*Update* Unfortunately this EWI now appears to be sold out on Amazon, however I've left the link in the description in case any more become available. After I contacted the company about the lack of stock, they said they're currently working on an updated version - hopefully we'll get some more information soon. Thank you all for the overwhelming response to this review! I can't believe there's so much interest in Electronic Wind Instruments... p.s. Did this video inspire you to learn sax? Head over to www.saxtuition.com to learn with the Beginner Series today 🎷
EWI patent looks like just expired a year ago. Now there are couple cheap chinese knock off of this device. I hope you and your student can capitalize on this trend.
@@maat_thew yeah, as a composer, this is something I'm seriously considering for some new textures and colors--not sure I want to go with another brand after having seen a real review of this one.
Great review, looks like an impressive instrument for the price. Advice on EWIs: don’t think of them as a “digital sax.” Think of them as a synthesizer you can control using some of your saxophone technique. You’ll be way happier with the results when it’s framed that way. 😁
Couldn’t agree more Bodhi! Hopefully I cleared that up in the video.. I decided to use the term “digital sax” in the title as it’s what manufacturers are increasingly referring to them nowadays.
Does it just send a single MIDI CC parameter mapped to breath velocity, or does it measure anything else about the breath too? Is there any reason to use this over a keyboard with aftertouch (or expression pedal or rotary encoder etc.), unless you were really looking for a sax form factor?
@@polycrystallinecandy This cheap one probably just had a single simple breath sensor. In that case, you’re right. Single MIDI CC, not that different than an expression pedal or other MIDI controller. But most EWIs also have a bite sensor, which detects bite pressure on the mouthpiece, allowing the player to pitch bend and vibrato with their embouchure. These sensors are also far more sensitive than most mod wheels or expression pedals. Many EWIs have more sensors and controls than that, as well. So…you’re right. Nothing magical going on here, it’s just MIDI CCs. But the good EWIs are incredibly expressive due to a wider array of more sensitive sensors than most keyboard controllers. And…unlike most other MIDI expression controllers, you can still play with two hands (and have you feet free for other types of control if you want).
@@bodhibeats8257 That's kind of what I'm looking for: adding more parameters that don't occupy my hands. You've given me a great idea with the bite sensor. I think one could be built by using a strain gauge or FSR sensor. Would look funny with wires coming out of my mouth though 😁
I'm a guitarist/bassist and I was an early adopter of the YouRock Guitar. Essentially a video game controller that used actual guitar technique to generate MIDI data. I love it! It's not about being a precise instrument that reproduces the acoustics of of the real instrument, it's that it gives you the tools to express your technique on sounds that the acoustic instrument can't give you, ever. And yeah, the YouRock has some setup and getting used to. It was fun to learn and gives me sounds my pedal board never could.
I play a Synthophone by Softwind instruments. It is a midi controller built into a real saxophone. Real sax fingerings and a real sax mouthpiece. It has no internal sounds. I use audio-modeling Saxophones. This combination is the best there is but also the most expensive. The saxophone patches (all four saxophones) cost $250 and the Synthophone was $3,600. I submitted a video of me playing to the pro players at SaxSchool online, where I study, and they noticed that each tone was in perfect pitch and the dynamics sounded unusually good. Plus, the silver plate in the bell is a dead give-away, although I have played garden parties, and no one has asked about why the bell is closed off. There was no criticism about if it sounded like a sax or not. The owner of the school said it sounded very good. Interestingly, I have received some criticism from people at another sax site, but only after I revealed what the instrument was. Their ears told them nothing until there bias was unleashed. It was like a double blind auditory study. Some people allow their previous exposure to inform their opinions rather than admit their ears don't support their conclusion. In my experience, the pro player listeners were far more accepting. My fellow students, not so much. I played for a year at another learning site where we submitted recordings for evaluation by the pro staff. Nobody detected I was not playing an acoustic saxophone. In fact, they said my tone and dynamics were very good. This instrument has set the embrasure struggles aside from the beginning, allowing me to focus on improvisation, rhythm, note choices, harmony, etc., without the instrument getting much in the way. Coming from the flute with nearly the same fingerings made my journey a bit easier, although the key spacing and spring resistance are very different and a challenge, especially the little finger low notes just the same as an acoustic sax because the synthophone is an acoustic sax. It took me 2-3 years to gain some level of fluency on those low-tone fingerings, just like an acoustic sax would have. A bonus was that it helped my arthritis in my old, busted-up hands and fingers. It hurt like hell when I first started. Initially, I chose to play the Synthophone because I knew how long it would take to overcome the embrasure challenges after playing flute for decades. Delightfully I learned the air requirement is less air unlike an acoustic sax which requires more air. A lot more air. Yes, it is an expensive setup, but I have never regretted it in the years since making that decision.
Great review. As a former trumpet player who has lost his embouchure this might be a way back into musical expression with a wind instrument. The only part of this video that bumps me is 10:35 -where a non-sax sound is played like a sax. It’s a misstep a lot of keyboard and synth players make when playing a realistic traditional instrument sound with keys. If you’re playing say, a flute sound from a synth, you can’t play, let’s say, chords the same way as you would a keyboard sound. Also the choice of sound for that track seemed to not match the track.
I have played sax for over 60 years, some pro work, but mostly just making music albums (CD's and sound cloud) for myself and friends and family. My biggest challenge through the years was backing tracks. If I was still active, this would be perfect. Makes me want to go back and start creating again! LOL. Thanks for the review. Great video!
I really would have liked to have seen you use this as a midi controller with a Sax virtual instrument. There are quite a few decent ones out there, and I am really curious how using a wind specific controller like that would compare to just using a keyboard controller.
*Correction* I completely missed the fact that the box also included 2 silicone mouthpiece covers! What would you guys use a MIDI wind controller for? For those interested, here is the product link: amzn.to/4byDqqN (Use code 05SaxTuition for 5% discount at checkout)
Been playing wind controllers since the Lyricon in the 80’s. Use an AE05 and SWAM sounds to blend in a big band. Fill in when we are missing instruments. I also play alto, tenor and clarinet. My WARBL2 is much smaller but has less keys but I use a mod sax like fingering. It has shake vibrato and other motion sensors. I did experiment with attaching it with Velcro to my AE to use the shake and motion features. It didn’t add much but I am thinking it would to this one. Yours has more fingering and the WARBL2 has a good shake vibrato. For $70 what do I have to lose. Both have BTLE. I actually like shake vibrato on the SWAM trumpet and trombone better than the AE’s lip sensor. Thanks for bringing this to my attention.
Thanks for not talking poorly about midi. Most artists are not limited by midi but rather their abilities. Midi instruments with post processing, a good sample library, and some decent dynamics will sound very good and almost indistinguishable from a real instrument in many cases (to your average person that is). Obviously there are some instruments that are harder to replicate than others like the saxophone. But even then, if you just want something simple, a sampler will do the trick.
Saw a midi demonstration back in the 1980s. They used an electric guitar with a midi controller and an Amiga computer. Turns out the Amiga was more powerful than many computers today. I was so impressed by the use of the midi with a professional musician, who was the demonstrator.
The Amiga is less powerful than the average smartwatch of today. Getting the cheapest crappiest laptop gives you still a pretty good audio workstation (and you can emulate Amiga and old audio software, if you need that)
As a producer that plays the saxophone this is great! I was searching a long time for something that transfers the feel that you can have with a real instrument and this seems to be the most affordable option
My old Yamaha WX-7 is still remarkably good. My #1 complaint about midi wind instruments is the difficulty in finding a sound that doesn't feel "cheesy". I don't need an exact real sax sound, but there must be some sound somewhere which doesn't sound cringy.
For $99 you can get an i8-pro that has an actual 5 pin MIDI out that you can use to control any synth with a MIDI in port. Including a modular synthesizer with a MIDI to CV converter. For people that don’t want to use a DAW, you really need a 5 pin connector or a MIDI host device to convert USB to midi or CV/gate.
I bought the S56 model about 8 months ago. The keywork is different and the body shape is slightly different, which makes it feel like an anorexic, minaturised Akai. Essentially though - it's the same instrument - but upmarket! It's absolutely brilliant - from the point of playing flute for almost 50 years - and I love it. However - I made a plastic 'octave-rocker' and glued it over the + and - octave switches - which makes the switching more natural and far easier. I also carved a simple wooden finger rest and fitted it with a hook for a lanyard - and glued it in the appropriate position. It's now a very much better instrument to play. I love using it as a midi controller - but it appears to be sending the breath control as cc11 - so I midi-map that to the master volume on my softsynths; I'll have to use a host program instead of the standalones to try and map to multiple controls. As far as the synths go - I play DiscoDSP's OB-Xd, Dexed... and Fluidsynth (soundfonts) - and have a lot of fun! I also find that some of the internal sounds 'beef-up' if you play them through an external amp - I use a little 10W JVC. Treat it as it is - it ain't a sax - but it's an instrument in it's own right - and too much fun not to take everywhere! PS - don't forget to use the supplied mouthpieces - and breath sensitivity level S3 seems to be the best!
I've really been wanting to get into sax but when I found out the reed alone was 20 dollars or so my heart broke I'm a big fan of lowering the floor of entry for anything because that's how I roll as a high breadth low depth hobbyist very excited
@@NonJohnsNot sure who is introducing you to the sax but a $20 reed is not a requirement. Sax being part of the unit name and description is just for marketing.
Excellent review. Thank you. I think in the end that none of the sounds offered really sound like the actual instruments. I've chosen to simply consider this as its own unique instrument.....whatever that might be ?? It's definitely a fun little toy and I think kids would have fun with it. 😃
What if they took a real sax or clarinet mouthpiece and reed and coupled it with pressure sensors and a microphone to convert reed sounds (sine waves and amplitude) into midi notes to trigger the instrument sounds? That way the Embouchure would be a true crossover... Next, a harmonica MIDI controller...
Is there any way to change the attack or portamento of the sounds to avoid all them glitchy notes, which are characteristic of many of these controllers?
Can you add or replace the instruments on the device? e.g. perform electric guitar. It would be nice to do so without having to be connected to your computer.
Apropos shutter speed messing with the display - if you adjust your shutter speed to be divisible by 50 (matching the 50hz cycle in Australia) and your fps to 25 (or 50) you'll get rid of those fuzzy black horizontal stripes on your video because your lights and shutter are out of sync.
That is one cool instrument. Sax and flute fingerings plus all of the different sound settings. I can see this being great for people who want to learn to play, but aren't sure if they want to commit to buying a sax or flute. Alright, it's not a substitute for the real instruments, but it would be great for young learners as a step up from the recorder, for bands who want to have a sax or flute sound on a demo and for aspiring snake charmers (perhaps not that last one). Are you able to change the battery?
I'm a wannabe composer and just looking into ways to make my compositions come to life a bit more. This was a fantastic introduction to this instrument and the instrument family as a whole from a digital composer's perspective. Thank you so much for making this!
Being able to play an instrument at full force while being quiet to everyone else is exactly what I want, which is why I was interested in this. However I was hesitant, due to the fact that it wouldn't be the same as playing the analog instrument the digital instrument is trying to emulate... Also being quiet to others isn't what I need. I want it just because I don't want to bother other people, especially when I'm just practicing and making mistakes. But shouldn't people around me be happy when hearing real music being played? Why should it only be played during concerts... So yea that's how I stayed away from the digital instruments thus far.
i've been slowly learning the Aerophone on and off now for the past year. I have been loving the journey and somehow it showed me your video today which I'm thankful for. Iwi looks like a fun instrument.
1:50 I got SUPER into midi music in the mid 90s. I grew up in a small town that was 60 miles from the nearest music store and we only went into the city once a month or so; we did have internet though. So if I got really into a band or song I would just download the midi files and listen to that until my family took a trip to the city and I had the money to spend on a CD. I listened to the midi rendition of Weezer's Blue album for the better part of 6 months before I could get the actual album.
Seems more and more traditional acousticc instruments have some type of relative midi insrument representing it. One instrument, however, continues to be the flute. Not only am I left out of the pick an instrument, any instrument game, but I still have to deal with the issue of volume. Flute can't be that loud, you say.? I have had the cops called on me over the years. Noise cancelation is also hampered by the way the instrument is held: not straight out away from the body but 90% or so to the right. Some type of enclosure offer the head but surrounding the flute would seem a good option. But the cost as well as the physics of designing such a monstrous piece of headgear is a distant dream.
Hmm, it just occurred to me how difficult it would be to find a right angle cable that's appropriate for this due to the orientation of the port. Dangit.
I have 2 expensive 'real' sax's, and an Akai EWI5000(€700). But, tried to find this on Amazon UK, just to try it out. But, it's not there under that name. There are others around the same price though, could be the same instrument in disguise.
Thanks for your review. I will use a digital sax (like the Vangoa S55' you reviewed) because I am a very lousy Keyboard player...to compose and arrange in my DAW (Studio One).
In the 80's it was Casio that made a MIDI sax that was pretty killer and pretty affordable. Wish they'd make another just like it but modernized. I hited someone to do the score for a Broadway play and it sounded fantastic. He used his sax prowess to do many other instruments.
it just dripping on the other end. One can clean it with a very delicate bottle brush. There is a teardown video on youtube. But for that price. Just buy another one
Would this work As a basic breath controller? I’m looking to add dynamics to my synths but don’t want to drop a few hundred on a straight forward breath controller.
It sounds like the Vangoa S55 has the same issue that the Vangoa EWI-100 has, always putting a short gap between each note. That means it's impossible to play anything legato - with connected notes - which is a really important feature of a MIDI wind controller. Listening to your examples, it sounds like it's putting an attack on each new note, instead of gliding from one note to the next. Can you verify if this is the case?
That may be a problem with the synth itself. You need a synth that supports legato. But i dunno because i don’t own this EWI so it might be a problem with that.
@@sub-jec-tiv I think every synth I've ever encountered has a legato mode. Some are of course better than others. It does sound like he's using a mono patch with envelope retriggering though. Not the best choice for this sort of midi controller.
@@sub-jec-tiv This is a problem with the Vangoa EWI-100, not the synth. When you move from note to note, it will *always* place a short time gap between the prior note and the next note, even if the note is played by instantaneously moving to the next note. Because of this artificially created gap, it won't see the note as connected, so it won't play it as legato.
" You can make it sound like anything using a DAW" , then you didn't even use a sax sound on your DAW. What good is a synth strings sound when we just want to hear it sound like sax. : /
It's useful because you have continuous expression from breath and wind players are adept at working with this, so we get extra expressivity in a way that is fairly intuitive to use.
Professional EWI players frown upon the idea to even try to emulate real sax with a MIDI controller. The best sax emulation is SWAM and it costs a lot and is still not perfect, especially with instruments that do not have pitch bend and legato.
How would you know whst “we” want ? For me, and for most people playing EWIs the _last_ thimg that I would want to do is play saxophone sounds ! The interesting thing is using breath control to shape other sounds. If you want to play sax … play sax.
Sounds like you're choking a flamingo....in the beginning of the video. I agree completely-I play soprano, also have 2 Yamaha WX's. for fun and when practicing privately. the difference in embouchure-playing the digitals actually weakens my embouchure, throws it off. as far as these with the recorder style mouthpiece, no thanks. Glad you posted some honest info. Retired music educator-thanks!
In fact there are several very natural sounding virtual instruments to use on a Computer (I very happily use them with a Breath controller plus Midi Keyboard) . IMHO internal sound for Wind controllers is just a wast of resources. Regarding actual Midi Wind Controllers I once used a Yamaha WX7 (now broken, unfortunately) same had very appropriate "real" (Boeme mechanics) finger action . AFAIK, the sensors of my BBv2 (blow, bite, nod, tilt) are superior to the sensors of any Wind controllers available.
I don't play wind instruments but, in the late 80's I bought a Casio DH-100 just because it had MIDI. I thought it was cool to be able to trigger the wind instruments (or any other instrument) in my Korg M1 at the time and it really made the sax sound more realistic for sure. I still have the DH-100 and found one brand new never opened recently so I couldn't help myself not to buy it. The reason I really like the DH-100 is that it has a full size 5 pin MIDI port which I use on my old vintage synths. Everything is USB now and I'd need to get a converter to use a new EWI on old analog synths. Then again, if I really was a real wind instrument player, I'm sure I'd have all of it.
If the controller does MIDI over Bluetooth you can get one of the CME WIDI (e.g. UHost, WIDI Jack, WIDI Master) devices to connect to a legacy hardware setup to play that way.
Honestly these look pretty interesting for musicians with a background in woodwinds that are into music production! A lot easier than my dumb ass fumbling (pathetically) around with a keyboard as a midi controller, that's for certain.
Only through the headphone jack connected to a Bluetooth audio transmitter. The instrument may accept Bluetooth audio in for something like backing tracks, but I am not sure.
I dunno, if you have a EWI, it's sorta one of those things that you SHOULD NOT DO is try to emulate most real instruments. I've used my EWIs basically for synth sounds or as a String patch sorta trying to do what a keyboard player does (cause the keyboard player is perhaps playing something else)
If you have experience playing a woodwind instrument then this may be a more friendly way to express or input a musical idea than with a piano key layout. A sax has way more keys so this not like playing a full fledge saxophone.
I have had a Roland AE20 for about 5yrs now and, as a former semi-pro sax/clarinettist, it took me quite a while to learn NOT to treat it like an instrument but as a 'musical' computer. However, the point I would like to make is this: even at approx:12X the price of this little gadget the ergonomics of the Roland are abysmal! There are so many things that need improving it is incredible that it ever got past the design stage (I am also a former product design manager so know what I am talking about!) let alone the prototype stage. IMHO it was designed by people who don't play sax so simply made it so that the electronics fitted inside and the outside looked 'space-age'. I still love it by the way and it is worth the price but, my oh my, it could have been sooooooooooooo much easier to use.
@ it doesn’t work like that. This is basically a midi controller, so the midi signal goes to whatever software you are using for the sounds on you computer or iPad, then an additional midi controller, say a rocker foot pedal can also go into the software through the computer, and control pitch bend or modulation. Pretty simple setup really.
Hard to say as I haven’t tried any other EWI’s at this price point - the Vangoa is just about the cheapest of all on Amazon though. The only thing worth paying more for in this range (in my opinion) would be for some more comfortable sax-style keywork. Feature wise this EWI has most features that even the top end instruments have (Bluetooth, rechargeable battery, adjustable breath resistance etc). Hope that helps!
Regardless, if the detail strip was actual RGB lighting, it looks tacky. Finding out, the detail is just a sticker, really makes me think- "Cheap Toy". Then again, who am I to judge? Maybe it is fun, and good at being a toy. Nothing wrong with that. Still, would have still looked nicer, without a stupid sticker!
USA here. Great presentation. I like your upbeat attitude. I am a guitarist who dabbles with keyboard in the studio who can use this to play things I can't do with my hands on a keyboard. I took recorder in school years ago and I even owned a sax to dabble but couldn't practice it, it was too loud for my living situation at the time, I can play guitar through headphones and guitar software, b but I can jam the hell out of the recorder! LOL I am sorry, I'm sure there are gifted recorder players out there, but I personally never thought of it as a challenge. Now sax, clarinet, flute etc, now we are taking some serious dedication which you know better than I. These midi breath controllers always seemed expensive for what I would use them for. This device is just the right price. Thanks for bringing this to my attention. I just might buy this thing.
The various sounds do not really impress me, and it seems to me, portamento is not possible. No comparison to for example the Yamaha YDS-120, which costs about 10 times more, but for my ears does not really sound like a saxophone either.
Even if we ignore the "Sax" side of this, $69 for a MIDI wind controller is a stupid deal. Vangoa have really stepped up on a number of instrument fronts.
No, it's like a flute, you cannot play multiple notes at once on a flute. But if you connect it to a computer and a DAW or VST instrument, you can generate also chord accompaniment, but it will be basic, following every note.
*Update* Unfortunately this EWI now appears to be sold out on Amazon, however I've left the link in the description in case any more become available. After I contacted the company about the lack of stock, they said they're currently working on an updated version - hopefully we'll get some more information soon. Thank you all for the overwhelming response to this review! I can't believe there's so much interest in Electronic Wind Instruments... p.s. Did this video inspire you to learn sax? Head over to www.saxtuition.com to learn with the Beginner Series today 🎷
It’s a shame. Feels like they are probably missing out on a lot of sales right now thanks to the algorithm.
they should make a version of this product that's combined with a vape
EWI patent looks like just expired a year ago. Now there are couple cheap chinese knock off of this device. I hope you and your student can capitalize on this trend.
@@maat_thew yeah, as a composer, this is something I'm seriously considering for some new textures and colors--not sure I want to go with another brand after having seen a real review of this one.
Thank you also lol.. Digital sax... That thing is at tesco and beeps
“We as sax players”
Me having never touched a saxophone: ah yes
Hahahaha
But now it's so cheap, there's no excuse to try learning
Sax McFarlane
Hahahahaha
nailed it, lmao.
At first glance of the thumbnail I immediately mistook him for Seth.
I was looking to see if a Seth McFarland joke was made in the comments. I am now satisfied.
jim jeffries
cant unsee it now LOL
Great review, looks like an impressive instrument for the price. Advice on EWIs: don’t think of them as a “digital sax.” Think of them as a synthesizer you can control using some of your saxophone technique. You’ll be way happier with the results when it’s framed that way. 😁
Couldn’t agree more Bodhi! Hopefully I cleared that up in the video.. I decided to use the term “digital sax” in the title as it’s what manufacturers are increasingly referring to them nowadays.
@@SaxTuition oh you definitely did make it clear! Didn’t mean to imply otherwise! 😁
Does it just send a single MIDI CC parameter mapped to breath velocity, or does it measure anything else about the breath too? Is there any reason to use this over a keyboard with aftertouch (or expression pedal or rotary encoder etc.), unless you were really looking for a sax form factor?
@@polycrystallinecandy This cheap one probably just had a single simple breath sensor. In that case, you’re right. Single MIDI CC, not that different than an expression pedal or other MIDI controller. But most EWIs also have a bite sensor, which detects bite pressure on the mouthpiece, allowing the player to pitch bend and vibrato with their embouchure. These sensors are also far more sensitive than most mod wheels or expression pedals. Many EWIs have more sensors and controls than that, as well. So…you’re right. Nothing magical going on here, it’s just MIDI CCs. But the good EWIs are incredibly expressive due to a wider array of more sensitive sensors than most keyboard controllers. And…unlike most other MIDI expression controllers, you can still play with two hands (and have you feet free for other types of control if you want).
@@bodhibeats8257 That's kind of what I'm looking for: adding more parameters that don't occupy my hands. You've given me a great idea with the bite sensor. I think one could be built by using a strain gauge or FSR sensor. Would look funny with wires coming out of my mouth though 😁
I'm a guitarist/bassist and I was an early adopter of the YouRock Guitar. Essentially a video game controller that used actual guitar technique to generate MIDI data. I love it! It's not about being a precise instrument that reproduces the acoustics of of the real instrument, it's that it gives you the tools to express your technique on sounds that the acoustic instrument can't give you, ever. And yeah, the YouRock has some setup and getting used to. It was fun to learn and gives me sounds my pedal board never could.
Good for you, keyboardists have been having all the fun for too long! lol
Same here! Unfortunately my YouRock stopped working, I miss that thing. I got an Artiphon several years later and it just didn't hit the same :(
@@douglane3962 Bummer! My condolences. Tthey hit a price point but it was at the expense of strength, I suspect.
why the heck did the algorithm show me this and why did we all click? LOL
I'm curious, are you a musician?
I'm also curious about this 😂
@@NonJohns nope! lol i play guitar but that’s it
ayyy guitar player too
Bro same
I play a Synthophone by Softwind instruments. It is a midi controller built into a real saxophone. Real sax fingerings and a real sax mouthpiece. It has no internal sounds. I use audio-modeling Saxophones. This combination is the best there is but also the most expensive. The saxophone patches (all four saxophones) cost $250 and the Synthophone was $3,600.
I submitted a video of me playing to the pro players at SaxSchool online, where I study, and they noticed that each tone was in perfect pitch and the dynamics sounded unusually good. Plus, the silver plate in the bell is a dead give-away, although I have played garden parties, and no one has asked about why the bell is closed off. There was no criticism about if it sounded like a sax or not. The owner of the school said it sounded very good. Interestingly, I have received some criticism from people at another sax site, but only after I revealed what the instrument was. Their ears told them nothing until there bias was unleashed. It was like a double blind auditory study. Some people allow their previous exposure to inform their opinions rather than admit their ears don't support their conclusion. In my experience, the pro player listeners were far more accepting. My fellow students, not so much.
I played for a year at another learning site where we submitted recordings for evaluation by the pro staff. Nobody detected I was not playing an acoustic saxophone. In fact, they said my tone and dynamics were very good. This instrument has set the embrasure struggles aside from the beginning, allowing me to focus on improvisation, rhythm, note choices, harmony, etc., without the instrument getting much in the way. Coming from the flute with nearly the same fingerings made my journey a bit easier, although the key spacing and spring resistance are very different and a challenge, especially the little finger low notes just the same as an acoustic sax because the synthophone is an acoustic sax. It took me 2-3 years to gain some level of fluency on those low-tone fingerings, just like an acoustic sax would have. A bonus was that it helped my arthritis in my old, busted-up hands and fingers. It hurt like hell when I first started. Initially, I chose to play the Synthophone because I knew how long it would take to overcome the embrasure challenges after playing flute for decades. Delightfully I learned the air requirement is less air unlike an acoustic sax which requires more air. A lot more air. Yes, it is an expensive setup, but I have never regretted it in the years since making that decision.
How about a link to some of your performances ?
😢
TLDR
Your a cheater little buddy
Great review. As a former trumpet player who has lost his embouchure this might be a way back into musical expression with a wind instrument. The only part of this video that bumps me is 10:35 -where a non-sax sound is played like a sax. It’s a misstep a lot of keyboard and synth players make when playing a realistic traditional instrument sound with keys. If you’re playing say, a flute sound from a synth, you can’t play, let’s say, chords the same way as you would a keyboard sound.
Also the choice of sound for that track seemed to not match the track.
I have played sax for over 60 years, some pro work, but mostly just making music albums (CD's and sound cloud) for myself and friends and family. My biggest challenge through the years was backing tracks. If I was still active, this would be perfect. Makes me want to go back and start creating again! LOL. Thanks for the review. Great video!
I really hope you begin again! You won’t regret it.
I really would have liked to have seen you use this as a midi controller with a Sax virtual instrument. There are quite a few decent ones out there, and I am really curious how using a wind specific controller like that would compare to just using a keyboard controller.
This‼️💯
*Correction* I completely missed the fact that the box also included 2 silicone mouthpiece covers! What would you guys use a MIDI wind controller for? For those interested, here is the product link: amzn.to/4byDqqN (Use code 05SaxTuition for 5% discount at checkout)
I'll absolutely try messing with physical modeling modules in vcv rack with one of these. Never tried a woodwind instrument though.
Been playing wind controllers since the Lyricon in the 80’s. Use an AE05 and SWAM sounds to blend in a big band. Fill in when we are missing instruments. I also play alto, tenor and clarinet. My WARBL2 is much smaller but has less keys but I use a mod sax like fingering. It has shake vibrato and other motion sensors. I did experiment with attaching it with Velcro to my AE to use the shake and motion features. It didn’t add much but I am thinking it would to this one. Yours has more fingering and the WARBL2 has a good shake vibrato. For $70 what do I have to lose. Both have BTLE. I actually like shake vibrato on the SWAM trumpet and trombone better than the AE’s lip sensor. Thanks for bringing this to my attention.
Thanks for not talking poorly about midi. Most artists are not limited by midi but rather their abilities. Midi instruments with post processing, a good sample library, and some decent dynamics will sound very good and almost indistinguishable from a real instrument in many cases (to your average person that is). Obviously there are some instruments that are harder to replicate than others like the saxophone. But even then, if you just want something simple, a sampler will do the trick.
Thanks for the explanation about midi and the difficulty in emulating the sax.
Saw a midi demonstration back in the 1980s. They used an electric guitar with a midi controller and an Amiga computer. Turns out the Amiga was more powerful than many computers today. I was so impressed by the use of the midi with a professional musician, who was the demonstrator.
Amigas were used to produce the CG graphics for TV show Babylon 5.
The Amiga is less powerful than the average smartwatch of today. Getting the cheapest crappiest laptop gives you still a pretty good audio workstation (and you can emulate Amiga and old audio software, if you need that)
As a producer that plays the saxophone this is great! I was searching a long time for something that transfers the feel that you can have with a real instrument and this seems to be the most affordable option
My old Yamaha WX-7 is still remarkably good. My #1 complaint about midi wind instruments is the difficulty in finding a sound that doesn't feel "cheesy". I don't need an exact real sax sound, but there must be some sound somewhere which doesn't sound cringy.
Have you looked into Audio Modeling SWAM Saxophones? I’ve been extremely happy with the results I’m getting.
For $99 you can get an i8-pro that has an actual 5 pin MIDI out that you can use to control any synth with a MIDI in port. Including a modular synthesizer with a MIDI to CV converter. For people that don’t want to use a DAW, you really need a 5 pin connector or a MIDI host device to convert USB to midi or CV/gate.
I bought the S56 model about 8 months ago. The keywork is different and the body shape is slightly different, which makes it feel like an anorexic, minaturised Akai. Essentially though - it's the same instrument - but upmarket! It's absolutely brilliant - from the point of playing flute for almost 50 years - and I love it. However - I made a plastic 'octave-rocker' and glued it over the + and - octave switches - which makes the switching more natural and far easier. I also carved a simple wooden finger rest and fitted it with a hook for a lanyard - and glued it in the appropriate position. It's now a very much better instrument to play. I love using it as a midi controller - but it appears to be sending the breath control as cc11 - so I midi-map that to the master volume on my softsynths; I'll have to use a host program instead of the standalones to try and map to multiple controls. As far as the synths go - I play DiscoDSP's OB-Xd, Dexed... and Fluidsynth (soundfonts) - and have a lot of fun! I also find that some of the internal sounds 'beef-up' if you play them through an external amp - I use a little 10W JVC. Treat it as it is - it ain't a sax - but it's an instrument in it's own right - and too much fun not to take everywhere! PS - don't forget to use the supplied mouthpieces - and breath sensitivity level S3 seems to be the best!
Woah, amazing feedback and advice Rebecca - thanks for sharing! I'll have to check it out...
Love this comment!
awesome ideas
Thanks again for the good explanations but where can I find sheet music for beginners on this type of instrument ?
Could a non player use one of these to learn on? I don't mean to a pro level, but for basic home use.
No
absolutely.. just use the abundant sax video on youtube. But it wont teach you about embrochure and reed placement.
Look, I don’t care if it's dogvomit quality, an affordable entry level ewi is sn exciting prospect!
I've really been wanting to get into sax but when I found out the reed alone was 20 dollars or so my heart broke
I'm a big fan of lowering the floor of entry for anything because that's how I roll as a high breadth low depth hobbyist
very excited
@@NonJohnsNot sure who is introducing you to the sax but a $20 reed is not a requirement. Sax being part of the unit name and description is just for marketing.
Excellent review. Thank you. I think in the end that none of the sounds offered really sound like the actual instruments. I've chosen to simply consider this as its own unique instrument.....whatever that might be ?? It's definitely a fun little toy and I think kids would have fun with it. 😃
What if they took a real sax or clarinet mouthpiece and reed and coupled it with pressure sensors and a microphone to convert reed sounds (sine waves and amplitude) into midi notes to trigger the instrument sounds? That way the Embouchure would be a true crossover... Next, a harmonica MIDI controller...
Is there any way to change the attack or portamento of the sounds to avoid all them glitchy notes, which are characteristic of many of these controllers?
Interested until I heard the demo- which seemed to choose the worst possible sound, played too low, then didn't end the video with a decent sound.
Can you add or replace the instruments on the device? e.g. perform electric guitar. It would be nice to do so without having to be connected to your computer.
I'll stick with my Akai thanks.
bingo.
The Yamaha YDS-150 is nice! You can hook it up to your computer and play bass, drums, and anything else in your music programs.
Apropos shutter speed messing with the display - if you adjust your shutter speed to be divisible by 50 (matching the 50hz cycle in Australia) and your fps to 25 (or 50) you'll get rid of those fuzzy black horizontal stripes on your video because your lights and shutter are out of sync.
That is one cool instrument. Sax and flute fingerings plus all of the different sound settings. I can see this being great for people who want to learn to play, but aren't sure if they want to commit to buying a sax or flute. Alright, it's not a substitute for the real instruments, but it would be great for young learners as a step up from the recorder, for bands who want to have a sax or flute sound on a demo and for aspiring snake charmers (perhaps not that last one).
Are you able to change the battery?
Why does it have to be a digital sax? It's a midi controller, right?
sax fingering patterns is why.
I'm a wannabe composer and just looking into ways to make my compositions come to life a bit more. This was a fantastic introduction to this instrument and the instrument family as a whole from a digital composer's perspective. Thank you so much for making this!
I think a digital composer would be a prime candidate for this instrument 😊
@6:34 i was the same way with Rockband! " put the drums on expert!, i know this weezer song like the back of my hand... " fails miserably. 😢
Being able to play an instrument at full force while being quiet to everyone else is exactly what I want, which is why I was interested in this. However I was hesitant, due to the fact that it wouldn't be the same as playing the analog instrument the digital instrument is trying to emulate... Also being quiet to others isn't what I need. I want it just because I don't want to bother other people, especially when I'm just practicing and making mistakes. But shouldn't people around me be happy when hearing real music being played? Why should it only be played during concerts...
So yea that's how I stayed away from the digital instruments thus far.
Would this be light on my diaphragm, as l had to give up sa playing a d l sorely miss,Thankyou for a very informative video Sylv love❤❤
isn't that backing track extremely similar to "Girlfriend" by Christine And The Queens?
Yes! Thank you, I was going crazy trying to find it!
I came to the comments to either find someone saying this or mention it myself 😅
Yes it is! I only realized this when I looked it up and played it myself. How bizarre, these were actually free loops included with Garageband...
Is there a penny whistle function ❤
I have three guitar effects pedals by Vangoa. Fuzz, Overdrive and distortion. All three are fantastic. And for under $30 ea they are a great bargain.
Only wish there was a pitch bender that could slightly bend the tones like on a real saxophone.
Good point, you could insert the pitch bends later in your DAW as those are standard MIDI commands.
i've been slowly learning the Aerophone on and off now for the past year. I have been loving the journey and somehow it showed me your video today which I'm thankful for. Iwi looks like a fun instrument.
The tune is Christina and the queens - Girlfriend
Roland is the way in digital woodwinds. I am a professional saxophone and clarinet player and I tested almost everything on the market
1:50 I got SUPER into midi music in the mid 90s. I grew up in a small town that was 60 miles from the nearest music store and we only went into the city once a month or so; we did have internet though. So if I got really into a band or song I would just download the midi files and listen to that until my family took a trip to the city and I had the money to spend on a CD. I listened to the midi rendition of Weezer's Blue album for the better part of 6 months before I could get the actual album.
How can they sell this for this price and you can’t find a simple MIDI breath controller for under $200?
Autocorrect wrote sax and I ended up here
Seems more and more traditional acousticc instruments have some type of relative midi insrument representing it. One instrument, however, continues to be the flute. Not only am I left out of the pick an instrument, any instrument game, but I still have to deal with the issue of volume. Flute can't be that loud, you say.? I have had the cops called on me over the years. Noise cancelation is also hampered by the way the instrument is held: not straight out away from the body but 90% or so to the right. Some type of enclosure offer the head but surrounding the flute would seem a good option. But the cost as well as the physics of designing such a monstrous piece of headgear is a distant dream.
Not sure why they didn’t design it with the USBC output at the bottom instead of the side. Bottom would have given such a more natural motion.
You can use a right angle cable and some tape, and it will actually be better than what you suggest, but still, I agree.
@@awesomeferret never heard of that. Thanks.
@@awesomeferret never mind. You meant right angle. That makes sense.
@@PLANETWATERMELON yes, I definately did. Thanks for the tip. ☺️
Hmm, it just occurred to me how difficult it would be to find a right angle cable that's appropriate for this due to the orientation of the port. Dangit.
I have 2 expensive 'real' sax's, and an Akai EWI5000(€700). But, tried to find this on Amazon UK, just to try it out. But, it's not there under that name. There are others around the same price though, could be the same instrument in disguise.
I can add it to the collection of instruments I’ve started to learn for a month and then jacked in 😊
Yes, the space bamboo flute! Sounds perfect!!! 😅
Thanks for your review. I will use a digital sax (like the Vangoa S55' you reviewed) because I am a very lousy Keyboard player...to compose and arrange in my DAW (Studio One).
...might get an EWI to play sax again.
I can't afford the actual instrument, but if it's as good an alternative as I hope...
could try making more bird seasoning and see if the pouch comes back(???)
In the 80's it was Casio that made a MIDI sax that was pretty killer and pretty affordable. Wish they'd make another just like it but modernized. I hited someone to do the score for a Broadway play and it sounded fantastic. He used his sax prowess to do many other instruments.
Where's the spit valve; how do you clean it? If you play it for awhile wouldn't saliva build up?
it just dripping on the other end. One can clean it with a very delicate bottle brush. There is a teardown video on youtube. But for that price. Just buy another one
Would this work As a basic breath controller? I’m looking to add dynamics to my synths but don’t want to drop a few hundred on a straight forward breath controller.
I use TEControl (awesome) but AirMotion popped up much cheaper recently. Can't vouch for them, but head tilt is life-changing for keyboards.
Get two foot pedals to change octave?
Do you have a teaching program for clarinet?
It sounds like the Vangoa S55 has the same issue that the Vangoa EWI-100 has, always putting a short gap between each note. That means it's impossible to play anything legato - with connected notes - which is a really important feature of a MIDI wind controller. Listening to your examples, it sounds like it's putting an attack on each new note, instead of gliding from one note to the next. Can you verify if this is the case?
That may be a problem with the synth itself. You need a synth that supports legato. But i dunno because i don’t own this EWI so it might be a problem with that.
@@sub-jec-tiv I think every synth I've ever encountered has a legato mode. Some are of course better than others. It does sound like he's using a mono patch with envelope retriggering though. Not the best choice for this sort of midi controller.
@@sub-jec-tiv This is a problem with the Vangoa EWI-100, not the synth. When you move from note to note, it will *always* place a short time gap between the prior note and the next note, even if the note is played by instantaneously moving to the next note. Because of this artificially created gap, it won't see the note as connected, so it won't play it as legato.
I misread the headline...
Still kinda interesting
" You can make it sound like anything using a DAW" , then you didn't even use a sax sound on your DAW. What good is a synth strings sound when we just want to hear it sound like sax. : /
A good Sax VST perhaps still it would be nice if you could trigger the pitch bending.
It's useful because you have continuous expression from breath and wind players are adept at working with this, so we get extra expressivity in a way that is fairly intuitive to use.
Professional EWI players frown upon the idea to even try to emulate real sax with a MIDI controller. The best sax emulation is SWAM and it costs a lot and is still not perfect, especially with instruments that do not have pitch bend and legato.
Because the best sax sound comes from playing a sax. The point of an EWI is to do other things.
How would you know whst “we” want ? For me, and for most people playing EWIs the _last_ thimg that I would want to do is play saxophone sounds ! The interesting thing is using breath control to shape other sounds. If you want to play sax … play sax.
Sounds like you're choking a flamingo....in the beginning of the video. I agree completely-I play soprano, also have 2 Yamaha WX's. for fun and when practicing privately. the difference in embouchure-playing the digitals actually weakens my embouchure, throws it off. as far as these with the recorder style mouthpiece, no thanks. Glad you posted some honest info. Retired music educator-thanks!
In fact there are several very natural sounding virtual instruments to use on a Computer (I very happily use them with a Breath controller plus Midi Keyboard) .
IMHO internal sound for Wind controllers is just a wast of resources.
Regarding actual Midi Wind Controllers I once used a Yamaha WX7 (now broken, unfortunately) same had very appropriate "real" (Boeme mechanics) finger action . AFAIK, the sensors of my BBv2 (blow, bite, nod, tilt) are superior to the sensors of any Wind controllers available.
I don't play wind instruments but, in the late 80's I bought a Casio DH-100 just because it had MIDI. I thought it was cool to be able to trigger the wind instruments (or any other instrument) in my Korg M1 at the time and it really made the sax sound more realistic for sure. I still have the DH-100 and found one brand new never opened recently so I couldn't help myself not to buy it. The reason I really like the DH-100 is that it has a full size 5 pin MIDI port which I use on my old vintage synths. Everything is USB now and I'd need to get a converter to use a new EWI on old analog synths. Then again, if I really was a real wind instrument player, I'm sure I'd have all of it.
If the controller does MIDI over Bluetooth you can get one of the CME WIDI (e.g. UHost, WIDI Jack, WIDI Master) devices to connect to a legacy hardware setup to play that way.
@@rjones1357 Yeah, from 1987 or so, there's no Bluetooth on a DH-100 lol.
Honestly these look pretty interesting for musicians with a background in woodwinds that are into music production! A lot easier than my dumb ass fumbling (pathetically) around with a keyboard as a midi controller, that's for certain.
That's very impressive for this price! Thanks for bringing it to our attention! Is it possible to pair it with Bluetooth headphones?
your sound source (pc, laptop, iPad, etc.) would be where the headphones attach.
Only through the headphone jack connected to a Bluetooth audio transmitter. The instrument may accept Bluetooth audio in for something like backing tracks, but I am not sure.
Do You have to buy Reeds for them?
no.. it didn't need any reed.
Very cool Demo by a Pro. I‘m no Sax-player, but I use MIDI a lot and my MIDI-controller is a keyboard!
10:32 sounds so much like a Christine and the Queens song!
The Hulusi caould almost pass as an Oboe?
Anyone know of good way of getting this or something like it to a midi DIN connector without using a computer in the middle?
I did just run across this item on Amazon US: MIDI Adapter MIDI Interface Midi Cable MIDI to Wireless BT 5.0 Adapter MIDI in MIDI Out
Is Chef John is your kitchen?
I dunno, if you have a EWI, it's sorta one of those things that you SHOULD NOT DO is try to emulate most real instruments. I've used my EWIs basically for synth sounds or as a String patch sorta trying to do what a keyboard player does (cause the keyboard player is perhaps playing something else)
Thank you for uploading this video, because of this video I now realized that I need to go get my eyes checked. I did t not read Digital Sax Killer…..
I guess the main question would be does it feel like a saxophone or does it feel like a keyboard compared to a piano...
If you have experience playing a woodwind instrument then this may be a more friendly way to express or input a musical idea than with a piano key layout. A sax has way more keys so this not like playing a full fledge saxophone.
This woukd work well with kontakt player. Thats where i feel it would be best used in a daw.
My Christmas present for me.😎
I have had a Roland AE20 for about 5yrs now and, as a former semi-pro sax/clarinettist, it took me quite a while to learn NOT to treat it like an instrument but as a 'musical' computer. However, the point I would like to make is this: even at approx:12X the price of this little gadget the ergonomics of the Roland are abysmal! There are so many things that need improving it is incredible that it ever got past the design stage (I am also a former product design manager so know what I am talking about!) let alone the prototype stage. IMHO it was designed by people who don't play sax so simply made it so that the electronics fitted inside and the outside looked 'space-age'. I still love it by the way and it is worth the price but, my oh my, it could have been sooooooooooooo much easier to use.
Its a midi controller where the advantage is you can control dynamics and the disadvantage is you can only play one note at a time
Why is the reverb so high? A bit annoying 😅
Combine it with a couple of midi foot pedal controllers and you could probably get more versatility out of it.
damn right !!
I doubt the instrument will accept any MIDI input so the foot pedals would probably have no effect.
@ it doesn’t work like that. This is basically a midi controller, so the midi signal goes to whatever software you are using for the sounds on you computer or iPad, then an additional midi controller, say a rocker foot pedal can also go into the software through the computer, and control pitch bend or modulation. Pretty simple setup really.
@@Yosser70 Correct. Sorry for the misunderstanding on my part.
@ no worries mate 👍🏻
Well.... What do i say? Except good to see you again and nice review. Would i buy one? Dunno.
How does this compare to similar instruments around the same price point. What made you pick this one over the other ones?
Hard to say as I haven’t tried any other EWI’s at this price point - the Vangoa is just about the cheapest of all on Amazon though. The only thing worth paying more for in this range (in my opinion) would be for some more comfortable sax-style keywork. Feature wise this EWI has most features that even the top end instruments have (Bluetooth, rechargeable battery, adjustable breath resistance etc). Hope that helps!
Cant get realistic sounds on a wind synth ? Check out the latest creation from GREATEN.
Its the AP 300. It has a real sax growl feature.
Regardless, if the detail strip was actual RGB lighting, it looks tacky. Finding out, the detail is just a sticker, really makes me think- "Cheap Toy".
Then again, who am I to judge? Maybe it is fun, and good at being a toy. Nothing wrong with that. Still, would have still looked nicer, without a stupid sticker!
What a friendly and informative review.
Glad you liked it!
USA here. Great presentation. I like your upbeat attitude. I am a guitarist who dabbles with keyboard in the studio who can use this to play things I can't do with my hands on a keyboard. I took recorder in school years ago and I even owned a sax to dabble but couldn't practice it, it was too loud for my living situation at the time, I can play guitar through headphones and guitar software, b but I can jam the hell out of the recorder! LOL I am sorry, I'm sure there are gifted recorder players out there, but I personally never thought of it as a challenge. Now sax, clarinet, flute etc, now we are taking some serious dedication which you know better than I. These midi breath controllers always seemed expensive for what I would use them for. This device is just the right price. Thanks for bringing this to my attention. I just might buy this thing.
Can a 15 minute amazon ad convince me to do business with them...not in a million years.
How different is a Sax to playing a recorder?
fingering
Nearly identical. You can QUICKLY finger a sax as well as you finger recorder....it's the TONE that's the forever challenge.
Fingers are easy.
:^)
Night and day. They are both woodwind instruments. That is about the extent of the similarities.
A company called SWAM makes a brilliant digital sax product. Runs on IOS and Apple. Very good range or products.
Go to 10:25 for the heat!
The various sounds do not really impress me, and it seems to me, portamento is not possible. No comparison to for example the Yamaha YDS-120, which costs about 10 times more, but for my ears does not really sound like a saxophone either.
Does it have a reed? I can’t play a reed.
No reed. The instrument just detects that you are blowing into it.
You are so pleasant to watch. You gave a thorough and pleasant review of this instrument. And you’re so handsome too.
What is the fingering for Bb flute fingerings?
google
Even if we ignore the "Sax" side of this, $69 for a MIDI wind controller is a stupid deal. Vangoa have really stepped up on a number of instrument fronts.
I want this!
Great Review!!!
Bro if i play this instrument in all chords or not?? Pls reply
No, it's like a flute, you cannot play multiple notes at once on a flute. But if you connect it to a computer and a DAW or VST instrument, you can generate also chord accompaniment, but it will be basic, following every note.