Instrument That Sounds Like Wind Chimes

I must admit, the first time I unboxed the instrument, I was amazed at the build quality. It has some heft, the keys are properly and ergonomically placed and you know Akai really took their time to perfect this wind controller. But as a long time saxophone player, the first time I actually played some scales, I was quite disappointed - it didn't feel like a saxophone. I was beginning to regret my purchase and thought about exchanging it for the WX5. So I gave it a few more days. Days turned to weeks, and I am beginning to appreciate this instrument. Keep practicing those scales, breathing with the mouthpiece and you realize how this is such an amazing wind controller. I made a mistake thinking that this is a replacement for a saxophone in an apartment situation. In reality, you should think about how this instrument can be an extension to your musical endeavors. The possibilities you can do with the sounds and playability are endless. There are a few usable synths prebuilt, but I suggest using the Akai EWI 5000 Editor to really play and edit your sounds then save it to the user bank. Also there are synths out there that can be used if you plug the EWI as just a midi wind controller; unfortunately you can't upload other synth sounds into the controller. Definitely give it some time to get used to the instrument especially moving from one octave to another. Keep practicing and you'll appreciate that there's hardly any moving parts here. I was opposed at it first since horns have that tactile and key feedback. But with the touch sensitivity, it really felt I was playing an instrument from the future. Again, you just have to get used to it - think about when mobile phones shift from physical keyboards to the modern phones we have today. And here I am today still keeping my purchase and writing a review. I thank Akai for making a top-notch wind controller and continuing the support for the modern electronic wind musician.

Like the fact that it comes in a case. Sounds good.

Minimizes wind sounds on the rode mic go pretty well!

Need I say any more? It works!! Excellent reproduction of Brass Instrument Sounds! How can this be possible at sub $100??

* Using for vocal recordings * Like that Hi Z instrument jacks are on front * Inserts for compressor and/or EQ are great * The huge variety of digital output options at this price are unmatched * Very clean sound * It does take some experimentation to get a good output level on it, but I got it * User Manual could be better, but at least it has one!

Like all K&M stands, this properly supports the instrument, is built out of durable materials, and folds up to a compact size. K&M makes the best stands for woodwinds on the market-I use them exclusively.

The Theremini is a very nice little instrument. With it's 32 presets you get a variety of sounds out of this little instrument unlike a regular Theramin. I'm not a musician but learning how to play this is a challenge but it's also a lot of fun !

I'm gonna put it to you straight: I love this thing.Great things about it? Multiple fingering modes, two banks, rechargeable, wireless with ridiculously low latency (even when battery gets low) and a sound editor software that delivers. Having higher quality sounds compared to EWI4000s is great and being able to layer or octave those sounds without being hooked up to a computer is great for random creativity. For starters, it has a good sound that is actually adaptive to your style of play. I went through the whole of the sound bank and was pleased as I believe it's a true update. There will be uninformed haters out there that will say the sounds are not realistic or sound kazoo-like after listing to samples through a YouTube video, but what they're failing to realize is that it is an EWI, not a reed instrument; and, YouTube sound quality considering the source material and player isn't always that great. The EWI accomplishes everything it set out to and does not misrepresent what it can do in its instruction manual or marketing. I find that if I do a forceful brass hit or a strong blow using the saxophone sounds that there is a distinct difference in how the sound is presented and how it is carried. I find this ability built into the vast majority of sounds I use. These are the great things about the instrument.Areas in need of improvement? Let's see.. some thought that having a wireless MIDI ability would be useful, but honestly, I don't find this that important. Use a cord or acquire a wireless setup that you trust and believe in. Being able to load your own sounds? Get an iPad or a computer, VST library and software and use a cord. Again, I don't find this to be a hang-up. I owned the EWI4000s and did just fine with cords. I did fine then and I'll do fine now.All in all a great buy. Highly recommended. Highly responsive. Highly customizable. And a highly prized member of my instrument collection.

The depth of the sounds in this virtual instrument is staggering. It's like going from an SD TV to an OLED 8k HDTV. Very pleased with my purchase especially from B&H. Super fast shipping and the best price I could find online anywhere. Cheers! W. Oliver

Great, powerful instrument at a great package price on B&H. I'm a guitar player and I was just looking for something to give me some new sounds and inspiration - the XD definitely did. The presets are great right out of the box, but the journey into designing my own analog synth sounds has been even better due to the intuitive layout of the XD. The built in effects are great, and then I downloaded a few 3rd party effects and oscillators to make this versatile synth even more versatile. It's a great starter if you're looking to go down the synth rabbit hole. I can also see it taking a good bit of time to outgrow the XD too. It really has it all in there.