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On 18 dec 2007, at 20.54, HarryEsq@aol.com wrote:
> Anyway, does anyone have any words of wisdom for me as I begin my
> exploration of this instrument? I've checked out a couple of EWI-
> centric websites but know there are some fine EWI players on this
> list who must have some pearls they can drop my way.
Wow, congratulations! Nice to have yet another EWI-ist on this list!
The EWI is amazing, given you trim it well. There are two sides to
trim; the side where it reads your physical movements while playing
and the other side where it implies those gestures into different
parameters of the sound. My advice is to work on the settings until
they are optimized at both ends. There you have an awesome instrument!
When using the built-in synth I prefer to play mine through effects
like filter banks, distortion... generally the kind of stuff you warp
an electric guitar tone with. I've understood, by reading on
dedicated EWI lists, that many users want to play with a "jazz-like"
sound, as in copying a trumpet or trombone sound. That's cool too,
but not of my interest. .
As a MIDI controller it is also good, but you really have to program
the sounding device to answer to all parameters sent. I have had best
success with the software synths that comes as part of Apple Logic.
Kontakt can also be tweaked to answer expressively on your playing. I
also have an old (physcical) Oberheim Matrix-1000 that gives quite
expressive EWI tone, but it lacks portamento on/off, which is a drag.
I always use that with the Logic synths, controlled by CC#5 that is
activated by touching the glide bar with your left thumb. I also
prefer to have the "sustain pedal" function set up in a classic way,
as when using an ordinary CC#64 pedal (as opposed to the EWI default
way of sustaining all notes played during a slur, or as legato). I
always fix the pitch bend range to 2 semitones and use a little cut-
off for the vibrato (biting the mouth-piece. also generating PB). And
I prefer a bit more sensitive vibrato setting than in most default
sounds. The air sensitivity is another factor you have to work on and
find the setting the works well with your own playing style. I went
for a pressure that lets me do circular breathing by "ballooning my
cheeks" (don't know if that is cheating or if Eric Dolphy did it that
way, anyway it works for me). Finally, do not play the EWI in the
shower and remember that its MIDI freaks out if playing barefoot
(touch sensitive controls getting grounded or something).
Greetings from Sweden
Per Boysen
www.boysen.se (Swedish)
www.looproom.com (international)
www.ilike.com/artist/Per+Boysen