that would only be correct if you are on the other side of a room. The total latency time shown by the DAW is accurate.
Organ players have to deal with much greater latencies than that, same as playing the keyboard for the bell tower, but that doesn't mean they will ever be on time. It is not possible to play a fast sequence with a percussive instrument that way
So you are arguing that I choose a too high round trip ms value for my comparison? Ok, I will be more conservative in the future. Thank you.
I’m able to load it up in the FX rack of a mixer channel but it doesn’t give me any midi output. I’ve been able to use it as a standalone but then my DAW can’t use the same driver. I’d like to try it as a plugin and see if I like it any better. Also couldn’t figure out how to load plugins into the standalone.
Also, is there a way to have it load without the stock piano sound by default? Every time I open it I have to turn it off and I wish I could just delete it permanently.
Hi Micah! What kind of setup are you talking about? Traditionally I talk about Audio tracks or Software instrument tracks when I am talking about a DAW, so I guess it is something else? And to your second question; you find all you vst/AU instruments and effects clicking the INSTRUMENT or the FX slot in the INSTRUMENTS box. If you haven't let MIDI Guitar scan for your vst' plugins yet, you do that under the PLUGINS tab (upper left corner) Choose Scan (SAFE).
Usually, MG2 opens with the patch you closed it with, but I don't know if that is 100%. I have a template in my DAW opening up with MG2 loaded, and then it automatically opens the preset I saved it with.
@@lofileif Yeah, I didn’t think it showed up as an option for vsti, only vst in the mixer. I have not checked to see if it will re-open with my last used settings in plugin mode. In standalone mode it does not remember my settings. Maybe if I save a preset and then double-click that to launch the program?
@@micah_noel So what system are you working with? You know that you are supposed to load MG2 as an effect on an Audio track right?
I LOVE YOUR MUSIC SUUUUUPEEEER HHHH WITH MIDI GUITAR BETTER THAN SINTHTISER GREEEAAAT I WILL TRY AND TRY
THANK SO MUCH FOR ADVANCE
Thanks a bunch, man! 🙏I agree with you on that MIDI Guitar sometimes can be the better/best choice of controller. If you give it a try, be patient. It does usually take a little getting used to! 😀👍
YOU CAN WATCH ON YOU TUBE
"ESQUISSE D'OPERA BY CHAFI"
MAYBE IF YOU AGREE I WOUD LIKE SING ON YOUR MUSIC THANK YOU FOR RESPONSE
Hey! It sounds like an interesting idea, but as I am fully occupied with other engagements at this time, I am not likely to be writing anything for voice in a while. Most of the stuff you hear is done in the context of presenting a certain virtual instrument or software. So that is mostly improvisations and snippets. I wish I will have more time to write stuff soon enough! 👍
@@lofileif THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR RESPONSE SIR TODAY I PRACTICE LIKE YOU TEACH ME ITS ALREADY MUCH BETTER SUPER🌈🌈🌈🌈
Glad to hear! Thank you!🙏
what is that mouth thing?
It is a BBC2 Breath controller from TEControl
www.tecontrol.se/products/usb-midi-breath-bite-controller-2
Cool! Your best advice was to not play it as a guitar. Understand the instruments you are playing. 👍
Thanks Kirt! It is really when coming to realizing that, any changes to ones playing style also makes sense. 🙏👍
The unfortunate stalling of development in midi guitar is proof to me how stupid most guitar players are:
They rather spent a few k‘s for a new slash signatur gibson, or some big ass tube amp, that they will never fully play, instead of investing in the countless midi guitar options, that were on the market, thus helping with the development.
The guitar is actually much more useful as a midi controler for Solo instruments like sax, violin etc. then a piano, cause the modulation of sound are actually very similar in most of those instruments.
Imagine a sax growl that could be triggered by a pinch harmonic…
I absolutely 100 % agree with you on that guitar is a super alternative as a midi controller in that its expressive capabilities (if we include bends, slurs, slide and vibrato) lends itself perfectly to emulate a lot of instruments. Better in many cases than keyboards, even if count Seabords and the like. I am not sure though, to what degree the stalled MIDI Guitar development is a consequence of lack of funds. Of course, if it had been at the top of everybodys wishlist we would have even more gear and software to choose from. But would it be better, thst is the question? I don’t know.🧐
@@lofileif well you never know, but tracking is still a massiv problem as is latency, as far as I know many people say that a double sensor, one on the bridge and one on the neck would be a pretty good solution. I mean if there was more money in this, someone would come up with a „better“ idea for an instrument to make more money. It is still beyond comprehension that there is no cheaper alternative to a synthaxe.
Absolutely! Some sort of fret(board) scanning system would probably be an enormous improvement on any MIDI Guitar controller. The RoR guitars seem to have chosen that route. Too bad I haven't seen any convincing videos of anyone using their guitars to their full capacity, I would surely have invested in such a solution had I known it would work. But a big problem I see is that people demoing stuff like Jammy, Jamstik and other controllers hardly play guitar as their main instrument. It feels like unsound business to not engage people with a genuine interest in the product itself. But we see that with every sort of attempt at (over)reaching for a bigger market share. People playing EDM music on plastic controllers in a beach setting with bright neon and smoke. 😬
@@lofileif yeahs its horrible, problem too is that a lot of guys that buy midi guitars can barely play. They buy a jammy to produce edm music, which they could learn to do on a piano within 3 months. But if youre a jazz or fusion player, getting your chops on a piano down will take you years. I am also considering to buy a midi guitar, but am pretty sure that I wont like it. Had the gr-55 and the fishman, and they are both absolutely mehhhhh.
@@lofileif but thanks a lot man, I had absolute no interest in the last few years in midi, but I then saw your channel and was so blown away by your performances with the swam sax and trumpet that I actually got excited again for the whole midi guitar realm
Every note sounds doubled.
Under what circumstances? I guess you are referring to your experience and not my video? What software are you trying to play, and what is your setup! Desktop, iPad or phone? What audio interface do you use, etc?
@@lofileif Thanks for replying. Yes, referring to me and not your video. Scarlett 18i8, Windows 11 i9 13th Generation 32 GB Ram. Gretsch G5222. Upon further review I find that even the raw recording of the guitar sounds like it is picking up my finger pressing the fretboard a millisecond before picking. So it may not have anything to do with MG2. However since my system upgrade from an i7 8th Gen my Fishman TP has been working great. I was hoping to get the same increase in performance from MG2
@gerardlanphear9185 I think you might be right in your analysis. MG2 obviously translates all that goes into it in terms of pitch information. I doesn’t matter, of course, if we mean to trigger it or not. That is the beauty of the software, but obviously also the curse of it. I find MG2 to be way better in terms of dynamics, but less forgiving in terms of mistakes than any competition (FTP included). But I wouldn’t expect any sort of permance improvment switching from a i7 to an i9 , whatever RAM and other specs differ. An i7 is already fast enough to get everthing that is possible preformancewise from MG2. What is left to do now is just to clean up your input some more, if you still experience problems.
Instead of giving software settings details, you are more interested to show your paying ability.
How did you come to choose that video to make that particular remark?