Starr Labs Inc. Ztar Z7-S

This is a review for the new Starr Labs Ztar Model Z7S. Features common on this model are:glitch free 6 "string" x 24 fret touch sensitive keyed fingerboard, 6 string triggers, multiple notes per string, Being truly polyphonic the Z7S can simultaneously play multiple notes per-string, and is fully programmable. The cutting edge touch-sensing keyed-fingerboard has been developed with 32 separate zones, each with its own channel, voice, transposition, tuning, hammer-ons and sensitivity settings. Each key on the entire fingerboard may be tuned independently, and the embedded arpeggiator may be assigned to separate zones as well. This fingerboard system is highly suited to Drum mapping when percussion is called for.

Other features include: Six String Triggers, Position-sensing Ribbon controller, programmable Volume Pot, Sustain and Volume pedal ports, and 2 line x 40 character programming display. Full sysex utilities, sequencing, and a long list of software functions.

On my model, I have several optional features including: USB port, Custom Color (Pearl White), a Ribbon Controller, Breath Controller and a black plastic leg rest (you should have one of these if you plan to sit with this model).

Construction: Maple neck with a metallic silver strip along the back. This strip is used as a hand sensor to assist in correctly damping note on's to note offs in String trigger mode. Your hand must also have contact with the strings to acomplish this.

This means that if yiou palm mute, as I do, your left palm must be in contact with the back of the neck and the strings to stop notes from sounding in String Trigger mode. After a few days, I got used to this. This is not necessary i The body appears to be made of wood (what type, I know not) and is painted in a beautiful pearl white satin finish. There are various "Hot Keys" along the face of the Ztar to control Poly, Octave, Write and other functions. On the left side of the body is the software control screen where your programming action resides. The onboard display is baclit green and has 8 buttons for editing plus Up/Down Arrow keys. Given the number of software features, navigation is fairly easy IF you read the manual.

The Z7S is powered by a pin coming from the MIDI out to a small power MIDI box which connects to AC via a small wall wart. You can also power via USB, although I've yet to test this.

Has a Volume knob at the butt of the instrument plus Breath Controller port and tube, Hot keys on top and sides, ribbon controller. These controls perform well in general but you must program them carefully for your intended results.

One MIDI out, One MIDI In. USB. PC & Mac Compatible. It's a 16 channel device and receives varios commands from other Controllers (Program Change, String trigger firing, etc. In general, the MIDI implementation on the Ztar is astounding and very deep. More than enough for most applications.

Octave up/down is very useful. But the 32 zone split layer thing is where this gets amazing. I mean, you can have, for example, pizz strings, legato strings and horns all present on the fingerboard in various areas, in any tuning you want, split, or overlapping, glitch free and with playing speeds that exceed any other controller. PERIOD. You can add an optional sound card, but I personally prefer my own outboard synths and software sounds.

But it's the tapping mode that really delivers what this thing is all about. Once you leard tapping technique on this, you will realize performance dividends that are entirely absent on any other MIDI guitar or any MIDI keyboard. And the speed. My God! It's so fast that passages that were troublesome or impossible on other controllers are here for the taking.

Finally- a MIDI guitar that works! This product delivers, every day, without any problems. Once you learn your way around it, it becomes the greatest MIDI Guitar controller ever invented. And with more updates to follow, it will only get better. Any musician who wants a serious synth controller for computer recording or live performance can not afford to pass this by. It offers musical possibilities not available in any conventional instrument. And the customer support is wonderful. You can talk to the inventor- Harvey Starr, and he LISTENS. He's always there to offer tech help and is constantly developming new features.

I've endorsed this model and have recorded with it on my CD "Guitar Revolution."

I've owned SynthAxe, Roland GR's and God knows what else and I'm here to tell ya....

IMHO, this is, without question, the greatest MIDI guitar ever built. Buy one now!

Starr Labs Inc.
Starr Labs NEW Ztar Z7S MIDI Guitar Controller

The new Ztar Z7-s MIDI guitar from Starr Labs offers unsurpassed ultra high-speed MIDI control for today???s guitarists. The Ztar differs from other guitar synths in that it provides the industry???s only glitch-free, 6-string x 24 fret touch-sensitive keyed-fingerboard; ideal for playing synthesizers.


Being truly polyphonic the Z7S can simultaneously play multiple notes per-string, and is fully programmable. The cutting edge touch-sensing keyed-fingerboard has been developed with 32 separate zones, each with its own channel, voice, transposition, tuning, hammer-ons and sensitivity settings. The strings have programmable tunings, and each key on the entire fingerboard may even be tuned independently. The embedded arpeggiator may be assigned to separate finger-board zones as well. This fingerboard system is highly suited to Drum mapping when percussion or loop playback is called for.

Other features include: Starr Labs new high-speed ???Adaptive Static Mapping??? Triggering System with 6 String Triggers, Position-sensing Ribbon controller, Programmable Volume Pot, Sustain pedal port, a 2 line x 40 character programming display, full sysex utilities, and a long list of software functions.

The Z7-S sports most of the hardware features and all of the software features that complement the high-end Ztar controllers but at a more affordable price.
List price $1495.

Options include: USB, Sound Card, Neck-bender strip, Breath control, PC patch editor, leg rest, custom paint.
Call with any custom requests.
Visit our website at www.starrlabs.com for additional information.


Contact Information:

Harvey Starr, President
tel: 858-271-9827
fax: 858-271-9844

Other features include: Starr Labs new high-speed ???Adaptive Static Mapping??? Triggering System with 6 String Triggers, Position-sensing Ribbon controller, Programmable Volume Pot, Sustain pedal port, a 2 line x 40 character programming display, full sysex utilities, and a long list of software functions.

The Z7-S sports most of the hardware features and all of the software features that complement the high-end Ztar controllers but at a more affordable price.
List price $1495.

Options include: USB, Sound Card, Neck-bender strip, Breath control, PC patch editor, leg rest, custom paint.
Call with any custom requests.
Visit our website at www.starrlabs.com for additional information.

USB, Sustain Pedal Port, MIDI, Breath Controller port, more options available!