Conference napalm::commusic_v1

RE < Note 1844.0 by FGVAXX::LAING "Soft-Core-Cuddler*Jim Laing*261-2194" >

	There's a very inexpensive voice tracker that transmits midi I saw
in a recent magazine but I can't recall where.  It was shaped like an over-
large microphone.  Cost was well under $500.

	Dan

    The review was in the most recent issue of Keyboard magazine.
    
    Although it's offered as a "product", it looked like a garage product,
    however the review did say it works, so...
    
    	db

RE < Note 1844.2 by DREGS::BLICKSTEIN "Yo!" >

	That wasn't where I saw it, because I haven't gotten the last few issues
of Keyboard.  But it's probably the same one.  I just found the ad I saw in a
catalog.  It's calle dhte MIDIMIC, and its made by DIGIGRAM.  It lists for $349.

	Features:

	Line input for guitars, bass, electric piano, etc.
	Tracks notes and pitch bends
	Transposes,
	Automatic gain
	Automatic tuning
	Automatic power down (saves batteries)

	Dan

It wasn't the latest KEYBOARD, try an issue or so ago.  The over-large mic
looking thing is the MIDI-MIC I think.  It comes from France.  The review
talked about two different ones.  The otherone really did look like a garage
project.

CHad

Also, try a  some  of  the  recent  Sharper Image catalogues for another
     mic-to-MIDI converter.  (I think this one is different from the one
     mentioned previously - about the same price range.)

/Mitch

    I'm pretty sure the review of the two voice-to-MIDI contraptions
    was in a recent Electronic Musician, not Keyboard.
    
    len.
    

    I was in possession of a box called the IVL Pitchrider 400 Mark II
    over the weekend. I got it to try out with my electric violin, but
    I also tried guitar, whistling, and briefly, singing. You basically
    just plug your sound source into it, tune to it (or it to you),
    set your level, and go. This is a monophonic converter - not to
    be confused with their model 7000 for guitar.
    
    I returned it this morning because it didn't work particularly well
    with my violin. To get reasonable tracking, I had to turn pitch-bend
    off on the Pitchrider. Otherwise, it tended to be confused by the
    noise of the bow attack on the string, and would start the note
    flat, then bend up to pitch. The processing to figure this all out
    would further delay the attack, as well. Even with pitch bend turned
    off, it would take the device longer to identify a bowed note than
    one played legato. And of course, with pitch bend turned off, it
    does not track vibrato. So, if I slurred all  my notes and didn't
    want vibrato or pitch bend to work, it would have been fine...
    
    It worked better with the guitar. In fact, it would be usable that
    way - but now that guitar-shaped controllers are coming down in
    price, use conversion methods that are faster than pitch-to-midi,
    and are polyphonic, it wouldn't make much sense. I figure I'll just
    wait 3-4 years and pick up a used <whatever-comes-out-next-year>.
    The pitchrider lets you program in 6 note chords to follow your
    pitch - that was fun. Using the optional foot controller (which
    I didn't have) you can change programs to get the right harmonies.
    
    I was surprised how well it tracked my whistling. (Sounds strange,
    I know, but I'm a good whistler and thought it was worth a try).
    I just put a cloth over the mic to avoid having too much wind noise
    (if only I could have put a cloth over my bow to hide the bow noise).
    It followed pitch bends and tracked pretty well.
    
    I just tried singing random things into it, and it didn't do to
    well - because I was singing words. If you can accurately sing pure
    "ah" or maybe "ooh" consistently, I bet it would track you pretty well.
    I didn't try it.

    At any rate, the price on this is about $460 without the foot
    controller. 

    Tom

    Did I say 400? I meant Pitchrider 4000.
    
    Tom
    

re: len

Maybe EM had one too, but I only get KB and there was a review in there
recently on two different models, one of which looked like a garage product.

Chad

    The Dec '88 issue of Keyboard has a review of the Digigram MIDIMic,
    and the Vicknair Chromatic Translator Module (?!).  The Vicnair
    is probably the "garage product" referred to; it has a circuit board housed
    in a "light blue translucent plastic box that looks like a soap
    dish".  The mike cord, midi cable, and the cord to the external
    AC power adaptor are permanently attached to the circuit board.
    
    Some info:
    
    MIDImic
    	Interfacing:  MIDI out. RCA jack swithchable for mike output
    		(1K ohm) or line input (100K ohm).
    	Features: Four octave-transposition settings.  Pitch bend modes.
	     	Three input sensitivity settings. Plastic carying case. 
    		Automatic power-down after 7 minutes.
    
    	Dimensions: 12�" x 3/4" x 2�".  Base 1�" in diameter. 7� oz.
    	List Price: $349.00
    	Contact:  Image Computers, 751 S. Kellogg, Suite A, Goleta,
    		CA 93117. 805-683-1183.
    
    Pros: Reasonable pitch-following response. Accurate fundamental
    	recognition. Works as a typical microphone, or input can be used
    	for external audio source.

    Cons: Limited high-frequency response. Only transmits on MIDI channel
    	1 or 2. Power-down can cause MIDI errors on some devices.
    
    Vicnair CTM
    	Interfacing: MIDI out. XLR microphone connector. AC power adapter.
    	Features: Four response settings. Major chord mode.
    	Dimensions: 4�" x 3�" x 2". 9' MIDI cable. 6' microphone cable,
    		6' power adapter cable. 1� lbs.
    	List Price: $135.00
    	Contact: Vicknair Instruments, Box 1573, Hammond, LA 70404.
    		504-567-2372.
    
    	Pros: Good fundamental recognition. Follows pitches reasonably
    		well if they are precise.  Separate LEDs flash
		independently when signal detected and MIDI data transmitted.

    	Cons: No transmission of audio signal.  Limited high-frequency
  		response. Only transmits on MIDI channel 1 or 16. MIDI and 
    		microphone cables and AC power adapter permanently attached.

    Rodney M.

    $135??
    
    Sounds cheap! (YGWYPF?)
    
    ...and sounds like fun!
    
    Edd

    The gizmos mentioned in the last few responses are quite different from
    the "Vocalizer" (as advertized by Sharper Image).  The Vocalizer was
    featured in "new products" sections of a couple of magazines about 9
    months back, but was never reviewed.  It contains a sequencer and a
    ROM-based sample player with the general run of samples, including
    drums.  No specs.  I suppose one could get a look at one at a Sharper
    Image store, but since I wouldn't pay their price for it, I haven't.
    The original price that I saw for the announcement was $299(?) Sharper
    Image is asking $399, (probably a new, improved, list price).
    
    	Eirikur  (I've got a friend who wants one)

    I'm looking for a pitch to midi for hooking up to a reed pickup on
    my tenor.  Someone mentioned that the MIDIMIC or MIDI-MIC has a line
    in and is of french manafacture, since I live in France, does anyone
    know who that manafacturer is?  
    
    OR More to the point anyone got a recommendation - I shall be putting
    out 1v p/p over an approximate 70Hz-16KHz range from a black box which
    takes the reed transducer output and bungs it thru a 'formant' circuit
    to shape the reed tone back to that 'sax soun, added bonus is a click
    defeat circuit so we don't get me slapping the keys. The transducernd
    pre-shaper is a device called the C-DUCER by SAXMAN and is designed
    for the job (or so the blurb indicates) - So two questions:
    
    Has anyone tried the C-DUCER?
    Has anyone got an idea for sax pitch to midi that may be better than
    the proposed C-DUCER--->MIDI-MIC combination?
    The C_DUCER costs around �95-00 sterling.
    
    -simon