Akai EWI USB
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Akai EWI
USB
USB
Wind Controller Info Page
|
Click
Banner to buy your Akai EWI USB from THE Wind Controller Experts
Akai EWI USB EWIUSB.
Patchman Music is proud to announce the new Akai EWI USB Wind
Controller. This newest wind controller from Akai is extremely
responsive yet very economical. This is the lowest cost
wind controller to come along in years. Needless to say Patchman
Music sells, supports, and repairs the Akai EWI
USB in the USA. Buy
your Akai EWI USB here!
All Akai USB EWI units purchases from Patchman Music are personally checked out by Patchman Music's own wind controller expert Matt Traum! Matt Traum was pivotal in the development of the new EWI-USB so he knows this unit inside and out.
The Akai EWI USB features several fingering systems including Sax, Traditional EWI, Flute, Oboe, and Brass / EVI Fingering Mode designed for brass and EVI players by Matt Traum! Now more than ever, woodwind and brass instrumentalists can play the SAME INSTRUMENT simply by selecting the appropriate fingering system. Click here for complete details on the Brass-style EVI fingering system as it applies to the EWI4000s.
The new low cost Akai EWI-USB offers tremendous value yet retains the awesome expressiveness that all previous EWIs have been known for. Included with the Akai EWI-USB is a complete wind controller softsynth for PC and Mac (see below for system requirements). Connect the EWI USB to your PC or Mac and enjoy expressive breath controller sounds from this Aria softsynth. You can also control other softsynths with the EWI USB. Of course, the EWI USB can still be used with external MIDI synths if you connect a MIDI interface to your PC / Mac. As always, Patchman Music offers numerous wind controller soundbanks and patches that can be used via MIDI. We are very excited about this new windsynth controller and we know you will be as well.
If you are interested in purchasing a new Akai EWI USB, contact The Wind Controller Experts at Patchman Music to order. Click here for details.
Matt Traum
Patchman Music
440-740-1288
|
AKAI
EWI USB
USB WIND INSTRUMENT
GET EXPRESSIVE
The EWI USB is an electronic wind instrument for musicians looking
for an easy-to-play, easy-to-use controller. Akai Professional's
decades of experience in wind and electronic music instruments
are rolled into our most user friendly- and most affordable-
EWI ever.
PROFESSIONAL PERFORMANCE
While the EWI USB is easy and fun to use, it's also powerful, flexible, and most importantly reliable enough for use on stage and in the studio by professional musicians. Its USB interface means that all you need is nearly any Mac or PC and the included EWI USB software, and you're ready to practice, perform, create, and record with a full collection of wind instrument sounds.
MULTI MODE
The EWI USB offers multiple fingering modes including Sax, Traditional EWI, Flute, Oboe, and EVI / Brass, so whether you're just starting out as a woodwind student or an old pro wind player, you'll find EWI USB easy to play. EWI USB is designed for you to spend your time playing music; not learning technology. Patchman Music's Matt Traum states, "Offering so many fingering systems in a single instrument is truly a groundbreaking advance in musical instrument design allowing the Akai EWI USB to appeal to a vastly wider range of wind instrumentalists. This widens the potential user market size tremendously. As a tester and developer for the EWI USB, I pushed very hard for these additional fingering systems. I am very pleased that Akai has added them."
SOUND PALETTE
Because EWI USB is a MIDI controller, it's easy to expand
your sound palette. And because EWI USB is a MIDI controller,
synthesizer users, producers, and keyboard players will enjoy
the expressiveness that it can add to their setups.
The included ARIA software from Garriton delivers a wide pallette
of sound from which to choose. Simply pick an instrument and
express yourself. ARIA also lets you edit your instrument sound
so you can custom tailor your EWI USB to sound the way you want.
You can also control other softsynths with the EWI USB. You can
also control your MIDI synths when you connect a MIDI interface
to your PC or Mac. Patchman Music sells a variety of specially
programmed wind controller soundbank for various MIDI synth modules.
A complete list is here.
From where does the EWI USB produce sound?
Rather than having sounds built-in like its bigger sibling the Akai EWI4000s, the EWI USB is designed to take advantage of your computer and its sound hardware and software to produce sounds. Since EWI USB is MIDI compliant, you can load up your favorite music production or sequencing software and trigger sounds with all of the expression afforded from a wind controller.
Discover the world of expression that only wind instruments can offer with EWI USB.
- Electronic wind instrument controller
- Easy to play, easy to use, and easy to own
- Powerful, flexible, and reliable
- Plug-and-play USB connection to Mac or PC (see below for system requirements)
- Custom EWI USB software contains wind instrument sounds
- Multiple fingering modes: Sax, Traditional EWI, Flute, Oboe, and Brass (EVI)
- Expandable sound palette
- Removable, dishwasher-safe mouthpiece
Applications / Customers
- Live and Studio Performance
- Electronic Woodwind and Brass Players
Key Features
- Touch sensitive keys and four octave rollers for quick responsive playing
- Sensitive breath sensor for expressive dynamics
- Built-in USB
- PC and Mac software included (Standalone, VST, AU)
- Lightweight, portable design
- Multiple fingering systems available including EVI Fingering Mode for Brass / EVI players designed by Patchman Music's own Matt Traum!
|
INCLUDED IN THE BOX
- EWI USB wind instrument
- Neck strap
- Cleaning cloth
- USB cable
- Software DVD (Standalone, VST, AU)
- Quick start guide
- Safety instructions
- Class-compliant, plug-and-play USB device
- Mac and PC compatible (see below for system requirements)
SENSORS
- Mouthpiece: air-pressure level sensor and bite sensor
- Note Keys: 13 touch sensors
- Octave Rollers: 2 mobile, 2 fixed touch sensors (5-octave range). Patchman Music offers a mod to make all 4 of the rollers mobile.
- Bend Plates: 2 touch sensors
- Ground Plates: 2 touch sensors
MINIMUM SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
- Mac: OSX
- PC: Windows XP or Vista
CONNECTIONS
- MIDI Output Channels Over USB: 1
- Terminals: 1 slave connector (MIDI over USB)
- USB port
- Cable Holder to prevent cables from slipping off the EWI USB controller during performance
SOUND GENERATOR
- PC and Mac Aria software (included)
EFFECTS
- Generated via the PC and Mac with Aria software (included)
MIDI IMPLEMENTATION
- For a MIDI Implementation Chart, please refer to the EWI USB Quickstart Manual available here.
POWER
- ~100mA, 5V via USB
DIMENSIONS & WEIGHT
- Dimensions: 23 1/8" x 2 3/4" x 2 3/4"
- Weight: 1.3 lbs
|
In addition to the Akai EWI USB FAQ available at Akai's website here, Patchman Music offers this additional EWI USB FAQ:
Q. What are the differences between the EWI4000s and the new EWI USB model?
A. The EWI4000s and EWI USB are made for slightly different purposes. One is not intended to replace the other. The EWI4000s is completely self-contained. That is to say, the EWI4000s contains a built-in analog modeling synth with 3 digital effects processors, audio output and headphone jacks, MIDI IN and OUT ports, and battery power. The EWI USB is simply a USB controller. It must be connected to a computer running a softsynth such as the bundled Aria in order to generate sound. It can also be used to control MIDI synths if you use a MIDI interface connected to the computer. The sound from a soft synth is then output from the computer's audio output jack.
Although it is possible to be completely wireless with the EWI4000s using wireless MIDI and/or wireless audio, the EWI USB was not designed to be wireless. The EWI USB has no built in power supply and no built in synth so it needs to be tethered to a computer.
Physical differences are as follows: The EWI USB is noticably lighter and smaller than the EWI4000s. The EWI USB lacks the glide strip found on the EWI4000s- though it is possible to assign one of the bend sensors or the bite sensor to send glide (MIDI CC#5). The EWI USB also cannot send program changes from the controller and it has less range. The EWI USB has 4 rollers offering about a 5 octave range. The EWI4000s has 8 rollers offering about a 7 octave range. The EWI4000s features extra 2 side keys (OCT and HOLD) that can be used for various functions such as playing two notes at once.
Their price is also very different. Click here for current prices.
More info is in the Wind Controller FAQ here.
Q. Are there internal sounds in the EWI USB?
A. No, the EWI USB has no built-in sound generator. You must connect it to a PC or Mac running a softsynth (or via a PC / Mac MIDI interface connected to a MIDI synth) to generate any sound. You can use the included Aria softsynth or other softsynths.
Q. Are there MIDI ports on the Akai EWI USB?
A. No. The EWI USB has only a USB out port.
Q. Can I use my MIDI synth modules with the EWI USB?
A. Yes, the EWI USB can be used to trigger MIDI modules via the MIDI OUT port which would be connected to your PC or Mac. Patchman Music sells a variety of specially programmed wind controller soundbanks for various MIDI synth modules. A complete list is here.
Q. Can I edit the sounds of my EWI USB on a computer?
A. Yes, in fact you need to use a computer to generate the sounds with a softsynth such as the included Aria soft synth or you need to connect via a PC / Mac MIDI interface connected to a MIDI synth. Patchman Music sells a variety of specially programmed wind controller soundbanks for various MIDI synth modules. A complete list is here.
Q. Can I use other soft synths with the Akai EWI USB?
A. Yes. Although the EWI USB is bundled with the very nice Aria wind controller softsynth, you CAN use any other soft synth (or MIDI hardware synth) with the EWI USB. Of course, the results you get will likely not be good until you reprogram the patch in your softsynth to respond properly to the data the EWI USB sends. Most synths and softsynths are designed for keyboard controller control which is very different from what a wind controller requires. Additional general info on this subject is in the Wind Controller FAQ.
Q. Where can I get an Akai EWI USB?
A. Patchman Music sells them discounted and professionally calibrated by Matt Traum here.
Q. Can I use the the EWI USB with the older Akai EWI sound modules?
A. Yes, you can connect the EWIUSB to other MIDI synths via a MIDI OUT port coming from your PC or Mac as described above (except the EWV2000 which does not have a MIDI IN jack).
Q. I am a Brass / EVI player. Can I play the EWI USB?
A. Yes! The Akai EWI USB includes an innovative new EVI brass-style fingering mode designed by EVI player Matt Traum. For the first time in history, both woodwind AND brass players can play the same wind instrument with totally different fingering systems simply by changing one parameter! The brass-style EVI fingering mode lets EVI and brass players play the EWI USB with minimum effort. Click here for complete details.
Q. I am an Oboe and Flute player. Can I play the EWI USB?
A. Yes! In addition to the classic EWI fingering and sax fingerings on the EWI USB, the Akai EWI USB also includes Flute and Oboe fingering. More info is in the EWI USB manual.
Q. Can I go wireless with the Akai EWI USB?
A. No. There is no way to be wireless with the EWI USB at this time.
Q. Are there mods or tweaks available for the EWI USB?
A. Yes. Patchman Music currently offers two mods. One that allows all four of the octave rollers to turn (normally the outer ones are locked), and one to reduce the weight even further. We love both of these mods. These mods can also be done to new horns bought from Patchman Music before shipping for a small fee. Contact Matt at Patchman Music for complete info.
|
Please visit the Akai
Pro website for the latest manuals, info, and software supporting
the USB EWI.
|
"Hi Matt. Hope all is well - Dude, you come up with a great instrument with the EWI USB. I just got mine a few hours ago and it makes perfect sense, logically built, instantly playable and deeply musical. A lot of love for music went into this extension of the woodwind/brass family (we say this when we have eaten a good meal that a lot of love went into the cooking!). I hope the word spreads about this instrument, adding the USB connection is ideal as all the horn musicians I work with have a computer what a great way of putting your spare or current laptop to use. Nice one mate and it looks as if i'm going to be up all night with my new tool!" - Courtney Pine
|
NEW EWI BRINGS WIND-INSTRUMENT EXPRESSION TO ANYONE
EWI USB Delivers Full Electronic Wind Instrument Functionality at Attractive Price
Cumberland, R.I. (Oct. 31, 2008) Akai Professional, the name synonymous with music production, announces EWI USB, its latest wind controller, is now shipping.
The Akai EWI USB enables anyone, regardless of wind instrument-playing experience, to perform with the expressive capabilities of the wind instrument of their choice. The wind controller features a plug-and-play USB interface for use with the included Aria software with Garritan and Akai Professional samples as a sound source. EWI USB is Mac and PC compatible.
Professional players will find EWI USB fully capable of performance for stage and studio with a five-octave range, breath modulation with adjustable threshold, pitch bend, adjustable vibrato, transposing and octave shifting, and fingering modes to emulate various electronic and acoustic instruments. Further, the Garritan/Plogue Aria software enables instrumentalists to perform with up to four instruments selected from the full collection of over 75 orchestral, band and synthesizer sounds.
While EWI USB has full professional capabilities, its attractive price point and easy-to-play design make it a perfect choice for wind students. With a removable, dishwasher-safe, interchangeable mouthpiece that does not require a perfect embouchure, EWI USB is excellent for introducing students to the world of wind instruments. Former wind instrumentalists who would like to return to playing will find EWI USB easy to adapt to, eliminating much of the embouchure-building time required with a traditional instrument.
Multiple fingering modes make EWI USB model saxophone, flute and oboe, as well as traditional EWI and EVI trumpet for intuitive performance, even for players who have never picked up an electronic instrument.
"With EWI USB, we are exposing the world of wind-instrument expression to a whole new world of players," states Gregg Stein, Director of Marketing, Akai Professional. "Traditionally, electronic wind instruments have fallen into two categories: very expensive professional instruments, and inexpensive instruments of low quality. EWI USB is the first instrument to offer professional quality at such an affordable price."
EWI USB is now shipping to musical instrument and pro audio
retailers.
Garritan/Plogue ARIA is a registered trademark of Garritan Corp.
For more information, visit www.akaipro.com.
 |
 Check out the INCREDIBLE PATCHMAN TURBO VL Upgrade Chip for the Yamaha VL70-m |
This page was last updated Wednesday, December 17, 2008.
Copyright ©2005-2008 PATCHMAN MUSIC, All Rights Reserved
Purchase Terms and Conditions
All trademarks are property of their respective holders.