An electronic wind instrument is a musical instrument that produces electronic sound (most of the time, this will be the sound of acoustic wind instruments) in response to air pressure, or in other words: when you blow into the mouthpiece - just like any normal wind instrument. Often, these instruments will also have the same sound hole or button layout as those of a recorder or the valves of a saxophone, but the beauty of an electronic instrument like this is that you're granted access to the sound of countless different instruments in one. While electronic wind instruments come with built-in sounds, wind controllers don't produce sound on their own but operate in the same way as a MIDI controller, so need to be connected to a MIDI source like a computer so it can be fed MIDI data.
MIDI Wind Instruments: Endless Freedom for Wind Musicians
When MIDI was first developed back in the early eighties, it was a game-changer for pianists and keyboard players, but seemed far out of reach for wind musicians. But over time, MIDI found its way into various different musical instrument families, including wind controllers: 100% electronic instruments that translate air-pressure and valve action into MIDI data.
An Electronic Wind Instrument for Saxophonists and Other Wind Musicians
An electronic wind instrument comes with a number of advantages. For a start, it already comes with sounds on board, so there's no need to connect it to an external sound source. But, when you do link a MIDI-only wind controller to a MIDI device like a computer, you can open up a near-infinite array of different sounds by exploring the world of virtual instruments.
Another big bonus is that an electronic wind instrument is not an acoustic instrument, meaning that you can plug in a set of headphones and play in silence - definitely a plus if you live in a flat or a house with thin walls. And, due to the smart layout, you can play with the sound of a million different instruments while learning to play just one.
An extra perk is that, if you're in a band, you're able to cover multiple instruments with just one, so there's no need for the band to recruit a small army of brass players, for example. On top of that, an electronic wind instrument is always going to be far easier to plug in and amplify than a saxophone, a trumpet and a trombone.
Extra Expression Combined with DAW Software
Plenty of the virtual wind instruments you can use in DAW software offer a range of different articulations like crescendos and decrescendos, which can be a hassle to trigger via key switches and so on. Using a wind controller, all of the dynamic expression of these articulations will sound way more natural, so if you're looking for a more left-field controller to support the writing and production stage, then an electronic wind instrument might be an interesting new studio tool.
Frequency Asked Questions About Electronic Wind Instruments
How good is the sound quality of electronic wind instruments ?
The sound quality will have a lot to do with how much you pay for your model. More expensive electronic wind instruments will offer better sound quality, but if you're using a wind controller and connecting it to a computer to control virtual instruments, then the level of sound quality will be dictated by the plugins you're using.
What's the difference between a wind controller and a breath controller?
A breath controller is a kind of mouthpiece that registers the air pressure level and converts it into MIDI data, and is used by some producers to inject more life into MIDI-based music. Wind controllers, on the other hand, are complete wind instruments fitted with buttons or holes that respond in the same way as the valves of a real wind instrument like a saxophone.
What's the difference between a wind controller and an electronic wind instrument?
An electronic wind instrument comes pre-loaded with sounds, fitted with an audio output and sometimes even has a built-in speaker, while a wind controller has no onboard sounds and is designed to control MIDI data via air-pressure registration and a set of buttons or valves. By connecting the controller to a computer, the sound of virtual instruments can actually be 'played'.
