Patchman TURBO VL |
![]()
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![]() |
Priced at about what a good sampler CD ROM or expansion card would cost, the PATCHMAN TURBO VL upgrade represents our largest project to date. The PATCHMAN TURBO VL is the result of nearly a year's worth of research and development by the world's leading physical modelling sound design company and master wind controller programmer Matt Traum. The PATCHMAN TURBO VL chip contains 256 state of the art physical modelled Voices. Pop the PATCHMAN TURBO VL chip inside your VL70m and you instantly replace all those bland factory Presets (Preset 1 and Preset 2 banks) with 256 stunning and dynamically responsive sounds. Many of these sounds are equal to or better than samples with regards to realism but with the added dimension of incredible playability, expression, and smooth fluidity that only a physical modelling synth can offer. With these 256 high quality Voices always available, you will no longer be yearning for more Custom memory slots. Now you have immediate access to 256 HIGH QUALITY wind controller / breath controller sounds. These patches have been specially designed to be used with
a wind controller such as the Yamaha WX5, WX7, WX11, WindJamm'r,
Nyle Steiner MIDI EVI / EWI, Akai EWI, EVI, MDT, or Softwind
Synthophone. These highly expressive VL70-m patches are also
fantastic for keyboardists when used with a Yamaha
BC1, BC2, or BC3 plugged into the VL70-m. These are the most
responsive sounds available anywhere for the amazingly powerful
and versatile VL-70m! These sounds require a wind controller
or breath controller for proper use. The PATCHMAN TURBO VL chip includes incredible new modelled acoustic emulations of Soprano, Alto, Tenor, and Bari Saxes, Open and Muted Trumpets and Trombones, Euphonium, Tuba, a full range of guitars including Acoustic Steel String and Nylon Guitars, Country Steel Guitar, Jazz, "Strat", Clean, Amped, and Distorted Electric Guitars, Clarinets, Bass Clarinet, Flutes, Bass Flute, Quena, Pan Flute, Digideroo, Violin, Viola, Cello, Bowed and Plucked Double Bass, Electric Basses, Thumb Pop, Slap, "Jaco", Muted, and Picked Basses, Harmonicas, B3 Organ, plus tons of stunning new Synth Leads, and so much more. Attention to detail prevails. For example, on many of the brass Voices, if you put your wind controller into the key of Bb, you will find that the mode breaks are now correct. This makes the model sound and, more importantly, FEEL like you are playing the real thing! Also, all of these sounds have been meticulously hand tuned. These sounds are also much punchier and dynamic than the flat, unresponsive factory Voices. The gain structure has been optimized for maximum signal to noise ratio and dynamic pizzazz! Because of this, folks that have experienced noisy output levels on their VL70-m will notice a marked improvement with the PATCHMAN TURBO VL chip installed. With the PATCHMAN TURBO VL upgrade installed, the VL70-m is the undisputed lightweight champion of all wind controller modules!
|
|
![]() |
Click on any underlined Voice name for a short MP3 audio demo. These short MP3 demos range in size from 60k to 340k. These stereo MP3 files were all recorded direct to hard disk from the VL70-m with no additional manipulation of any kind. What you hear is exactly what you get!! Actually, what you will get is even better as these clips have been compressed for MP3 format. Almost all these sounds were played with a wind controller- just a few of the plucked sounds were played from a keyboard. Audio Demo Help KEEP IN MIND that NO SAMPLES were used in the making of these audio clips. The VL70-m is a true SYNTHESIZER! What you are hearing are 100% SYNTHESIZED sounds programmed and played by wind controller sound designer Matt Traum! What this means is that these physical modeled sounds are free of the numerous limitations that are inherent in sample-based systems such as noticeable shifts in timbre at keymap break points and velocity layers, bad or non-existent legato implementation, unrealistic or non-existent transitions from loud to soft WITHIN a note, etc... The physical modeled TURBO VL70-m overcomes the limitations of sample-based systems!
|
(Yes, both Banks are included on the TURBO VL chip!)
001 Trumpet 033 SoprnoSx 065 SilvrFlt 097 ClsClrnt 002 Maynard 034 KennyGee 066 ClassFlt 098 Bs.Clrnt 003 Alpert 035 HeyKenG. 067 Nz Flute 099 BrtBsClr 004 Chet Tpt 036 Branford 068 VoxFlute 100 Oboe 005 Lead Tpt 037 TraneSop 069 AquaFlut 101 Eng.Horn 006 ClassTpt 038 BrtSopSx 070 OakFlute 102 SftEngHn 007 StrMtTpt 039 Alto Sax 071 Bass Flt 103 Bassoon 008 CupMtTpt 040 Sanborn 072 Afri Flt 104 Flurinet 009 WahMtTpt 041 BirdAlto 073 PennyWhs 105 Crumbon 010 WaTptCC4 042 ExprAlto 074 TinWhist 106 Klarina 011 HrmMtTpt 043 Desmond 075 Flutofon 107 ThaiReed 012 Mute Tpt 044 Koz Alto 076 Inca Flt 108 Chanter 013 Picc.Tpt 045 Everette 077 Noze Flt 109 Digirdoo 014 Cornet 046 NY Alto 078 Quena 110 IslePipe 015 Flugel 047 NY Tenor 079 Quena x2 111 SoftPipe 016 Mangione 048 TenorSax 080 PanFlute 112 LitePipe 017 Trombone 049 MBrecker 081 Andean 113 CelloSax 018 Big Bone 050 PopTenor 082 Pan Pipe 114 YamaBotl 019 BriteTbn 051 SoulTenr 083 Bali Flt 115 Solo Vln 020 ValveTbn 052 RaspyTnr 084 IndiaFlt 116 DrkVioln 021 Jam Bone 053 Getz Tnr 085 Ambience 117 BrtVioln 022 Bass Tbn 054 JobimTnr 086 WetFone 118 SweetVln 023 BcktMtTb 055 TenorSub 087 Maya Flt 119 Fiddle 024 DorseyTb 056 Bari Sax 088 Shakuhat 120 Viola 025 WX Horn 057 TiteBari 089 Bamboo 121 SwtViola 026 BrassHrn 058 Sax Sect 090 PanPicol 122 RosinVla 027 BriteHrn 059 Air Sax 091 Coca!! 123 Cello 028 ff Horn 060 Saxual 092 Ocarina! 124 SoloCell 029 OrchHorn 061 Sanford 093 Lonely 125 DrkCello 030 New Horn 062 Piccolo 094 Recorder 126 Bow Bass 031 Euphnium 063 Flute 095 Clarinet 127 HiStrEns 032 Tuba 064 Real Flt 096 JazzClar 128 Pizzicat
(Yes, both Banks are included on the TURBO VL chip!)
001 Harmonca 033 Mute Gtr 065 Voxofone 097 SquareLd 002 MouthHrp 034 WahGtCC4 066 Whistler 098 Korg Ld 003 BluesHrm 035 PatSynGt 067 Debussy 099 LuckyMan 004 Stevie! 036 BluesGtr 068 Sines() 100 Lyle 005 Toots! 037 Clapton 069 SmoothLd 101 Analog 006 Accordn. 038 PopODGtr 070 Slinky 102 Nyle 007 Concrtna 039 Carlos 071 AirStick 103 Floyd Ld 008 Jazz B3 040 TubeGtr! 072 RotoFone 104 BorgHorn 009 Clavinet 041 FET Guit 073 Vox Lead 105 Freik 010 Funky 042 Dist.Gtr 074 Squeezy 106 Fazar 011 SteelDrm 043 Wah Lead 075 Lyricon 107 Dungeon 012 VL Drums 044 Wah Dist 076 Ana.Lead 108 NevrLand 013 Yangchin 045 GuitHero 077 Mobius 109 Brekord1 014 Asia Plk 046 Eddie4th 078 70s Lead 110 Brekord2 015 JapanPlk 047 Feedback 079 Osc Lead 111 Brekord3 016 Tambura 048 Hendrix 080 Saw Lead 112 ElecBass 017 Sitar 049 TalkBox! 081 SAWS/|/| 113 MotownBs 018 ElecHarp 050 !XTREME! 082 ResoSaws 114 SteinBas 019 SteelGtr 051 Hercules 083 EML Lead 115 FunkBass 020 AcGuitar 052 SynClav 084 HPFilter 116 PickBass 021 Flamenco 053 Syncro! 085 EWI ARP 117 SnapBass 022 SpainGtr 054 Theremin 086 EWI Lead 118 Thumb Bs 023 NylonGtr 055 Avalana 087 Koz Lead 119 TiteBass 024 SwtNylGt 056 Voxanne 088 MattLead 120 JacoBass 025 Les Gtr 057 Beauty! 089 PATCHMAN 121 StratoBs 026 Joe Pass 058 SpaceOut 090 Taurus 122 Sticky! 027 FMGuitar 059 Ghost Ld 091 Phaser-{ 123 MuteBass 028 Lucille 060 PtchNoiz 092 SynZilla 124 Ac Bass 029 >>PAT<< 061 BreathTb 093 MegaSyn 125 Juicy Bs 030 EFXStrat 062 Air Lead 094 Winwood 126 GnarlyBs 031 ClnStrat 063 Breezer 095 Pulse Ld 127 Moog Bs 032 Surf Gtr 064 ZawiLead 096 Corea!! 128 Bass1000
![]() |
Legendary saxman and wind controller player TOM SCOTT featured our 005 Toots! patch on his latest CD titled "New Found Freedom". You can hear Tom play it beautifully with his wind controller on the song titled "Never Too Far From You" available on the Higher Octave Jazz label. |
![]() |
|
![]() |
Additional extended audio clips are available here that feature the TURBO VL sounds in a LIVE JAZZ TRIO setting!! Check them out!! |
![]() |
TURBO VL programmer Matt Traum plays 004 Stevie! in a solo on the Roy Orbison tune "Blue Bayou". Click here to download the 1/2 meg MP3 audio file and hear the TURBO VL chip in action! |
![]() |
Visit Steve Anderson's excellent EVI ZONE for great audio clips featuring the TURBO VL!! |
![]() |
Visit Erik Klein's excellent website for some great recordings of the TURBO VL chip being used LIVE with a real BIG BAND! |
PATCHMAN MUSIC sound design creations and products can be heard throughout the world on TV and radio, on stage and in studio recordings with the finest talents in the music business including Herbie Hancock, Michael Brecker, Tom Scott, Bob Mintzer (Yellowjackets), Paul "Wix" Wickens (Paul McCartney's Keyboardist and Music Director), Jeff Kashiwa (The Rippingtons), Nyle Steiner, Mike Phillips (Stevie Wonder), Ricky Martin, Kirk Whalum, Courtney Pine, Everette Harp, Bobby Read (Bruce Hornsby), Fred Jackson (American Idol Band), Dave Mathews Band, Dino Soldo (Lionel Richie, Beyonce, Elton John, LeAnn Rimes, Tower of Power, Ray Charles), Edwin McCain, Freddie Ravel (Earth, Wind, & Fire), Andy Hamilton (George Michael, Duran Duran, Paul McCartney, Dexy's Midnight Runners), Michal Urbaniak (Miles Davis), Michael Bolton, Oscar Peterson, Norbert Stachel (Tower of Power), Jon Anderson (Yes), Manheim Steamroller, Jaared (Peter White), Ed Calle (Arturo Sandoval), Tim Cappello (Ringo Starr), Dianna Ross, Scott Kinsey, The Tonight Show Band, Korn, Lenny Price (Earl Klugh), Ron Blake (The Saturday Night Live Band, Christian McBride, Joey DeFrancesco), Simply Red, Hammer, Jeffrey Osborne, Mark Douthit, Rob Mounsey (Grammy nominated producer, arranger, synthesist for Michael Franks, Paul Simon, Eric Clapton, Donald Fagen), Luis Miguel, Brian Simpson, Frankie Vallie, Randy Crawford, Daryl Dragon (Captain & Tennille), Marshall Allen (Sun Ra Arkestra), Richie Havens, James Brandon (Mickey Gilley), Dan Preston (Luis Miguel), Paul Taylor, Jimmy Haag (Frank Sinatra, Buddy Rich, Wayne Newton), Ringling Brothers, The Berklee College of Music, The Eastman School of Music, Stephane Chausse (Michel Legrand), Gil Melle, and numerous other top professionals worldwide! |
![]() |
Wind Controller Virtuoso Tom Scott comments...
|
Featured Multi-instrumentalist Pedro Eustache comments...
|
![]() |
![]() |
Breath Controller Pioneer Freddie Ravel comments...
|
"Matt- Just a quick note of thanks. This is the BEST investment I've made in a long time! Continued success and I'll be sure to send students and collegues to you." Ron Blake - Sax / EWI player for The Saturday Night Live Band, Roy Hargrove, Art Farmer, Christian McBride |
![]() |
![]() |
Legendary YES Vocalist Jon Anderson comments...
|
Peter White Saxman & EWI-ist Jaared comments...
|
![]() |
![]() |
|
"Dear Matt: I finally got a chance to sit down and go through the new VL70-m sounds. Fantastic!! There are so many
useable sounds I'm a bit overwhelmed! I'm off to do a session of music for the 'Pet Psychic' TV Show (welcome to the new millennium!) and I can't wait to show off my new 'palette'. On behalf of wind synth players everywhere-- thanks for the hard work-- you've done a GREAT job!! I'm going to spend some time this week and work with the WX5-- your chip has rekindled my interest in the instrument-- Thanks again." - Tom Scott, world reknown recording artist, sax and wind controller virtuoso, arranger.
"Hi Matt. Jon here... excellent... The woodwind sounds are much more authentic than the stock ones in the VL70-m. Actually, all of the sounds are more realistic but, to me, the woodwind sounds are particularly good... working on some very ethereal ideas now... so much music... so all is well... big thanks... Jon" - Jon Anderson - Legendary vocalist / guitarist with Yes. Jon has also worked with Vangelis, Bela Fleck & the Flecktones, Kitaro, and many others.
"Matt has put his heart, ears, and great musicianship into the VL70-m Turbo Chip. It's opened up a whole new level of expression for me...." - Freddie Ravel - Music Director for Earth Wind & Fire, Recorded and performed with Phil Collins, Quincy Jones, Madonna, Al Jarreau, the Boston Pops, Prince, and many others.
"Matt, I got everything yesterday and what else can I say: YOUR WORK IS ABSOLUTE, PURE UNADULTERATED GENIUS!!!!!! The VL-Turbo is an amazing piece of work. YOU MADE IT SO THAT --FROM NOW ON-- I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GO ANYWHERE WITHOUT IT! Let me tell you, and this from the bottom of my heart as a specialist wind-synth programmer myself, there are patches that ARE ABSOLUTELY UNSURPASSED!! For me, i.e., just 'VOXFLUTE' ALONE, WAS WORTH THE PRICE OF THE VL-70 + THE TURBO CHIP!! OUTSTANDING!!! [boy, I'm running out of adjectives and epithets...] How could you make this, is beyond my comprehension... How can you make something that is so incredibly playable by anyone is amazing, really!!... I anticipate spending very serious time with these... each one is a world on their own... they're so organic, unique, deep, alive, expressive [did I say DEEP??]... Man, I can hear and 'smell' every second of that year of programming you put in these... I cannot express my profound satisfaction with this thing. Again, THANKS FOR AN ABSOLUTELY IMPECCABLE, IMPRESSIVE and OUTSTANDING PIECE OF WORK! [then, again, I'm not saying anything new to you... you've heard this countless times, haven't you??]. Blessings, Pedro." - Pedro Eustache, Featured multi-instrumentalist with Yanni and Ravi Shankar, Paul McCartney, Main wind instrumentalist of 'The Passion of the Christ'
"I've been having great fun using the VL70-m Turbo chip sounds that Matt has designed. Having this wealth of extremely playable, expressive virtual acoustic sounds to blend in with my more electronic sounds from Reason is giving me a wide palette of both solo and ensemble sounds to work with. That said, the electronic sounds in the Turbo chip are fantastic as well, with EWI Lead, Zawilead, and Corea being ones I keep coming back to. On the acoustic side, I've been using Toots, Sitar, Mangione, Desmond, Tin Whistle, Bamboo, Nez Flute, Clarinet, and Bass clarinet. As a newbie to wind controllers, I don't have the comparison with the original VL70-m sounds which were not supposed to be so great. I can say though, that having the VL70-m with the Turbo chip has made getting into this exciting and fairly painless. At this point I probably play the WX5 half the night on a typical Bruce Hornsby show, and I wouldn't be able to do that without these sounds. I have also been able to leave some instruments at home and simplify my setup a little. Thanks Matt, I know it was a labor of love." - Bobby Read, WX5 & Sax with Bruce Hornsby & Modereko
Synthophone Inventor Martin Hurni Comments...
"Dear Matt, your sounds for the VL70-m make [the Synthophone] to be a very flexible and highly playable instrument. Many good words were said about that from visitors at NAMM yesterday. NAMM has been really enjoyable this year. Many new potential customers for the Synthophone, and great response to your sound design! I'm using mostly: Mangione, KennyG, Lead Trumpet, BariSax, Git. Hero, Lyricon, Zawinul, Brecker, var. Altos, and some Bass sounds. I've made an Int. Bank with 64 of my favourites of your list. I have played your Turbo chip [for potential customers] and have seen much response to it in combination with the Synthophone." - Martin Hurni, Inventor of the Softwind Instruments Synthophone
"Wow, I was pretty excited when it fired up and said 'Patchman Music' across the Yamaha screen. So cool! LOL You have asked this many times in your head, but WHY do companies make great synths, even brilliant ones, and then load it was rushed, garbage presets. I guess that's where people like you come in. I do love your sounds. The big deal is definitely how you say... the blow through they have. So much great sounding stuff and finally bringing a new respect to the VL70-m. It felt so good to play those trumpet sounds and was surprised at the whole spectrum of response from no breath to full on them. Your tones you built are great too on everything. It shouldn't have needed it, but you really got the effects to sound totally better. Love the flutes a ton and will use those a lot. Love the sax stuff... very cool 'sax section' patch. Thanks so much for the sounds. Now that I have played through them to audition I can focus in on favorites. Thanks so much! Killer work. I know how tedious it is to get it perfect and you really did it. You have great measures of OCD and talent; perfect for such work. Yamaha and other houses really should hire you to fill out presets on new synths." - Mark Steiner, EVI Player and Nephew of EVI / EWI Inventor Nyle Steiner
"Hi, Matt. I just wanted to thank you for the great sounds you've been providing me over the years, starting with the soundbank for the good old WT11 back in 1991 or so, up to the present. But I have to say regarding the EWI4000s- that this time you've really outdone yourself! I like the instrument a lot even though I'm still more used to the feel of my trusty WX7. And although I was happy to have an axe that could travel with its own sounds, most of those were pretty dull and lifeless. I figured I'd just have to live with that for now, but I should have known better. Once I dragged that Midifile into my DP software and loaded it into the 4000S, it was like the skies opened up. Suddenly, it became a serious synth axe that could hold its own. I can't wait to start combining patches with the VL70-m! Once again, hats off to you for serving us wind-synthers over the years. Best." - Premik Tubbs, saxist & flutist for Santana, Whitney Houston, John McLaughlin, Herbie Hancock, Lonnie liston-Smith & others
"Thanks Matt, I am having a blast with my new rig. I am SOOOOOOO impressed with the Turbo chip, lead sounds are killin' and the emulated reed sounds blow me away. Again great sounds! Man when I layer all 4 synths the sounds are SO HUGE the whole of Queens thinks we're having an earthquake... LOL Will speak again soon, all the best." Brad Mason- "The Bomb Squad". (Picked as the best unsigned band in the US by DICK CLARK and winners of the Coca Cola New Music Award 2003)
"THREE CHEERS FOR THE TURBO CHIP !!! Which, imo, contributed to the VL70m having such a long production run. If you've ever taken a crack at Physical Modeling Synthesis programming, you know how hard it is. The parameters on the front panel of the VL70 are a tiny fraction of what's under its hood. One needs super intelligence, driving dedication and oodles of patience to deal with the countless hours of trial and error, not to mention all the play testing on gigs...! In my humble opinion -- a true labor of love. One that has infused the little TurboVL70 with huge potential. And for years to come, very few synths will come close to it's plug-n-play, portable, playability... So, a huge hug and very special thanks to Matt Traum for all the hard work he's done. And for his vision to make the TurboVL70m a most excellent windsynth !!!" - Erik "RoboSax" Klein
"I'm using VL70 with the Turbo upgrade and the harmonica sounds are killer. I use the, harmonica, blueshorn, stevie and toots alot and I haven't tweaked them at all. The VL70 plus a Roland XV-2020 for using the Patchman horn section performances have gotten me through a lot of gigs. I've recently been playing with the fiddle patch on the VL70. I don't want to sound like a Patchman comercial but I had a WX7 sitting in my basement for the last 15 years of my military career it was attached to a WT11 and it sounded like crap! Only after I got a VL-70 with a Turbo chip did this become something I would take out on a gig. I could get by on a gig with one synth unit for a gig it would be a Turbo VL-70m. I spent 20 years with the US Army Field Band as principal clarinetist and soloist. I wish I would have had the chance to solo with the WX, but I'm now going to use it on all my concerts. I'll be performing at the International Clarinet Association seminar in Vancouver BC over the July 4th weekend." - Tom Puwalski, former soloist with the US Army Field Band, Author of "The Clarinetist's Guide to Klezmer"
"Matt, we just released our latest DVD title, AstroPuppies in Space, on which your VL70-m Turbo chip played a significant role. There's one tune- kind of a James Brown-inspired rap- where I played one track with my actual alto sax and all the rest of the reeds and brasses with the WX7 and your sounds. Trumpet, bone, tenor and bari sax: they all sound great! There's also a short session of another song where I got something I've wanted to create for years but lacked the tools: a Crusaders-like horn part with bone and tenor. I've always loved the way those two horns can blend, but lacked the tools. I think I nailed it using your MBrecker sax and one of your 'bones. Thank you for these great sounds. Best wishes." - Tim Tully, Writer for Electronic Musician Magazine, Universe Productions
"In effect, [a TURBO VL70-m] is like a different synthesizer based on the same synthesis engine. In my opinion, if you are playing music professionally using the VL70-m, you should definitely go for the TURBO chip. If you are not a pro but are concerned about the quality of the sounds and the response of the synth, I recommend the TURBO chip if you can possibly afford it." - Bob Norton, Norton Music
"Hello Matt, I've had the Turbo chip in my VL70-m for less than a week, but I have to tell you how impressed I am with your programming. Excellent work! I'm using several voices in a TV movie I'm scoring to be shown in March on the USA network. Thanks again! With best wishes." - John Abram
"Having now received and installed the new TURBO CHIP into my VL70-m I can honestly say I was blown away by the sounds! I mean where do I begin!... Every sound is 'phatt'... the sounds are so expressive and warm. Thanks for all your hard work. I will definitely give you a credit on my forthcoming album 'Waiting on You' which will feature some of the sounds you have programmed. Once again thanks mate! You are the Don!" - Mike Parlett (Saxophones/flutes/WX7 windsynth) UK session musician and recording artist
"Hey Matt, I've been pleased beyond recognition with the voices you made for the VL70M. My favorites are the Panflute, Vox flute, Indian flute, Cello and Pennywhistle. I'm rising to the challenge of Jam Bone. At any rate, I've been experimenting with live looping of the voices with guitar and with some extended tone playing. I just thought you might want to take a listen to what one of your satisfied customers is doing with your product..." - Mark Lawson
"Matt-- Two words: Too Cool! The flutey patches and lead synth sounds are absolutely killer, and the saxes are actually so I good I may do the unthinkable: use them in recordings as saxes (unless Tom Scott or David Sanborn happen to miraculously re-locate to my area). This is providing me with a renewed burst of inspiration that will be invaluable in my upcoming composing and arranging projects. I can't believe I waited so long to go for it. Thanks" - Sean McCoy, Oregon Sound Recording
"This is one serious piece of work. I know it was a labor of love for Matt, and it shows in the final product."
"Having read all that has been said about the VL70-m, I eventually managed to source the ONLY Yamaha VL70-m for sale in the UK. After all the frustrating hours trying to get hold of one, I was expecting something pretty special from the VL70-m. I plugged in my EWI4000s, puffed my cheeks and gave it a blow. WOW! I wasn't disappointed!! The sounds were fabulous, and I considered the £300 well spent. However... should I, or should I not invest more hard earned money in Matt's Patchman Turbo VL??? I listened over and over to the demo sounds on the Patchman website, and since I play in an 'Irish' band, I especially loved the 'whistle' voices and those great sax sounds. So after checking my bank balance, I took the plunge and ordered the chip. Matt was lightning fast in despatching his end, and after a week the package arrived! Great! Now I had the daunting task of installing the chip. With a screwdriver in one hand and Matt's instructions in the other... I set to it! 10 minutes later, I reset the VL70-m and the magic words 'Patchman Turbo VL' appeared on the front display... YES!! Now I had the immense joy of trying out ALL those great Patchman sounds … absolutely brilliant!! The 'whistles' were as good as I had anticipated... certainly good enough for me to be able to leave my four real whistles at home on my next gig! And those sax sounds will definitely be well used during the 'non-Irish' section of our sets. I really liked my EWI4000s when I first bought it... now I am TOTALLY in love with it! The combination of EWI4000s, VL70-m and the hard work from Matt Traum has made my life complete! :-) I now own what is probably the most exciting instrument I have ever bought. Cheers to you all :-)"
"I must say that I totally agree about the VL-70m with the "TURBO CHIP" upgrade! I own three (two in one rack, along with a Roland XV-5050 and Roland Fantom XR) and they truly do have real 'feel' to the patches. I find this physical feedback from the VLs to be a big plus in that they tend to feel like playing the real instrument... well, the 'push back' you feel from a sax vs. a trumpet/flugelhorn is vastly different for each. I feel this feedback helps a great deal with the expressiveness of the patch. I do feel that at least a single VL should be part of any EWI player's rack... even if you primarily use software synths... as the patches Matt created for it are incredible and fun to play!"
"OK, this is a no-brainer for me. The Turbo chip works and has a bigger range of sounds than any of the Wivi and sample modeling stuff. I have all those too but for sheer versatility the vl70 and Turbo chip is on every gig I play. The WIVI sounds are great but have no strings, harmonica, or weird synth patches. The sample modeling sounds really good but all you have is trumpet, saxes and trombone. All of those are nice but VL70 Turbo is the swiss army knife of sound units."
"Matt, package arrived promptly. The chip operation went smoothly (I wasn't going to let that 63 year old lady musician quoted on your web site show me up although I'm 61:) I am speechless as I continue to cruise through the voices. I'll just put it this way. I am the nephew of a famous sax man who has played with Trane, Pharaoh, Miles, Sun Ra, Jackie McClean ETC. He stopped by on his way back to Paris from the holidays, heard me playing, checked out the horn patches and liked them so much, he said he was going see if the musicians union could ban me from playing gigs with it. He said it jokingly but with raised eyebrows, if you can dig it :) Thanks again! Until the midi jets! Take care."
"My advice would be the Patchman Turbo chip -- it will amaze you and will make you think you have bought a whole new module. Matt worked wonderful magic with the patches he built into that chip, and by having that chip in the module, it makes life so much easier than messing around loading in the CUST sound bank (which only gives you 6 new patches at a time). Don't waste another minute -- if you want more emulative sounds to play with your WX5, buy the TurboVL chip *now!*"
"I sit a bar Friday nights with a guitarist. I started using the Steel Guitar patch on a few tunes and it sounded ok, but after a few weeks of some hardcore listening to some good Steel players I've got it down. A bunch of guys from a hardcore country band were in boozin' to us last week, they were sitting in the other part of the bar not in line of sight. The one guy came over to give the 'Steel player' a gig. Man was he shocked when he saw I was blowin a dust buster! I didn't change anything on the Turbo! I just adjusted some concepts of lines and I got a highly effective emulation. When I got my first VL70 I had a Turbo chip installed so I never heard the factory sounds. Well I recently got another VL70 and it had the factory sounds on it and man that was a disappointment. Some of those sounds were reminiscent of an old Cordovox. That VL70 was Turbo'd real quick! Now my small rig has 2 synths in it- a VL70-m Turbo and the Roland XV-2020. I can't imagine needing anything more. Thanks."
"Hi Matt, I imagine you get a lot of emails like this but here goes anyhow... Got the chip yesterday, stuck it in straight after tea (dinner to you) and was laughing my head off for the rest of the night. It is BRILLIANT! You are truly the man. What a difference over the standard stuff. Realistic? er yeah.. The trumpets and horns are unbelievable. Trumpets are not a sound I had really bothered with before but messed around with them for a good while last night. Knocked out by the subtle bits and pieces you have there to make them 'real-er'. You must have spent a lot of time on the saxes, likewise the flutes, pipes, whistles... all excellent, but like I said earlier you know all this already don't you? The didge is a corker too. Me and a couple of mates have a plan for a didge, drum-n-bass thing this winter (with stand-up bass), love the way that voice is played a bit didg-ey with breathe and lip, not keys. Great. I saved bank 2 for tonight. Guitars here we come, I know they are going to be very special. I thought about buying one of your chips for a good while but didn't because I reasoned that the VL-70 was pretty good anyhow... In the end I bought it primarily for the didge (as mentioned earlier) but I now realise that the standard VL-70 is very average. You sort of expect a synth to have three or four 'good' sounds that you like and a load you never go near. Now I have a whole box full of great sounds... too much choice now! You are not short of testimonials I know but if anyone has to be told that their life is meaningless without one of your chips point them in my direction. Great product and great service. Thank you."
"Hi Matt, I just want to let you know that I received my Turbo VL last Wednesday (very fast service!!). With fear and trepidation I took my VL70-m apart, following your instructions step-by-step. Everything went perfectly and now I am happily enjoying the new improved sounds. Not bad for a 63-year old grandma!! I do love the new sounds and played this morning in church using the Kenny Gee sound. I got a lot of compliments! Anyway, thanks so much for all your help. Now I want to save up for your wireless MIDI system. Thanks again from possibly the only wind controller player grandma on the planet!!"
"Hi Matt, I just wanted to let you know that I received my WX5 and Turbo VL70-m Friday and it is incredible. This weekend I was playing Celtic tunes on the Tin Whistle and Penny Whistle and wow they sounded awesome. I also was playing some Jobim on a flute and some jazzy harmonica with Toots. The sax fingering works beautiful and I can't believe how responsive and expressive the mouthpiece is. With such realistic sounds it's almost impossible to put down. My saxes will have a rest for awhile. Thanks for your help."
"I just wanted to follow up on my previous email after I had a chance to try out the VL-70m with the new chip in it. I was blown away with how real the sounds were, from the woodwinds to the saxes and even the guitars. I figured maybe I would have to tweak some reverb or chorus settings somewhere, but I truly wouldn't want to mess with any of the clearly superior settings in the Turbo. So thanks again for the great work you put into designing the Turbo upgrade chip, it has breathed new life into my WX-5 / VL-70m combo and I'm enjoying noodling around on it so much more now."
"Hi Matt, I just wanted to let you know how pleased I am with the Turbo chip. I play about every other week on my worship team. I am also a full time instrumental music teacher. I have to tell you I was amazed at the difference. My main instrument is trumpet, but I never wanted to play trumpet on a wind controller. They just didn't sound right. Again, I couldn't believe the improvements in all the sounds. I must have played for 3 hours straight exploring the sounds and just enjoying myself. I would pull out a recording of Dorsey to imitate the sounds, scream like Maynard (which I can't do on my trumpet) and play the blues on the raspy tenor. I played last weekend and couldn't believe how many people noticed the improvements (I didn't even tell the worship team). The kept saying how clear the sound was and that maybe the sound guys were doing something different until they came up to me and said that I sounded so good on all the different sounds. I was even asked to play piccolo trumpet for a wedding, but not on my "real" trumpet...... I wasn't too hurt. ;) Thanks again!"
"I have to say that your patches are excellent, even better thatn the mp3 samples. When you listen to the examples on your website, they sound good, but playing them makes them really come alive. I couldn't put the EWI down yesterday evening. It is astonishing to feel the complexity of these patches. They are not easy to play because of the levels of expression that they allow, but the end effect is superb. There can be no doubt in my mind that anyone with a wind controller and a VL70-m should not hesitate in buying your turbo upgrade and at a fraction over $1 US per sound, they really are a bargain. Many Thanks for a fantastic product and really efficient service."
"Hi Matt, The PATCHMAN TURBO VL upgrade chip is an absolutely amazing product. The voices are very expressive and well done. First I thought that three hundred bucks is a bit pricey, but now that I am using it I claim that it was worth every penny! Many Thanks."
"I enjoy emulating the classic instruments. Trumpet mostly but Sax, Cello, Flute, Trombone and a few others as well so if you want to do that the Yamaha VL70-m with Patchman Turbo Chip upgrade is hands down the king!!!!!! I like to say the Turbo Chip is like the brain that made Frankenstein human! If you already have this awesome combination then you know what I mean. If not then... well... Dude, check it out! It's the only way to fly."
"I've listened to the audio demos and was truly amazed at the quality of the instruments. Now I don't need those ridiculous sampled libraries which pale into mere insignificance when compared to this phenomenal thing that pumps out saxophone lines about as realistic as I've ever heard. The only thing I've ever heard that provides saxophone sounds as good as this is a real saxophone player. No kidding! I can't wait to start throwing some sax lines in my jazz tracks to really juice them up. Kudos to Yamaha and Patchman!"
"Matt, first let me say a big thanks for the support that you give to wind controller users. It is a pleasure to meet someone like you on the net. I really like your Turbo VL chip. When I got the wind controller the main reason was to get a soprano sax. I have actual tenor and bari saxes. I was not at all interested in replacing my actual horns, and with the [factory] chip that came with the unit felt I made a good choice not wishing to replace my actual horns. After I got your Turbo VL chip that has changed on the tenor. The Michael Brecker sax patch you came up with turns an average sax man like myself into much more. I have not got my tenor out of the case since I got the Turbo VL chip. Keep up the good work."
"Dude!! Absolutely amazing! I cannot believe what I am hearing! I cannot tell you how pleased I am with the VL70 with your Turbo sounds. It is amazing and my musician friends who are not familiar with the technology are just slack jawed when they hear me play it. Of course I am making the music but they are dazzled with the fidelity of the sounds, especially the sax sounds."
"Hey, Matt. I'd just thought I'd tell you that I installed my Turbo VL Chip tonight, and I was just blown away! The sounds are so much more aggressive and live than the original ones that came with the VL70-m. I thought a couple of the patches were going to grab me and pull me into the box with them. I play brass, sax and flute patches a lot on my wind controller and I'm amazed at how well some of these patches are modelled. I'm actually going to have to pay closer attention to the styles of the artists the patches were based on so that I can make them sound better. I never thought that would happen. I also like the leads, especially the EWI, and of course the Hendrix patch. That one is fun! You obviously spent a lot of time building these patches and it shows. Before I installed the chip, I would not have believed that a wind controller setup could sound so good. Just wait until I learn how to play the patches properly! Great job!"
"WOW, these are some amazing patches. I've been playing wind controllers since my first Lyricon in the early 80's, and have had a few WX7's and WX5's with many tone modules over the years. I used to have a couple of TX16W's with a detailed sample of my tenor, but the load time was absurd. Your tenor patches pretty much blow that away. I can now cut loose of my entire stable of real saxes and flutes. I've been waiting for this for years! I have to keep my couple of dozen of clarinets, because it is too confusing to play a clarinet sound that overblows an octave. I really like the clarinet sounds, but whoa, there is a huge diff between having an octave key and a register key. Just a superb job on these sounds!"
"As expected, I think this chip will become regarded as a historic contribution to wind synth-ing. There are plenty of new sweet sounding patches I can use. Nice work Matt. Let's hope Yamaha takes notice."
"I received my Patchman Turbo VL Chip today. I fired her up and bingo! We have Turbo. I immediately played the unit after installation, and my first impression is... CRAAAAACK!!! We have a home run. These patches are just way better than the factory stuff (obviously) and much better, IMO, than the user patches available on the net. So good in fact, that after playing my favorites side-by-side with the Turbo Patches, I had no problem initializing the VL70-m without backing up my old patches. I like these new patches much better. First thing I noticed is how clean the new patches sound throughout a wide range. Playability is superb and the blowthrough is excellent. Greater stability of the model is apparent and the patches seem to soak up some sloppiness better than my former patches, that is, they don't glitch as much. The banks are well organized, with a large variety of instrument families. It is going to be hard to pick favorites, but I have essentially every kind sound I could want. And I can always customize at the Internal bank or the Custom slots level. The variety of sax patches is delightfully staggering and almost every conceivable style is covered. The trumpet patches are vastly improved, and the flute choices are astounding. I really like the variety of sounds and each one is markedly different is some significant, playable way. Going through all the sounds, it occurred to me that I could record an entire CD with just the VL70-m using the Patchman TURBO VL Chip. It has everything - saxes, trumpet, drums, bass, synths, harmonica, etc., etc. BTW, you have to check out the VL Drums patch - unbelievable. I look forward to doing a drum solo now! As a gigging musician, I find the effects excellent for live playing purposes (at least for my gigs) and I would have no problem recording with them either. Bottom Line: Easily worth the money. My VL70-m is definately turbo-charged now. It is also no longer the VL1-m's red-headed stepchild. It is more like its tough little brother now. This chip levels the playing field for those that don't have a VL1-m but have wondered how much better it is than the VL70-m. These patches are definitely better than what I have in my VL1-m... In sum, terrific job Matt! All I can say to those of you waiting in the wings, get a Patchman Turbo VL Chip. It will change your mind about the VL70-m."
"Thanks Matt! Wow! Like night and day to the factory patches. No favorites yet, I'm giving it a chance to sink in, and learn some of the nuance. Really amazed how good the saxes sound, even better than I expected from the samples at your website. I love the consistancy across all the voices, the 50 or so I've played so far. Avalana, Cellosax, Viola... all are wow! The whole thing is great. What a relief when 'Patchman TURBO VL' came up on the screen. Very pleased. Yamaha should be too!"
"Hi Matt. Received the VL TURBO chip today - the sound and feel is just sensational. Thanks."
"Patchman TURBO VL arrived today. Great Job! Got to find more music for brass. WX Horn. What did you do to that thing? I loved it from the Factory set, but I could never get enough volume out of it. Horn is my HIB and I know that played right a horn will overcome any background. The factory voice would only fade into oblivion. My one and only semester of orchestra at Washington State University, before I left for the US Marines, we played 'Enchanted Hunter'. Think of a horn call at 4:00 am that has every villager bolt upright in bed looking for his gun to shoot that SOB. We had eight horns and we just couldn't blast that opening loud enough for the Maestro. Now I've got a horn that'll knock him off the podium. And you've also got a velvet horn. Wonderful. Just like having you're hand cupped a little farther into the bell and squarely planted on your thigh. The effects are awesome. Everything I've been playing for the last three years just seems dead dry by comparison. I've got a completely new toy to play with. Fortunately I have a month before I am scheduled to go public. I am playing Reed 3 for a run of 'Guys and Dolls' the month of August. Have to dial in Clarinet, Oboe, Eng Horn and Tenor Sax. I'm thinking of auditioning the various Tenor's for the music director and let him decide what he wants. You've given us so many great voices to choose from. Except, 'What do you do with a digeridoo?' ;-)"
"I received my TURBO VL chip yesterday and within 10 minutes of the box entering my house I was playing it. I am thrilled and delighted beyond belief with this new chip and the fantastic job Matt has done programming these patches! (Not being obsequious, just being honest.) I find that the patches are not really jazz or classically oriented (speaking of woodwind and brass emulations) but are simply excellent options on a basic theme (trumpet, for instance, with all the variations such as Maynard or Alpert or Chet or any of the muted options). The jazz/classical orientation, in my opinion, comes in how the music is played and not in the concept of tone."
"I have NOT found a single patch I don't like. I like some more than others, but there are no 'dogs' I have found yet! A wonderful product that truly breathes new life into an already fantastic module!"
"I have recently started attending a large church in New Orleans... For the first time (not sure why it never happened before) I had a professional sax player hear me play live in a church... he came up after and asked me what I was playing and said 'I can't believe how much like a sax that thing sounds like!!' During the church service we were really jamming... and the music leader/pianist is fantastic, so I was really able to show the potential of the Yamaha WX11 with the Patchman Turbo Charged VL70-m!! He (the sax player) was a music major at the University of New Orleans and kept asking me where I studied!! He wanted to know if I was a sax player!! I told him I attended UNO but not for music and that I originally was a trumpet player. Felt good to have him compliment me and the wind controller!! He wants one Matt!!"
"This afternoon arrived Matt's mail to the mailbox. Possibly I am the first person in New Zealand who got the Chip. A computer expert friend of mine gave a hand to swap it. Before he requested bottle of beer for it but when he heard the patches he changed his mind and asked for concert tickets as rewards. In the last 3 hours I just could not put down the WX5 (and missed a gig!) but find 195 voices that I'd like to use on stage. Now I need to choose 64 for Internal Bank but Matt, you did not make it so easy. I cannot say enough times Thank You for making it available for me/us. Best regards."
"Okay! The chip is in the unit, and believe me.. If I was able to do it by myself, ANYONE can, as I am not one of greatest expert with tools (I don't know the difference between an orange and a screwdriver..) With that said.. the chip....the sounds!... let me tell you something... I very rarely used the VL70-m, as I did not think most of its sounds were that great, and I came very close to part with it.. THEN came Matt's TURBO chip!!! Man..oh man!.. What a difference!! and, the expression!!! I am still auditioning the patches and, as I am not anal about tweaking, I love them right out of the box!.... The TURBO will be my 'weapon of choice' for wild and wacky solos or exquisite leads... Thank you! Matt! Job well done, you can now relax and take a well-deserved vacation... :)"
"Matt's HIB is trumpet and I must say he has done a superb job with the brass sounds. Once again, there is more realism in many of the patches. The clarinets sound good, the basses are excellent, and the harmonicas are wonderful (I especially liked the blues harp). There are also some global improvements to the Turbo Chip. There seems to be more overall volume to the chip. Most of the patches have better dynamic response. In other words, the range from softest to loudest is greater. The patches have more consistent continuous controller allocations. For example, re-mapping CC#4 (foot pedal) to whatever controller you have available will affect similar effects on different patches. This will make it easier to perform the initial tweaking of the patches and speed me to the fine-tuning process. I can't wait until I get the Internal bank customized for my own personal playing style and get it on the gig."
"Your patches are truly wonderful. I was a sax player for many years and I can't believe the sound and feel of those patches. In fact, every sound that I've had a chance to play around with has been outstanding. I really love the overblow register jump in the lower octave of the pennywhistle. I can truly say that the Turbo chip is absolutely fantastic, and I've only just scratched the surface."
"I actually like a couple of the flutes, and I've never liked the WX flutes before."
"I took my EVI to a gig last night for the first time using the new 'Turbo' sounds. I had a great time, the new sounds are just heaven to play."
"Matt, Just wanted to let you know that I received the TURBO VL ROM upgrade for my VL70m yesterday and, to put it mildly, I'm totally amazed. The synth sounds like almost an entirely new instrument. The amount of clarity and subtlety on many of the patches is simply remarkable, even on some of the patches previously released in your VL70-m Volumes 1 and 2. Your patches were great then, but now are unbelievable (the bow characteristics on 'Cello' are an excellent example). What a great job you did on this product. I would highly recommend the TURBO VL update for anyone that uses a wind or breath controller. Thanks for the wonderful job you've done. The only problem is that now I'm going to have to go back a re-record some of the tracks on my upcoming album! I hate that (grin)!"
"The biggest problem I'm going to have is deciding which 64 sounds to put in the Internal Bank. (you can quote me on that)."
"Hiya Matt. Understand this is my first response. I plan on spending at least 4-8 more hours of digging to lay out my preliminary favs... All the patches are...great! My favs? Koz....and Avalana....very much at the top of the pile... You know what's cool though? With this many incredible patches it's hard to choose a favorite. I'll be buying another soon!!"
"Thanks for all the stuff you do. I was telling Nyle Steiner recently that I have been amazed at how my musical world has changed since I started playing wind synthesizer. I appreciate what you and Nyle have done for me. Thanks."
"Matt, just wanted to thank you. The TURBO VL is amazing! After never being very pleased with the Factory VL70-m sounds, it's a pleasure to finally have these remarkable sounds. The instructions for installing the Turbo VL were easy to understand and your FAQ was really helpful. Looking forward to lots of fun music. Thanks for making it possible. The guitar sounds are incredible. By the way, when I originally bought my VL70-m and WX5, one of my main goals was to be able to get good guitar sounds. Unfortunately, the factory guitar sounds just weren't up to the level that I had hoped for. Now, with the Turbo VL, I finally have the sounds that I always wanted. Definitely worth the wait. Thanks again."
"I got the chip today. All I've had time to do is audition each patch for a few seconds - no tweaking. All I can say is **WOW!!!** You've done an incredible job, Matt!!! The brasses and saxes and basses in particular are incredible! And the penny whistle is beyond awesome! Thanks, Matt, it was well worth the price!"
"My Turbo VL chip arrived today. As stated in the instructions, it only took about 10 minutes to install and I was up and running. Suffice it to say I agree with all the accolades sent Matt's way. My rig just shrunk from a back breaking 4-space rack and stand down to a briefcase! Great work, Matt!!!"
"Hi Matt, All I've had time to do is just plain blow into the WX5 for volume - no pedals set up yet, no special key assignments. Just the standard dip switch assignments for basic wind control. Loved the wah on the trumpet, also one of the flute patches changes octaves in response to breath just like the real thing without the special flute setting. Fun! Oh, yes - fine harmonica patches, too. And I'm really impressed with the muted trumpets. And French horn. I'll be back for the second one for my backup unit as soon as the budget allows. Best Regards."
"At the risk of being completely redundant, I received the chip yesterday, already had my VL70M apart in anticipation, and in five minutes I had entered into a veritable rebirth of the VL70M, my music playing excitement, and even the way I think about music composition. This goes way beyond different instruments in a box. As I have noted from other happy customers and I see now for myself, the Turbo VL is so powerful that it will drive me to rethink how I perform to unleash the full potential of this great product. I join the others in taking my hat off to you. Your attention to detail promises us many years of shear musical excitement. Thanks!"
"Matt, I am not sure if you remember talking to me earlier this week, but I am the person who got the Patchman Turbo VL chip for my 15th anniversary gift at work. I put it in earlier this afternoon (I left work early to do so!!!). The sounds are incredible. Although I am a sax player, I couldn't help but play 'Rise' and 'Feels So Good' using the Alpert and the Mangione voices. I love these sounds. I have played them all briefly, and have yet to decide which will go into the Internal bank (Alpert and Mangione for sure). I don't know what else to say, but thanks for all your time and effort you put into this. My only gripe is that I didn't have this in my VL70-m to begin with (Yamaha, are you listening?) Have a great day (I sure am!!)"
"My second impression is even better than the first one was. It is always a treat when a product exceeds your initial expectations."
"Lovin' the new Turbo Chip. It's awesome. Played 3 gigs with it already. Will send you a more detailed email about my great pleasure over the wonderful programming you've done. THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!"
"I missed the FedEx delivery truck and they posted a notice on the door. After work my wife and I chased the truck down at the terminal just before it closed. And it was really worth the trip. I couldn't stand the prospect of waiting all weekend for a second delivery. What great fun. All the hype from windlist members and this list was right on the money. As soon as I can scare up the dough, I will order a second chip. Thanks so much."
![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() Check out the INCREDIBLE PATCHMAN TURBO VL Upgrade Chip for the Yamaha VL70-m ![]() ![]() ![]() |