Effects
Violin effects pedals. You can run your electric violin, electric viola, electric cello, or electric upright bass through electronic effects processors, either to just warm up your tone a bit, or to sound more like a rock guitar player! This is also true if you put a pickup on your acoustic violin, viola, cello or bass. The electronic effects that sound most natural with bowed strings tend to be those that play with time, like reverb and delay. Distortion takes you into outrageous sounds quickly (desirable if you want the Heavy Metal or Hendrix violin FX).
For a variety of violin effects, try a multiple effects processor, also known as multi FX boxes, for dozens of settings. As you play with them, you will discover your favorites. If you want the best violin tone, get one with 24 bit digital technology like the Zoom multi-FX pedals. If menu-based controls are not your speed, the Boss ME-50 has clear, easy-to-use analog controls, with the overdrive/distortion, frequency modulation, and delay effects logically divided into three discreet control sections. Sounds fine with violin, viola, cello.
Mac & PC Computer Recording
Using your computer as a home recording studio has become much easier (and cheaper) recently. You will need an interface, so your analog musical signal can enter the computer and be digitally recorded there, for later overdubbing, etc. We are proud to offer a wide variety of high quality products from M-Audio to help you take advantage of the many programs available, like Garage Band (which comes free with Mac computers!). Their USB or FireWire interfaces connect easily and are compatible with both PC (Windows XP) and MacIntosh (Mac OS X 10.3.9 and higher). And you can start recording immediately, because software is included! An electric violin plugs directly into the interface. Use a microphone if you want to record your acoustic instrument or voice. Once in the computer, you can use the program to practice rhythmic, harmonic or melodic patterns (slow down those cool riffs on your favorite CD's and learn them step-by-step). And you can save your music into WAV or MP3 format and email it instantly to friends! Or put it in your iPod for ultimate portability!
Click on our "Mac & PC Recording" category to see part of our selection - call for our current selection and advice!
What is MIDI?
MIDI is a digital language (or code) that allows a computer to store almost all of the elements of what you play. Parameters like pitch, loudness and duration are digitized, and can be manipulated later to sound like another instrument entirely. Of all instruments, the violin family is the most difficult to digitize accurately. Unlike the fret of a guitar or the key of a piano, we have an infinite range of pitches that we can play expressively. Add to that all the subtle inflections made with the bow, and you can understand how difficult the conversion to MIDI can be. Zeta is the only company with a usable MIDI device for bowed strings - the Zeta Synthony. Unfortunately it is not currently in production. Because of the great expense and difficulty, consider going MIDI only if you want to sound like another instrument, like a flute or harpsichord! If you want to play with wild sounds, you will probably be satisfied with the much cheaper effects processors.