Akai EWI Solo, Day One Impressions from an oboist

After having this for just under a day, I've already taken to learning how to play this thing and even made some adjustments to the keywork!
More updates to come!

[@SatnamSingh-pd3yh]

I am a saxophone player and I just bought an ewi solo, but I still found this video very helpful, thanks a lot man

[@PensacolaOboist]

Awesome! I'm so glad you got something out of it! :-) Enjoy playing around with your new EWI!

[@Poogs]

Great video thank you. Out of stock until June in Scotland, waiting eagerly to play!

[@Also_Ran]

Trying to decide between 5000 and Solo, great review and very helpful!

[@fragglekat]

Thanks for sharing this! I recently picked up an EWI 5000 as a way to play at home on headphones without disturbing neighbors, after years away from music; I'd played oboe in grade school, longer ago than i care to admit. Have you changed your embouchure for the EWI? I've heard advice to hold the mouthpiece lightly with the teeth, i suppose to make use of the bite sensor, but i haven't been able to bring myself to do that. I'm also curious if you've had any trouble accidentally hitting the glide plate. Myself, I'm not used to having a neck strap for support. Thanks again! I hope you've had fun playing with your EWI some more.

[@MiraDaWulf]

I love your responses to people hating on this first impressions video

[@PensacolaOboist]

Thanks. It's really kinda amazing that some folks feel the need to be like that. I can't help but wonder if some of them get some kind of paycheck for expending that level of energy. I mean, it costs fewer calories to just scroll away and grumble... but to go through the effort of typing paragraphs like that? Seems an awful waste... unless they really were getting something out of it in the end.

[@basementmidi]

Great video especially from the viewpoint of a woodwind player. I just got my ewi and as a flautist, I really struggle with the left thumb rollers. The plus is that I don’t need to purchase an oboe or bassoon, the two woodwinds that I feel are the most expressive.

[@MiraDaWulf]

I'd love to hear about your experience with the EWI, as a flutist myself lol

[@basementmidi]

@@MiraDaWulf Hi Mira, I have a hard time developing the muscle memory using my middle finger instead of my index to finger C. Also using the left thumb rollers to switch octaves is difficult. Additionally, I have a bad habit of using my left thumb key to finger Bb, No way to do that on the EWI. You need to be very precise. The sounds however, are fairly good and quite useable. If you are willing to spend the time to develop the new muscle memory, I would say; go for it!

[@kazuki2748]

I play keyboard but I enjoy a break playing tunes on my Ewi it’s interesting to get reviews and videos on the ewi .My ewi experience has been an interesting learning curve and it’s refreshing to be used quietly through head phones.It is what it is and my 2nd hand bargain ewi did have a few issues mainly caused by not using the correct voltage adaptor so I have hard wired it direct to a mains adaptor bypassing an issue as the 9v plugin point failed.The ewi is now working fine but when you get it first and using it takes a while to master the settings.Thanks for your take on your ewi.

[@DrDaab]

You can get really good virtual instrument sounds from samplemodeling and audiomodeling.

[@DigitalWindInstrument]

Cool❤

[@suonatoreincognito1057]

👍🎷

[@Godwinsname]

Whoa! But... I think wood sounds better in the end.

[@PensacolaOboist]

Well, of course. I don't plan to play this thing as a way to replace my oboe or any live woodwind. My plan is to create hybrid synth sounds and have those original timbres played with this instrument.

[@Godwinsname]

@@PensacolaOboist Yes it looks to be a very interesting instrument to get whole new ranges of sound. Cool man, good luck :)

[@babycmamasavant]

Do you use the Mouthpiece cap ?

[@PensacolaOboist]

To protect it, yes.

[@babycmamasavant]

@@PensacolaOboist but I mean 'while you are playing it' ? (in your video, you are blowing directly into the mouthpiece, not into the cover

[@PensacolaOboist]

@@babycmamasavant correct. I take the cover off when playing.

[@babycmamasavant]

@@PensacolaOboist OK, but here is my confusion: The Akai tech told me to use it 'while playing' because this reduces the moisture impact. The info sheet 'removing the mouthpiece' I find incomprehensible for a couple of reasons. Do you have any thoughts?

[@PensacolaOboist]

@@babycmamasavant hmmm... give me a bit to consider (This shall be a placeholder)

[@alphabeets]

A more accurate and useful review might be given after you have had time to learn the instruments. I never understood the purpose of these first impression videos. It’s like, let’s give a 5th grader a trumpet for the first time and get his first impression review of his new Bundy trumpet. Not of much use.

[@PensacolaOboist]

Apparently this offended you so much you needed to go out of your way to tell me, at length, what I should do on my channel. Interesting. Have you taken this tack with others who post such videos or was this the one that finally made you snap?

[@alphabeets]

You shouldn’t have to tongue any differently playing the EWI. Learn how to let air flow from the corners of the mouth as you blow as it was designed to be played. Learn how to play it and get familiar with the EWI THEN post a review.

[@PensacolaOboist]

I have over 35 years experience as a woodwind player and, yeah, the EWI is quite different. Also, I do what I want on my page.