FAQ

What is a Midi Bass?

The Industrial Radio Midi Bass is a hybrid bass guitar and MIDI controller able to connect to and control synthesizers and samplers via MIDI. The Midi Bass utilises a series of electronic sensors throughout the bass and an advanced, on-board MIDI processing engine to translate the user's accoustic performance into a parallel MIDI data stream. This can then be routed to any MIDI compatible device. As a bass guitar, the Midi Bass is like any other 4-string bass with regular strings, standard EADG tuning, and magnetic pickups; these produce a standard, audio signal, that can be plugged directly into a bass amplifier.

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Can I play regular bass and MIDI together?

Yes. You can combine your regular audio bass sound with the output of the synths/samplers. They are locked in close synchronisation.

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Can I just use it as a regular bass as well?

Yes, next to the Midi Bass cable output there is standard 1/4" socket for plugging the bass into a standard amplifier without having to set up the Midi Bass Module.

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Do I need to change my playing technique to use the Midi Bass?

This question is a rather complex one, since 'playing technique' means different things to different people. Any keyboard player migrating from piano or organ to synthesizers and samplers, will achieve optimum results by modifying their organ or piano technique to suit the strengths of the synthesizer or sampler they are using. The same can be said for a bass player migrating his technique to a bass controlled synthesizer or sampler. Some bass performance techniques translate to synthesizer seamlessly, while others may require a rethink. If you mean "Can I slide notes, bend notes, use subtle/heavy vibrato, slap or tap the bass", the answer is a resounding 'yes!'. However, we want to be up front about the performance of the Midi Bass and say that for some players, particularly those whose playing style produces a high proprtion of 'unintended artifacts', the midi bass will yield varying results. The Midi Bass responds well to a consistent style of playing. Sensitivity levels of the triggering hand can be configured to either suit a hard or a soft playing style. Consistent playing style means consistent triggering. Ultimately, the great thing about the Midi Bass is that many of the triggering and sensitivity settings have been left configurable. That means the end user can set their bass up in the way that best suits their own playing style. The Midi Bass even has a set of programmable user memories called 'play styles' which enable the player to store completely different triggering setups that are recalled with patches, enabling the player to change playing technique as often as the sounds are changed.

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What happens when I bend the strings?

If the Midi Bass is programmed with BEND set to "PITCH", the tension of the string will be reflected as pitch bend midi data. If the Midi Bass is programmed with BEND set to "AFTERTOUCH", the tension of the string will be reflected as aftertouch midi data.

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Do all playing techniques translate to MIDI?

While the Midi Bass picks up and transmits straight notes, slide notes, bends, slaps, taps, subtle and heavy vibrato, along with their corresponding dynamics; there are some articulations that it won't detect. Harmonics will always transmit via midi as an open note. Ghost notes or non-pitched noises created on the strings will be transmitted as standard note information.

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What is the latency of the MIDI tracking?

For an in depth discussion on latency, please refer to the Latency page.

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Does the E-string track slower than the G-string because it is lower in pitch?

No. The Midi Bass has the same tracking speed on all notes played. Pitch-to-voltage technology is not used in the Midi Bass.

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Can I use the Midi Bass with really old synths?

It depends on what the input to the synth is, if it has CV and GATE you can play it; but you will also need a MIDI-to-CV converter. Synths all have different MIDI implementations, some will work better than others, but this will depend on the Midi Bass mode you use and what you are trying to achieve.

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How does the Midi Bass detect open strings?

Whereas the wired fretboard is used to scan and detect any fretted note, and assign that note to the string when it is plucked, the Midi Bass' logic system understands that if a trigger is received from the piezo saddle and a note is NOT being fretted, that note is an open string. There is a conception in the wider guitar controller community that 'wired fret' instruments derive note triggers from string contact with the fret. This may have been the case in the '60s, but the technology has moved on. The Midi Bass uses the piezo saddle output signal to initiate note triggers.

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Is it compatible with Roland or Axon midi bass systems (13-pin)/Virtual Guitar/Bass Systems?

No. The Midi Bass is a new proprietary system. It uses a totally different 8-pin DIN connector with a totally different pin arrangement.

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Do I have to have multiple cables out of the bass?

No. The Midi Bass is provided with its own proprietary Midi Bass cable. The Midi Bass cable connects to the Midi Bass module which in turn outputs seperate MIDI and audio outputs. All of the cabling, hooks up to the Midi Bass module leaving the bass with one single cable.

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It doesn't have USB, can I use it with a computer?

Yes. You can connect the Midi Bass to a computer via a standard MIDI-to-USB adaptor, available from manufacturers such as Alesis, Cakewalk, CME, Digidesign, Edirol, E-mu,M-Audio, Midi Solutions, Yamaha and others.

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Can I buy it in a shop?

No. We sell direct online.

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Can I return the bass if it's not what I expected?

Yes. Please refer to our 'Return Policy' section for more information.

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