Wind controller

A Breath (english wind controller, electronic wind instrument, in short: EWI ) is an electronic musical instrument that is modeled in the Anblasweise a recorder, clarinet or saxophone. The Breath samples via special sensors of the musician Anblasluftstrom and handle combination of a flap-like switch combination. These electronic signals are converted into MIDI data and proceed with the tone in an internal synthesizer or an external sound module.

Playing style and technique

A Breath Controller can be played in different ways.

So, Yamaha WX5 with her on a saxophone or recorder -like plastic mouthpiece. The handles are adjustable to a certain extent, but the most part similar to those of a saxophone. In the WX5 the " flaps " are designed so that you just have to press while you have to touch the keys on an Akai EWI of only ( touch sensitive pads ). The range is 6 to 8 octaves, which can be selected with the thumb at the back.

Modern devices respond like a conventional instrument on the dynamics and the strength of the air flow and thus alter the tone. Fed the selection of playable instruments through a so-called " sound bank ", in which the different tones are available.

Important artists

One of the first musicians who played this instrument was the saxophone player Wayne Shorter with a Lyricon the company Computone. The Californian saxophonist Tom Scott helped the instrument with his band LA Express and the theme music to the TV series Starsky & Hutch to wider popularity.

• Elektrophon
• Woodwind