The Akai EWI5000 Electronic Wind Instrument is a MIDI controller for wind instrument players that opens the door and allows yet more musicians to harness and stretch the powers of technology in a modern DAW recording environment, as well as live for onstage performances.
Following on from the EWI4000, the new EWI5000 pays great attention to detail to woodwind players' nuances. With the ability to accentuate and affect sounds with different levels of breath and bite, as well as control digital effects like reverb and EQ, the EWI5000 puts a huge amount of power in the hands of the woodwind player, allowing them to create a huge number of interesting and innovative sounds, or simply play a variety of instruments in one gig with minimal hassle.
Here's what Akai say about the EWI5000
Akai Professional, creators of the original EWI, announce the EWI 5000, the most expressive and versatile wind instrument in the world. EWI 5000 includes an array of advanced features, including digital 2.4GHz ultra-low-latency wireless connectivity, a built-in rechargeable battery that lasts up to 12 hours, and more than 3GB of built-in traditional and progressive sounds from SONiVOX, a leading creator of premium virtual instruments and software synthesis technologies.
EWI 5000 comes loaded with more than 3GB of top-quality sounds, including traditional horn, brass, woodwind, and string sounds, plus progressive synths, leads, and other non-traditional sounds.
EWI 5000 includes 12 touch-sensitive metal keys on its top and an eight-wheel thumb-controlled octave roller on the bottom. An EVI (Electronic Valve Instrument) Mode is included for brass players, and EWI 5000 also includes eight control knobx for tweaking Filter, Reverb, Chorus, LFO, Breath Amount, Bite Amount, Semitone Tuning, and Fine Tuning.
Both USB MIDI and 5-pin MIDI are onboard for controlling software synths or traditional MIDI modules.
A 1/4-inch output to connect to an amplifier or PA and an 1/8 inch headphone output for silent practive are included. EWI 5000 charges via USB or wall power and also includes a USB cable, wall adapter, wireless receiver and a neck strap.
Akai EWI5000 Key Features
- Authentic wind-instrument performance and response for the digital era
- 3GB of stunning acoustic and progressive sounds created by SONiVOX
- Automatically calibrates and adapts to the player’s style
- Wireless audio for on-stage freedom, receiver included USB port; MIDI output; 1/4" audio output, 1/8" headphone out
- Includes neck strap, charger, USB Cable, wireless receiver
