Err, let me explain that: ever since the 1980s, a variety of "software synthesizers" have been developed for Mac and Windows-based computers. Traditionally, these programs were typically played via a MIDI keyboard. But guitarists who want to get in the game now have an input device.
While they've designed a few strange looking axes with a synthesizer pickup built into it over the years, by the early 1990s, Roland began offering their GK-2A hex pickup as a bolt-on application for electric and steel-strung acoustic guitars, and started licensing the technology to guitar manufacturers to build their own instruments with Roland hex pickups built in. For example, Fender manufacturers a Stratocaster that--along with its traditional three single coil pickups--incorporates Roland's hex pickup, which is bound to improve tracking, as presumably, the pickup is mounted precisely where it should be, and with the proper distance between it and the strings.
But merely temporarily mounted on my Fender Telecaster, the GK-2A pickup tracks remarkably well--in fact probably too well. I found myself frequently using the "deglitch" function with my software synthesizers to clean out momentary ghost notes created by fumbling fingers.
It's bending that it has some problems with: if the software synthesizer's bending can be adjusted, it's possible to dial-in a rate that both the program and guitar are fairly happy with. Otherwise, it's hit or miss with the GI-20.
But in an odd way, this illustrates ones of the beauties of MIDI recording: more so than audio recording, it's possible to record a part, and move every note, often by just milliseconds. Or to take an individual note and shorten or lengthen it. Or raise or lower its pitch.
Putting It All Together
All of those techniques were done in the example I linked to at the start of this article. It was recorded using Cakewalk's Sonar digital recording program. The acoustic guitar was simply played and miked, the electrics were my Les Paul plugged into a couple of patches in the AdrenaLinn multi-effects box. The drums and percussion came from the Drum Tools and Latin Percussion CD-ROMs of Sony Media Software's line of loops for their Acid program (originally produced by Sonic Foundry, which was recently acquired by Sony).
Cakewalk links pretty seamlessly to Propellerhead's Reason software synthesizer program. The sampled piano, a standard patch in Reason, was recorded by first playing relatively simple, easy to finger first position chords to simulate the left hand of a piano player-his rhythm comping. Then a second pass was done to record the lead lines, which was basically my soloing at the 12th fret and higher on my GK-2A-equipped "Tele". Then the two parts were cleaned up, bum notes corrected, and everything mixed down.
Article comments
1 - Johno
Ed is correct: this device is the SHIT.
As soon as I get the cash (5-10 years down the road) I'm'n'a buy me one, disappear into the home studio, and NEVER come out.
2 - Eric Olsen
fascinating and practical information Ed, thanks!
3 - Mark Saleski
guitar synths are weird.
i've got a Roland GR-50...and used it for a while to play (using my Fender Strat) bass in a band.
weird and fun!
4 - Ed Driscoll
Johno,
Glad you like the article! And thanks for reminding me--I should have included the prices. The GI-20 retails for about $350, and I believe the pickup for about $150. A Fender Strat with a Roland synth pickup factory-installed retails for about $600.
Ed
5 - Sean Neves
I picked up a GI-20 packaged with a mexi Roland-ready Strat on ebay for $500 in February and it has simply changed the entire game for me. I use it to power hardware and software, and it is an incredible addition to my live and studio rig. Reason and Ableton Live v5 together make me pretty much useless in my normal life! I have completed many short film scores in the time it would mormally take me to finish one on a keyboard--Hey I'm a friggin' guitarist, not Jan Hammer!
6 - EVT
hello,
I'm looking for roland ready strat. the only thing out there is a fender standard [ mexican ] strat. Is there such a thing as an american roland ready strat. do I need to go thru the fender custon shop for such a guitar?
I'd appreciate any thoughts or ideas/suggestions regarding this matter & my search.
thanks
EVT
7 - Ed Driscoll
EVT,
I don't know--but I picked up an MIM Roland Ready Strat on eBay a few months after writing this article, and it's not a bad little guitar, even compared with my 1984 '57-reissue Strat. The build quality and fretwork are both pretty good--it's certainly a good enough axe to play a synth module or the GI-20.
8 - spokeshave mclachlan
a question. i thought i read somewhere (but may well be mistaken), that the tracking is better on the dedicated roland guitar synths (gr-20, gr-33 etc)where the sounds are internal compared to using external sound sources. is there any truth in this particularly where the GI-20 is concerned?
9 - Ed Driscoll
Spokeshave,
That wouldn't surprise me--but I find the tracking is, if anything, too accurate with the GI-20. A lot finger slides between notes that guitarists take for granted end up being interpreted by MIDI as distinct chromatic notes--which occasionally can sound sort of jazzy on the right instrument playing the right kinds of passages, but often don't. And depending upon the patch, it's also possible to occasionally trigger a bum note in the wrong octive.
As I said in the post above, most MIDI-oriented programs have a "deglitch" function, and it will become your new best friend when recording guitar synth stuff.
I doubt I'd want to use a GI-20 to play live, but for recording, I still think it's pretty darn cool, nearly two years after writing the above piece.
10 - Graham Pearse
Great Article . . . it is exactly what i was looking for as i am a keen home recorder and don'y play keys well.
I have an idea for a new all-on-board guitar for home recording purposes which would fix the problems you have encountered with the GI-20.
Who would I contact at Roland? Any ides?