Yamaha Wx5 Midi Wind Instrument Controller

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.

holds my midi controller perfectly, real nice.

Top quality cables. Work perfectly with my midi controller.

I use this microphone for DJing, plugs directly into my midi controller and sounds crystal clear.

The previous review was the only negative one I've seen on the web, and it seems misinformed. The product is not advertised as needing or having a driver on cd. It worked right away with no extra work, creating its own MIDI setup on my computer. BUT, (1) you have to pay attention to the MIDI connector colors (plug the red one into your instrument's MIDI OUT port), AND (2) do some MIDI setup on your instrument (e.g. local control=OFF for playback). Finally, (3) it's not an audio cable, it's a midi cable, so understand the difference. It carries MIDI signals for music software, not sound for recording.

My MIDI cables were too short to reach comfortably so I got this for my Yamaha DX100. I've also used it with an FCB1010 pedal board for live performances and it hasn't failed me. I don't think there is anything I can say about this that I don't like. The cable is sufficiently shielded and isn't stiff like some cables I've used. Feels great and durable as long as you don't use it as a jump rope or leash to walk your dog it should last you a LONG time.

I use it with my Yamaha Disklavier piano to stream midi directly from my phone. Even without Yamaha's own app, it just works right out of the box with the particular apps I've been using to stream.

The Yamaha USB MIDI driver did not move forward from iMac High Sierra to Mac Studio Ventura without using Rosetta emulator - which so far I have not been inclined to do. I started looking around for USB/MIDI wizardry and found this item. It works perfectly with no Yamaha drivers. Naturally, this cable does not fully expose the MO8 like the driver does. What it exposes is a bunch of routable and assignable MIDI channels. After testing, I was relieved to find out the cable itself is seen as a proper MIDI device, and discovered by Mac OS, and integrated perfectly in both DAWs I tested. (Pro Tools, Logic) On the keyboard side, the MIDI channels follow the parts in multi-timbral operation which is how I use the MO8. I have lost very little, if anything. So far, no delay compensation has been required.  And the price is great. And its wonderful. And I'm happy.

this controller controls EVERYTHING would need it to, and is a cobination of a GREAT midi controller for beats, and an EVEN BETTER control surface...the key for me is the LARGE FONT LCD....no more squinting with reason, i dont even have much need to look anywhere else, it almost feels like a stand alone device....AWESOME NEKTAR

Securely connects between laptop and midi controller with no issues or interruptions in data. Great value.