Unlocking the full potential of your guitar in the digital realm often involves using it as a versatile MIDI controller. A crucial tool in this process is your Guitar Sound Interface, which, in software form, bridges the gap between your guitar’s analog signal and the digital world of MIDI. This guide focuses on utilizing MIDI Guitar 2 as your primary guitar sound interface to seamlessly control virtual instruments and explore new sonic territories.
To get started, correctly setting up your audio and MIDI routing is essential. This ensures a smooth workflow and prevents unwanted feedback loops. Here’s a step-by-step guide to configure MIDI Guitar 2 as your guitar sound interface:
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Audio and MIDI Track Creation: Begin by creating both an audio track and a MIDI track within your Digital Audio Workstation (DAW). These tracks will work in tandem to process your guitar signal and generate MIDI data.
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Audio Input and Plugin Insertion: On your audio track, designate your guitar as the input source. Next, insert the MIDI Guitar 2 plugin directly onto this audio track. This plugin will act as the core of your guitar sound interface, translating your guitar’s audio into MIDI information.
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Audio Output Routing: Configure the output of your audio track to your desired destination, such as your main studio monitors or control room output. This ensures you can monitor the processed guitar signal.
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MIDI Input Configuration: Set the input of your MIDI track to “OMNI” or the specific MIDI channel you intend to use. “OMNI” ensures the track receives MIDI data from all channels, simplifying setup.
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MIDI Output to MIDI Guitar 2: Crucially, set the output of your MIDI track to “MIDI Guitar 2”. This directs the MIDI data generated by the plugin back into the MIDI Guitar 2 environment for instrument control.
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Instrument Selection within MIDI Guitar 2: Open the MIDI Guitar 2 plugin interface and choose the virtual instrument or synthesizer you wish to control with your guitar. This selection determines the sounds your guitar will trigger.
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Synth Display (Optional): For visual feedback and parameter tweaking, you can choose to display the interface of the selected virtual instrument within your DAW. This allows for real-time adjustments to your synth sounds.
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“Wet” Signal Optimization: Within MIDI Guitar 2’s “Guitar” section, locate the “MIX” knob and turn it fully to “WET” (100%). This eliminates the dry, unprocessed guitar signal, ensuring you only hear the synthesized sounds. You can adjust this mix to blend in your dry guitar signal as desired.
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Patch Selection: Finally, select your desired sound or “patch” on your chosen virtual instrument. Experiment with different sounds to explore the expressive possibilities of your guitar sound interface setup. For instance, trying a classic synth patch like those from Arturia’s DX7 can be a great starting point.
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Input Monitoring Considerations: Leave input monitoring enabled on your audio track. Disabling it will cut off your sound entirely. Input monitoring allows you to hear the processed signal in real-time and is essential for both playing and recording. If you need to record the dry guitar signal simultaneously, explore your DAW’s routing options for un-monitored input recording, if needed.
Should you encounter a “stuck” MIDI note – a note that continues to sound even after you stop playing – a quick fix is to toggle input monitoring off and then back on for the audio track. While MIDI Guitar 2 doesn’t have a dedicated “Panic” button, this input monitoring toggle effectively serves a similar function in resolving stuck notes.
By following these steps, you can effectively set up MIDI Guitar 2 as your guitar sound interface, opening up a world of creative possibilities by using your guitar to control a vast array of virtual instruments and effects. Experiment and explore the rich sounds you can achieve with this powerful combination.
