Starr Labs zTar Z7S Midi Guitar Controler

via this auction

"This is the world's class latency free midi guitar. Each fret button is velocity sensitive, so zTar players can become virtuoso tappers as well. Play a chord with your left hand and lead lines with your right or lead/lead or chord/chord. Play any chord by pressing one button. This instrument is amazing.

Comes with the accessory pack, case and all these add-ons:

STRING TRIGGERS
These are the very latest 2010 version from Starr Labs, far better than the problematic previous string triggers - quantum leap. These are the six right hand string sensors that are used to trigger the fingerboard the same as you’d play a guitar.

TCA-1 TOUCH CAP ASSEMBLY ($375.00 add-on)
Six additional touch pads at your finger tips. Play strings by touching pads, add drums to your Synthesizer and much more.

MUTE-BAR
This is the metallic bar in the tailpiece or plate mounted elsewhere on the instrument that is used to facilitate muting the String Triggers. If your skin is in contact with both the Mute-Bar and a String Trigger the trigger will mute its triggered note(s).

NECK SENSOR STRIP
This is a narrow strip mounted to the edge of the fingerboard that can be programmed to send a variety of MIDI messages when pressed with a thumb.

JOYSTICK
The joystick is used as a performance device by programming MIDI messages to any of its four directions. Also, when programming the menu-system, the joystick is used for data- entry by scrolling values underneath the blinking cursor.

RIBBON CONTROLLER
This Z7S has this additional MIDI controller.

STEINBERGER REMOVABLE LEG REST

SATIN BLACK FINISH"

Starr Labs 2010 Ztar MIDI Guitar Controllers

Click on each image for the full size shot. Be sure to see Starr Labs for more innovative controllers including keyboard and percussion controllers.

On the Z6S-XPA:
"The Z6S-XPA is the flagship model of the Starr Labs Ztar line of professional MIDI guitars. Starr
Labs Ztar allows a guitarist to control the vast world of synthesizers, samplers, and computers, accurately and expressively. The Z6S-XPA expands on the Z6S Ztar adding powerful new features and functions geared towards providing the professional musician with ultimate control of performance, and creativity of composition.
6 velocity-sensing strings with our revised “Adaptive Static Mapping” triggering system, advanced analog front-end, and processing algorithms contribute to our fastest, most sensitive and reliable triggering system ever. The 6 Zero-latency string-triggers x 24 fret touch-sensitive color-keyed fingerboard, 6 pressure and velocity-sensing Touch-Pads, 6 fully programmable pots, and an Ableton Live control panel matrix make the Z6S-XPA the ideal guitar for playing, performing, and controlling all aspects of synthesizers, samplers, sound modules, and software!
Being truly polyphonic, the Z6S-XPA can simultaneously play multiple notes per-string, used for creating exotic harmonies and 2 hand styles that can’t be performed on a regular guitar. The cutting edge touch-sensing color-keyed fingerboard has been developed with 32 separate programmable zones, each with its own channel, voice, transposition, tuning, hammer-ons and sensitivity settings. The strings themselves have programmable tunings, and each key on the entire fingerboard may be tuned independently as well. The embedded arpeggiator and programmable auto-chording system may be assigned to separate fingerboard zones and/or frets. This fingerboard system is highly suited for drum mapping when percussion or loop playback is called for, or chord mapping when accompaniment in composition is needed.

The 6 programmable Rotary Pots and Touch Pads can be used for setting up and controlling synthesizer modules and computer music software such as Ableton Live, Reason, and Kontakt. You can also send up to 8 messages simultaneously such as Volume, EFX, modulations, LFO rate, and Filter cutoff. Finally, the Z6S-XPA is the first MIDI guitar controller to incorporate a dedicated Ableton Live control matrix panel."

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Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July everyone! A few 4th of July synth vids...
If you have any 4th of July synth goodness to share, feel free to comment or send it in.

Les Fradkin - Liberty (Steve Vai Cover)


"Les Fradkin, the virtuoso of MIDI Guitar, presents "Liberty" from his "One Link Between Them" CD.

Robert Fripp once remarked in Guitar Player Magazine: "There is a new music to go with this new instrument. Therein lies my interest in the guitar synthesizer. That something entirely new will appear." This COULD be it! Come have a look and listen to the MIDI Guitar sound of the future.

This is a cover of the Steve Vai classic guitar instrumental "Liberty" which was originally recorded by Steve Vai on his "Passion & Warfare" album. In this video, Les Fradkin is playing the Starr Labs Ztar MIDI Guitar in his Neo Classical Bach influenced style - two handed tapping of the famous Steve Vai composition with a shred guitar sample with feedback that has to be heard and seen to be believed! Perfectly in sync with 4th of July fireworks.

This video clip was recorded LIVE on July 4, 2008 at Rhyolite National Park in Castle Rock, Colorado at
Les' July 4th live concert.

MIDI Guitar.... as you've never seen it before!

Visit the Les Fradkin Official Website:

http://www.lesfradkin.com

For more information on the Ztar:

http://www.starrlabs.com"

The Synth Spangled Banner

YouTube via roonman93.

"Arranged by Rooney H. Pitchford
Dedicated to Robert Ojeda and Ryan Leadbeater, just because."

Moog SSB

YouTube via TerryT1976.

previously posted classic.

"This National Anthem montage was used in several TV stations when they signed off/on. I remember seeing this on my local stations KCOP and KABC in the early-mid 80s. Note that the Star Spangled Banner is performed on a Moog Synthesizer with brass horns. Please forgive the poor quality of this! I will re-post this clip once I find a better version.
ALL COPYRIGHTS ACKNOWLEDGED"

Les Fradkin - Lift Off

YouTube via lfradkin. via fischek
"Les Fradkin, from the Original Cast of Beatlemania, presents "Lift Off" from his "One Link Between Them" CD.

This album has received wide acclaim in publications such as Keyboard Magazine and across the Internet.

Les, who is classically trained, is moving at Hyper speed. In this video, he's playing the Starr Labs Ztar MIDI Guitar in a Neo Classical Shred meets Bach influenced style on his own composition.

The Ztar can be strummed with string triggers or tapped with one or both hands as seen in this video.

The main lead sound is the Arturia Moog Modular V and the Logic ES2. Background sounds are from an M-Tron, Roland XV-5080 and Arturia Soft Synths. The sounds at the intro are made with Propellerhead Reason.

Take a Journey To The Stars!

MIDI Guitar.... as you've never seen it before!

Visit the Les Fradkin Official Website"

Starr Labs PB-2 Ztar

via this auction
"rare Starr Labs PB-2 Ztar Synth Module. This module originally listed for $ 480, has long since been discontinued and is highly sought after. It functions as both a phantom power supply, and an excellent synth sound engine for the Ztar, or any other Midi Device. It features Midi In and Out jacks, a Line Out jack, Volume Knob, and a Headphone Pre-Amp Jack. It measures approximately 8" X 4 ", which makes it a powerful, compact midi synth engine that you could literally carry in one of your pockets. It contains approximately 100 excellent Midi patches, including Pianos, Electric Guitars, Classic Synths, Strings, Horns, Voices and Special Effects. So, grab your Ztar, Keyboard, or other Midi controller device and a pair of headphones, and you can practice or compose anywhere without lugging your gear. Or, show up with this module and your controller at an Open Mic and use the Line Out jack straight into the venues PA or Amplifier. I believe the synth engine was designed by Yamaha, but you may wish to verify that through Starr Labs."

ZBASS / ZTAR MIDI GUITAR SYNTH GUITAR

via this CL post. Note the design is different than this one.

"starrlabs faq
The ZBass is a four-"string" by twenty-four fret controller which incorporates all of the functionality of the Ztar but has a narrower neck with a wider string spacing between its four strings to provide an additional level of familiarity for bass players. String Triggers are available for the Z-Bass as a Model # 424S. Various pad combinations are also available. This ZBass a high-end model in the Diamond-shaped body with the full Display/Programmer and Joystick installed. Previously owned by Billy Sheehan" via brian comnes

Ztar Guitar Synth

Title link takes you to shots via this auction.

"This model goes for $3885.00 at Starr Labs. You can check it out at the web site www.starrlabs.com and can also glean some more info about the Ztar, testimonials, etc. This ztar is in excellent shape with only a little paint wear along the neck sensor strip and a little bit on the face of the controller screen. also cones with a hardshell case, instruction manual and power/midi box. I have owned several ztars and I think the string triggers are infinitely superior to the rubber "strum bars" of the other models, at least in terms of guitar "feel"

The Ztar is not a pitch to midi converter like Roland guitar synths, but uses a switched fret board....therefore eliminating glitches and time delays. With the Z6-SP+ you can trigger a synth simply by fretting the keys (like a real keyboard), or
by picking the strings, or tapping on the touch cap array. The fret board can be divided into multiple zones in order to play different patches from each zone allowing for many patches and layers to be available at once depending on the zones you have selected. The Ztar is so feature layden that it takes the owners manual to explore the depths. But it is well worth the time and effort. You should have at least some basic understanding of MIDI in order to tap the resources of this very sophisticated device. Unlike a Roland plug and play guitar synth, you will need to spend some time programming and tweaking the Ztar to suit your own style and preference. Again, it is well worth the effort many times over if you are interested in a superior instrument that is in a league of it's own.

The extra features on the Z6-SP+ are:
1. TCA1 Touch cap array allows you to tap on 6 string shaped rubber pads to trigger a synth.
2. Rotary Pots that are programable to Channel # and message type.
3. Neck Sensor Strip allows you to change pitch with your thumb and can be used for channel wide aftertouch effects."