Something that may interest only me. (Fishman TriplePlay)

[BobTheDog]

Really great stuff Jamsire. I'm really anxious to try your 12 string thing.

I have discovered something interesting. I bought a Godin xtSA today. My intention was to use it through a VG99 that I already have. Wow is this ever a colossal fail. Useless combination. I found a few posts here and there that say you can't use any piezo saddle kind of thing with it. Too mmicrophic apparently. I'm not happy.

I got a used GR30 on ebay. I hope that works better.

Anyone have any experience with a piezo bridge kind of thing with a GR55? I'm tempted. But I don't want another fail. I have no interest in the synthetic sounds. Just guitar to midi.

Thanks,

Greg

You need a RMC subsonic filter, they are available for both the VG99 and GR55.

Email them info@rmcmusic.com

[BobTheDog]

Just re-read your post.

The subsonic filter is more usefull for synthesis rather than guitar to midi but will help a bit.

The main issue you are probably having is that you have not set the vg99 up correctly. Do you have the latest firmware that allows you to set what kind of piezo pickup you have?

[geebake]

Yes, I have the latest firmware. I also have the pickup type set to 'Piezo' and I have each string's sensitivity set appropriately. If there are any other relevant settings, I'm all ears.

I also threw in a fresh battery. No help.

Greg

[jamsire]

Yes, I have the latest firmware. I also have the pickup type set to 'Piezo' and I have each string's sensitivity set appropriately. If there are any other relevant settings, I'm all ears.

I also threw in a fresh battery. No help.

Greg

Use the F1 knob or button to select the type of divided pickup in your guitar. Select from the following:
•GK-3—Choose this setting if you’re using a Roland GK-3 pickup.

•GK-2A—Choose this setting if you’re using a Roland GK-2A or

•GK-2 pickup, or a Fender Roland-Ready Stratocaster.

•PIEZO—Choose this setting if your guitar has a flat-response
piezo-type divided pickup.

•PIEZO F—Choose this setting if your guitar is equipped with
a piezo-type divided pickup manufactured by Fishman
Transducers.

•PIEZO G—Choose this setting if your guitar is equipped with a
piezo-type divided pickup manufactured by Graph Tech Guitar
Labs (such as the synth-access guitars offered by Carvin).

•PIEZO L—Choose this setting if your guitar is equipped with a
piezo-type divided pickup manufactured by L.R. Baggs (such as
some synth-access guitars offered by Godin Guitars).

•PIEZO R—Choose this setting if your guitar is equipped with a
piezo-type divided pickup manufactured by the RMC Pickup Co.
(such as the Brian Moore iGuitar, Breedlove Synergy, and some
synth-access guitars offered by Godin Guitars).

If your VG-99 doesn’t display all the piezo pickup options mentioned
here, you need to update it to VG-99 System Version 1.04 or higher.
The update is a free download from the VG-99 product page at
www.RolandUS.com.

This is what I know. I have a lot of Godins, an AXON, two VG-8's, two Boss GK pedals, and a GR-30 - they all work. Give it another try.

[geebake]

Interesting.

I checked. I am running 1.04 so that's not the issue.

However, in the Roland VG 99 Editor, the options you list there don't exist.
However, on the device they do. I tried them all and none seem to make any difference.

It sounds like the pickup is overdriving the system. However, when looking at each string's sensitivity, they're fine.

I see a few possibilities. Maybe I got a bad xtSA. It was a 'return' at MF. Perhaps the electronics are screwed up.

It's also possible that the VG 99 just doesn't play well with piezos. I've found numerous posts around the web that attest to this.

I'll have the GR 30 in a couple of days and that should answer this question. If it doesn't work with the 30, then the guitar is bad.

Thanks for the ideas and keep em coming.

Greg

[jamsire]

Ok. Use the GK settings instead.

[geebake]

I've gotten things tuned a bit more, but the more I read, the more I'm convinced that the VG 99 just doesn't like piezo based hex pickups. this is disappointing, but I can live with it if guitar to midi works well with the GR 30.

I'm really surprised that with the gear I have, the Triple Play tracks the best - by far. I have a GK 3 on a strat and it's not bad, but not as good as the TriplePlay. It does work infinitely better with the VG 99 though.

Greg

[jamsire]

I have no idea what's happening with your instrument. I have the multiac jazz and a custom prototype with piezos and the VG99 I use is at school. Works great. Good luck.

[geebake]

Wow. I didn't realize you had a VG 99. I thought you were just using your GR 30. I don't know what's happening either. Maybe there is something goofy about this xtSA. Like I said, it was a returned guitar at MF. If the GR 30 works differently, maybe I'll return it and spring for the extra few hundred to get a brand new one. I do really did the guitar.

Thanks for the help so far,

Greg

[BobTheDog]

I Have a VG99 as well and it works ok (as well as gk pickups anyway) with piezo pickups. Try a setup with the sensitivity of the strings all set to 10, how does that work.

[geebake]

I have much to report.

First I want to thank everyone that's chimed in with help.

The Guitar: Since my last post, I pulled the trigger and swapped the used xtSA for a new one. All the difference in the world. Clearly, there was an issue with the first one so good riddance. It now sounds excellent with the COSM sounds in the VG 99. With the first guitar everything was distorted - as if the synth was sending way too hot of a signal - even with the sensitivity set at or near zero. The guitar to midi is now far superior as well though there is still some warbling in the lower register. I suspect that the 12 string trick would fix that. I will find out one of these days.

The Synth: The GR-30 I bought off eBay has arrived and it works tremendously. Guitar to midi tracking is far better than from the VG 99. Still not perfect, but as close as I've come with any setup. I'm shocked that Roland seems to have taken a step back in this category. My biggest problem with the 99 being that the bend range is fixed at +12. I have a handful of things that don't have an adjustable bend range so I'm SOL with it. What were they thinking?

I think my favorite aspect of the GR 30 is the simplicity. I was able to adjust the sensitivity and get everything working without touching the manual. I didn't realize how much I've come to miss knobs and buttons. I love the fact that I don't have to dig through menus to find arcane parameters.

The Player: With the xtSA, the GR 30 and the Kronos, I feel like an entirely new world has opened up. For the first time, I feel like I can play credible synth parts on a guitar. I've literally been waiting for this for decades. It will definitely take some time for my chops to get to the point were I can really take advantage of this, but man is it ever fun.

Again, thanks to all for your advice and opinions. Keep it coming.

Greg

[ed_f]

I have much to report.

First I want to thank everyone that's chimed in with help.

The Guitar: Since my last post, I pulled the trigger and swapped the used xtSA for a new one. All the difference in the world. Clearly, there was an issue with the first one so good riddance. It now sounds excellent with the COSM sounds in the VG 99. With the first guitar everything was distorted - as if the synth was sending way too hot of a signal - even with the sensitivity set at or near zero. The guitar to midi is now far superior as well though there is still some warbling in the lower register. I suspect that the 12 string trick would fix that. I will find out one of these days.

The Synth: The GR-30 I bought off eBay has arrived and it works tremendously. Guitar to midi tracking is far better than from the VG 99. Still not perfect, but as close as I've come with any setup. I'm shocked that Roland seems to have taken a step back in this category. My biggest problem with the 99 being that the bend range is fixed at +12. I have a handful of things that don't have an adjustable bend range so I'm SOL with it. What were they thinking?

I think my favorite aspect of the GR 30 is the simplicity. I was able to adjust the sensitivity and get everything working without touching the manual. I didn't realize how much I've come to miss knobs and buttons. I love the fact that I don't have to dig through menus to find arcane parameters.

The Player: With the xtSA, the GR 30 and the Kronos, I feel like an entirely new world has opened up. For the first time, I feel like I can play credible synth parts on a guitar. I've literally been waiting for this for decades. It will definitely take some time for my chops to get to the point were I can really take advantage of this, but man is it ever fun.

Again, thanks to all for your advice and opinions. Keep it coming.

Greg

My rig includes an xtSA, GR-55 and Kronos and I agree that this is a good combination!

[jamsire]

Told ya.

[geebake]

I'd kind of forgotten that this thread started about the Fishman TriplePlay. I guess I have to give the edge to the xtsa, but the TriplePlay works very well. Especially given that it requires nothing between itself and the destination device. The fact that the usb dongle can be plugged directly into the Kronos is crazy cool. Saves a bit of dough too.

Greg

[jamsire]

Also - a tip I received from youtube:

"if you set the harmonizer to a DIM scale, tune the whole thing down to -3, and set it to Chromatic, it effectively screens out ALL false notes from the guitar. Try it!"

There ya go.