EMUSIC-L Digest Volume 68, Issue 15 This issue's topics: Wind controllers wind controllers (4 messages) Your EMUSIC-L Digest moderator is Joe McMahon . You may subscribe to EMUSIC-L by sending mail to listserv@american.edu with the line "SUB EMUSIC-L your name" as the text. The EMUSIC-L archive is a service of SunSite (sunsite.unc.edu) at the University of North Carolina. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Date: Fri, 16 Sep 1994 18:28:18 -0500 From: Macalester College Music Department Subject: wind controllers I am looking for a suitable wind controller for our EM studio. Can any one tell me any of the following: 1. Location and price of an *original* Yamaha wind controller, not the second generation (or more?) version. I have been given to understand that the response from the first version is still the best (and any comments on that?). They have disappeared from stores, and I am hoping someone might know of a "stash". 2. Is anyone using the Yamaha Windjamm'r, and could you compare it to anything else. 3. Same general questions regarding the AKAI EWI 3000/3000M. I realize these are quite different pieces of hardware, but certainly they can be compared on some levels, in terms of what they seem best suited for, for example. Clearly, the AKAI is a different cut from the Windjamm'r, and I realize that. Thanks in advance to the collective wisdom. ed +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+ + Ed Forner Macalester College Music Department + + in%"forner@macalstr.edu" voice (612) 696-6189 + +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+ ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 18 Sep 1994 22:25:59 CDT From: Charlie_Stokes@ORATQM.CFA.ILSTU.EDU Subject: Re: wind controllers Reply to: RE>wind controllers We have four wind controllers (two WX-7 and two WX-11) as part of our MIDI studio and our Digital Arts Consort (chamber group that uses these plus percussion controllers, guitar controllers, and Buchla Lightning). I doubt that you will find a WX-7 available new and in warranty, as they haven't made those in quite a while. My players like the WX-11 just as well and they have been more reliable (had a lot of repairs on one of the WX-7's and my other one as a sticking pitch bend control which I hear is common). I own an Akai EVI which is the brass player's version of the EWI you asked about. The main problem with those instruments is that air does not actually pass through them. It senses air pressure but you have to leak air around the mouthpiece in order to get any respiration while playing. It takes a lot to get used to. The touch sensitive buttons are not mechanical, and that bothers people too. Rockin' and Rhythm in South Bend Indiana still had some of the EWI's for sale about a year ago, so you might try them if still interested. We borrowed a Wind Jammer (Yamaha) for a concert when one of out WX-7's quit a couple of years ago the day before a concert. The player got by with it but did not like the action as well as the more expensive instruments. I recall that the synth that was part of it was hardly programmable. I think it had a MIDI out, however. Hope this helps. ----------------- Charles Stokes cfstokes@ilstu.edu Illinois State University 309-438-7265 (voice mail) >I am looking for a suitable wind controller for our EM studio. Can any one >tell >me any of the following: > >1. Location and price of an *original* Yamaha wind controller, not the >second generation (or more?) version. I have been given to understand that >the >response from the first version is still the best (and any comments on >that?). >>They have disappeared from stores, and I am hoping someone might know of a "stash". >2. Is anyone using the Yamaha Windjamm'r, and could you compare it to >anything else. >3. Same general questions regarding the AKAI EWI 3000/3000M. >I realize these are quite different pieces of hardware, but certainly they >can >be compared on some levels, in terms of what they seem best suited for, for >example. Clearly, the AKAI is a different cut from the Windjamm'r, and I >realize that. > >Thanks in advance to the collective wisdom. ed > >>+--------------------------------------------------------------- >+ Ed Forner Macalester College Music Department + >+ in%"forner@macalstr.edu" voice (612) 696-6189 + >+---------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 19 Sep 1994 09:09:06 -0400 From: "Keith C. Perry" Subject: Re: wind controllers >I am looking for a suitable wind controller for our EM studio. Can any one tell >me any of the following: > >1. Location and price of an *original* Yamaha wind controller, not the >second generation (or more?) version. I have been given to understand that the >response from the first version is still the best (and any comments on that?). >They have disappeared from stores, and I am hoping someone might know of a >"stash". hmmm, I was about to purchase the WX11 as a wind controller. I think that one is "second generation". It goes for about $400 dollars or so. Would you be talking about the WX7? ===+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=== Keith C. Perry 800-836-4599 /\ "To be or not to be... Floor Supervisor / Senior Consultant \/ THAT AIN'T A QUESTION" Drexel University Office of Computing Services--||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ... ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 19 Sep 1994 22:46:56 -0500 From: Macalester College Music Department Subject: Re: wind controllers To the list and Keith Perry First, thanks to those of you who have sent information. I will try to summarize soon for those interested. Keith, yes it is the WX7 I am after. The general sentiment so far seems that it is still the best, no one wants to sell theirs, and I am going to have a devil of a time finding one. Help! Somewhere, there must be someone with a WX7 on the shelf, unused. Even false leads at this point would be somewhat encouraging. Reply direct email if you wish. I am still interested in gathering opinions/experience comparing the Yamaha WX7, WX11, Windjamm'r and AKAI1000, and AKAI3000/3000M. Ideally we need something of use to both the jazz ensemble and students with woodwind background working in the EM studio. Instrument formats with keys which need only to be touched and not pressed like a normal key probably would not work well in our context. Does this help anyone to help us? Thanks again +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+ + Ed Forner Macalester College Music Department + + in%"forner@macalstr.edu" voice (612) 696-6189 + +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+ ------------------------------ End of the EMUSIC-L Digest ******************************