akai EWI USB

Hi P,

I've never use one but seen Michael Brecker playing it live and blew me away!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4Ex1sC4xMc

I'm sure you´ll like it.

Peace,

Jorge

I own the 4000 model. I got it primarily for the headphone output and built in synth for convenient practicing. I am considering purchasing the EWI USB as a backup. One thing to be careful about is that this should not be considered plug and play when it comes to Logic. The instrument must regularly be adjusted to suit your playing style and comfortablility. For example, you have to set up the breath sensitivity of the EWI to transmit Expression via MIDI, rather than Volume, then make sure that it feels natural for each patch that you play via MIDI. I am sure all this is preset for their included software, but to play Logics instruments you will have to adjust play sensitivity to the charactorisics of the software instrument patch. The bite sensor controls pitch at an extreamly high resolution, flooding Logic with MIDI data even when you are not actually blowing through the mouthpiece. It's designed to get more of an expressive/human feel but when I try to play it through Reason via MIDI, reason says it's just to much / overflow. EWI is kind of a MIDI hog. Also the instrument can be very sensitive to static electricity because of its touch sensitive controls, which have to be adjusted for differenceds in tempurature and stuff (doesn't take long) but its annoying when you first learn how. Hopefully they made the USB model a little more common sense, friendly, and better constructed. IMPORTANT: Unlike the 4000 model which has an 8 octave range, EWI USB only allows for up to 5 octaves, so you can't play with the same range as Micheal Brecker's. I really enjoy playing mine. It takes a couple of weeks to really get used to. The durability and quality of construction is questionable, but it delivers overall as far as a tool I can use as an artist.

Well written piece, informative even for a keyboardist like me. Thanks.

Perhaps I should have pointed out what I thought my discussion would make obvious...I have successfully recorded good quality performances on Logics software instruments using the EWI. There is no such thing as "pitch bend rollers". They are OCTAVE rollers. Pitch bend is controlled by extensions near where you rest your thumb. There is a metal strip next to the rollers for portamento (not pitch bend). Logic is capable of using all of these features but they may need to be filtered using transformers in the environment to trim down the data flow. This may change as more OS/software updates are released by AKAI. Obviously, the model that features the 8 octave range, will be more expensive.
One thing I wonder about the USB model is that if you have to adjust the sensitivity of the instruments bite, breath, and touch...do you have to start an application on the computer every time since there is no program display on the USB model like there is on the EWI4000? That might be a bit of a pain while using Logic.

I am still learning Logic (1 year) and just beginning to learn EWI USB (1 month). So far, I am glad to have it, as I prefer using wind controller to keyboard for MIDI input. I agree there is a ton of information sent with each note, and perhaps I need to learn more about filtering as someone here suggests. So far my experience has been productive - and yes, it does permit a good deal of expression 'touchy feelie control' even for a newbie. The MIDI phrases I play on the EWI are more musical and need less note-by-note adjustment than phrases I play using keyboard.

I also have some unanswered questions about how/when to use the Garritan sounds that are bundled with the EWI and when to use Logic - or other - sounds. So I wd advise you allow yourself some room and time to see how it all fits together in your system.

Good luck!