I saw a piece on these on The Science Channel the other night. Looks like an amazing new wind controller. 'Anyone tried one yet?

What seems to be weird Chuck is that players don't buzz their lips. I wonder what trumpet players think of playing by just blowing rather than buzzing...

Yeah, I think that's one of the things that attracted me (a picker, not a buzzer). I feel like I might be able to learn a bit of the fingering part of trumpeting much more quickly than the lip part. Seems like a gizmo that might inspire new and different musical direction in pretty short order...

The idea, as they pitched it, was that it's not intended to replicate trumpets (e.g. no 'trumpet' patch in the onboard sound module), but to open up the unlimited world of synthesis and sampling to those who use valves instead of keys, pads or strings. They seem to have focused a lot on the breath controller circuitry, which to me always seemed a natural and elegant interface for bringing real-time, human expression to the many available digital audio beasts...

Hey Guys

I have looked at this controller too. It looks amazing. I own and play the Akai Electronic Valve Instrument (EVI), or Steinerphone (invented by Niles Steiner), and I can say that it is great to play one of these things if you are a trumpet player and want an additional way of expressing yourself. I use it on my first CD, Spiritual Awakenings.

Chuck (Hi Chuck) is right that these units are NOT intended to replicate trumpets. That is a mistake that a lot of trumpet players who say negative things about these instruments make. I NEVER use mine with trumpet patches, since I have never heard one that I liked, and, I can play my own trumpet if I want that sound.

But to be able to stack sounds, play other instrument sounds, and play sounds that never existed, with great expression and control is a joy.

Also, these instruments, because they are midi, are GREAT for writing music. If you are a trumpet player and not too savvy on keyboards, you can use these to play chords, bass lines, parts, and all kinds of things, AND have your sequencer print the results out! I probably won't buy one of these spicifically, because I have my Akai, and I think they are expensive (not sure there), but if I didn't have my Akai, I would consider it. From what I have read, these models do even more than my Akai. With my Akai, I can play chords, bend notes up or down, play louder or softer as I blow, play about 8 octives, play with my own vibrato,and tongue or slur notes. You cn also go in the module and re-program all sorts of parameters. So you can do a lot with these. They are definetly NO toy!

Lou

Hi Lou,

It's been a while! 'Hope all's going well for you. Man, I'll bet that an MDT in the hands of someone with your chops would make many a keyboardist run for cover...

Has anyone tried the new Yamaha EZ-TP thing yet ??

http://music.yamaha.com/products/main.html?productId=213

WX5 only. Good for a lot of sounds but not authentic saxophones......my 2 cents....

Ever try Patchman's sax patches in a VL70m module with the WX-5?? Nice.

I have an alesis module for my midi.....its got a lot of nice patches........