![]() ![]() It’s a wonderful F.Barbier clarinet that sounds nice. Most clarinet players I’ve met don’t have issues going from octaves to registers (12ths), but as a lifelong sax player, I had a horrible time trying to learn how to play my father’s clarinet. Both brands of controllers are octaves, not 12ths. Plug into a laptop, install the software, and start playing. In summary, the Akai USB-EWI is the lowest price, most turn-key solution. ![]() Akai solves this problem with the USB-EWI by including decent breath voices in with the laptop software. These voices are available, but you have to either buy them, or instead buy a Yamaha VL70m or older WT11 standalone synth to just “plug and blow” with a Yamaha controller. This will happened with any wind controller, and the Yamaha has a switch setting to help, though it’s not as good as having breath controlled voices. Look at the FAQ on about 3 up from the bottom – that will explain it. But the standard voices (patches) on a stock laptop are not setup for wind control and it won’t sound right. * Yamaha controllers are not USB, but you can still run them on a laptop if you get a USB midi interface. Like the Akai, it’s fingered in octaves, not 12ths. But it’s still not the same as biting a real reed. * Yamaha controllers (WX5, WX11, WX7) have plastic reeds to sense bite pressure and they do measure position, so your embouchure will stay in better shape. So you embouchure will not be developed to the same extent as a real reeded instrument. The way the sensor is built it just senses change in jaw position, not absolute position. * Akai controllers (USB, EWI4000s, EWI3020) don’t have a reed on the mouthpiece, and instead have a bite sensor. If working in octaves isn’t an issue, then wind controller is perfect. Most clarinet player I know don’t find this to be too much of a problem, but it is a difference. * All wind controllers (Akai, Yamaha) work in octaves, not registers (12ths). But there are some drawbacks in general, so I’ll list them in no particular order: And the Akai USB-Midi controller is a good, low cost way to start. All of your thoughts about being able to play silently are right. It’s always good to chat with another wind synth player. ![]()
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January 2023
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