Yamaha WX5 MIDI Wind Controller

by Yamaha

Product Features

• 16-key configuration MIDI output connector Dedicated connection to WX-Series tone generators
• High-res wind sensor gives you precise mastery of volume Thumb-controlled pitch bend wheel

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• ASIN: B0002E36OQ
• Item model number: WX5
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #24,971 in Musical Instruments (See Top 100 in Musical Instruments)
  • #47 in Musical Instruments > Keyboards > Accordions

Product Description

The Yamaha WX5 Wind MIDI Controller takes wind MIDI control to new levels of performance and playability. With precise, responsive wind and lip sensors, a choice of single-reed or recorder type mouthpieces, and a range of fingering modes, the WX5 makes expressive wind control more accessible than ever before. The WX5 gives experienced wind players a new medium and vastly expanded sonic possibilities in a familiar format, playable enough for beginners. Expressive ControlsThe WX5 provides expressive control and nuances that are simply not available with keyboards or other MIDI controllers. Although it is ideal for use with just about any MIDI tone generator or synthesizer, combined with a state-of-the-art tone generator such as the Yamaha VL70m Virtual Acoustic Tone Generator, the WX5 is capable of expressive depth and tonal subtlety that rivals the finest acoustic instruments. Most AdvancedThe Yamaha WX5 Wind MIDI Controller is simply the most advanced, most versatile, most playable and most expressive MIDI controller of its kind. If You Already Play a Wind Instrument...The WX5 is your key to vastly expanded expression and musical scope. You'll be able to use familiar fingering and techniques to play an unlimited range of new sounds. Play the WX5 like a saxophone, for example, but sound like a trombone, piano, electric guitar, bass ... literally any sound that gives you the musical effect you want. Why leave this type of sonic versatility to the keyboard players? If You've Never Played a Wind Instrument Before...The WX5 is easy to learn. You can choose a fingering that you're most comfortable with right from the beginning. And, unlike an acoustic wind instrument, it doesn't take months of practice just to get a decent tone. The reedless recorder type mouthpiece supplied in addition to the saxophone type mouthpiece makes playing even easier. An extensive range of customizable parameters lets you set up the WX5 to play the way you want it to.The WX5 can open th...

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best MIDI Wind Controller on the market, August 28, 2009

By 

Shooshie "Shooshie" (Dallas, TX USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Yamaha WX5 MIDI Wind Controller

This is the MIDI Wind Controller that functions most like a real saxophone, flute, or clarinet. But it is unlimited in what it can control, as it sends only MIDI data to any device that can receive it. It's only partially accurate that it must be plugged into a tone generator. Plugging it into a MIDI interface, such as a MOTU MIDI Time Piece AV or cheaper models (check for MOTU products), enables it to be used to control any MIDI device in the network, as well as playing directly into a digital audio workstation such as Digital Performer, Logic, or Pro Tools.

The WX5 is the current state of evolution that started with the old Lyricon of the 1970's, then the WX-7 of 1987, the WX-11 of the early 1990s, and finally the WX-5. The WX-5 shows that Yamaha learns from their mistakes. It has the most sophisticated control of all of them, allowing the player to send several types of MIDI data, with many, many options in how you can use it. It can be run by battery or by AC adapter. It can also be used with a Yamaha tone generator that's made for it, with which it needs only to be plugged into the unit, which provides power. I do not recommend the Yamaha tone generator for it, even though many people think they are wonderful. Instead, I use the many fantastic sample libraries or modeled instruments such as Wallander Instruments, which makes you feel like you're playing real instruments. These run on your computer, with the WX-5 plugged into a MIDI interface. While WX5 and Wallander Instruments are a perfect match, you can also use the WX5 to control Garritan Personal Orchestra, Vienna Symphonic Library, and many, many more. It's not limited to melodic instruments. You can control percussion, ethnic instruments, and even piano samples. Anything that receives MIDI.

The instrument feels more like a sax than competing instruments like the EWI, and it enables you to produce real vibrato with a lip-sensor behind the "reed," in addition to pitch bends (or other data sends) with a thumb-wheel. It offers many alternate fingerings not possible with acoustic instruments, which helps smoothness when crossing the 7 octaves of its performance range. (that range can be raised or lowered to handle the entire MIDI 128-note range, seven octaves at a time.) It's all very adjustable, but the manual is absolutely necessary, and should be read carefully to learn all the possibilities. This is a great instrument. I'm a professional musician of over 35 years pro experience, and I played a small role in the evolution of modern MIDI instruments and their control. Put simply, it has been my goal since the 1980s to be able to perform an entire orchestra that sounds indistinguishable from the real thing. With the WX5, that is now possible, thanks to the many great MIDI sample libraries out there.

I've tried many MIDI controllers, but only the WX5 delivers the level of control that I desire. It is almost like playing my real instruments. Bear in mind, this requires practice. If you are not a musician, this is not a toy that you can pick up and play instantly. It takes years of practice, just like any other instrument. Of course, if you already play saxophone very well, and if you're technically inclined, the WX5 will be almost instantly usable. You can't go wrong with this instrument if you are determined and know what you're getting into. (MIDI is a big field!) This is a fantastic product at a reasonable price.

Shooshie

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Yamaha WX-5 Delight, March 14, 2010

By 

Caliber (Virginia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Yamaha WX5 MIDI Wind Controller

I play clarinet and tenor sax in a community band and enjoy a Yamaha DG-500 electronic keyboard at home, but my all time favorite music instrument is the Yamaha WX-5 Wind Controller with its VL70-m Virtual Acoustic Tone Generator. I've enjoyed mine since May 2000; few electronic products are still current and good as new after 10 years of frequent use.

I use sax fingering on the WX-5 and get seven octaves compared to about three on a regular sax. Intonation is perfect and the WX-5 offers more than 250 voices, many of them excellent sounding much like high quality non-electronic instruments. The WX-5 features breath control that feels and sounds like a non-electronic instrument.

Features and specifications abound on line, including some additional voicing options. For example, I prefer the clarinet voice on my setup, but am considering spending another $300 for a Patchman Music Turbo VL Upgrade Chip that substitutes 256 "physical modelled voices" that include, to me, more realistic saxophone voices.

This is a professional quality instrument that can be enjoyed by everyone with moderate musical interest and ability. At about $1,200 for WX-5 and VL70, it costs about the same as a good beginner clarinet or saxophone.

I prefer the WX-5 so much that at home I practice community band sax pieces on it. The WX-5 could be an interesting addition to any musical group, although like most electronic instruments it is a hassle to set up with cords and speakers and stands. I use a Roland KC-100 speaker at home, and of course that adds a couple hundred bucks to the overall cost. The WX-5 can also be enjoyed with headphones for much less cost and privacy in a crowded environment.

The WX-5 offers MIDI connection too, so whatever voice or sound or hookup you're looking for, it's probably out there somewhere. This is an elite device easy enough to enjoy immediately and complex enough to explore indefinitely. Altogether you'll probably spend about $2,000 for WX-5, VM-70 and/or Patchman Turbo VL, hard case, and external speaker.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you can play a soprano recorder, you can play this too, March 9, 2010

By 

David Garcia - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Yamaha WX5 MIDI Wind Controller

The only wind instrument I play is a soprano recorder, athough I can play trumpet and some other brass. The WX-5 has a fingering option that matches soprano recorder, with a few additional options, such as some keys that take whatever note you're playing and kick it up a half step or whole step, etc. I use this with the Yamaha Tone Generator that is designed for it, and I am delighted with the results. I would surely get more out of the instrument if I could actually play the sax, but I'm fine with this electronic "flutophone on steroids."