The TabStrummer is a programmable MIDI controller that combines elements of chord organs and the guitar.
You can program any of its 12 memory buttons with any guitar CHORD/TAB that can be played on a 12 fret guitar, plus all the 12 memory buttons can be programmed into any of the 200 memory SONG locations of TabStrummers internal memory.
Features:
- 12 programmable memory buttons
- Record and Play any guitar tabs/chords
- Over 200 memory ‘Song’ locations
- 6 touch sensitive ‘strings’
- 14 touch sensitive ‘piano keys’
- Choice of 5 octaves for the ‘piano keys’
- Pitch Bend and Modulation buttons
- Sustain Control
- Transpose up/down 12 semi-tones
- Playable with MIDI hardware and software
- Set Velocity (not velocity-sensitive)
Here’s a demo of TabStrummer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZ_lHFiIA1s
Specifications:
- MIDI jack output (DIN-5)
- 9 – 12 Volt DC jack input (2.1mm)
- 6 ‘AA’ battery compartment
- Body made of clear 4mm acrylic
- Weight (without batteries): 780 grams (1.7 lb)
- Weight (with batteries): 920 grams (2 lbs)
- 46.5cm x 12.25cm x 3cm (18.25” x 5” x 1.25”)
The TabStrummer is available now for $199.14 (CAD) at the TabStrummer site.
via miro2424
This plays smoothly and the layout is clearly well-considered. $200 seems like a small price, especially if someone plans to seriously work on their ‘shredding’ skills. I always feel a bit “guilty” about using guitar patches, because that’s probably the #2 point of contention about synth-fakery, right after using a keytar. That puts TabStrummer in a grey area, a bit. That said, I can’t find a solid argument against it. You’ll lose part of the subtlety of playing the real thing, let’s be honest, but IMO, the responsiveness lifts it above much hard argument. Its an impressive tool. I’ll bet it finds an appreciative user base.
i would love to see the velocity controllable by an expression pedal. this looks really amazing
Hmmm… impressive piece of tech. Digital “strums” always sound like crap to me though because I play real guitars. And that’s the unfortunate intersection… guitars are incredibly expressive to play but the sonic palette is so much more bland than keyboards/synths (which is why I learned to play both!) Still, I would never use this device for strumming, but would like to check one out. Seems like it offers a lot of other cool approaches to bridge those worlds.
This looks very interesting and seems fairly priced for a unique MIDI controller.
It seems to do a good job of capturing strumming gestures – these usually sound pretty fake when you try to do it on a keyboard. Seems like this could sound pretty cool with any any plucked sounds or pitched percussive sounds.
Interesting, but I’d agree with Xtopher — it’s hard to get the expressive nature of a guitar in a synth interface. How you hold the pick (or go fingerstyle), where you rest your palm, upstroke vs downstroke — lots of ways to control the tone. There are a bunch of iPad and iPhone apps that do something similar (including one of mine) — close, sometimes useful, but given the choice, I’ll take the real thing every time…..
I didn’t watch the video yet. It looks cool but doesn’t an omnichord already do that? If this is more…pardon my ignorance.