ZIVIX had a strong image of being a maker of a small practice guitar called Jamstik Guitar Trainer that came bundled with software, but now they seem to be mainly developing MIDI guitar-related products. This time, let’s review the headless type Jamstik Studio MIDI Guitar.
Review & Text: Hiromi Yutenji
Supports wireless connection via Bluetooth as well as USB and TRS/MIDI conversion cable connections
In the first place, a MIDI guitar is a device that attaches a pip-up to the guitar body that picks up signals from each string, converts the signals to MIDI instead of audio in real time, and records them in a DAW or plays a MIDI sound source at a live performance. Equipment that can. It has a long history and is used by various artists.
As mentioned at the beginning, the Jamstik Studio MIDI Guitar is headless, and the ball end is hooked onto the head side. STEINBERGER is well known as a manufacturer of headless guitars, but there is no need for double ball end strings like that company’s, and you can use regular strings. The scale is a 25.5 inch regular scale with 24 frets. The bridge is of the type that is sometimes seen on headless guitars overseas, and although it is not impossible to turn the tuning knob by hand, this is done by removing the magnetic handle attached to the side of the bridge. The handle is very small, and even though it’s attached with a magnet, it’s a special tool, so I felt a little scared of losing it.
The pickup is humbucker x 2, and the only controls are pickup switching and volume. If I was going to use it as a regular guitar, I felt like I would need a tone knob and an arm. Three colors are available: matte black, matte blue, and matte white.
The Jamstik Studio MIDI Guitar is headless, so it’s compact and light, and the included special gig bag is stylish, making it the perfect travel guitar. Connection to a computer is made from the USB-C terminal on the main unit using a USB-A conversion cable. A 3.5mm TRS phone-MIDI conversion cable is also included, so you can connect it to a MIDI terminal. It is also possible to connect wirelessly via Bluetooth.
The included software has a built-in sound source that supports MPE and can express double bends etc.
Jamstik Studio MIDI Guitar is used in conjunction with Mac/Windows compatible software called Jamstik Creator. Additionally, you can use the iOS/Android compatible app called Jamstik Control to make various settings and check the finger board.
In addition to making various settings with Jamstik Creator connected to a guitar, Jamstik Creator itself is a nearly 5GB sound source that can be used standalone or as an AAX/AU/VST3 plug-in.
Jamstik Creator settings screen. You can make various settings such as sensitivity for each string.
Selecting a tone in Jamstik Creator. In addition to an extensive preset library, sound packs are also available for sale in the store on the manufacturer’s website.Of course, it can also be used as a regular sound source using a MIDI keyboard etc.
In MPE mode, which will be described later, the positions of the frets played on the guitar, as well as pitch changes when bending or vibrato, are displayed on the keyboard and frets, making it very easy to understand. There are a wide variety of presets available, including lead types, pad types, and SE types that are familiar to MIDI guitars.
If you hold down the 5th fret of the 1st string and bend the 2nd string one note from the 5th fret, the screen above will be displayed.
The aforementioned MPE stands for MIDI Polyphonic Expression, and is a new MIDI standard that allows “simultaneously controlling multiple performance information for each MIDI note.” With a MIDI guitar, information such as pitch bend and expression can be transmitted for each string, making it possible to perform expressions more similar to a guitar performance. For example, guitar playing techniques include double bends, unison bends, and other techniques that use different bend widths for multiple strings, and these are also possible. Currently, several sound sources are compatible with MPE. I tried it with some of APPLE Logic Pro’s sound sources and XFER RECORDS Serum, and they sounded just like the sound sources that came with Jamstik Creator.
In single mode for non-MPE compatible sound sources, pitch bend etc. are common, but there is no problem for normal use. There is also a multi-track mode, which is a bit more time consuming, but if you copy six sound sources, use six tracks, and record at the same time, you can get the same result as MPE mode.
In terms of performance, I am concerned about latency and operability. Latency depends on the DAW environment and settings, but I got the impression it was quite fast. Even tones with a strong attack can be played relatively smoothly. I get the impression that the nuances are reproduced to a certain extent thanks to MPE, so there is less stress in that respect as well. However, those who are playing MIDI guitar for the first time will need to play much more seriously than usual. Personally, I feel that I make fewer mistakes when I play with a pick rather than with my fingers.
The Jamstik Studio MIDI Guitar is recommended not only as an input device for a DAW, but also for people who want to bring a notebook computer to a live show and want to control both audio and MIDI wirelessly.
Hiromi Yutenji
[Profile]He is active in various fields from recording to sessions as a composer and arranger and as a multi-player who plays guitar, bass, drums, and keyboards. He is also well known for writing the magazine’s long-running series “Oyabuta Hitto Ryodan”.
ZIVIX Jamstik Studio MIDI Guitar
124,800 yen
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SPECIFICATIONS
▪Body: Mahogany ▪Neck: Maple ▪Fingerboard: Rosewood ▪Scale length/Number of frets: 648mm (25.5 inches), 24 frets ▪MIDI connection: USB-C (USB-A conversion cable included), 3.5mm TRS phone (MIDI (conversion cable included), Bluetooth (built-in battery/can be used continuously for 8 hours) ▪Audio connection: TS phone ▪External dimensions: 825.5 (H) ▪Weight: 2.5kg
