gwood wrote:
Have fun and do something amazing with it.
That's the plan...I've been watching them on ebay. Def can get one for around $150 if you try hard enough. Here's a good description of what this thing is good for.
Midi opens a world of recording possibilities to anyone that has a midi controller. As long as you have a midi sequencer (which include many digital recording software packages)recording while you are playing, you only have to get your performance right ONE TIME. After your perfect performance is recorded, you can have your performance sound like any instrument you desire just by selecting a voice.
Most keyboards have midi input and output as a standard feature. Even the most inexpensive keyboard uses midi internally to select voices, play auto accompiants and record tracks. The problem is, most other instruments do not include midi input and output as a standard feature so the feature be added-on and compromises are made.
When a keyboard is your only midi input controller you will find some techniques you commonly perform on a guitar are difficult, if not impossible, to perform on a keyboard. A keyboard can't slide from one note to another. I've never heard anyone strum a chord on a keyboard. You can't do a hammer-on or hammer-off on a keyboard. Last, but not least, a guitar player has to have a certain degree of familarity with a keyboard to use it as a midi input controller.
The YouRock guitar is only one answer to midi capability on a six string guitar. There are guitars that have midi input controller built-in but they are rare and expensive. Midi input controller capability can be added to most six string guitars but, once again, that capability is only available at a fairly significant cost.
The YouRock website implies the YouRock guitar is a new and revolutionary instrument; not true. Casio has been making guitar styled midi input controllers since the 1980's up to the present. Unfortunately, the Casio distribution network does not publicize or distribute the instruments well. Roland, Yamaha, Fender, Vox and many other traditional music and guitar manufacturers have offered midi capability in, or on, a guitar styled instrument. Here again, cost, little distribution and poor implementation have limited the impact of these instrument. Check out the attached link for more background information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guitar_synthesizerI think the yourock guitar has a better chance of success and making an impact on the marketplace because the product is directed at the game and music marketplaces.
What worries me is looking at the website and not seeing much information has happened since February, 2011. Does that mean the software for the instrument has stabilized? Why have they not added a headstock as an accessory as they advertised since the initial product announcement of November, 2010? Why have they taken the time to update the used manual to incorporate the software upgrades? Yes, they published addemdums, but you would think nine months would have been plenty of time to update and revise the manual.