Here's what I am trying to do:

I want to begin recording whenever I am noodling around as there are times when I come up with something interesting but then can't easily replicate what I had played just a few minutes before.

The thought is to get the playing to feed into my computer in midi format as I go, then import it into a tab writing program if I want to print a replayable part. The program I use right now (though I am open to other suggestions) is Sibelius G7. I will then have the ability to generate a TAB score of the part I want to keep.

I have tried calling various customer service departments of hardware manufacturers and ultimately they all end up getting to the point where they tell me the next step can be explained by the "other company".

I don't want to or need to do multi track recording, so latency issues I've heard so much about aren't a big deal.

I am far from being a good player, I just want to celebrate those few elusive moments that generate something that to me is memorable.
As in picture taking, I want to take lots of snapshots (take 100 snaps for one keeper) - I don't want to be a photographer (take one that is great).

Thanks in advance for any input.

Well let me know if the tab writing program works or exits. I know Target has a patch cord if that is what you are looking for. It has a USB adaptor for your PC. Beyond that you need to find a software that will do what you want.

I use Guitar Port and I am very happy with it. But I don't know of any tab writing program. I used to use a Midi program that had a small pickup you attached to your guitar. But it never worked too good and sounded awful. I think it did have music notation capability but it didn't work right either. I'll see if I can find the box.

The G7 program works great for converting my keyboard midi signal to TAB, so it seems that getting the guitar to save as a midi file is what I need to do. I am guessing it will take a combination of hardware pieces?

You need something like this:

http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/ ... =298217742

... with the MIDI capture software of your choice and then some software that coverts MIDI to TAB.

Hate to break it to you, but you will still get latency problems with midi ...especially tracking lower frequencies...

_________________
'95 Custom Warmoth Soloist Solid Flame Koa Body/Neck, Duncan Classic Livewire SSH, Sperzel locking tuners, Wilkinson VS100 bridge, all black chrome.
2008 MIM Lonestar Strat Black/White Pearl
2008 Taylor 114 CE

Thanks for the link.
The Sonos unit requires some type of midi input on the computer.

I'm hoping to get something that will work universally with any laptop or desktop I connect it to. While cost is certainly some factor, it is not necessarily the primary concern. I just want to get away from doing the improv on a keyboard then converting it to TAB to try on the guitar....I would like to do it on the guitar and then print it out if something proves interesting.

Latency shouldn't be a problem, unless I don't understand what it means, as I have no intention of doing multi track layering or accompanyment.

Didn't fender make a midi MIM a while back? It was used to hook up to a synth. It had a small pickup like the one I was talking about built. I'm sure it was better quality than mine. Mine also had to go through a black box and out a serial port to the computer.

Maybe you can find the MIM on E-bay. I doubt they make it anymore.

Thanks,
Did find one on eBay that might take care of part of what I'm trying to do.
We'll see what develops with it.

Latency in regard to Midi signals from a guitar is a fairly serious consideration. Your keyboard is basically a series of switches that trigger a packet of data that is sent to the computer for each note... Note on, note off, modulation, volume, after pressure, patch number. But that data is its native communication protocol, and it is designed to specifically to transmit that data.

In order to use your guitar as a midi controller, it requires an interface that can read the physical vibrations of each string simultaneously, convert pitch, volume, string bends, note duration, etc. into a string of midi data and send it to the midi device (computer, module, whatever). This conversion time is definitely noticeable in delayed tracking when you play midi guitar.

If you expect to play your guitar normally, and have the midi data accurately represent what you are playing in notation (as a kind of notepad while you are jamming), you will be probably be disappointed. Most notation software is notoriously picky and temperamental even when you use a standard midi controller...and if you read notation well enough to notice and correct the errors, you probably don't need software to do it for you. I've never known anyone to use it successfully with a guitar as a input device. Not saying it won't work, just saying I think you will find this way more difficult to use than you imagine, and will probably be frustrated with the results.

_________________
'95 Custom Warmoth Soloist Solid Flame Koa Body/Neck, Duncan Classic Livewire SSH, Sperzel locking tuners, Wilkinson VS100 bridge, all black chrome.
2008 MIM Lonestar Strat Black/White Pearl
2008 Taylor 114 CE

razorblade,
Thanks for the explination. I had not considered the difficulty of a program being able to "read" a guitar since, as you say, a keyboard is a much simpler device.

Maybe this is the reason it is so difficult to find something that does it well.

Back to the think tank....I appreciate your taking the time.

Glad I could help - as a Guitarist and synth geek, I learned that frustrating, expensive lesson, so I just wanted to lend some perspective.

_________________
'95 Custom Warmoth Soloist Solid Flame Koa Body/Neck, Duncan Classic Livewire SSH, Sperzel locking tuners, Wilkinson VS100 bridge, all black chrome.
2008 MIM Lonestar Strat Black/White Pearl
2008 Taylor 114 CE