The Fretsense™ technology built into Industrial Radio guitars and basses takes stringed MIDI controllers to the next level by providing a real alternative to run-of-the-mill pitch-to-voltage MIDI detection.
Unlike your standard pitch-to-voltage MIDI systems, which only utilise audio signals to determine all aspects of a MIDI performance, the Fretsense system employs an array of sensor technologies built into the instrument to more quickly and reliably determine pitch, triggers and velocity.
The Fretsense system takes its name from probably the most notable sensory system, ie. the wired frets. The key to fast pitch detection on Fretsense instruments is the wired neck where every fret is connected to the fret beside it along a number of channels, ie. one per string. The Fretsense technology immediately detects the position of any fret/note that is being held by measuring the conductivity between the metal frets and metal strings.
Other than the Fretsense neck the system also has other sensors including the pitch-bend sensors in the bridge and piezo pickup bridge saddles (used for trigger detection) and the optional RadioPick accessory that offers an alternative approach to MIDI triggering.
By utilising these independent, function-specific sensors in tandem it is possible to achieve a much more consistent, relaible and lower latency MIDI performance.