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The closest thing to what you want, that I'm aware of, would be a Roland VG system. The VG-8ex is thought by a number of folks to have the best selection of synth type models, or at least, to get you the most synthy kind of tone from a guitar, while retaining all of the nuances of a guitar (because the engine resynthesizes the harmonics of the guitar signal). I've heard this firsthand (Philip Lampe, Repeatpeak, et. al.) and I was _very_ impressed with the sounds obtainable. I've even heard/seen Philip use an acoustic sitar processed through a VG-8ex to transform/double his amplified sitar signal with some really unique and pleasant tones. You can use all of the guitar techniques you mention, afaik. The VG-88 just got a V2 upgrade which adds some synth style wave resynthesis along the lines of the VG-8 (Roland apparently had reduced the abilites of the original VG-88 in this regard in order to fit more/better guitar and amp models in; opinions vary on the guitar models, and some even adamantly claim that at least some of the pickup models are better on the VG-8, but many folks seem to agree that the amp models are better on the VG-88). I heard someone's own samples of the new V2 resynthesis (an analog style tone) and was very impressed. The player was able to even use guitar harmonics and do things that you could not do with an analog synth, all the while maintaining the expressive techiques available on the guitar. If I can find some samples online, I'll post them. Another big advantage of the harmonic resynthesis approach is that there is no MIDI conversion latency (in fact the VG processors do not perform guitar/MIDI conversion at all, it's all voltage). Having toyed with guitar synthesis myself for about 10+ years (started with a Yamaha G-10, which I still have), I decided for myself that processing a guitar to be 'synthlike' was a far more achievable and expressive option at this point. I have a VG-88 myself, and will be upgrading at some point (probably when I get my GK guitar back from the shop). If I were going to look at a true MIDI converter for Guitar, it would be an Axon AX-100. I doubt I will do this now, however, as I have invested in a doubleneck Ztar combining a ztar (which is currently driving a Microwave XT) and electric guitar with GK hex pickup output (for my VG). With respect to tracking, all of the testaments I've heard/read on the Digital Guitar, Midi Guitar, and VG forums I've subscribed to, or browsed, over the years seem to say that in-saddle piezo pickups are the way to go for MIDI conversion or VG processing. I'm still wondering if anyone's going to pursue MIDI/VG processing using optical pickups, but maybe they are and I've just missed the press. Hope this helps, Mike -----Original Message----- From: Kirkland Mack [mailto:kirklandmack@sbcglobal.net] Sent: Friday, February 14, 2003 4:48 PM To: Loopers-Delight@loopers-delight.com Subject: Re: Expressive MIDI guitar (a looping source!) I'm totally skeptical about all the midi pickups and midi conversion systems. I wonder if there is anything out there with no tracking/latency/interface problems at all? I mean I want to play a guitar synthesizer, which means it really is a guitar, and it also really is a synth. I want to be able to use all the methods of producing sound that I currently use with just my guitar (bending, vibrato, tone control from the pick/fingers, legato, palm muting, pick scrapes, muted strumming, harmonics, picking behind the nut, altered tunings etc). I want every nuance of my playing to come through as much as it would with a good overdrive pedal. As a lower priority, if it were possible to also use digitally controlled analog design methods, and use things like midi in/out, a sequencer, an arpeggiator, and split sound strings/fretboard areas, that would be my other request. But, the fact is, I doubt all this is possible in one unit. Maybe my bes! t bet is to go for a GR-300, or build my own, and use it with just looping, in lieu of a sequencer? I honestly haven't done enough research to know.