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Re: How's about an e-Clarinet?

Author: SecondTry
Date: 2023-01-20 20:36

Chris P wrote:

> The internal volume of the case will have to be fairly large,
> probably around the size of an alto sax case to allow for ease
> of playing and to keep the breath resistance normal.

Agreed. It's one of the two reasons: that and hand maneuverability that has me conclude that an 8"/20cm internal diameter is probably the minimum.

FWIW Chris I also distanced the bell from the bottom of the tube: which had 4"/10cm thick foam so full fingered notes whose sound and wind emerge from the bell would not face user perceivable back pressure, hitting right up against that 4"/10cm foam.

> In order to make it adaptable for clarinet, oboe and soprano
> sax, it will need foam collets to close around the top end of
> the clarinet barrel, the mouthpiece shank on soprano saxes and
> the crown on oboe top joints, then some adjustable supports or
> velcro straps on the inside to secure the bells of each
> instrument against a shaped block with different adapters to
> suit the different diameters, or a V block which can be moved
> up and down the inside of the mute to suit each instrument. I
> can't honestly see why it's not doable and as of yet, hasn't
> been done when there are two sax mutes on the market with the
> same basic concept of the instrument being housed within a
> plastic shell lined with sound deadening material and neoprene
> seals for the hand holes.

Completely agree.

> Just as a side note, when I first read the title I
> automatically assumed an e-Clarinet was a wind synth with
> clarinet specific fingering like a clarinet version of the
> Roland AE-10 and Yamaha YDS-150.

I feared just such a reasonable read--which is why my opening thoughts were to define what I meant by e-clarinet.

> The problem I have with wind
> synths when playing clarinet music is I instinctively want to
> use clarinet fingerings with the 8ve key acting like a clarinet
> speaker key to give a 12th instead of an 8ve. I suppose it's
> fine for anyone who doesn't play clarinet to make a
> clarinet-like sound with the familiarity of sax fingerings, but
> for a clarinettist wanting them to behave like a clarinet just
> for the sake of silent practice, it just doesn't work like
> that. Maybe some wind synths have adaptable and pre-programmed
> fingerings so they could be put into clarinet mode, but I'm not
> all that tech savvy and if anything, I prefer to keep out of
> the whole synth thing, even though I have both Roland AE-10 and
> Yamaha YDS-150.
>
> Back on topic - has anyone approached Best Brass about
> developing a multi/adaptable soprano woodwind whisper mute?
>

I've approached Best Brass in an email a few days ago. I've yet to hear from them.

smokindok wrote:

>
>
> This is the thing that is revolutionary about the ClariMate. It
> is a wind synth using clarinet fingerings, not to mention a
> real clarinet for the instrument body and keys.
>
> John

The ClariMate is not only innovative but has its place, particularly with traveling musicians I think who couldn't lug any DIY device (at least one I'd make that works).

I also feel though that the ClariMate, while so much better than nothing at all, leaves much to be desired as an alternate to conventional practice---not that I think anyone disagrees.

The nuances of clarinet play can only be approximated by an electronic device. And while I suspect that the technology will improve, it may only approach true wind instrument play, not replace it.

....wouldn't be the first time that I'd be wrong.

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