Wind Controllers

[SilverBeast]

Just wondering if any of you synth guys have a Yamaha WX7 (wind controller) as part of your synth setup?

I'd like to find out more particularly if you have connected it to a midi synth other than the recommended VL70m.

 

[Cheez]

Wind controllers (for wind players) and valve controllers (for brass players) were the best things for creating realistic sounding wind and brass instrument playing because of the flexibility of breathe control.

But that is a thing of the past. Now, I see it more for showmanship - on stage. It looks good.

But in a home studio setip, if the purpose is to get realistic sounding wind and brass, samples are still the way to go. It's very difficult to get the different articulations programmed for a wind controlller. The way to get reaslitic sound will be good sequencing techniques, usage of various midi controls (mod wheels, expression pedals etc), and a good sample library.

But it's still my dream to own an EVI.

 

[newbie100]

yamaha wx5 supposed to go along with vl70m?

 

[Cheez]

Not necessary. It works like any midi controller. Connect to any modules or midi device and it can trigger them.

 

[SilverBeast]

Newbie:-
Yup, the two are the intended perfect match. In the US, they have a replacement chip that contains acoustic instrument patches as compared to the default synth patches in the original set. The great improvement that the WX5 has now is its ability to connect to instruments via MIDI. That is why I am checking if anyone is using one and connected to which synth.

Cheez:-
I would never doubt your capability in making music with the synth. At the end of the day, it all boils down to what each of us love to do and can do. No offence, but if you hadn't used a wind controller before, you might not understand the joy in playing one. Personally, I only ventured into playing one recently and really loved it more than playing the kybd keys, especially when using wind instrument patches.

BTW, I don't know if you realise that the EWI has touch sensitive keys as compared to Yamaha's "conventional" keys. It does take time getting used to hold and play it.

 

[Cheez]

Don't get me wrong! I totally agree with you! That's why I said that it all depends on the goal. For playability of wind instruments and stage performance, absolutely! For realism, then it depends.

That's why I still hope to get hold of an EVI. Too bad EWI's are geared towards woodwind players. Brass players won't quite use it both in terms of the fingering (need to re-learn) and the mouthpiece (will destroy brass players' embouchure). As a breas player, I won't touch the EWI. But the EVI is another thing....

The morrison MDT EVI is one of the more impressive ones - better than the older Nyle Steiner one. Hope I can get my hands on one of those...

Interesting that the newer EWI has touch sensitive keys. I thought that wiill make it less realistic than playing the real thing. I can understand them trying to give the instrument as much midi control parameters as possible. But I imagine woodwind players may find it annoying - and some getting used to.

 

[SilverBeast]

Cheez, no worries. No ill feelings whatsoever towards you here. :lol:

Anyway, although WX5 can be used with any synth via MIDI, the VL's synthesis is the key behind its succesful pairing with the WX5. No doubts about that. The MIDI feature is a definitely good-to-have thing, but the synthesis of the synth it is paired with must be powerful too. If the WX5 was to be paired with any other synth, I am sure that there will be instances when it would sound the way it was played with kybd keys.

So, anyone out there using a WX5 :?:

 

[Cheez]

Somehow, the VL doesn't sound quite reaslistic to me. What do you think?

 

[SilverBeast]

It's the expresssiveness and overall effect you get when playing realtime that makes the VL impressive. At the end of the day, nothing beats playing with the real thing, be it any instrument. Let's not forget that the synth emulates. It's our individual interest and preference that drives us along.

Anyway, having said so much, I don't have a WX5. I only have a Windjamm'r. I am intending to get one, but looking at whether or not the VL is the only thing that I can pair it with since I am thinking of getting another synth.