Re: MIDI wind controllers

["Ian Popperwell" <popperwell@iname.com>]

Hi, Thanks, My problem isn't with the WX5, I really like it, just 
commenting 
that it's a different feel playing with "switches" rather than a real sax. 
I 
used to have an old WX7 and really prefer the WX5's octave keys. I did 
know 
about Matt's Turbo ROM, but I guess am most interested in creating or 
working with analogue sounds, hence the EWI questions.

Thanks.
Ian
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mech" <mech@m3ch.net>
To: <Loopers-Delight@loopers-delight.com>
Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2007 12:07 AM
Subject: Re: MIDI wind controllers


> At 9:48 PM +0000 12/18/07, Ian Popperwell wrote:
>>Hi,
>>
>>Interested in the EWI thread. I play a Yamaha WX5 and also don't want to 
>>emulate "real" instruments - I play saxophones and flute and although 
>the 
>>VL70M is good, it feels slightly distasteful using some of those sounds 
>>(although I like the trumpet!). I have used the Korg MS2000 which works 
>>great with the CC breath controller patched up to various parameters.
>>
>>I like the idea of the EWI4000 as it is one unit, no need to carry round 
>>extra modules (if the sounds are any good). Also not sure about the ease 
>>of the touch sensitive controls re glitching? The WX5 needs lots of 
>>practice to keep the glitches away and I guess I wonder (having never 
>>played an EWI) how much harder it is without actual mechanical keys?
>>
>>Any comments?
>
> Well, I can't comment on the EWI, but I use the WX11 with the VL70-m. 
>I'd 
> say first, regarding the VL70's sounds, run (literally, do not walk... 
> run) out and get the Turbo VL Replacement ROM from Patchman Music ( 
> http://www.patchmanmusic.com/turbovl.html ).  If you haven't heard of 
>it, 
> this replaces the crappy ROM sounds from the Yamaha's preset memory with 
> 256 high-quality patches.  There are a couple of turkeys in there (there 
> always are in any commercial patch bank) but I rarely have to do any 
> programming on the VL anymore.  More often than not, I can usually pick 
> something out of the batch that Matt's put together.  Even if I don't 
>find 
> the exact thing I'm looking for, it provides a great starting point -- 
>for 
> non-horn or non-conventional-instrument patches too.
>
> I haven't actually tried out the WX5 with the VL, but my older WX11 
>gives 
> me no glitches at all (considering proper technique -- I can purposely 
> overblow or underblow and octave-hop, if that's what you mean).  I have 
> used the original WX7 with it, and I don't like that nearly as well as 
>the 
> WX11.  The WX7 seems to prefer sending its expression across CC7 
>(Volume) 
> rather than CC2 (Breath Control).  It seems to take away some of the 
> expressiveness of the patches.  Even if you get an EWI, you should keep 
> that in mind.
>
> Anyway, back to the WX5: I never bothered to pick one of those up 
>because 
> I heard a lot of people complaining about them.  I heard it said that 
>the 
> 5 was actually a step back, and inferior to both the 7 & 11 in 
> playability.  That may be your issue right there.
>
> So, you may find the EWI an improvement over the WX5, but if you're 
>going 
> to hang on to the VL70-m (and I'm biased but think you should; I'd say I 
> haven't found a better physical modelling horn synth yet, even in 
> software) see if you can find a second-hand WX11 to try with it.  And 
>get 
> Matt's Turbo VL ROM.  You'll like the VL70-m a lot better, at least.  ;)
>
> --m.
> -- 
> _____
> "Image is blasphemy. Text is heresy. The spoken word is a lie."
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