All user reviews for the Akai Professional EWI USB

I use it for over a year.

Before I did not practice the south by keyboard or guitar (equipped GK-3 or on a Yamaha EX500 with the Ghost system). I was looking for specific tones instruments like sax, clarinet, flute etc ...

What is less well in Flash is that it takes at least an iPad or computer and kontakt or other libraries and its instruments. Ideal for the home studio, not practical for the stage ...

This instrument provides for an affordable price full range of the afternoon with this velocity and accents of a wind instrument. Ideal for beginners without breaking the bank.

I've had about 10 months.
No difficulty when out of the box. quickly recognized as a midi controller.
the module from its base (GARITAN aria) is absolutely realistic but definitely not all.
on the other hand, coupled with sound banks Sample Modeling (sounds studied for windcontrolers) and a good reverb (Altiverb), then the result is more than impressive.
Not knowing necessarily play a wind instrument (clarinet and saxophone) I chose EWI fingering Standart (one of the different fingerings offered by EWI) behaves roughly speaking as a single flute fingering. Therefore no difficulty in handling except perhaps managing to integrate octave but it is also quite fast.
Once the presentations ... we quickly realized that we are able to program with the EWI breath controller and things infeasible to the modulation wheel. touch or programing will never replace the instinct that you put in a breath.
In any case my settings (orchestral) reached a much higher level of realism that I did before with this (low) investment.
It is clear that there will be more sophisticated devices such as EWI4000 which has additional functions ... but for a simple composition in the studio, the EWI USB is perfect
Bought in a shop on Ebay for much less American than Europe.

I use it for a little less than a year. I have not tried its closest competitor, the Yamaha WX5 from home.

Is not a wind instrument player, but a pianist, I was looking for a good wind controller. In the absence of breath sensor alone worthy of the name, I decided to buy the ewi usb to use as breath sensor + bite (double-checking the mouth) in addition to my keyboard ( in the workplace), and also as an instrument in its own right, just for fun.
I use it with virtual instruments Sample modeling that are particularly suitable for revealing the full potential of the beast.
So why only 8/10?
Already, because it is still expensive for something that by itself produces no sound (provided the bank with not worth the detour).
But more importantly, because the manual is lacking, and the software configuration is unstable and extremely wrong. I myself run 32bit version on my W7 64bit, the 64bit version crashing consistently ... Go figure ...

But this is a minor little shadow, which should in no way obscure the overall very positive assessment of this tool, provided with the right to use virtual instruments behind (Sample Modeling is shown again ).

How long do you use the
I use it for three weeks
What is so special that you like most and least?
I like the controller
on the other hand, (this is strictly binds me, matter of taste) provided soft sounds are not very realistic for my taste for cons with Mr. Sax T is the dream!

is the first model wind controller I try, not at all but very amateur saxophonist sax (I'm guitarist)

unbeatable value for money
I would definitely do it again the choice

a little demo

https://www.dailymotion.com/user/Charlesramaroson/video/x9bo7n_dontknowhy-saxo-ewi-usb_music

It's been a little over a year since I possde.

Plus: The design, the future of this instrument, its USB connector universal "pass", very good value qualitprix compared to its big brother whose only connection is that the midday and 700 euros.

Minimum: once in a while, the touch of the keys does not answer properly. And attention to latency if you have a small sound card! (That said, it is still possible to reduce it a bit with the driver "asio4all")

In conclusion, this instrument is a true experience for musicians wind. I urge anyone who wants a new musical sensation ... Have fun.

I use it for almost 2 years. I bought this controller to test an alternative to 4000 of the same manufacturer. interest for me was located mainly in the fact of having a more flexible instrument, while having a controller (The EWI USB) dedicated to using vst on stage. at first I was surprised at the difference I felt in 4000 and play with USB. I worked on the finger on the right trade-off with the USB because it has less of an octave and has no control portamento as the 4000. In fact this is the main criticism I have to do to it. I would still have predicted that ...

I tried hard for a long time ago to play with and I soon abandoned WX7. in fact, I was not able to give me the octave system and the time, no vst. When I got my first 4000, I immediately found an affinity with the instrument, its synthesis module. This prompted me to quickly look for another controller for my vst, hence the choice of the EWI USB. Since then, I do not play my vst with my EWI USB.

What he has going for it is its configuration directly by a micro interface.
What he has less, well, as said is the absence of an octave portamento and more on the whole.
Otherwise, I just wanted to make up the fact that according to your personal acidity dermis side, I urge you to take a minute to wipe the entire instrument if you want to delay the onset of oxidation better on the instrument. In fact, I did not and he looks so old already, even more than its big brother the 4000.
Then and it's not anything you really spend time to adjust its controller. I ignored this at the beginning and I have often cursed. Then I got seriously put up a good compromise. Today I rediscovered over and over things and sounds.

I will not comment on value for money, I find it too expensive today. Of course, there is research, development. But hey, I paid 350 Euros for mine OCCAZ I think it because it was too expensive for my nine banker ...

With my experience today, I say this without hesitation. Even if sometimes it bug following a wild scene decoration or repeating, this choice I would do without hesitation. Akai has been able to continue its efforts to work on wind controllers and that's good. Because in hindsight, it's still top to work like any keyboard player to operate vst, create partitions, short play freely without stress in advance in front of a keyboard that mastery not always ( I speak for myself here)

I bought it used and I use it for four days.
I came across a video on the net this AKAI Wind Controller ... is the first such material I buy.
I am first and foremost guitarist first keyboard is no practice of a wind instrument other than the flute learned in elementary school (the level you see!)

Most

What surprised me was the relative ease of handling of the instrument (several fingerings are possible (flute, oboe, saxophone), which parameterize through the software interface. With my 64-bit hardware Seven , there is no latency problem.

The least

The USB cable is a bit short
The VSTis delivered (AKAI ARTURIA BRASS STANDARD +) are very particular ways .. Arturia.
The AKAI VSTis are better but the sax is not credible vsti (it may be There's settings to do?)
It will provide a budget of € 149 extra to buy the good Mister T SAX was developed specifically for the AKAI EWI.

I bought it used from 280 euros it seems appropriate.

it's only been four days that I use, I have not made any particular setting and I am very satisfied.

Purchased 2 years ago. This is my first wind controller.

I discovered shortly after birth computer music MIDI on the Atari 1024ste. I then followed with amazement the revolution of the digital instrument is happening today with a maturity of virtual instruments extremely efficient, responsive, creative, musical. All these instruments are only commands to midi, midi controller is the part needed to properly exploit these Vsti.

The EWI is a wind midi controller very easily accessible. Amateur musician, I've never played other wind instruments as the flute in 6th. Yet, few lines are enough to be functional and play some simple melodies with the instrument.

Connected via USB to the computer, it emulates a MIDI in / out available then any other software causing at noon (DAW, virtual instrument standalone etc. ...).

The banks provided the EWI are not terrible. However banks are exceptional Sample Modeling of realism and reveals the full potential of the controller. More experimental, Arturia Brass is also an excellent program for EWI. Of course, with some settings noon, Ewi little control any synth with this superiority when compared to the keyboard to control the modulation and the attack of notes.

Finally:

EWI has done its job, namely to transform a melody played on the mechanical keyboard as a true musical phrase sung.

Simple to pick up (it's not harder than blowing into a recorder), EWI can finally time to master simply and naturally attacking a note, its maintenance and the transition Next, something difficult to achieve at the keyboard, even with aftertouch sensitive and knobs pitchbend or modulation.

The tool is well built, sturdy yet lightweight, pleasant to touch.

The driver, however, is sloppy, the sound bank is not at the height of the object and does not really exploit this unique controller. It should therefore provide an additional budget to invest in additional virtual instruments also excellent and a small investment on the understanding of the standard noon.

Very good value for money especially given the unique experience and feel that this instrument offers. An excellent controller to give life to your virtual instruments.

I wanted something to work on the sax apart.
I discovered a new instrument!

The fingering can be almost identical to the sax, but Keys are here just a piece of metal, they are barely touched upon, and note changes.
Management octaves is amazing, there is a series of rollers to achieve the 5-octave range .... hard at first, almost off-putting ... but ultimately it is.
My opinion of the Comptroller of mouth is mixed, indeed for the power of breath, he is fine, except that the airflow is a little weak for my taste, but more unsettling with the mouth, the vibrato effects, we must dig into the rubber lip! ... defaulted too expressive for my taste, it is still too hard to bite me ...
Two pitches for the right thumb, super hard to master, I disabled this feature.

The software is sold with a lot on the sounds of strings (cello, bass), not bad on the double reeds (horns, ...), but no, no, no one on the sounds of saxes.
The change is super long so its impossible to do on stage.
If there is a problem of land, the sax work anymore, so do not play barefoot.

Overall, this sax fulfilled the goals I set myself, that is the sax work in the apartment at 3 am, deep sax sound correct.

(Originally written by billouze/translated from Audiofanzine FR)
- How long have you been using it?

24 hours!

- Which feature do you like the most / the least?

Rugged, light, very reactive.

- Did you try any other models before buying it?

No. Like a lot of people, I dreamed about an EW400... But it was too expensive!

- How would you rate its value for money?

Excellent!

- Based on your experience, would you buy this product again?

Yes!!!!!!! One day of use is not much... But I didn't sleep a lot yesterday. The software provided gives good results. So I imagine the possibilities with Samplemodeling's The trumpet or any other high-quality software are huge... Even a big virtual synth would give stunning results.

Back to the product: I think Akai ought to provide a bag or a cover for the instrument...

But I love Akai anyhow