Yamaha WX5 Next Generation Wind MIDI Controller

Features new high resolution breath and lip sensors, 16 key layout for sax compatibility, and MIDI Out onboard. This item is not returnable.

Item: YAMWX5

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customer reviews

Rate and Review This Product:

93 People rated this product : * * * * * * * * * * 8 out of 10

4 People wrote reviews

* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10

"Amazing instrument!"

Feature:
Accessories supplied are strap(kinda cheap, buy a nice strap if you want to use a strap - it's a very light instrument and you don't really need a strap), silicone mouthpiece grease, soft case, manual, and WX cable. The Manual is very well written but the fingering chart is a little difficult to understand. I have actually made a fingering chart that helped me tremendoulsy and will gladly share it with anyone who asks. E-mail me at eddie_d1964@yahoo.com and I will send it to you. As for features I "wish it had" I must say I really wanted it to look better! The black and silver plastic just looks so much like a toy and not at all like the professional musical instrument that it truly is. This is why I now offer skin kits. What a difference! If you want to see the skins I make go to www.egraphicworld.com/WX5.htm and you'll see what I mean. Other than the black and gray toyish appearance the overall shape is nice and the mechanical keys have a great feel.

Quality:
Very well built although it's plastic. I do wish Yamaha offered a high end "pro" verion made from actual metal or brass. This instrument deserves to be built better and belongs in the traditional musical instrument family and ought to LOOK the part. Again, the skin kit goes a long way towards acheiving that look.

Value:
For what it does this is an AWESOME value.

Desirability:
10, yes, but ONLY with the skin kit applied :-)

Sound:
As far as "sound" goes, this instrument makes no sounds of it's own. It must be connected to a tone generator to produce a sound. The Yamaha VL70-m is by far the best module to use with this. I have tried the VL expansion card as well(PLG150) but it is pretty dificult to use and not very practical. The factory sounds on the VL70-m are not bad but there is a VERY nice custom chip made for this tone module called the Patchman Turbo Chip and in my opinion is the only way to go if you want truly professional instrument emulations. Go to www.patchmanmusic.com to hear samples of what it can do. AMAZING!

Ease of Use:
Setting it up is crucial to getting it to play as expressively as it is capable of playing. Go to www.nortonmusic.com/wx5.html for a VERY thorough guide to getting it setup correctly. Out of the box it's just not going to respond at it's best.

Support:
Never a problem.

Submitted: 10/4/2007

* * * * * * * * * * 8 out of 10

"A great instrument! Just configure it properly!"

Sound:
Overall, the WX5 is a great midi instrument. It is really only limited by the sound module you connect it to. However, like most instruments of this type, it does require a learning curve! Spend time reading the manual! The DIP settings are extremely important! If you will hassle through the technical end of things for awhile the rewards will be more than worth it. Setup is critically important! Also be sure and set the sensitivity is set to your liking. If you don't, you will be disappointed with how the instrument responds. The only negative things I have to say about the WX5 are for flute players. The WX5 is not really all that well suited for flute players. Why? The wind pressure sensitivity sucks. The instrument is much more responsive with the Sax mouthpiece than the recorder. No matter how I set it. I could not get it to be as responsive as I would have like. It wasn't until I put on the reed mouthpiece that I finally got the instrument to respond to how I wanted. One other thing for flute players, the fingerings the WX5 uses are not TRUE flute fingerings. They are a hybrid system that more closely resemble SAX fingerings than flute. True, you can adjust to them but as professional flute player I am not about to screw up my flute technique to try and use this instrument under the flute settings. Set it up under SAX settings and you will be impressed! One other small gripe, the keys are extremely light. The instrument would be more playable with weighted keys, similar to a flutes. As is, they are so light to the touch it is easy to make a mistake. Hint to Yamaha: Please use weighted keys on the next incarnation of this instrument!

Submitted: 8/9/2005

Style of Music: Country, Rock, Folk, Acoustic

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iconPersonal use items that are used at your mouth or in your ear cannot be returned once opened due to health laws. This includes all microphones, guitar talk boxes, ear plugs, and in-ear earphones. details

About This Product!
Description
Docs
From Our Catalog
News
Extraordinary Playability and Versatility
The Yamaha WX5 Wind MIDI Controller takes wind MIDI control to new levels of performance and playability. With precise, responsive wind and lip sensors, a choice of single-reed or recorder type mouthpieces, and a range of fingering modes, the WX5 makes expressive wind control more accessible than ever before. The WX5 gives experienced wind players a new medium and vastly expanded sonic possibilities in a familiar format, playable enough for beginners.

Expressive Controls
The WX5 provides expressive control and nuances that are simply not available with keyboards or other MIDI controllers. Although it is ideal for use with just about any MIDI tone generator or synthesizer, combined with a state-of-the-art tone generator such as the Yamaha VL70m Virtual Acoustic Tone Generator, the WX5 is capable of expressive depth and tonal subtlety that rivals the finest acoustic instruments.

Most Advanced
The Yamaha WX5 Wind MIDI Controller is simply the most advanced, most versatile, most playable, and most expressive MIDI controller of its kind.

If You Already Play a Wind Instrument...
The WX5 is your key to vastly expanded expression and musical scope. You'll be able to use familiar fingering and techniques to play an unlimited range of new sounds. Play the WX5 like a saxophone, for example, but sound like a trombone, piano, electric guitar, bass ... literally any sound that gives you the musical effect you want. Why leave this type of sonic versatility to the keyboard players?

If You've Never Played a Wind Instrument Before...
The WX5 is easy to learn. You can choose a fingering that you're most comfortable with right from the beginning. And, unlike an acoustic wind instrument, it doesn't take months of practice just to get a decent tone. The reedless recorder type mouthpiece supplied in addition to the saxophone type mouthpiece makes playing even easier. An extensive range of customizable parameters lets you set up the WX5 to play the way you want it to.The WX5 can open the door to a whole new world of expression.

Play Any MIDI Tone Generator
MIDI, the Music Instrument Digital Interface, is the standard used by virtually every modern MIDI tone generator or other electronic music device available from any manufacturer. Since the WX5 is a 100% MIDI-compatible controller, it can be used to play any MIDI tone generator on the market today - starting with the extensive lineup available from Yamaha.

Use the WX5 with the Yamaha VL70-m or MU Series Tone Generators
The Yamaha VL70m Virtual Acoustic Tone generator is a perfect match for the WX5. Although a mono tone generator, its advanced computer-modeling technology delivers some of the most realistic and expressive wind-instrument sounds available in any tone generator system. The MU-Series XG tone generators are also an excellent choice. But you're in no way limited: choose the MIDI tone generator that provides the type of sound you want.

High-Resolution Wind and Lip Sensors with Precision Calibration Controls
The WX5 translates the player's breath and lip pressure to MIDI data via high-resolution wind and lip sensors that can be precisely calibrated to match individual playing characteristics. If you normally play sax, for example, you can set up the WX5 so that it plays almost exactly the same as your acoustic instrument. That way you can switch back and forth between instruments without even having to think about adjusting your style.

A Choice of Fingering Modes
Whether you're an experienced wind instrument player or a beginner, one of the WX5's 4 selectable fingering modes will provide optimum playability for you. The "Saxophone (c)" mode, in particular, allows the same type of alternate fingerings that sax players use to add subtle variety and expression to their sound.

Saxophone (a) Fingering Mode
Basically the same as saxophone fingering, except that the fingering remains the same in all octaves, and thus easy to learn.

Saxophone (b) Fingering Mode
This mode is similar to Saxophone (a), but with additional trill key functions to facilitate rapid passages. This fingering is similar to that on the WX5's predecessor, the Yamaha WX11 Wind MIDI Controller.

Flute Fingering Mode
Similar to flute fingering, this mode is ideal for players who are familiar with flute fingering. Rather that continuous pitch bend in response to lip pressure, the pitch jumps up one octave when lip pressure is applied simulating the "overblow" octave shift on an acoustic flute.

Saxophone (c) Fingering Mode
A variation of the Saxophone (a) fingering mode, this mode allows saxophone-type alternate fingerings. Although alternate fingerings produce the same note, they produce slight variations in pitch and timbre which can be used for musical effect.

WX5 and VL70-m Virtual Acoustic Tone Generator
WX5 and VL70m Acoustic Tone Generator: The perfect match: extraordinarily realistic and expressive wind instrument sounds, as well as direct connection via the WX cable without the need for batteries or an AC Adaptor.

WX5 and MIDI Tone Generator
Basic but very versatile, this is the type of setup you'll use with any MIDI tone generator of your choice.

WX5 with the MFC10 Foot Controller
With the MFC10 Foot Controller you can switch voices, control volume or other parameters, and generally change setups via foot control without interrupting your performance.

WX5 and QY70 or QY700 Music Sequencer
The WX5 can be connected to an integrated sequencer/tone generator unit such as the Yamaha QY70 or QY700 to allow convenient recording and playback of MIDI data.

Comprehensive Setup Capability and Versatile Realtime Control
In additon to connectors, calibration controls, and setup switches, the "thumb side" of the WX5 offers a range of controls and features, which are not available on conventional acoustic instruments.

Sensor Gain Controls
These 4 controls adjust the gain and zero point of the wind and lip sensors for optimum playability.

Octave Keys
These keys allow you to shift the pitch of the instrument up or down by one, two, or three octaves while playing.

Setup Button
Used in conjunction with other WX5 control buttons, the Setup Button allows software wind gain, octave transpose, and other settings to be changed while playing.

Pitch Bend Wheel
Like the pitch bend wheel on keyboard synthesizers, the WX5 pitch bend wheel can be used to produce smooth pitch bends.

Key Hold Button
The Key Hold button controls any of the 4 assignable key hold functions.

Program Change Button
Used in conjunction with the instrument's keys, the Program Change button can be used to transmit MIDI program changes and bank numbers to the connected MIDI tone generator in order to change voices directly from the WX5.

MIDI Out Connector
When not using the WX cable, this connector is used to directly connect the WX5 to a MIDI tone generator via a standard MIDI cable.

WX Out Connector
This connector allows the WX5 to be directly connected to compatible Yamaha tone generators (such as the VL70m) via the supplied WX cable.

Customize the WX5 for Your Playing Requirements - Dip Switches 1 - 3
The WX5 has 16 DIP switches which allow it to be customized to meed your individual playing requirements.
1) Velocity: determines whether the key-on velocity (i.e. the attack of each note) will be fixed or controlled by wind pressure;
2) Wind Sensor to MIDI data: specifies the type of MIDI data which the WX5 wind data will be transmitted;
3) Wind Curve: determines the relationship between breath pressure and the output MIDI volume data

Dip Switches 4 - 6
4) Tight Lip/Loose Lip Mode: selects the Tight Lip or Loose Lip playing mode;
5) Lip Data Range: determines the range of data which can be produced via lip control - "Normal" or "Wide";
6) Lip Data: specifies the type of MIDI data which the WX5 lip data will be transmitted - "Pitch Bend" or "Modulation"

Dip Switches 7 - 10
7) Lip + Control Change Data: determines whether or not MIDI control change number #18 will be added to the lip data transmitted by the WX5; 8) Transpose: sets the "key" of the WX5: i.e. the actual pitch played when all keys are closed - "C2," "Bb1," or "Eb2."
9) Fingering: specifies the WX5 fingering mode - "Saxophone (a)," "Saxophone (b)," "Saxophone (c)," or "Flute";
10) Fast Response: sets the speed at which the WX5 will respond when a note is played.

Dip Switches 11 - 12
11) High D/D# Key Assign: determines whether the high D and D# keys will be used normally as playing keys, or to transmit control change data; 12) Pitch Bend to MIDI Data: determines the initial power-on Pitch Bend Wheel control mode.

Technical Info

Controls
Note keys (16 keys including assignable high keys (2), Octave Change Keys (4) (Control range: 7 octave), Pitch Bend wheel, Setup Switch, Hold Switch (Key Hold/Sustain/Portament), Program Change Switch, Power On/Off Switch
Rotary Controls: WIND ZERO, WIND GAIN, LIP GAIN, LIP ZERO

Transpose:
Key Transpose: C2,Bb1,Eb; Octave Transpose: 5 step (-2/-1/0+1/+2)
Fingering Saxophone (a), Saxophone (b), Saxophone (c), Flute
Dip Switches Velicoty:On/Off; Wind Data: CC#2 (Breath Controller), CC#7 (Volume), CC#11 (Expression); Wind Curve: Normal/Hard; Lip Mode: Tight Lip/Loose Lip; Lip Range: Normal/Wide; Lip Data: Pitch bend/Modulation wheel; Lip+ CC#18 (Gen3): On/Off; Transpose: C2/Bb1/Eb2; Fingering: Saxophone (a,b,c), Flute; Fast Response: On/Off; High D,D# key assign: On (D:CC#81, D#: CC#80)/Off; Pitch Bend Data: Pitch bend Up and Pitch bend Down/Modulation wheel and Pitch bend Down/CC#16 (Gen1) and CC#17(Gen2) Bright Up/ Down

Sensors: Wind Sensor, Lip Sensor

LED: Red LED x 2 (WIND Monitor, LIP ZERO Monitor)

MIDI Transmit Channel: 10 - 16 channel

Connections
MIDI Out connector, WX Out connector (Power and MIDI Out), DC in Jack
Power Suppy UM-4, AAA, R03 x 6, PA3B AC Adapter, WX Out Connector (from compatible Yamaha Tone Generators or BT7 MIDI/Power Pack)

Dimensions (L x W x D): 611 x 62 x 70 mm

Included: Mouthpiece Saxophone Type Mouthpiece (attached), Mouthpiece Cap (attached), Recorder type Mouthpiece
Soft Case
WX Cable
Strap
Recorder Cream
Takes wind control to new levels of performance and playability with the expressive nuances of breath and familiar fingering! WX and MIDI outputs.
  • 07/16
    New stock arrives in zZounds' warehouse,
     New, will ship immediately. 

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