What Is an Electric Wind Instrument?
Electronic wind instruments are used by many performers who are trained on actual wind instruments. Designed to emulate the playability of a real instrument, they allow the player to control various synthesizer sounds.
Other People Are Reading
-
The EWI
-
The company AKAI produces the electronic wind instrument (EWI), which is a wind controller. The EWI is a synthesizer that is played like a woodwind instrument such as a saxophone or clarinet.
Origin
-
Nyle Steiner began building prototypes of the EWI in the mid 60s and has since produced many models of wind controllers, including ones that emulate brass instruments.
-
Function
-
The player plays the wind controller, which triggers synthensizer audio via MIDI according to the fingerings, breath and bite pressure of the player. Not all hardware or software synthesizers are compatible with the EWI, though they may be compatible with many other controllers.
Other Brands
-
In addition to AKAI's EWI, Yamaha and Casio also make wind controllers. The EVI remains the most popular.
Performers
-
Some notable performers on the EWI are Marshall Allen, Courtney Pine and Dave Koz. Steve Tavaglione has used the EWI on several movie and television soundtracks, including themes from CSI.
-
