New MIDI Guitar System

Virtual DSP Corporation (VDSP) today introduced MidiAxe, a new high performance custom electric/MIDI guitar system. MidiAxe puts MIDI control at the fingertips of guitarists and is distinguished by a new patented miniature guitar-to-MIDI converter system, PitchPerfect, that is concealed within the body of a custom guitar. The product provides not only exceptional electric guitar performance, but also uses a high quality piezo bridge for both electro-acoustic sound and fast tracking MIDI output from the PitchPerfect internal converter system.

VDSP offers the MidiAxe with various body woods, colors and neck styles along with Seymour Duncan® pickups in a vintage or modern style body shape. The necks are available in maple, rosewood on maple, or ebony on maple, with other custom wood and finish options available by special order. Industry wide recognized RMC Pickups® are used on the vintage bridge tremolo system and are operated in a combined mode to produce the piezo electro-acoustic sound output via an internal preamplifier and to drive the PitchPerfect MIDI recognition unit.

MIDI connectors are provided that allow standard connection to any MIDI device from synthesizers to computers. This differs considerably from current technology which requires an external converter box and additional pickups and cabling added to the guitar. MidiAxe's internal PitchPerfect system is powered directly from a standard AC adapter plug attached to the opposite end of the VDSP supplied MIDI cable.

Another distinguishable feature of the MidiAxe is the lack of complex user controls for the MIDI guitar user. There are two strategically placed 3-way toggle switches on the body of the guitar and a synth volume knob placed in one of the three normal knob control locations. Using a simple yet functional design, the guitarist can intuitively control the essential functions of the MIDI, magnetic and piezo pickups from the normal array of controls he is already accustomed to in one single instrument.

Stephen Dame, President and CEO of Virtual DSP, noted: "The release of MidiAxe is the end result of several years of engineering development and market research to produce a world-class instrument with the ease and features that professional and amateur guitarists alike have been demanding. Never before has such a simple yet feature rich guitar been produced. It is our belief that MidiAxe hits the bull's eye of the rapidly expanding MIDI guitar market as the only instrument an electric guitar player will need into the next century."

Based in Everett, WA, Virtual DSP Corporation develops and manufactures DSP audio and music products.