Klarinet Archive - Posting 000080.txt from 1994/11

From: Cary Karp <ck@-----.SE>
Subj: Re: Yamaha electronic clarinet
Date: Fri, 4 Nov 1994 04:53:38 -0500

On Thu, 3 Nov 1994, Pat Flannery wrote:

> Kerry Roebuck sez. . .
> >Yahama designed an electronic clarinet that plays with a reed, with buttons
> >for keys. The instrument is connected to an FM generator that produces any
> >sound you choose.
>
> Could I get some more info on this? How much? Where is it available? What
> is the model number?

Yamaha initially released this as the WX7, subsequently produced a simpler
WX? and finally ended up with the "Windjammer", which was packaged with a
synthesizer. The WX instruments are full MIDI controllers and can be used
with any MIDI device. I don't believe any of them are still in production
as they, other than during an initial fad, never really generated active
sales. The only widely marketed competition that they had was the Akai
"EWI" (@-----.

A main problem with instruments of this type is that MIDI is not
particularly suitable for the control of sustained monophonic sound
production. Few windplayers found them acceptable and non-windplayers
were better off using keyboard controllers. A few windplayers still use
wind controllers, most noteably Michael Brecker with his EWI, but
otherwise they are not a currently viable item.

I'd suggest that you try to locate a second-hand WX7 and test it to see if
you feel it a useful silent practice instrument. It "overblows" at the
octave not the twelfth, requires substantially non-clarinetistic chops, but
can be a lot of fun. As a practice synthesizer I'd suggest Yamaha's QY20
or QY10 -- pocket-sized and tremendously useful as practice devices (even
for those who practice on instruments with direct acoustic output).

Cary <Karp@-----.se>