Akai EWI USB USB Wind Instrument with Garritan Aria Player Software

by Akai

Product Features

• Electronic wind instrument controller
• Plug-and-play USB connection to Mac or PC
• Custom Garritan Aria Player software, contains wind instrument sounds
• Multiple fingering modes: sax, traditional EWI, flute, oboe, and EVI brass
• Removable, dishwasher-safe mouthpiece

Product Details

• Item Weight: 4 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• ASIN: B001L0XUG4
• Item model number: EWI USB
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #33,856 in Musical Instruments (See Top 100 in Musical Instruments)

Product Description

Akai Professional is the first name in electronic wind instruments. For over 20 years, Akai Professional has studied the art of playing saxophone, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, and other traditional winds, and developed electronic wind instruments that enable wind players to enjoy the same expressive control as in an acoustic instrument. Akai designed EWI USB to give wind players the expressive musical capabilities previously found only in much more expensive instruments. EWIs are the only choice for serious wind players looking to make music electronically. While EWI USB is easy and fun to use, it's also powerful, flexible, and most importantly reliable enough for use on stage and in the studio by professional musicians. EWI USB is the most flexible EWI because it harnesses your computer to generate its sounds. Its USB interface means that all you need is nearly any Mac or PC and the included EWI USB software, and you're ready to practice, perform, create, and record with a full collection of wind instrument sounds. Aria Player software was produced specifically for use with EWI USB, providing wind players with an unprecedented level of expressive control.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Generally quite pleased, April 18, 2009

By 

Spike "Spike" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Akai EWI USB USB Wind Instrument with Garritan Aria Player Software

I am more than 30 years removed from my previous experience from playing clarinet - not technically, but essentially a beginner. For the price, this is just about what I expected, perhaps even better. The installation is simple and there's no enormous amount of practice building peri-oral muscle strength to get a decent sound.

The built in sound generator (REQUIRES usb connection to a Mac or PC, which actually plays the samples) is decent. I wouldn't describe the samples as outstanding, but they are a good value. There are some basic controls for reverb, panning, etc. as well as some control over sensitivity to air pressure, pitch bending, and the like.

You are not required, however, to use the software provided. The EWI USB serves as a perfectly good controller for GarageBand and, presumably, any other sequencing software.

Bottom line - I'm quite pleased, but the rest of my review will focus on the niggling issues that limit the star rating by one.

A previous reviewer is correct that you need to use a strap (which does not lock in place) to play it effectively. The left thumb controls the octave register and right thumb controls the pitch-bending, so using it as a support point, like on a clarinet, doesn't work. I imagine a more experienced player might be able to hold it comfortably without the strap, but definitely not a beginner.

It's a bit much to expect a $300 instrument to provide authentic vibratory feedback, particularly since it emulates many classes of instruments (woodwinds, flutes, brass, etc.). However, there is no tactile feedback on the keys (i.e., they do not move) - if you are brushing them even slightly, they are activated. So there's no way gently to preposition your fingers for the next note, then press harder to play it.

I think the manual is inadequate in terms of explaining the fingerings for various instruments. My recollection of the clarinet is that if you don't have the main holes closed on the left hand, fingering holes the right hand produces a sickly sound. With this device, every fingering seems to "mean" something. Doubtless, this reflects the effort to provide different key mappings for different instruments. (For the ignorant, like me, EWI and EVI refers to Wind and Valve instruments, respectively.) I'm still not sure if all the key mappings at the back of the manual coexist simultaneously, or the device has various "modes" that are set through USB.

*** To correct myself, I've found that the fingering mode (along with several other useful settings like air pressure and bite sensitivity) can be selected or edited from the "EWI USB" application under the Configuration menu item, which is different from the preferences. The sax setting - there is no clarinet option - behaves similarly to a clarinet in terms of right and left hand fingerings. The default "EWI" setting is presumably designed to provide greater playing flexibility, as there is often at least two different ways to produce the same pitch.

I assume these settings are "sticky" - remain on the device until changed - but haven't tested it. Even if not, you should be able run the application with zero volume and still use it as a controller in a sequencer application. This is something which should be better documented. There are only two pages or so of instructions, in microscopic print, but in a dozen different languages. ******

I just discovered the akaipro web site has a video intro. The site is a little buggy - it's easy to end up playing the default sound track simultaneously with the video intros.

I also had a problem with the volume of the first note that I played - too soft, regardless of pressure. The next note would be responsive. I downloaded and installed the most recent drivers from the akaipro web site. Seemed to fix the problem. So far (3 days), I have not been able to master the vibrato-via-biting; that doesn't seem so easy.

Overall, if you're a nut like me for having various options for MIDI expressive potential (I have a MIDI Strat, touch pads, home-made electronics, a stack of keyboards), then I would recommend this device with considerable enthusiasm. I cannot speak to the authenticity of the experience for those who are already expert at acoustic versions of such instruments, but I suspect (despite the lack of tactile feedback) they would find it easier, rather than harder, than I do.

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Fun, Easy to use, but meant for pros, November 25, 2008

By 

B. Bock "raucouscaucus" (Downey, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Akai EWI USB USB Wind Instrument with Garritan Aria Player Software

I played clarinet in elementary, middle and high school, but this is my first experience with a MIDI wind controller. The price on this is very good, although the feature set is scaled down accordingly.

One of the striking things you notice is that it doesn't feel like a traditional instrument. I'll use an example of a clarinet, since it's what is familiar to me. When you play a real instrument, it vibrates. This does not, which in a way detaches you from the experience. I'd like to have some tactile feeback.

You can't hold this like a traditional instrument, at least not like a clarinet which rests on your right thumb. This must be suspended by a neck strap like a sax. But the neck strap is terrible. The hook is open, so I am nervous that the instrument will fall off if I move wrong. Also, with the strap adjusted to the right height, it barely fits over my head, and I am average sized. Heavy people might have issues. Since the instrument works by capacitance, you must keep your thumbs touching the ground plates and your fingers must hover over the keys unless you intend to press them. On traditional woodwinds, you can rest your fingers on the keys or rings until you push them down. But if you brush these with an errant finger, it will activate that tone.

On the upside, this is much easier to learn than a traditional instrument. This device doesn't support Clarinet fingerings, but it's just as well. A clarinet has two registers and a particular fingering produces a different note depending on which register you are in. With this instrument, you can use the EWI fingerings wich produce the same tones in the same place. So three fingers and a thumb on a clarinet gives you a C in a lower register and a G in the upper register. With this instrument, three fingers on the left hand (you use the left thumb only for octave shifts) always gives you a G.

Embouchure (the way you shape your facial muscles and your lips) isn't as critical as it is with a standard wind instrument. I find I can play this instrument longer with less fatigue.

The amount of breath pressure is too much, in my opinion. You can actually breath freely through a clarinet, but this instrument is like blowing through pudding. I'll get used to it, and I assume this is to enable longer musical phrases.

The mouthpiece is removable, but you need a screwdriver. They should make it easily removable. I find it gurgles after a while as spit builds up. You can't swab it like a traditional woodwind so there's no way to clear this out. I'd also like alternate mouth pieces. This is a bit like an oboe. I'd prefer a clarinet or sax shaped tip. I'm having difficulty learning to articulate on this instrument. I'm sure brass players might like a brass mouthpiece.

There should be a manual written for an amateur like me who hasn't played his clarinet for decade. I'd like advice as to how to adjust. What techniques do I used in holding it, in articulating, etc. I'd also love lesson software. I realize they sell this as a professional instrument, but the price point is going to draw people like myself who miss playing their instrument, but may have forgotten a few things and need a refresher.

Overall, I'd say this is fun, but best suited to pros.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Akai EWI USB Review, February 14, 2010

By 

B. Torres "www.bennytorres.com" (San Jose, CA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Akai EWI USB USB Wind Instrument with Garritan Aria Player Software

I have one and I love it. You will need a computer and some speakers (or an amp) to use it, as it doesn't make any sound on its own. I use it with my macbook with Logic, but I also use it with its own Aria Software, and even Garageband (sometimes). Only a few complaints. The main one being the 3 buttons/keys down at the bottom of the right hand. I removed that middle Db key in order to make it more like a regular saxophone. Since then, I'm been screaming on it!
SO, check out this video I made after having played it for about 2 weeks.

[...]

It took me about 2 weeks to get used to it after having played the sax for 20 years. I'm using the EWI to practice after my kids go to bed at night. It's been great! I'm thinking about upgrading to a 4000s, since it would be nice to have the horn as a standalone instrument. It's a little annoying to have to bring my laptop with me every time I want to play it.