Akai EWI USB

audioMIDI.com's Tom Luer demos Akai's amazing new EWI USB wind controller. Free extra EWM1 mouthpiece while supplies last!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• controller
• midi
• wind

[audiomidicom]

I don't play EWI, but I shot the video, and there didn't appear to any latency (Tom didn't say anything about it, and I'm sure I would've noticed). It's likely that the "latency" you're noticing is Youtube causing the sound sync to get off a bit.

[FCO0710]

they are MIDI controllers! you can have them play whatever sounds you want them to!

[sankofamusician]

I haven't gotten my hands on the USB version but I can tell you that from the specs here are the differences.

1. no internal sounds at all

2. only 5 octaves as opposed to 7 on the 4000s

3. Cannot be played without a computer.

Also, the demo sounds I've heard for the USB version don't seem to be especially made for the EWI. They don't make great use of breath control for volume and vibrato. Hopefully they have programmed more patches that use BC. For my money the 4000s is superior.

[Kaffimusic]

@audiomidicom Audio and video are not always synced. I mentioned a part where audio was a bit in front of the vid. In fact with those sounds, monophonic play and a proper audiosoftware in your computer you will never realize that there are delays, even if they can be measured. Its millisceconds with software-synthesizers, it´s close to none with midi-hardware. It takes much more data to slow that down.

[sankofamusician]

@BullzEye14 As far as I know the only AKAI model which doesn't need a computer is the EWI 4000s which has internal sounds and a MIDI port to connect to a synth. The EWI USB is just a controller but communicates only on the USB port. There aren't any synths I know of that can take a USB input from another synth or controller. If you're looking to get one I'd recommend the 4000s over the USB.

[BullzEye14]

is there any way to play the ewi without a computer, like say by running it through a synth instead of a running it through a computer?

[BullzEye14]

@sankofamusician is there any way to play the ewi without a computer, like say by running it through a synth instead of a running it through a computer?

[Jezro]

Thanks Seth Green!

[garface4]

is the sound coming out of the computer or an amo? or speakers connected to the computer? this is obviously a major factor in performance

[starcommander55]

@limescout Run the EWI through your computer using MIDI-Thru options.

Just remember: the EWI-USB is a MIDI controller, and the EWI 4000s is a synth with a controller attached.

[limescout]

Can I somehow use this with a hardware synth module that only accepts traditional MIDI plugs? Is there some kind of interface that can convert the EWI's usb MIDI to traditional MIDI?

[bluesysaxman]

I had a 4000s. It sucked!



[RMcGO28716]

Awful haven't heard the EWI played so badly or demonstrated so terribly. Forget about it ! Contact Patchman music / EWI for the real deal or better still watch Brecker playing the EWI. Great for performance with right set up, for practice at night all those mad patterns licks & scales we have to get under our fingers as Tenor /Alto players. Not a sub for real horns but in the right hands can be a wonderful composition tool Funk, Brecker Bros covers

Best to all serious Musicians out there !!