Peterson's new midi converter

Jim Palenscar · Post by **Jim Palenscar** » 24 Feb 2009 6:15 pm

Peterson has released the Sonuus G2M Midi Converter and it is a doozy. Requires no hex pickup- just a standard 1/4 input plug from your guitar and into the 9v powered converter. It has a 1/4" thru for standard playing and a midi out that needs a midi source (synth module, etc). The bad news is that it's mono-phonic only at this time so cannot play more than one note at a time but it tracks quickly and can be used for lots of mono-phonic instruments such as sax, flute, etc. The good news is that it requires no hex pickup or other converters of any type and lists for about $119! I received a couple at the shop today and they work very well.

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 24 Feb 2009 7:15 pm

Wow, that's really interesting to hear, Jim. And what a price point!

Scott Denniston · Post by **Scott Denniston** » 25 Feb 2009 4:29 am

Could that be used with a Roland GR 30 or would I need some other type of midi sound module?

Jerry Erickson · Post by **Jerry Erickson** » 25 Feb 2009 6:44 am

Scott, It has midi out, so from that, you'd go to the midi in on the GR-30 and you're good to go.

robert kramer · Post by **robert kramer** » 25 Feb 2009 9:57 am

Just looked on Musicians Friend where it's $99. What would be a good sound module for under $300?

Billy Murdoch · Post by **Billy Murdoch** » 25 Feb 2009 10:47 am

The blurb says it has a standard 5 pin midi out socket.The GR 30 has a lot more pins than that,I wonder if it will drive a GR30?
Billy

Jim Palenscar · Post by **Jim Palenscar** » 25 Feb 2009 11:10 am

The standard midi plug has 5 pins- perhaps there is more than one socket on the GR30- one to accept their GK pickup (which would have more than 5 pins)? I don't have that product and currently use the IVL product Steel Driver for my Midi setup.

John Norris · Post by **John Norris** » 25 Feb 2009 11:46 am

perhaps there is more than one socket on the GR30

Yes, it has a standard Midi in socket as well. The Sonuus G2M will drive anything with a "Midi in" jack (even a drum machine

).

Billy Murdoch · Post by **Billy Murdoch** » 25 Feb 2009 12:02 pm

John,
Will You have any at Dallas? Billy

John Norris · Post by **John Norris** » 25 Feb 2009 12:36 pm

Hi Billy,
We are completely sold out right now, but we should have a limited number at the Dallas show.

Billy Murdoch · Post by **Billy Murdoch** » 25 Feb 2009 1:03 pm

Thanks John,
Look forward to seeing You again.

Paddy Long · Post by **Paddy Long** » 25 Feb 2009 2:00 pm

John this sounds very interesting, I miss my old IVL Steelrider but it was too much extra stuff to lug around!! .... this sounds very portable and "low impact" without having to install any midi pickups etc.

Look forward to checking it out.

John Norris · Post by **John Norris** » 25 Feb 2009 2:11 pm

Hi Paddy,
I think you'll be impressed, its about the size and weight of a cigarette box!

Stu Schulman · Post by **Stu Schulman** » 25 Feb 2009 2:55 pm

Hi John,Any plans on making a polyphonic model? Stu

John Norris · Post by **John Norris** » 25 Feb 2009 3:32 pm

Hi Stu,
For polyphony, you'd need to spend lots more than $99.
You'd need to buy & build a hex pickup into your steel, buy a special interface, cords etc. its been done already with the IVL system.
The beauty of the Sonuus G2M is that its simple, flexible & affordable, you can plug and play with any guitar - pedal steel, lap steel or "underarm" variety - hooked up to any Midi keyboard or expander module or soft synth via the G2M - it even works if you plug a mic into it and sing

.
Randy Kohrs used it at the NAMM show and produced some great violin & muted jazz trumpet stuff from his lap steel midi'd up to a Yamaha Motif rack through the G2M (that little box in the foreground).

Its one of those pieces that would come in very handy in the studio, when you need a particular line or lick played, but aren't too hot on the keyboard or there's only a board but no "keys" like an expander module, just plug any guitar into the module via the G2M box and you have access to all the sounds.

Stu Schulman · Post by **Stu Schulman** » 25 Feb 2009 5:39 pm

John,Thanks...I'll have to get one of those,Stu

Danny Sherbon · Post by **Danny Sherbon** » 25 Feb 2009 5:47 pm

I was wondering what midi channel it transmits on. I would want to play through a keyboard module that has a very good sampled fiddle. They sure figured it out at a great price point. Should sell a bunch of them.

John Norris · Post by **John Norris** » 25 Feb 2009 6:53 pm

Midi channel one

Kristen Bruno · Post by **Kristen Bruno** » 16 Mar 2009 12:12 pm

I was thinking about getting this gizmo for a guitar, being careful to play clean.

BUT, wouldn't using a midi type device like this on a slide instrument make it go crazy because of all the "in between notes" a slide will get?
Thanks

Super Kristen

John Norris · Post by **John Norris** » 17 Mar 2009 8:34 am

No, you just have to use common sense when choosing patches/sounds on whatever keyboard module you use with the G2M.
For example, there's no whammy bar on a piano or organ, so don't use those sounds if you're sliding a bar across the strings or it will sound as if someone slowed the tape down

.

John Norris

Greg Cutshaw · Post by **Greg Cutshaw** » 17 Mar 2009 10:32 am

I was looking at the Yamaha VL70-M for this application:

Yamaha VL70-M

It's monophonic and has an optional wind controller that would allow you to get authentic woodwind and brass sounds. It's not a sampler, but it's unique in that it is made for a single note at a time application and optimized for orchestral instruments.

There's a turbo chip available for this and tons of web info in support of it.

I'm not fixated on this unit as it does not do everything such as piano sounds, just throwing it out there as another option. MF has a scratch and dent version of it right now also at a lower price.

Greg

Bo Legg · Post by **Bo Legg** » 17 Mar 2009 11:01 am

I dropped by the Guitar Center and they didn't have one in stock so I ordered it and I got an email saying it was back ordered. I plan on using it with a M-audio midisport uno, one in one out USB-MIDI interface for notation in baib and tablEdit. I hope this is going to work. If so I will only have invested around $150.

Delvin Morgan · Post by **Delvin Morgan** » 17 Mar 2009 3:51 pm

Will any midi keyboard work with the G2M? And can I connect a midi keyboard to an amp for live playing? It is line level isn't it, of course the NV112 has a line level jack in the back. mmmmmmmmm This sounds kind of interesting.

More gadgets.

John Norris · Post by **John Norris** » 20 Mar 2009 6:10 am

Any keyboard, keyboard module, drum machine, soft synth etc. will work - if it has a MIDI IN socket and makes sounds, it will work with the G2M.
Just to dispell any lingering doubts, check out this clip:

This is a Standard Stratocaster guitar plugged into the G2M with a guitar cord and then from the G2M's MIDI output with a MIDI cord to a $199 Radio Shack keyboard with built-in speakers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLvexYw8yJY

Play Midi from any guitar for $99!

John Norris

David Mason · Post by **David Mason** » 20 Mar 2009 8:12 am

Well, it's a must-buy item, one of the few I've seen lately... I love the synth module on my Boss VF-1, it works as well monophonically as the "real" Rolands, but it's only itself... triggering a drum machine would be pretty neat. I wish that Lawson guy would put a bag over his head - it's going to take a whole new set of facial expressions to master this thing, surely.

This guy's vid is helpful:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gKrQQDd ... re=related

Well, there goes the ol' budget.

The Steel Guitar Forum

Peterson's new midi converter

Peterson's new midi converter

MIdi Channel