Can I turn my guitar into a MIDI controller?
What is MIDI?
MIDI stands for Musical Instrument Digital Interface. It is a technical standard that describes a protocol, digital interface and connectors that allows musical instruments, computers and other equipment to connect and communicate (source).
MIDI allows musical data to be transmitted between devices like a digital sheet music. The MIDI protocol communicates event messages such as notation, pitch and velocity, control signals for parameters such as volume, vibrato, audio panning, cues, and clock signals to set the tempo (source). This allows interconnected devices to control one another and operate synchronously.
Benefits of Using a Guitar as a MIDI Controller
Using a guitar as a MIDI controller provides some unique advantages compared to traditional keyboard controllers. Guitars are able to provide more expressive and nuanced control thanks to advanced playing techniques like string bending, sliding, and vibrato (1). These techniques allow guitarists to add emotion and feel that is difficult to replicate on keyboards.
Guitarists can also leverage their existing skills and muscle memory when using a MIDI guitar. Instead of learning a new interface, guitarists can use familiar chords, scales, and playing styles to control MIDI synth parameters. This makes the MIDI guitar feel intuitive and natural (2).
The portability of the guitar is another major advantage over keyboard controllers. Guitarists can easily travel with their MIDI instrument or move around the stage during a performance. The compact size and lightweight build of most guitars makes them an ideal portable MIDI controller.
Methods to Convert a Guitar to MIDI
There are several methods guitarists can use to convert their guitar into a MIDI controller.
Specialty MIDI Pickup Systems
Specialty MIDI guitar pickup systems like the Fishman TriplePlay https://www.fishman.com/products/series/tripleplay/ can be installed on your guitar to convert the strings’ vibrations into MIDI data. These systems tend to be more accurate and responsive than other methods.
Contact Microphones
Attaching a contact microphone onto the guitar lets you capture string vibrations and convert them to MIDI https://www.reddit.com/r/musicproduction/comments/myjmpu/is_there_anyway_to_convert_guitar_to_midi/. This method is affordable but can be less accurate.
Clip-On Transducers
Clip-on transducers like the Sonuus G2M https://guitargearfinder.com/guides/how-to/ultimate-guide-midi-guitar-gear-apps-plugins/ attach to the guitar and convert vibrations into MIDI data. They are portable and don’t require permanent installation.
Vibration Sensors
Small vibration sensors can be attached to the guitar body to detect vibrations and convert them to MIDI. This method is affordable but can impact the guitar’s natural resonance.
Pitch-to-MIDI Guitar Synths
Devices like the Axon AX-50 mkII analyze the guitar pitch and convert it to MIDI notes. This allows for polyphonic tracking but can be less accurate for fast playing.
MIDI Pickup Systems
MIDI pickup systems allow you to convert your existing guitar into a MIDI controller. They work by sensing the vibrations of the guitar strings and converting them into MIDI data. There are two main types of MIDI pickups:
Passive Pickups
Passive MIDI pickups like the Fishman TriplePlay do not require a battery or power source. They have a transducer that captures string vibrations and converts them into an analog audio signal. This signal is then sent to a digital processing unit that analyzes the pitch and converts it to MIDI data. The main benefit of passive systems is that you don’t have to worry about charging batteries. However, they can be less accurate at tracking pitch compared to active systems.
Active Pickups
Active MIDI pickups like the Roland GK-3 and Graph Tech Ghost have built-in preamplifiers and power sources. This allows them to produce a stronger signal with less background noise, resulting in more accurate pitch tracking. However, you do have to make sure the battery is charged. Active systems provide the best tracking performance but require battery maintenance.
Installing a MIDI pickup on your guitar generally involves removing the strings and mounting the pickup onto the guitar body below the saddle. You’ll also need to install a compatible MIDI converter unit. Popular options are from brands like Fishman, Roland, RMC, and Graph Tech. It’s best to follow the installation instructions for your specific pickup. Proper placement and setup will ensure accurate tracking and reliable MIDI conversion.
Contact Microphones
Contact microphones attach directly to the guitar body to detect vibrations.
They are typically small piezo pickups that can be temporarily adhered or taped to the guitar. This makes them easy to install and highly portable between different instruments (Source).
Contact mics are convenient for converting an acoustic guitar into a MIDI controller. However, they may provide a limited dynamic range compared to other pickup options.
Clip-On Transducers
One of the most common and cost-effective methods for converting a guitar into a MIDI controller is to use a clip-on transducer. These devices clip directly onto the headstock of the guitar and detect the vibrations of the strings to convert to a MIDI signal.
Clip-on transducers are relatively inexpensive, often costing between $10-50. Popular options include the mewmewcat Clip-on Instrument Pickup and DZDZDZ Acoustic Guitar Clip On Piezo Pickup.
The main downside of clip-on transducers is they can potentially pick up excess noise and vibration that comes through the guitar body, reducing accuracy. However, with proper gain staging and settings, good results can still be achieved.
Overall, clip-on transducers provide an easy plug-and-play method to convert your existing guitar to MIDI. While not as robust as some other options, they can enable basic MIDI functionality on a budget.
Vibration Sensors
Vibration sensors use piezo elements or gyroscopes to detect vibrations and convert them into MIDI data. They can be attached to the guitar body or bridge to measure vibrations produced when strings are plucked or strummed. This allows them to detect pitch, dynamics, and expression.
One popular vibration sensor is the Mogees, which uses a piezo contact microphone. It can turn any object into a MIDI controller by sensing vibrations. For guitars, it allows MIDI conversion without any permanent modifications or special pickups needed.
The main downside to vibration sensors is that they require some electronics expertise to install properly. The wiring and placement needs to be precise to accurately capture the guitar’s sound and convert it into MIDI. So this approach may not be ideal for beginners without much technical experience.
Pitch to MIDI Guitar Synths
Dedicated guitar synths like the Axon, Jammy, gTar, and YouRock MIDI Guitar are designed to analyze pitch and translate notes and chords into MIDI data. These devices function as MIDI controllers that convert your guitar playing into MIDI information to control synths and samplers.
These guitar synths work by analyzing the pitch coming from each string on the guitar using advanced pitch detection algorithms and electronics. As you play notes and chords, the device tracks the pitches and converts them into MIDI note data in real-time. This MIDI data can then be sent to drive external synths, drum machines, DAW software, and more to generate synth tones and other instruments triggered by your guitar playing [1].
Dedicated guitar synths like the Axon and Jammy aim to provide a seamless guitar-to-MIDI experience and include built-in synth engines so you don’t need external sound sources. The Axon offers onboard strings, organ, and synth tones while the Jammy can generate over 1,000 different instrument sounds. Other guitar synths like the gTar and YouRock MIDI Guitar focus more on the pitch-to-MIDI conversion and send the MIDI data to external gear.
Overall, dedicated pitch-to-MIDI guitar synths provide musicians with a straightforward way to unlock the MIDI and synth potential from their normal guitar playing.
Software and Hardware Needs
To get your guitar set up as a MIDI controller, there are a few key pieces of hardware and software you’ll need:
First, you’ll need a digital audio workstation (DAW) software like Ableton Live or Logic Pro on your computer. This is the software that will receive the MIDI data from your guitar and allow you to record, edit, and manipulate that data.
You’ll also need an audio interface that has a MIDI input. The audio interface is what connects your guitar to the computer, and allows the MIDI data to be transmitted into the DAW. Make sure to get an interface with high-quality MIDI handling. Popular options include the Focusrite Scarlett and Presonus Studio interfaces.
Finally, you’ll need the proper cables to connect your guitar’s MIDI output to the MIDI input on your audio interface. This is usually a standard 5-pin MIDI cable.
With the DAW, audio interface, and cables, you’ll have everything you need on the software and hardware side to start using your guitar as a MIDI controller and harness the creative possibilities.
Conclusion
In this guide, we explored different methods for converting your guitar into a MIDI controller. The main options are MIDI pickup systems, contact mics, clip-on transducers, and vibration sensors. Of these, MIDI pickups and vibration sensors are the most versatile and seamless options. They allow you to directly control MIDI software and hardware with your regular guitar playing technique.
For the best tracking and most flexibility, a dedicated MIDI pickup system is recommended. Brands like Roland offer high quality pickups with zero latency. Vibration sensors are a budget-friendly alternative that can work well too.
Ultimately, converting your guitar into a MIDI controller opens up creative possibilities. You can trigger synthesizers, samplers, drum machines and more. This lets you blend the expressiveness of guitar with digital sounds. With some MIDI know-how, you can create music and compositions not possible with guitar alone. The world of guitar MIDI controllers enables new dimensions of live performance and studio production.