Yamaha EZAG MIDI guitar and Garageband. Anyone tried it yet?

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Yamaha EZAG MIDI guitar and Garageband. Anyone tried it yet?

If so,

1. What brand MIDI to USB interface did you use between the Yamaha and the Mac and was it plug and play with no hassles?

2. Does Garageband 'see' the Yamaha immediately or is there other futzing you have to do to get to record with it in Garageband.

Mac Pro and Macbook Pro, Mac OS X (10.5.4)

Posted on Jan 22, 2009 11:56 AM

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Answer 1

deacm Author

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Jan 29, 2009 9:26 AM in response to deacm

Ok, I just did it and it works fine now that all the equipment showed up. Just plug the Yamaha EZAG guitar into the Midi interface (EMU $29) and then into the USB port and BANG ! it works right out of the box. This is a great way to get MIDI into the computer if you're more of a guitarist than a keyboardist. Works great once you get used to the stringless frets of the Yamaha.

P.S. Be sure you plug the "MIDI In" of the USB/MIDI interface into the "MIDI-Out" of the guitar. Not exactly intuitive but makes a BIG difference 😉

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Answer 2

HangTime

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Jan 29, 2009 10:16 AM in response to deacm

Not exactly intuitive

signal comes out of an OUT, and goes in to an IN. if you think about it in simple terms, like water pipes, it makes sense

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Answer 3

deacm Author

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Jan 29, 2009 5:23 PM in response to HangTime

Makes sense except for the fact that alot of electronics 'trains' us to plug in 'like to like', not 'like to opposite'

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Answer 4

HangTime

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Jan 29, 2009 5:29 PM in response to deacm

any chance you could give me an example?

i'm trying to think of one and all i can think of are things like Tape Outs of a stereo system going to the record ins on a tape deck (and its play outs going to the Tape ins on the system), or the video out of a computer going to the video in on a monitor...

i'm probably forgetting something obvious, but everything i can think of works this way

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Answer 5

poflynn

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Jan 30, 2009 11:04 AM in response to deacm

So this EZAG will control GB's software instruments???

Yeah, anything I can think of, an "out" goes to an "in." MIDI-out from the EZAG to MIDI-in on the cable, since that's the direction it's going, right? You'd never plug a line-out to another line-out, or an in to an in.

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Answer 6

deacm Author

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Feb 2, 2009 8:43 AM in response to poflynn

Well, my computer bias is showing now I guess......haven't hung around MIDI or music for like 15 years. You're right of course in retrospect.

And yes, the EZAG works perfectly as an input to Garageband with the EMU USB to MIDI interface plugged in. For as inexpensive as it is, I'm impressed that it works as well as it does. It doesn't take too long to get used to the fret buttons (vs strings) on the neck.........they're find for strumming and picking. It will take a bit more getting used to for complex lead guitar riffs. I haven't found any latency issues yet .

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Answer 7

jutaika

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Mar 6, 2009 2:04 PM in response to deacm

Hi there. Just got the EZ-AG and it works with no setup in GarageBand. I am using the UNO MIDI interface ($25). Pianos and strings (included software instruments) sound great. However, I do have a couple issues.

#1. Touching the buttons/frets a split second before you pick the string produces low velocity notes that get recorded. This causes a stuttering, double note sound. The low velocity notes can be deleted in GarageBand's note edit window, but I'd like to find a software MIDI filter (an AU plugin?) to reject low velocity input (say a range of 1-30). If anybody knows of one, please let me know.

#2. Instruments like strings and organs have infinite sustain and keep playing until you press your palm on on the metal sensor bar next to picking strings. Having to stop finger picking or strumming to mute a note you don't want anymore disrupts rythem and mutes all sound, not just one string. Another cool MIDI plugin would limit sustain. Am I asking for too much? I can edit sustain after recording, but that's extra work and not really very fun.

I am looking forward to recording using the EZ-AG and GarageBand software instruments, but I need some MIDI filters or event processors first. Or if Logic has this sort of control built in, maybe I need to upgrade. Please point me in the right direction!

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