Using A Wind Instrument

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.

* 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!

Using for outdoor tv and it has not budged in 60 mph wind

Really good for light wind or making the Zeppelin hurricane proof. Using this in combination with the standard wind jammer is probably the best wind protection that exists.

YOU DON'T GET ANY WIND NOISE WHEN USING THIS WIND SCREEN. ALSO IT FITS THE MIC PERFECT.

Using this on my Sennheiser MKH 416. Does a much better job than the wind cover that came with the mic. It reduces pops to next to nothing, it's quite lightweight and very transparent sounding. Just a really nice design. The small size makes it great for voiceover work as it doesn't block your view for reading even if you bring the mic up close and in front of you.

If you are starting out like me, this equipment is ideal. Need a hefty stand though, particularly if there is wind. Using in the southern hemisphere is much easier.

Using a lapel microphone in an outdoor environment can be a real challenge. It is a rare day when the wind is not blowing outside and introducing unwanted noise into the microphone. The Furry Windjammer solves this noise problem quite well. I have been told by clients that the furry ball is not all that attractive. However it is far less distracting than wind noise interfering with the audio track. That argument alone diminishes any objections to the use of the Windjammer. This is a great tool that I keep in my audio tool kit and it should be a part of yours.

Using wireless systems in the field, you've got to have protection from the wind noise and these work great.

Works as advertised. Outside cuts wind and other noise to a minimum. Using this in tandem with the Video Mic Pro control system has improved my outdoor recordings very much. Be sure to practice adjusting the mic controls on the fly. You will like the results.