EWI 4000s or USB?

dnitodnito
edited February 2012 in Windcontrollers
Hello all-



I want to pick up an EWI and am wondering which model people would recommend? I do not need (or want) any internal sounds as I will only use my EWI to just control my Sample Modeling instruments and my other VIs.



Here are some other difference that I have read about, but don't know if they are issues:



1) The EWI USB is noticably lighter and smaller than the EWI4000s. Is this an issue for playing?



2) The EWI USB lacks the glide strip found on the EWI4000s- though it is possible to assign one of the bend sensors or the bite sensor to send glide (MIDI CC#5).



3) The EWI USB also cannot send program changes from the controller and it has less range.



4) The EWI4000s features extra 2 side keys (OCT and HOLD) that can be used for various functions such as playing two notes at once.



5) The EWI4000s being connected internally to its built in analog modeling synth uses "better than MIDI resolution and speed" to control its internal synth resulting in very fast and smooth response. However, I've read that theEWI USB when connected works great as well.



6) I have read that there is some difference between how the 4000s and the USB handle growling, but that in the end, either can do it. Is this true?



Thanks for reading. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.



d.

Comments

  • dickbarbourdickbarbour
    edited 7:52AM
    My advice is to visit the Patchman windcontroller site at http://www.patchmanmusic.com/. There you will find a FAQ with much information on your questions, as well as a forum with many discussions of the same questions.

    Dick
  • dstongdstong
    edited 7:52AM
    One of the biggest advantages of the EWI-4000s is that it has 8 octave keys vs the EWI-USB's 4. Because the keys closest to the highest and lowest ends do not rotate (and there is no extra space beyond them) using these "end" octave keys is a problem -far more for the USB. I find it especially limiting when trying to play low notes on the Trombone for example because there is very little space for positioning your finger on the last note. You have to learn a different position for your thumb for this bottom octave key, and it tends to be somewhat unreliable -very frustrating. Do the math, and you can understand that you can easily never use the top or bottom octave key when you have 8 octave keys, but it's more limiting when you have only 4 (EW-USB). You can learn to use the end octave keys but it takes a lot more time to have to learn a special different thumb positioning.



    Other than cost, lightness, included Garritan software, no need for AC power supply, and not having to mess with the little setup knobs on the EWI-4000s, there is no advantage to the EWI-USB.



    I use both extensively and they appear, to me, to be a slightly different sounding instrument with the same patches. I suspect this is due to their different "transfer functions" settings. Not different enough for me to be able to tell from a recording whether I used one or the other for the SM Trumpet, Trombone, or Sax. Hence this may be more of a feel for the player than for the listener.



    Hope that helps.



    Dan
  • zeppusclubzeppusclub
    edited 7:52AM
    Hi everybody ....



    If i could permit me ... there are some other points that it could be important to keep in mind ....



    1) If you have to use ewi on stage in the future, it could be interresting to have a midi out ... it allow you to use a midi wireless system, like kenton mididstream, who give you a total movement liberty ...



    2) The other benefits of midi out is that you could also use an additionnal midi footswitch for select sound on your daw or laptop ...



    3) the small button on the right side of the ewi 4000s are two wonderfull friends for plug the mute of the trumpet or switch between sax and trumpet sound ...



    without any hesitation, i'll buy a second ewi 4000 s asap ...



    Regards



    Yvan



    http://www.ewijazz.biz

Leave a Comment

Rich Text Editor. To edit a paragraph's style, hit tab to get to the paragraph menu. From there you will be able to pick one style. Nothing defaults to paragraph. An inline formatting menu will show up when you select text. Hit tab to get into that menu. Some elements, such as rich link embeds, images, loading indicators, and error messages may get inserted into the editor. You may navigate to these using the arrow keys inside of the editor and delete them with the delete or backspace key.

Home • WindcontrollersComment As ...

© Vanilla Keystone Theme 2025