Comments on: Akai EWI USB Wind Instrument

By: Dim

Dim — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:17:10 +0000

Hi. I am AKAI Usb & Aria user. I got some troubles in Aria soft. In the
EWI Configuration: I cant load Sysex files,don't works "reset" baton,don't changes configuration when I change parameters.In another software velocity=120 all time. What to do? Help! Sorry my English, I'm from Russia. Thanks. dima-sax@mail.ru

P.S. PC Configuration: Fujitsu 6555,IntelCore2Duo,4G,Sound card-M-Audio Audiophile usb,WinXP S2

By: guest

guest — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 20:33:33 +0000

I have experienced suck notes with the EWI USB when using Vista SP2. It got worse when I turn on MSM practically unusable. Haven't had the problem on the Mac (knock on wood) nor on my stripped down XP music disk.

By: HIMS

HIMS — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 15:14:03 +0000

hi Nick and Brian
Do you have a solution already for this problem?
I have the same problem overhere.
Iam very interested if you solved the problem

By: ROb S.

ROb S. — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 02:03:32 +0000

I think ProDigit may have a point about the grounding issue but actually I think it has more to do with this device bring USB. USB MIDI instruments are notorious for having stuck note problems and it is mostly software issues. The 4000s doesn't have nearly as much trouble in this area. As for Akai's "tech support," the only thing we can really do is hit all the online arenas and start giving them bad reviews. Bottom line – if you're into the EWI on a professional level, fork over the extra cash and get the 4000s. Here's one more vote saying that the USB is not ready for the stage.

By: Ragman

Ragman — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 10:09:52 +0000

My EWI has developed a strange malfunction causing it to ignore most of the keys I am playing after a long period of use. I returned it for repair once and they didn't spot the fault despite having it for six weeks. It's now gone wrong again half way through a very pressured composing job.

Both Akai and Digital Village (where I bought the unit) have said all they can do is return it for re-repair. No offer to loan or replace the unit. No helpful suggestions whatsoever.

Akai professional? Yeah right.

By: ProDigit

ProDigit — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 04:14:41 +0000

stuck notes are caused by bad electrical circuits.
1-: Reset the device on the reset button, without touching any knobs
2-: Make sure you don't have superdry hands; if they work on a laptop's mousepad, they will work on the EWI. Otherwise get some vaseline, handlotion, or dip your hands in plain water to improve conductivity
3-: MAKE SURE YOUR BODY IS NOT GROUNDED!!!(electrically).
Playing with bare feet, on a wet floor, without rubber or isolating shoes, will cause the circuit inside the instrument to not be a closed circuit when pressing notes, and the electricity will get conducted through the body, to the ground.

If you rehearse make sure you are isolated from the ground, by wearing rubber shoes, sportshoes, flipflops, or stand on a (pref. dry and thick) carpet.

Don't sit on iron chairs that are standing on a conducting floor. Don't lean on or touch large metal plates, as they alter the human capacity and conductivity.
So it should be obvious you'd not play while taking a bath neither,,,

By: villemon

villemon — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 20:27:34 +0000

Hi!

I just bought EWI USB and quite frankly I am rather disappointed to encounter the same problem as you all mentioned. I’ve tried to use my EWI with other programs also, not just Garritan. That does not seem to help at all. I’m now wondering should I return the product and try to get my money back!

By: WantsToReturnIt

WantsToReturnIt — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 17:01:52 +0000

I can affirm Nick's sentiment above. The Garritan software is NOT ready for prime time. After playing for several minutes, the software will get stuck on one or two simultaneous notes which will play indefinitely, and the software will no longer respond to EWI input.

The only way to fix this is to restart the software (resetting the EWI hardware has no effect), or to enter Tools/Preferences and hit the OK button – which presumably reloads the Audio Device.

I have tried all kinds of variations in ASIO devices (ASIO4ALL, M-Audio ASIO), sample rates and buffer sizes, but always end up with the software getting stuck. I have also tried it on multiple machines (desktop and laptop) with the same results. Both machines are Vista SP2.

I am furthermore not impressed by the tech support. I have raised this issue several times and have not yet received the promised tech support.

Some other problems inherent with the software interface/documentation side of the EWI USB:

- The system is completely unusable unless you use an ASIO driver, yet this is completely absent in any documentation from AKAI – I pity the non-technical user who does not realize they need to download e.g. ASIO4ALL.

- You will never be able to save any of your EWI configuration parameters unless you check off the EWI-USB as a MIDI Output Device. This is completely unintuitive to me. I never checked it as I was not expecting to trigger anything in the hardware. Why not just remove the EWI USB as an output device and have it on by default, since the Save Configuration functionality is completely dependant on this?

By: ProDigit

ProDigit — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 02:34:51 +0000

I'd recommend everyone interested in the EWI to visit patchmanmusic.com!
They have a forum that specializes in all sorts of electronic wind instruments!

By: Brian

Brian — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 21:03:48 +0000

Same problem here. I've tried it on all four computers in the house. Aggravating is an understatement.

By: Nick

Nick — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 07:57:20 +0000

I recently purchased the EWI USB. I am digging all aspects except a problem with the Garrity software. I cant even get through a single song without one of the notes sticking and it will not stop unless I close the software and open it up again. Not even through a single song. Quite aggrevating actually.

By: ProDigit

ProDigit — Sat, 30 May 2009 01:36:37 +0000

*Edit:It has to go together with the Yamaha VL70-m module though.
The Yamaha converts it's breath signal to midi.. So that'd be more like a $700 package, unless you already own the VL70-m

By: ProDigit

ProDigit — Sat, 30 May 2009 01:05:37 +0000

There is. The Yamaha BC3A.
around $75 streetprice.

By: synthhead

synthhead — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 03:46:42 +0000

Torley – good idea. If it was priced like the Korg nano devices, they could sell them by the truckload.

By: Sam K

Sam K — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 02:09:31 +0000

I second Torley’s comment

By: Torley

Torley — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 22:38:31 +0000

I wish there was an affordable USB breath/wind controller under $100 which was simply the “You blow into it and it modulates a MIDI CC of your choice”, more suited for keyboardists who wish to wear it like the Yamaha BC-3 while playing synth lines.