Amiga - MIDI - guitar

[McVenco]

Since I'm an absolute n00b when it comes to MIDI and it's possibilities, here a few questions:

I bought a set of A1200s a while back, and it came with a MIDI interface:
http://www.amiga-hardware.com/showhardware.cgi?HARDID=702
Also, I have a guitar amplifier with MIDI possibilities:
http://www.guitarshop.net/hugheskettnermsm1.htm

Question now is: how do I link the amp to the interface to the Amiga, and what can I achieve with it? I'd like to fiddle around with some tracker-like stuff, and record that combined with me playing the guitar. What software do I need for that?

I also have a sampler:
http://www.amiga-hardware.com/showhardware.cgi?HARDID=1129
What software can I use with that to sample from CD and can I also use it to sample some of my guitar playing?

Last question: does anyone know a good/cheap source for MIDI-cables? Or can I just buy those in a common computer or music instruments store?

[bloodline]

Not sure what the Amp MIDI box does... it's probably just for switching effects/settings via sequencer (http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/page/shop/liverpool/print/1/a/section/e/lines/product_id/12636), very usefull for live work but other than that ...

If you want to record your guitar you can record phrases using a Sample editor (MAKE SURE YOU RECORD TO A CLICK TRACK!)... this can be done using a tracker like OctaMED, then then triger them in the tracker when you want them. I used to work like that and it was something of a nightmare for large projects.

The 8Bit nature of your sampler will tend to make the recordings a little too Lo-Fi for most tastes, and there is nothing you can do about it.

Your best bet would be to get a modern computer, even a cheap PC will do, and then use some nonlinear editing software... I prefer Logic Pro... but you can use an old verion of Cool Edit (Adobe Audition as it's now known). anything will sound much better and be much easier than what can can do with the Amiga now :-(

Any cheap crappy MIDI cable will do... The MIDI harware spec has all but died out in the Pro scene... MIDI over USB is now the standard.

[Jose]

If you really want to use the Amiga you can get a decent clockport sound card and use it to record the samples. Much better than any of the older soundblasters so I reckon it's enouph. PC software is more evolved though and allows many effects etc. to be added. But if you don't wanna mess with that and just want to capture live sound a good tracker on the Amiga will do the job. I guess you could also add effects extenally with dedicated hardware wich would be even better...
Not much of an effects box but I'm thinking of buying a Vox ToneLab amp modeler myself. It also includes a digital output:pint:

[bloodline]

Jose wrote:
If you really want to use the Amiga you can get a decent clockport sound card and use it to record the samples. Much better than any of the older soundblasters so I reckon it's enouph.

For the money you'd spend, is it really worth it?

 PC software is more evolved though and allows many effects etc. to be added. But if you don't wanna mess with that and just want to capture live sound a good tracker on the Amiga will do the job. I guess you could also add effects extenally with dedicated hardware wich would be even better...
Not much of an effects box but I'm thinking of buying a Vox ToneLab amp modeler myself. It also includes a digital output:pint:

Hmmm...

[Wilse]

McVenco wrote:
Since I'm an absolute n00b when it comes to MIDI and it's possibilities, here a few questions:

I bought a set of A1200s a while back, and it came with a MIDI interface:
http://www.amiga-hardware.com/showhardware.cgi?HARDID=702
Also, I have a guitar amplifier with MIDI possibilities:
http://www.guitarshop.net/hugheskettnermsm1.htm

Question now is: how do I link the amp to the interface to the Amiga,

You need a MIDI cable or two, which you'll pick up in any decent music shop. MIDI I/F connects to A1200 parallel port. MIDI out of I/F connects to in of Amp and vice-versa.

and what can I achieve with it?

Good question. I've no idea what you'd want to control on a guitar amp with MIDI. You'd be better connecting a sound module or MIDI keyboard in my opinion.

I'd like to fiddle around with some tracker-like stuff, and record that combined with me playing the guitar. What software do I need for that?

I use OctaMED SoundStudio. It's a decent tracker with MIDI capabilities.

I also have a sampler:
http://www.amiga-hardware.com/showhardware.cgi?HARDID=1129
What software can I use with that to sample from CD and can I also use it to sample some of my guitar playing?

It'll be 8-Bit. That said, I used an 8-Bit sampler for years and the results still sound surprisingly good. as long as you get a good input signal and don't alter the pitch of the resulting samples too much I imagine you'll be pleasantly surprised at their quality.

Last question: does anyone know a good/cheap source for MIDI-cables? Or can I just buy those in a common computer or music instruments store?

Yup.

Have fun!

[billchase]

You need a MIDI cable or two, which you'll pick up in any decent music shop. MIDI I/F connects to A1200 parallel port. MIDI out of I/F connects to in of Amp and vice-versa.

The MIDI interface connects to the serial port, not the parallel.
The sampler connects to the parallel port. Download Bars&Pipes
Professional.  It is a wonderful sequencer that is a free download.
I believe you will have a lot of fun with it.  Many electronic stores
carry MIDI cables (might just be labeled Din-5 cable) if your local
music shop does not.

C Snyder

http://www.alfred-j-faust.de/indexeng.html
http://fromwithin.com/liquidmidi/whatis.html
 

[Wilse]

The MIDI interface connects to the serial port, not the parallel.

Of course it does - thank you for pointing out that, aherm, "deliberate" mistake. ;-)

I agree Bars & Pipes is fantastic but without some midi gear (I'm not expecting him to get much in the way of midi sounds out of that guitar amp) it's pretty useless.

[billchase]

Your right, he won't get many sounds from the Amp, but just
the ability to use the guitar as an input device IMO is the
really cool part.  Once he lays down a few MIDI tracks, he
can always add better tone banks and generators later.

C Snyder
 

[Oliver]

billchase wrote:
...the ability to use the guitar as an input device IMO is the really cool part...
 

The Guitar can provide sound input, but I'm pretty sure it can't provide midi input (not without some major hacking).  The midi interface on the amp is in/thru only.  I expect the midi capabilities will be limited to controlling the amp (gain, eq, ).

[bloodline]

Oliver wrote:

billchase wrote:
...the ability to use the guitar as an input device IMO is the really cool part...
 

The Guitar can provide sound input, but I'm pretty sure it can't provide midi input (not without some major hacking).  The midi interface on the amp is in/thru only.  I expect the midi capabilities will be limited to controlling the amp (gain, eq, ).

Exactly, from the link I provided in my post (does no one read my posts any more? :lol:)... the MIDI unit on the amp seems to be nothing more than an easy way to store amp settings and recall them via a sequencer allowing a guitarist to play through a song/set without needing to manually change the amp/effects settings at different points in the song/set.


If you want to get Actually MIDI data out of a guitar then there are plenty of Audio to MIDI converter programs that can be freely downloaded for the PC, though most of them get confused with bends... There are a few boxes you can buy that do this, and have no problem with bends, but I've only used one once... I won't bother again.

[Nibble]

Hi, this is my first post here. Please don`t flame me since English is not my native language and I will probably make a lot of mistakes.  :-D

I have a question: MIDI interfaces always bring to my mind FM chips (where there is no necessary relation). Ok, Amiga sound is great, but does anybody know of a project using Yamaha FM YM262 to attach to the Miggy? I think about playing MID files while running other stuff - GMPlay is great but uses all my poor 020 CPU to mix the samples.

Another question: I scavenged a full 68040 from a friend`s old Mac, is it possible to built an accelerator board at home? Looking at the Blizz 060 of my friend, it doesn`t seem too hard. Is there any schematics/layout on the web?

   Sorry for the lot of questions. Typical newbie behaviour :crazy:


             Best,

                  Nibble  

[bloodline]

Nibble wrote:
Hi, this is my first post here. Please don`t flame me since English is not my native language and I will probably make a lot of mistakes.  :-D

No mistakes detected.

I have a question: MIDI interfaces always bring to my mind FM chips (where there is no necessary relation). Ok, Amiga sound is great, but does anybody know of a project using Yamaha FM YM262 to attach to the Miggy? I think about playing MID files while running other stuff - GMPlay is great but uses all my poor 020 CPU to mix the samples.

Nope. Attaching a dodgy FM synth chip has limited appeal to users of Sample capable chips.

Another question: I scavenged a full 68040 from a friend`s old Mac, is it possible to built an accelerator board at home?

No.

Looking at the Blizz 060 of my friend, it doesn`t seem too hard. Is there any schematics/layout on the web?
   

No, but if you are into electronics the pinouts of both the A1200's trapdoor and the 040 exist. Remember that you will not only need glue logic between the Amiga and the CPU, but also some RAM controler as the 040 won't be any good without it's own RAM.

[motorollin]

Oliver wrote:
The Guitar can provide sound input, but I'm pretty sure it can't provide midi input (not without some major hacking).  The midi interface on the amp is in/thru only.  I expect the midi capabilities will be limited to controlling the amp (gain, eq, ).

Actually, you can get guitar amps which translate the notes you play on the guitar to midi data. So you can use the guitar as a midi controller.

--
moto

[bloodline]

motorollin wrote:

Oliver wrote:
The Guitar can provide sound input, but I'm pretty sure it can't provide midi input (not without some major hacking).  The midi interface on the amp is in/thru only.  I expect the midi capabilities will be limited to controlling the amp (gain, eq, ).

Actually, you can get guitar amps which translate the notes you play on the guitar to midi data. So you can use the guitar as a midi controller.

--
moto

Yes, but if you (or anyone in this thread!) had followed the link in my first post, you would see that this MIDI Amp does not do this.

[Angus]

motorollin wrote:
Actually, you can get guitar amps which translate the notes you play on the guitar to midi data. So you can use the guitar as a midi controller.

Can I just jump in and ask a question here?

What does the above actually mean? I play guitar and used to put together little Protracker backing tracks that I could solo over, but I'm not clear on what the implications of me having access to midi are or sequencing.

What would using my guitar as a midi controller enable me to do, and is Bars & Pipes involved?

Any chance of a quick explanation for the hard of thinking?  :-)