What do you think about the new EWI USB?

[Bernie Kenerson]

Akai has announced the new EWI USB. I plan on getting one from the first shipments. I love the internal EWI4000s sounds (patchman bank w/ some of my own custom) and also use soft synths extensively. I'm really looking forward to USBing this new EWI USB right into my laptop for live shows and my studio computer for recording. Can't wait to see how it works with Reason and Sample Tank.

[Kyle McHattie]

Ahh I see what you mean. Yeah, the aria software is kind of basic when it comes to configuring it. It sounds pretty good for just a soft synth though. For that kind of detail, you might try some software samplers like Kontakt or Sampletank or Reason's sampling format. I have not figured out how to set the controllers (i.e. breath, bite, etc.) internally for any of those yet, though.

[Kyle McHattie]

Well you can do that just fine too. You just need to know how to map the samples in the application you're using. You would have to do that with the 4000s too.

[Kyle McHattie]

So far I have had no trouble getting the ewi usb to just play soft synths and external hardware. What I HAVE been having trouble with is trying to get my external hardware and reason to be as responsive to breath and bite as the aria software. Any help would be appreciated.

[Paul]

The best luck I've had is mapping breath2 as an Expression controller in the Aria software. Most hardware works with that as a continuously variable volume parameter OK, with the caveat that many of them only allow you to vary between the initial velocity and 0. Possible workarounds include setting the velocity to a constant of 127, but then those fancier synths that use different attack envelopes or gated effects lose their responsiveness.

[Kyle McHattie]

Ok here is my setup for anyone that wants to compare notes:

Windows XP SP3
Athlon 64 3800+
1 GB Ram
320 GB HD Space
Creative SB Audigy Platinum (The one with the breakout box)
Korg Triton Studio 88
Korg Triton 61 classic
Karma Triton Software
Cakewalk Project 5
Cakewalk Sonar 7 Producer's Edition
Reason 4
Sony Sound Forge 9
Ewi USB

Right now I use the creative ASIO drivers to work with the ewi in cakewalk and reason. I have not figured out the midi controller parameters for either of my Korgs or cakewalk or reason. ANY help would be greatly appreciated.

I am also looking to collaborate with anyone interested in making music. Feel free to contact me any time.