Would love to hear from devs (Andre?) re MIDI for RK2/3

Now that Andre is on board, I'd love to hear his thoughts about the recurring requests that the RK2/3 driver be enhanced to (optionally) translate controller data to MIDI and send to a virtual MIDI port. This would allow the RKs to control not only Guitar Rig, but any application that can be automated via MIDI. For instance: a VST host running Guitar Rig.

This would make the RK's the best solutions presently on the market, for a whole number of applications, and for this reason I believe the development would be as much in NI's interest as in the interest of GR users.

Consider, this: http://www.x-tempozone.com/
A product that is about to hit market for about $500 retail, aimed at musicians, and all it does is send 8 QWERTY toggles from a floorboard to USB. (Something anyone can build at home for about $30, curiously...) By contrast, an RK3 enhanced as I propose, would send 8 mappable MIDI toggles, one or more continuous controllers, include low-latency audio-to-USB conversion as well as MIDI I/O.... There is NOTHING on the market that fits this bill. Believe me, I've been searching daily for years now.

The market for the RK would extend profitably from GR users to ALL electronic musicians, and the RK would suddenly look like a bargain! I'm increasingly amazed that this request has fallen on deaf ears at NI when it could potentially boost sales in several markets.

Andre, any comments on this? I'd be happy to discuss technical details further if there is any hope of progress. Otherwise, I'm back to tinkering with homemade pedals when I ought to be practicing.

Thanks!

 

Hi darc,

i would be happy to have the midi controller functionality for our products too. It is most likely that we will add this support in the future. But you have to be patient it will take some time.

André

 

Thanks Andre, as each day goes buy I am more pleased with my investment in this product and company. NI ROCKS!

 

Thanks Andre. That's a perfectly reasonable response, and I'm happy to hear it.

Do you agree that this can be realized with current hardware (RK2/3) by way of driver modifications?

Thanks,
Marc

 

Goodbye, my Rig Kontrol!

Andre,

too bad it´s only at a "in the future" state... Because for me it is now "Goodbye, Rig Kontrol", as I can´t spend my time waiting for something that MIGHT come.

I would even have been happy with a software solution for external midi, not necessarily with a fully capable midi out port, as I also use a midi to USB device in my setup.

Some sort of midi controller function really seems to be one of the most wanted features for Guitar Rig. And other manufacturers, like Line 6, have managed to make something like this, as mentioned in an earlier post (http://www.native-instruments.com/forum/showthread.php?t=58619).

I really do wish to give a lot of credit to NI for making great products, with upgrades that do take actions based on user needs and wishes. But for the midi controller issue, I´m a bit disappointed, to be honest.

I have now bought a Gordius Little Giant (just got it this weekend!),that even has extra functions to cope with what seems to be some strange Guitar Rig specific midi issues, as I saw no other way of handling a (physical) rig that contains more than just Guitar Rig.

My RK2 will be up for sale soon. It simply didn´t do the job for me...!

 

Your choice.

However, NI's emphasized time and again that RK (and Kore) are not MIDI controllers. Buying either and then getting huffy when your wishes to make it one aren't immediately met is just a little *waaah* for me, but that's my own opinion.

Bottom line- buy something for what it can do now, and not for what you think it might be able to do in the future...

Lecture over,
ew

 

Actually, the "problem" did not occur until the urge to use some of my (a bit expensive...) analog pedals in a loop switcher came back. :-D

Other than that, Rig Kontrol is a nice piece of gear!

Leaving lecture... ;-)

 

ew, just for the record....

NI may have emphasized this point after the RK2 had shipped, but they had also sent decidedly mixed signals when the RK2 was first announced - concerning both it's inherent capabilities, and then their plans to upgrade shortly after release. So some of us did buy into the controller with expectations that were established, or at least supported, by NI themselves. ~2 years later, we're still waiting. What's most frustrating is that there are feasible solutions to the problem, and no good explanation as to why it's been consistently avoided has been forthcoming.

(Counterpoint over.)

 

P.S. I also just want to say that if a potential customer makes a little noise ("waah" being just one example before walking away from a product, it really serves the manufacturer. Obviously Ni will want to know how many customers care about this feature before investing in it, and whether they care enough to look to an alternative.

There are a lot of angles to making the RK's all they can be. Here's another: if I'm running GR at a show, but I've had to resort to a Behringer FCB1010 or whatever, and left the RK at home, no one in the audience will know that they're hearing Guitar Rig. An RK on stage provides a little bit (admittedly not much) visibility for the product.

 

At least now NI has MY advice for features. :-D

BTW: Thanks, darc! ;-)