Choosing MIDI Guitar in 2025 - Note-on/note-off, release velocity, and much more

MIDI Guitar Demo
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It maybe doesn’t show from the thumbnail, but there is a hefty part of this video that discuss the new RELEASE knob (Note-off or Release velocity) in MIDI Guitar 3.
If you find the introduction boring, you can start at 3:57 into the video.

Also in here are tips on how to handle pitchyness when stopping notes (I call these the whale song effect).

“With the help of a couple of core MIDI concepts like note-on and note-off , I try to explain the key differences between how MIDI is created by pitch-to-MIDI systems versus traditional keyboards (and as an extension to that, guitar-like MIDI controllers). I compare these concepts with our most well-known controllers, such as Jamstik, Aeroband Guitar, Fishman Triple Play, and external pitch-to-MIDI conversion solutions from Roland and JamOrigin.”

00:00 Intro
00:50 Pitch-to-MIDI vs. Guitarlike MIDI controllers
01:37 The ONE problem most guitarists complain about - Latency
02:45 The best tip: play a lot with the sounds you use
03:15 Can’t, or don’t want to ”get over” the latency issue? Consider trying a guitarlike/shaped MIDI Controller
03:57 Major differences when creating MIDI notes: Keyboard and guitar compared
04:40 Note-off velocity (release velocity)
06:19 Differences in placement of note-on/note-off triggers
07:20 How the note-off trigger placement choice affects Pitch-to-MIDI guitar players
08:00 Is everything a MIDI Guitar?
08:12 The Jamstik - is that a MIDI Guitar?
09:21 The Jamstik - Is It an MPE Guitar?
11:28 Fishman TriplePlay (on a guitar) - Is that a MIDI Guitar?
12:30 Fishman TriplePlay and MPE
13:20 A guitar with a Roland GK2/GK3/GK5 - is that a MIDI Guitar?
14:10 Guitars with Synth Access?
14:45 The Aeroband Guitar - is that a MIDI Guitar?
15:13 What about JamOrigins MIDI Guitar software?
17:20 Guitar synths (does not need MIDI)
20.13 Problems with Pitch-to-MIDI systems
20:50 How to stop ringing notes - a major difference
21:35 My approach - hybrid picking (with multiple fingers on the same string)
23:25 The Whale song effect
25:05 Shorten the Synth sound release (ADSR)
26:14 Other uses for the Note-off trigger
28:12 MIDI Guitar 3 and Note-off/Release (LIFT)
30:00 The third option - turn off pitch bends completely
30:29 Polyphonic bends are what make a (MIDI) guitar a guitar (and worth it)
32:20 A note-length comparison between the GP10 and MG3 MIDI Output
35:00 Summary
37:00 What I was looking for when I started out: a setup with everything saved down to the patches. Sounds/Controllers/Tunings…
37:44 Patch examples
41:50 Outro - Thanks

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Many thanks @LoFiLeif, i’ve already watched it twice :slight_smile: it’s a very informative and, in my opinion, a very important video for all those who haven’t yet properly understood midi for guitar and its special features.

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Thank you for another beautiful and inspiring video, @LoFiLeiF.

Your channel is a true gold mine and the source for inspiration and knowhow, for adventurous guitarists and all of us here.

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This has been a great intro to MIDI guitar for me, just wanted to say thanks.
Also wanted to ask about how you got the MIDI Guitar 3 output to show alongside the other device in ShowMIDI? I have a GM800 and I’m trying to figure out how to compare that and get MIDI Guitar’s output side by side, and possibly record both to individual MIDI files later.

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Perehaps you need a Mac for this? I am not sure MG3 on a PC create and sends out its “virtual” “MIDI Guitar Out” in the same way.

if you open showMIDI in standalone mode (outside of any DAW or MG3) you will see and be able to compare all availible MIDI data traffic. So what I did was to use the HEX PU into the GP10 that was connected via USB to the computer. So here already I have the GP10 MIDI showinhg up (as it is coming into the computer). But I am also sending (or passing on) the six channels of audio from my HexPU (via the GP10) into MG3 on my computer. And after that I just open a MIDI OUT module on a chain in MG3 to have the MG3 MPE/MIDI also be visible in the showMIDI software.

You should be able to do the same, and also record the different MIDI output, in any DAW of your choice too. :+1:

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I my experience, it’s not the same but similar. The only real difference was that on Windows, I had to create an MG3 MIDI Out port myself (I recall I used an application called LoopMIDI) since Windows isn’t as “MIDI friendly” as macOS.

But other than that, there’s nothing special to configure other than telling your MIDI monitor of choice and the armed tracks in your DAW to listen to the correct MIDI ports.

Great vid, as usual @LoFiLeiF :slight_smile:

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@LoFiLeiF @Vaultnaemsae Thanks for the suggestions, will try those out.

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