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MIDI Pedalboards to Synths: Best Electronic Instruments for Non-keyboard Players

Friday July 1, 2022. 04:00 PM , from Sweetwater inSync
Electronic instruments like synthesizers, sequencers, and drum machines span a universe of musical possibilities. They’re also undeniably fun to play. That said, what options exist for those of us unfamiliar with keyboard instruments or those wanting to imbue additional sounds and flexibility to current rigs without swapping instruments? This list comprises a handful of solutions to this dilemma, with selections that are catered to guitarists, drummers, and bassists yet fully capable of integrating into the live setup of any performer in need of a major creative boost.

Bassists: MIDI PedalboardsDrummers: Percussion Controllers and MultipadsGuitarists: MIDI Guitars and PickupsInstruments for Everyone: Synthesizers with Sequencers

Bassists: MIDI Pedalboards

Let’s face it: performing instrumental parts live is significantly more exciting than playing on top of backing tracks. For the bassist, or any stage performer with their hands tied up with other responsibilities, MIDI pedalboards and foot controllers are an incredible tool for performing an entire instrument’s worth of sounds with your feet. These pedalboards generally come in under two octaves in size — such as the Crumar MojoPedals 13-note MIDI pedalboard and the Studiologic MP-113 — and can be programmed to perform any sounds you desire through MIDI, so you can nail that atmospheric pad part or double up your bass lines in real time. Models like the Hammond XPK-130G even feature built-in sounds so you can accompany yourself without needing additional hardware, with easy-to-use controls onboard to get you set up and “stepping” out in no time.

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Drummers: Percussion Controllers and Multipads

It’s common to see modern drummers sporting at least one percussion controller or multipad in their stage setup; these devices lend unconstrained creative potential to players of all genres and styles. Controllers and multipads make it a cinch to capture and perform loops and samples, and they’re perfect for adding melodic elements to your fills and triggering effects on the fly. Some even feature unique sound banks to explore, such as Roland’s Octapad SPD-30, which is loaded with over 670 sounds arranged in 50 kits, and the HandSonic HPD-20, which features a staggering 1,000-plus built-in sounds like bongos, tablas, and even electronic instruments. The Alesis Strike MultiPad was further optimized with raised back pads for easy reach, ideal for hi-hats, hand percussion instruments, and any other sonic spices you’re looking to add. Plus, USB and standard 5-pin MIDI connectors ensure compatibility with practically every DAW and audio interface, making it a breeze to fit most percussion controllers and multipads into existing rigs.

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Guitarists: MIDI Guitars and Pickups

Synth and electronic instrument technology has existed in the electric and acoustic guitar realms for some time, with several top-of-the-line companies committing to high-quality products that deliver a 1:1 synth experience for non-keyboard users. This has resulted in a wealth of MIDI-equipped guitars, pickups, and full-on guitar synthesizers that make it easy to integrate electronic sounds into your sets. Roland has long been a prominent force among the pantheon of electronic instrument manufacturers, with the GR-55 and GK-3 pickup leveraging decades of experience and weaving it into a phenomenal guitar synthesizer guaranteed to conjure any synth flavor imaginable. Godin’s MultiAc Grand Concert SA acoustic-electric guitar and xtSA multi-voice electric guitar both sport a Synth Access hexaphonic output for easy interfacing with the GR-55 or similar systems, maintaining the core components, feel, and response of a traditional guitar with versatility that expands into the stratosphere — songwriters love how this technology allows them to transcribe new ideas by converting notes into easily readable MIDI. Fishman offers another electronic instrument solution with their TriplePlay bridge wireless MIDI pickup, which is compatible with electric guitars of all kinds to easily play virtual instruments from a computer.

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Instruments for Everyone: Synthesizers with Sequencers

As electronic instrument companies continue to expand their offerings with easy-to-use synthesizers, musicians of all stripes are quickly becoming bourgeoning synthesists with access to affordable, portable units. Many of these synths come equipped with multi-step sequencers, allowing you to play back audio samples to form new tracks or patterns. Sequencers are especially useful in live situations — you can program and combine notes, rhythms, and more to a set tempo, then trigger the sequence to play without needing to perform the sounds in real time. On top of being the modded version of a legendary bass synth module, the Behringer TD-3-MO-AM sports a 16-step sequencer with seven tracks and up to 250 user pattern slots, letting you program a set’s worth of sequences and more for instant recall. In need of a few more steps to nail the patterns swimming in your head? The Behringer Crave is just as simple to operate as the TD-3-MO-AM, with a 32-step sequencer for even more flexibility. If you’re looking to add a few different sounds to your toolkit, then Korg’s Volca series is fully prepared for anything in its path, bursting with sequencer-equipped synths, drum machines, bass modules, and more at wallet-friendly prices — you can add a handful of these to the gear collection at the same cost or less than a similar full-sized unit. Finally, the Roland Aira Compact J-6 chord synthesizer is another incredible option for sequencing. It’s based on the legendary Juno-60 with a 64-step sequencer to craft countless combinations of styles and patterns using the synth’s 100-plus chord sets.

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Harness the Limitless Creativity of Electronic Instruments!

Add any of the entries in this list to your arsenal, and the power and incredible creative potential of electronic instruments are yours for the taking. Best of all, many of these products make the experience as painless as possible, whether it be through integrating groundbreaking electronics into standard electric and acoustic guitars, designing controllers and multipads with clear interfaces and simple controls, or offering several different synths and drum machines at impressive price points and backpack-approved sizes. All this and more make the plunge into electronic instruments that much more satisfying — call your Sweetwater Sales Engineer today at (800) 222-4700 and find the right gear for all your needs!
The post MIDI Pedalboards to Synths: Best Electronic Instruments for Non-keyboard Players appeared first on inSync.
https://www.sweetwater.com/insync/best-electronic-instruments-for-non-keyboard-players/
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