The Nyle Steiner MIDI EVI

The Nyle Steiner MIDI EVI

MIDI EVIs in Stock: 0 Temporarily out of stock

By special arrangement with Nyle Steiner, Patchman Music is now handling all new sales and repairs of the STEINER MIDI EVI within the USA. Outside the USA, you will need to contact Nyle Steiner directly. PLEASE NOTE: We will NOT be maintaining a waiting list for this item. If you want to buy one, please watch the above yellow box for an available unit and call us right away to claim it. Check back often!

In 1998, Nyle Steiner developed and began making available a new brass-style MIDI wind controller called the STEINER MIDI EVI!

The STEINER MIDI EVI is hand made by the Nyle Steiner himself so they are usually in very short supply. If you are interested in obtaining a MIDI EVI, please watch the big yellow box above for an available unit and pricing details.

Unlike the previous EWI to EVI conversions he was doing, there is NO need to send Nyle an EWI! The STEINER MIDI EVI is built completely from scratch!

Nyle writes, "I used to modify EWI's into EVI's but several years ago I started building, from new construction, MIDI EVI's that run from a 9v battery or wall wart. They are very compact and don't require any boxes between the EVI and the sound module. They have been working out very well."

6/30/04 Be sure to check out the July 2004 issue of Keyboard Magazine. Mark Vail's "Vintage Gear" column on page 100 is all about the EVI!

If you have an EVI or Steiner synth you would like to sell or have repaired contact Matt at Patchman Music. Patchman Music also may have used EVIs for sale as well. Click here or call for details.

Some high quality photos of the Nyle Steiner MIDI EVI...

Click here to download the newly revised MIDI EVI User Manual in PDF format (400k)! This new version of the manual also includes an EVI1000 fingering chart as seen here PAGE 1 and PAGE2 which can be applied to the MIDI EVI as well.

The MIDI EVI is a totally self-contained, trumpet-style MIDI controller which outputs MIDI directly from the controller thus elimitating the need for an additional interface box and also opening up the option of going wireless! The body of the MIDI EVI looks a lot like the older EWI to EVI conversions that Nyle did several years ago. Note that the MIDI EVI is completely built "from scratch"- there is no need to send Nyle an EWI for conversion. Nyle has developed a custom printed circuit board which makes the production of the MIDI EVI much easier.

Nyle initially made four prototypes and we fortunate to have received the very first one. Here are a few preliminary details...

The MIDI EVI actually has a MIDI OUT jack right on the body of the instrument so it connects directly to a MIDI synthesizer or sampler directly. You no longer have to lug around an Akai EWI sound module such as the Akai EWI3020m or EWI3030m for CV to MIDI conversion. Just connect the MIDI EVI to a synth such as the Yamaha VL70-m, VL1-m, Roland JV-1010, etc... and you're set. You will need to be sure that your synth is programmed to respond to the MIDI EVI. Click here for a list of professional wind controller soundbanks that work great with the MIDI EVI.

The MIDI EVI can be powered by an internal 9 volt battery, an external "wall wart" AC adaptor, or remotely through the MIDI cable. The operating system can be updated by simply swapping a ROM chip.

In response to your breath, the MIDI EVI can transmit any combination of the following MIDI controllers- Breath Control (controller #2), MIDI Volume (controller #7), MIDI Expression (controller #11), and Aftertouch. You can send any combination of these controllers or even all four simulateously if you wish!

Velocity can be set to transmit a fixed value, a defined fixed value, or it can be variable in response to tonguing. Velocity response and breath response is superb as would be expected since Nyle makes each breath sensor by hand. He also hand calibrates each instrument for optimum performance.

In addition to the BREATH sensor, the mouthpiece also includes a BITE sensor that can send variable Portamento Time (MIDI controller #5).

Also the MIDI EVI has been pre-wired to send a THIRD continuous controller- though Nyle hasn't fully implemented it yet. This touch sensor is wired to the mouthpiece bracket and can send Mod Wheel (MIDI Controller #1) or velocity. Patchman Music has developed a way to utilize this sensor as an EMBOUCHURE SENSOR! Click here on how to add an EMBOUCHURE SENSOR to the MIDI EVI!

Program Changes can be sent directly from the MIDI EVI by the use of special fingering and sensors. You can either increment or decrement through patches or you can directly send any patch number.

POLYPHONIC PLAYING IS NOW A REALITY! The MIDI EVI features a powerful Slur Sustain Mode which allows polyphonic playing. Slur Sustain Mode allows you to build on-the-fly chords just like a pianist. There are also various parallel interval modes available whereby parallel intervals and octaves can be played easily. It is also possible to play huge parallel chords.

Transposition, MIDI transmit channel selection, and overall MIDI Volume are available as well. These are all programmable in realtime on the MIDI EVI via special fingerings.

Additionally there is an All Notes Off feature plus a special MIDI diagnostic mode that aids in setting up the MIDI EVI.

Available via the right hand pinky finger, there is a Pitchbend x1/2 sensor which reduces the pitchbend response by a factor of 1/2. This sensor is also used in programming the MIDI EVI.

Wireless MIDI EVI

WIRELESS IS NOW A REALITY! The MIDI OUT connector on the MIDI EVI's body means it is now possible to enjoy the wonderful world of wireless! Since the MIDI EVI features a MIDI OUT right on the instrument body and can be powered by a battery, wireless playing is now possible! The Midi Jet Pro is a new wireless MIDI system that has just hit the market and has been fully tested with the MIDI EVI. We are happy to report that it works GREAT! So great, in fact, that Patchman Music has decided to become a user and the North American dealer for the MidiJet Pro Wireless MIDI system.

Patchman Music recently developed a mod to install the wireless Midi Jet Pro transmitter INSIDE the body of the MIDI EVI making it the world's first truly self-contained wireless MIDI wind controller (see photo at right). One single 9 volt battery powers both the MIDI EVI and the wireless MIDI transmitter- all controlled from a single power switch. The MIDI connection is elegantly made INSIDE the body of the EVI so there are no signs of the modification from the outside. Interested? Patchman Music can modify your MIDI EVI as well. Click here for details.

Matt Traum from Patchman Music on the MIDI EVI

I was one of the lucky few to have purchased one of the very first MIDI EVIs from Nyle. I am absolutely amazed that this controller exists. I feel very lucky that Nyle has offered to make these available. The MIDI EVI feels wonderful to play and cannot recommend it enough if you are interested in a brass style wind controller. I now have two!! I built a wonderful live gig rig based around the Nyle Steiner MIDI EVI. Here is a link to my gig rig page. Note that I now have modified my MIDI EVI to be completely wireless using the Midi Jet Pro Wireless MIDI system.

Sam Zambito on the MIDI EVI

EVI master, Sam Zambito, visited Nyle in early 1998 and had the opportunity to play a prototype MIDI EVI. He kindly offers this report....

"Just to add a little gas to the MIDI EVI fire, I'd like to give my opinion of the prototype. I spent the evening of Jan. 27, 1998 at Nyle's house. After a terrific dinner prepared by his (lovely) wife we adjourned to the 'shop' where he fired up the 'new unit' and he gave me the inside-out tour. He played on both the VL70-m and the BOSS Dr. Synth. He also had another (very) small BOSS multi-timbral module but I was too taken with everything else to really pay attention. He demonstrated the various combinations of controllers and the slick method of switching from any one controller to any other or adding them together. Changing patches on any given MIDI channel. Also changing MIDI channels, all without taking your hands off the controller. Simply pressing a 'Programming' button and selecting an octave and note fingering would achieve all of the above and more! After some time, he offered me his new creation for a spin. I, of course, declined... AS IF!!! The first patch I played was a velocity sensitive piano. The response was way better than I would have expected. I never expected that playing a wind controller with velocity only could be that good. It was very fast and smooth. Nyle has NAILED the breath/velocity algorithm. Next we moved on to various patches in the VL70-m. We experimented with a wide variety of controller combinations as well as wide variations in performance techniques to see what we could get out of the VL. Likewise we found some pleasant surprises. Had some good experiences using Breath / Volume / Expression / pitchbend. (Some very exciting results on ethnic flutes). All with the preprogrammed patches and random experimentation- great fun! It took a little while to get the hang of switching MIDI channels vs. patch changes vs. controllers but get this.....NO DIP SWITCHES. Welcome to the 20th century! We have arrived, now look out!"

The following is a summary of comments from Steve Anderson on the MIDI EVI...

Click image to visit Steve's cool "EVI Zone" wind controller website

"My overall impressions - this is sure to become my favorite EVI controller! Nyle has done a fantastic job! In addition to being all MIDI, I noticed the following differences in the hardware and software: Nyle's handmade breath sensor is more sensitive and responsive than what I was used to on the commercial units - this will take some time to get used to, but I found it quite playable right from the start - I have not even adjusted breath yet. He has improved the touch sensitivity and his new EVIs will work with dry hands so there will be no more lotion bottles at the gig. Pitchbend response with the bend plates is now much smoother and fluid as well as much more sensitive - so sensitive that I had to adjust it in relation to my thumb size and playing position. The PB 'flat' spot is much narrower than on the commercial units (which makes the vibrato sound better for some reason) so I set mine while holding the EVI as I normally do so as to get a zero pitchbend in normal holding position. The EVI comes with Nyle's standard default settings with each and every power-up, but it is so quick and easy to set up to your own preference that this is not an issue for me - I can program my preferences in about 5 seconds or less. This is an entirely new EVI, with different software and hardware. It will take a small bit of getting used to, but this is always to be expected. But either way, I am thrilled to be playing a new breed of controller."

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This page was last updated Thursday, March 20, 2008
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