I was wondering if any C & F’ers have any experience with an EWI (Electronic Wind Instrument). As I understand it, Akai is the main manufacturer of these items and you need to acquire some sort of electronic box or mixer to go with the EWI in order to get any real use out of it.
If this is OT but you have relevant information, please PM or E-mail me if you are so inclined.
Thanks!!
Tom D.
You need both pieces (controller and tone generator) make sounds with the EWI.
There are a bunch of users groups for the EWI. Here is a link to a previous discussion:
http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?t=16839&highlight=akai&sid=8a1ab1be2362c8c7d04669cd88c760c2
I have Yamaha WX5 Wind Controller.
what kind of amplifier are used with these
On my Yamaha Wind Controller’s VL-70m Tone Generator, I have a Crate mini keyboard amp using a 1/4" audio jack. That two are plugged into a “Direct Box” which converts to XLR and I have that routed into my congregation sound system.
do you think a JBL eon G2 would work good
Cool! I thought I was the only WX5 geek. Any tips for a neophyte?
do you think a JBL eon G2 would work good
Not familiar with JBL.
Cool! I thought I was the only WX5 geek. Any tips for a neophyte?
Yes, move all your favorite sounds into the INT bank and you might turn the vibrato down just a bit. I think Yamaha overdoes it on the stock sounds.
True dat, Daniel. Also, check out the wind controller patches at www.patchmanmusic.com - Matt programs some amazing sounds for the contoller. (not intended to be a commercial post - I just like his sounds for the windsynth…) 
One more thing… there’s a Yahoo group about windcontrollers, which usually has some interesting discussions. http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/windcontroller/
Well, after calling every Sam Ash music store in the metropolitan area, I finally found a YAMAHA (WX-5?) Wind Controller that I could try out. Drove 50 miles to Huntington, Long Island last Saturday, looking forward to putting down some neat sounds, etc.
The many young techies there were probably as revved up as I was–apparently, very few folks ever do anything more than say ‘what the heck is that thing?’ and they (and I) thought they were finally going to hear what it sounded like. After a few false starts (it did not have the requisite 6 AA bateries in it, for example, and they had none in the store[!], but finally found a power pack that worked intermittently), I did get some sounds out of it, but hit a real roadblock when the tune called for the second octave.
In short, it is counter-intuitive to operate for someone whose main instument is the Pennywhistle. Second octave (or third, fourth or fifth, from what I was led to believe[!], is attained by throwing one of several thumb switch/buttons on the back, etc. It was formidable, to say the least. No doubt, in the hands of someone with a saxophone background-- or, if a whistle player, the willingness & ability to ‘unprogram their hands’ --the transition might be easier.
I still have hopes of handling an AKAI, which looks simpler, but more or less assume I will not be acquiring an EWI. The net effect of this search for ‘my next instrument’ has been to re-dedicate myself to practicing and playing the pennywhistle. So, I guess it is an ill wind that blows no good. Speaking of not blowing good, did I mention that I found the Yamaha to be hard to play …
I appreciate the good feedback and leads from my fellow C & Fer’s, and was surprised to see that the thread had come back to life when I hit the Message Board this morning. I wish good luck to those of you with the skill to boldly go where this old dog probably won’t be going.
On the ‘up side’ of things, I think my number is about to come up on the Colin Goldie waiting list for an “A” whistle and another (F?–I forgot–it’s been a while), which will be more than ample consolation for venturing down the probable EWI dead end.
Tom Dowling
Actually, if you connect the VL-70m or other Yamaha tone box to the WX-5 using the Yamaha mini cable, you will not need the batteries. It then gets its power from the tone generator. I’ve used it that way now for about 4-1/2 years.
You may do well to go have a listen to these systems. A Piano player I know just got a new rig… roland fantom X8… and he asked my advise for a decent sounding PA. I told him to avoid the huge loud setups because on a solo gig (cocktail parties and the like) he should be background and on the soft side. A 200w(total) system can be cranked up and will be plenty loud and sound great for most venues And for band/club gigs he will be plugging into the house P.A. so it doesn’t matter anyway.
I recommended the Fender Passport as I have heard these in different settings and they always sound super clear with little or no coloration.
Think about the tonal characteristics you want to achieve with the speaker. You want to run an EWI through it right? Well I’m just guessing but you are probably not going to be dialing up too many bass, and bass drum patches with this thing, more likely the wind instrument stuff like sax, flute, reeds, and whistles, right? And probably just single note stuff(no chords) What size speaker is more likely to reproduce the sound you are emulating cleanly(no coloration)? A 6" or a 15"? Its why you don’t see acoustic guitar cabs set up 4x18 they are usually a single 10 or a 2x8.
Best bet is to go try them out. If you are serious about buying them you should be able to jack into a floor model at a music store and no one will give you any grief. 
Good Luck~
Scott