Expert: The Doctor - 11/28/2008

Question
Does the Tascam US-122L convert the guitar audio to a midi note? In other words can I play the notes on the guitar and have it come out as a piano? I do have a disk that came with it that says CVPiano, but I can't install it. It says I need service pack 2. I already have service pack 3. Seems like a lot is going on.

Answer
Hello Gary,

In direct response to your questions:

"Does the Tascam US-122L convert the guitar audio to a midi note?"

No.

"In other words can I play the notes on the guitar and have it come out as a piano?"

Unfortunately, no.

Guitar audio is traditionally an analog source. MIDI is a digital source. There are A/D D/A converters - devices that translate signals, such as analog to digital or digital to analog - though they are not designed to convert to/from MIDI.

There are, however, MIDI/synthesized guitars. One example of this type of instrument would be a real guitar, no different than any other, only with a synthesizer device attached to it that produces MIDI audio directly from the guitar (analog instrument). These instruments can also still be used without the MIDI feature if you like, as they have multiple inputs (generally MIDI and 1/4").

Best of luck!