Travel Sax 2 Review After 1 Year of Playing

[@gabotogabotogaboto]

I love mine, improving day by day and my roommates don’t hate me any more 😂

[@Louksa]

So happy to hear from your 1 year feed back. I just received mine a week ego and could see the benefit i could gain. And you confirmed it !!

[@maveri.k]

I love mine. People say it's expensive without considering all the years of hard work behind this thing and realizing that it's an invention and it's unique in the world at this moment. No other digital sax comes even close to it's size and keywork at this price range. You don't even need a phone to use it, just the headset. And the barisax sound which was missing in the TS1 is pretty cool.

[@markcasey6358]

I've spent countless hours committing my repertoire to memory using the Travel Sax 2. Early mornings when the family is still in bed or on the couch whilst watching T.V. Only alternative for me would be a whisper room so I got off cheaply there.

[@JohnStransky]

I love mine. About 6 months with it. Have had it in business trips, vacations, or anytime I need to play quietly.

[@rodgrego7690]

I use mine for learning alto big band parts while connected by blue tooth to the phone. The great thing is that the key layout is so good that I can apply what I’ve learnt to the actual sax without any problem.

[@brodiex7896]

Got mine about 2 months ago and been away for work for about 5 of those weeks, having this has been epic! I can still practice and play while I’m away from home. I’ve even used it a few times on flights, much to the bewilderment of those sitting next to me/the flight attendants 😅

[@Waduyudu]

I been with my travel sax 2 for 8 months now and im in love with it, i actually think it can be pushed for more than just practice as the keywork is great, there imperceptive lattency and it can work as a midi controller, in some way i find its another instrument rather than a saxophone as you don't get to do practically any important embochure work

[@therusticdragon]

I nearly shit when I saw the price. The ability to get some practice in while traveling is great but I can't imagine paying more than 1/3 the price for it in any reality

[@stephennewcomb2627]

Glad you mentioned the EMEO at the end, I put in my preorder for it after watching your video since Im not able to play in my apartment and want to be able to keep up with practicing. Excited to try it and hoping I made the right call considering its over 2x the price of the travel sax

[@stephenmottram7027]

I think you made the right call. I've had my Emeo for about 18 months now and it is a beautiful instrument. I hook it up to SWAM sax on my iphone and bring backing tracks in through a small mixer from my ipad to a wired speaker (or headphones if you want to go silent). Once I've got a tune under my fingers I can revert to my tenor or alto. Problem is I just enjoy playing the Emeo too much 😊

[@coin777]

For me price is not a problem. Because im to poor to travel. So i dont need a travel sax :)

[@acerbt]

When it comes to my playing, I got the lower end of the 2 Yamaha digital wind synths at the start of this year. This way I don't have to play my alto sax in the house with everyone around, and possibly interfear with things that are going on. I actually ment to take mine with me when I went across the state for the summer, but forgot it, both when I first arrived at the place I was staying at, and also when I returned home for a week over the 4th of July. I wanted to play but couldn't at that point.

[@thecontinentalist8816]

I bought the EMEO a couple of months back and quickly fell in love with it. Living in a city appartement it solved a number of obvious problems, but felt I probably wouldn't travel with it. On watching your last review of the Travelsax I decided to go all in and get that too. At first I found it frustrating with the limited sounds and the cheap feel ( compared to the EMEO ). That said I've found it to be a great tool for working out musical problems/questions I come up against and I am always on the move so have have found it indispensable now. I have been camping with it where it has been great to have. I cycle a lot and it's super easy to throw in a pannier. I have a battery bank that I use to charge it when I'm out and about and have grown to love it, just sticking with one sound, Trumpet, being the least offensive of onboard sounds. If I know I'm going to be away from my saxophone for long then I do take my mouthpiece and spend time doing mouthpiece exercises to compensate and maintain muscle memory and voicing. On the whole its a great tool

[@CraigMcGorryMusic]

I also have the EMEO, for 2 years now. There are many things I love about it, mainly the feel of a real saxophone. However, sometimes I have connection issues. Tonight, for example, I'm trying to practice for a gig and I lost the connection a few times. Sometimes it's because of the very loose USB-C connection on the bottom of the EMEO. Sometimes, it seems to be something else. I tried several times and gave up frustrated that I wasted my time. This doesn't always. happen. I've had many great EMEO practice sessions, but it's unreliable enough to bother me. That, the size (too big to travel with in many instances), and the no internal sounds have made me check out the TS2. I actually just ordered a TS2 and I'm going to try it out. It might not feel the same as the EMEO, but I think it will be less frustrating and easier to travel with or just grab to play on the couch when it's too late for my acoustic. We'll see. Maybe I'll use both of them on different occasions. Not inexpensive for sure!

[@thecontinentalist8816]

@@CraigMcGorryMusic After a week or so of playing with my EMEO I tripped on the cable, bending the connection. I immediately reached out to EMEO's customer service asking about replacement cables and another question, but didn't hear back from them. I guess because of their location they may well have other things more important going on. I picked up a funky braided cable thats a fair bit longer than the stock one and everything is working with ease. I did try Jay's wireless hack, but I couldn't get the thing to connect. I've been traveling for 2 months and have another month to go, so the EMEO is in storage. This means im using the travel sax, that I have become to enjoy, even if it is with some frustrations. that said the customer service is spot on and the manufacturers are super reactive.

[@frankdittmer8540]

Thanks Jay. Great tips and recommendation. I will look into this.🎷❤

[@eprohoda]

good night~Better!Omg- really well footage,take care,💯

[@hunkydorian]

The sound your making with it is fine.

[@jorgecaceres3840]

I bought the Yamaha YDS-120 in the end. I was really torn between the both of them, but went for Yamaha because I like its ergonomics better, and trust their brand a little better. I am a beginner. I can't really practice much with a real saxophone because of the noise and I live in a strict building. So I try to learn the fingerings of a song as much as I can, and then I apply it in the real sax when I can. That has been a super efficient way of improving for me, as I don't have to worry about two things when playing the real sax which are the fingerings and actually sounding good.

[@saxnoob]

I was thinking about these type of instruments the day you release the video hahaha. Because I live in an apartment building rehearsal hours are pretty strict that's why I'm considering a similar instrument, unfortunately the Travel Sax is way over my budget. My main fear with other digital sax/synths is that the mechanics of of the keys would be too different to the real instrument that could damage my muscle memory by training "in the wrong way" - I don't even know if this could be a issue at all.

[@tomaszszlapanski5988]

I ve bought super cheap Chinese roseti curved soprano and nice mouthpiece (Jody) only on purpose of holiday. So taking with me also taking my tenor mouthpiece. Is just brilliant solution! My super T880 (customised) is just to brilliant to take a risk! Thanks

[@matanvardi]

Thanks for the videos! I’m a big fan of the Emeo but it’s a bit big for traveling than the TS2. In your first review last year you mentioned the clicking key sounds when pressing ,have you found it being an issue?

[@CraigMcGorryMusic]

I've had the EMEO for over 2 years. I love a lot about it. But, as you say, it's kind of big to travel with. Also, I find that there are sometimes connection issues, either because the USB-C cable attaches very loosely and in a weird place or, if I go Bluetooth, sometimes the connection just drops. It's enough of an issue that I've lost some important practice time dealing with it when I needed it late at night to get ready for an upcoming gig. I just ordered the TS2. We'll see how it goes. I suspect it will be much easier to pick up and play and to connect to my phone, etc.

[@2024-motherandson]

Wow this is absolutly genious!

[@Cysubtor_8vb]

Since I've moved into an apartment, I have been pondering adding the Yamaha YDS-120, which runs notably cheaper than the Travel Sax 2. Plus, I have a lot of Yamaha instruments from alto sax to tuba, so a bit of brand loyalty 😂

[@acerbt]

I ike my yds120. I got the thing at the start of this year.

[@vonklinkenhoffn1]

I love my travelsax! I was one of the backers, so I've had it for a while. No issues, however I noticed first now that the lights for the battery status on mine doesn't blink like yours do at 4:39 what is that? Mine just starts up with one light when I turn it on, then after a few seconds the other lights come on to indicate how much battery is left. I want that nice effect too :P Also, the neck extender cracked when I was using it the first time, it seemed to be a little too tight or something, but the people over at Odisei Music were really cool about it and sent me a new one super fast on the warranty.

[@DinoSoldo]

Wow, Jay. You really got the timing down on that. Seems like you have a light blowing technique. Or maybe you have a resistance in the response. Very very good!

[@bettersax]

The key to timing on this thing is just using the crappy built in sounds 😂 no latency!

[@pikachuchujelly7628]

Seems like a cool little device! My main issue with these digital instruments is that they don't respond like a real saxophone, both with the keys and embouchure/breath. My ideal quiet practice tool would be one of those case mutes like the e-sax for a curved soprano, but I've only seen those for alto and tenor.

[@kuztardd]

One thing to note, if you use a cable from your phone into the sax to get your backing track it will NOT be stereo, it will become mono. Also I find the reverb to be quite bad that at the end of notes it almost sounds like digital distortion when it is over silence. I've turned mine off. I have discussed this with the Odisei and they acknowledge this. Hopefully they will come up with an update to improve these two things on this otherwise fabulous machine

[@vepiru5734]

I was disappointed with the travel sax :( every top saxophonist, you included, who I hear playing it seems to struggle with the instrument and play at a much lower technical level than normal. Havin tried the Travelsax myself it was the same. I'm no top saxophonist but I struggled playing anything at my normal level. It's not what I'm looking for, a training instrument needs to be transparent.

[@jorgecaceres3840]

Can I ask you if you think the Yamaha YDS-120 or 150 would meet your need better?

[@vepiru5734]

@@jorgecaceres3840 I didn't try these sry :)

[@bettersax]

I prefer the TravelSax to both Yamahas.

[@danielorum1918]

I have the 100pct opposite experience. Love the travel sax2.

[@michaelwagner5927]

I haven’t tried the travel sax but I had a Yamaha YDS-150. The key response is inconsistent, some keys you have to press stupidly hard. At worst I’d say it’s unplayable, at best it’s just not fun. I bought an EMEO which is very good! Only disadvantage is there are no sounds internally

[@NiceGalNice]

Hi Jay. It's hard to ignore the sound even when practicing. When I practice (with SWAM) and the dynamics doesn't sound right, I stop and try to adjust my blowing or phrasing or speed of passages until the sound satisfies me. Practicing sound on a digital instrument might not makes practical sense, but yet, I can hardly control the urge to fix it. Separating sound from techniqe is like trying to saparate body from soul (they are interconnected...). In this excellent video of yours, the builtin sound was actually pleasent and breathy. On fast phrases, all the notes sound like ghosts notes, which is cool IMO. Some professionals like Tom Scott perfected themselves with elecric sounds making them sound emotional and connected to their soul. I would be happy to hear your thoughts about the sound domain, not necessarily regarded to any specific wind controller.

[@michaelkelly9847]

I use mine at work while waiting for a load in my truck. I'm still trying to build my practice habit after putting down my Sax for 30 years. I haven't tried using bluetooth or the headphones yet.

[@WHProductions-c3m]

As a life long student of alto living in a dense part of the city, this is an excellent practice instrument. Small, quiet and extremely convenient. Much better than bulky sax mutes (I have two) or other e-saxes with non-traditional key layouts that are better for accomplished musicians. My personal goal is to get better on my acoustic sax. Performance caliber? No, although I sure someone could figure out a way to make it work. The MIDI response is just a bit too slow for an amateur like me to use although that might be my computers. The internal sounds are nothing to get excited about but they are fine for technique practice. In one year, my fingering technique and chord fluency has improved greatly because of the TravelSax2. Ask my sax teacher who has suffered through my clumsiness and brain stalls for a very long time. Just for that, it’s absolutely worth the price.

[@FrushGaming]

We need one for the Aerophone ae-20!!!

[@LevYochai]

I choose to get it because you can play silently, this would be a benefit on my situation for having practice time. My life situation is not the greatest for having practice going into the air, other people around. This should be giving me a more open time to practice

[@jimmymiller5465]

I prefer my EWI. Even though it doesn’t have moving keys like a saxophone it is very reliable and practical, and a real performance instrument.

[@LevYochai]

It's probably still going to be the main instrument I will be using and can use it in silent mode, a great benefit in my situation. Although, it's a bit junkie. If you skip to far or try to use the flats and sharps in a practice way, trying just to learn, it sometimes doesn't register or gives the wrong sound, or no sound. I've done the test they have for it. The machine is working perfectly fine, so it's just how the machine works. I'll have to get used to it, I guess....

[@velvetimpulse]

Playing with one of those top muted (the eSax Mute) vs Travel Sax 2 vs EMEO. Which one would you suggest as the better practice tool for those of us who need to play at home

[@korra76]

Jay, would be nice to have a video where you compare the aspect of glitches, during octave change, between Emeo and the travel sax 2. Or you can answer here so we will all know your opinion about it. Thanks

[@bettersax]

That’s one of the things I like about the TravelSax and EMEO is that the glitches are not really an issue like they are on Akai ewi, Yamaha 120 and 150 and even Roland aerophone.

[@korra76]

Thanks Jay, I didn't know the óter were more glitchy. I just started to dominate glitches on my Emeo and with respiro I saw that the option synth (that is set in some presets) highlight a bit the glitches. With that deactivate the situation is reasonable.

[@j.wright8157]

The Yamaha YDS-150 is a fun tool for sax players to use while making music with MIDI.😁

[@unclemick-synths]

I'd be interested if they were to add a bite sensor and AE-30 style motion, hardware MIDI, and pressure sensitive thumb pad.

[@bwalker99]

I've been using mine for a while now, however with a real alto mouthpiece. I find that after playing for a bit some of the notes stop speaking, especially C#. I wonder if this a result of using a real mouthpiece. Maybe I should try the one in the extended package. Also, I think some of the contacts on my TS2 are starting to break down. There's some clackiness and fingering a C often results in a G. The bis Bb is virtually unusable (I never realized how much I depend on the bis!). Also, I find it's not very forgiving when playing fast or complicated passages, the accuracy of key presses needed is different from a real horn. So, Autumn Leaves in all 12 keys at 140, great. Donna Lee, not so much. Having said that, I find it's a great addition to have when I don't have a real horn available. It's good for traveling, learning tunes or passages quietly, or just figuring out a passage I just heard on the radio.

[@sarahjacksonandbuhaina5297]

Hey me too. i find this very useful as a gadget as I travel quite a bit - but I am struggling with the issues you mention. I can't play fast on it. i know that there are some modifcations you can do but I don't know what they are or how - I think Jay Metcalf - if you are listening here perhaps you could do a video on that as I can't find anything on it and you have mentioned that you modified some of the springs. @bettersax

[@CraigMcGorryMusic]

I have the EMEO and love it. I mainly use it when I want to practice past 10pm (I live in an NYC apartment). Or, if I practiced a lot on my regular sax and my embouchure is tired out, the EMEO can help. That being said, I find it hard to travel with the EMEO. When I travel, I always take my soprano sax. I play it in the hotel in the morning before we go out or I might find a place to play outside. But, to be able to practice at night when I travel, the EMEO would be ideal. I’ve tried also taking the EMEO when I travel, but it’s cumbersome. It’s hard to carry two sax cases plus a bag or two. For this reason, I’ve thought about also getting a Travel Sax 2. It’s so small. I suppose I could get a custom case built to carry the EMEO and the soprano in one case (I tried it with my Fusion soprano case, which has room for a soprano and clarinet or flute, but it doesn’t fit both). But, the Travel Sax 2 seems like a good solution. I still have use for the EMEO - at home - but it’s not great for travel. Still considering the TS2.

[@korra76]

I have the Emeo too but do you experience glitches on the Emeo when changing octave? the travel sax 2 have glitches on the octave changes? I like the Emeo but I am re-learning the fingers sync during octave chenge in order not to have those annoying glitches. I need also to find better sound for the emeo because those on respiro are not really great. I thought to buy the swam but I do not have the Iphone or I pad. Only a minimac but the swam are not supported. Thanks and soryy for all the questions :-)

[@CraigMcGorryMusic]

@@korra76Hi. I don’t experience those glitches. It might a Bluetooth thing? I either plug my EMEO in direct with the USB-C chord, or go Bluetooth for the connection, but then I have to use wired headphones. The Bluetooth on both the device and ear buds/headphones seems to create lag, in my experience. As for sounds, I got the SWAM on my MacBook and also iPad. That’s all I really use. I don’t like those Respiro sounds. I’ve tried using something like Logic or GarageBand and the flute sound and that seems to work nicely also. Good luck. I hope it works for you.

[@korra76]

@@CraigMcGorryMusic I even don't like very much the Respiro sounds but was the only sounds that I had. I have a minimac but €200 for the entire swam suite is too much for me (as far as I know, you can buy one Swam single instruments (at about €30) only for mobile devices (ipda, Iphone and ipod) but not for desktop devices). So I bought a second hand Ipod (2019 7th generation) for €100 and bought the swam alto sax (about €35). I am trying it. Indeed the bluetooth gives lag and I don't like it. I can play it. But, from a Bettesax article I discovered that I can connect to the Ipod the WIDI Uhost (that I already bought some months ago). Because connecting the EMEO via USB directly to the IPOD doesn't work (maybe it can work but I don't know yet how to do it. I will googla a little for that). But Jay said that with the WIDI he can play wirelessy and with no lag. I hope it works. If yes it will be fantastic. Regarding the glitches it is very strange that you don't expereince it. I mean, lucky you! may be with the swam it does not happen? I just bought so I will test it soon. thanks for your answer, I think these things helps also other users. Have a nice play and study!! Korra

[@xavierperez3368]

Is there a delay or phasing when using it? It would be cool to use this to input notes/phrases/melodies into music notation software like Sibelius/finale/etc but it would need no phasing or it would drive me nuts.

[@onichimmy]

I think might get one…

[@lukasbohner5660]

I got one some months ago and it really is practical on vacation Just remember to use his code because you get this accesory pack for free and it’s good

[@KIKAN_THE_RAT]

Honestly the biggest downside of real sax apart from the cost its how hard it is to practice for the people around you and this seems like a pretty good solution to that, and i can see this thing getting improved over the time so im really looking forward to this approach on technology in music

[@freddee3402]

Is this completely silent (the Emeo, too) while playing? Can you learn and practice harmonics?

[@alberto6440]

I love Yamaha 120. Now I can play whenever I want. Mu family doesnt like the sound of the sax, too loudly, now I can play my yahama 120 with my headphoned, the sound is great, the feeling is like play a real sax...ok not 100% but its great.

[@darryldixon5794]

I only use mine to input information into Finale. I never use it to practice.

[@abrogard142]

600 Euros and up? that's nearly $AU1000. Bullcrap. Obvious total ripoff. And stupid. They're pricing themselves out of the mass market. I use a pocket trumpet so's I can practice in the car. If these were cheap enough I'd have one of these for sax, too. But this is a joke. If they sell any all in any numbers china will come along and undercut them by 80% and probably give better parts and service and whatever. i'll wait for that. Just me. :)

[@ravimusicalbiratnagar5737]

Nice

[@leeindustries6540]

Can you plug headphones to it

[@acerbt]

The travel sax has a wired headphone ocnnection. That's usually better to listen to than the speaker.

[@SaxLex1]

Sounds rare for me like a sax behind the water, please better sound and I can play it on the street busking, can be the future of the sax buskers but bro better sounds please

[@kwootamuckbear9294]

Is that about $800 🎶🎵🎶🎷

[@kwootamuckbear9294]

Kenny G endorsing this toy…🤔🎵🎶🎷

[@Zachburgner]

It’s bullshit that it’s 650$, I travel a lot for family or a tournament but I wish I could get it for like 300 would be great because as a jazz musician I wish I could practice anywhere in silence, BUT 650$ IS BULLSHIT, ODISE BRING THE PRICE TO 300 AND MAYBE PEOPLE WOULD ACTUALLY BUY IT MORE OFTEN. Please odise I will buy one if it drops to 300, and I will post a video to advertise ur product. Also I really like the look of this project but 650$, I know it’s called profit but come on 650, maybe a price between 250 to 300 would give u more customers. Pls odise I will even take a coupons for a free one to advertise ur product and maybe even use it all day. My parents hate me playing my sax and that ruins my dream, so if u can help my dream out that would be great. And sorry for cursing about ur product I’m just kinda disappointed that a jazz musician wanting to play more without being really loud and have ur parents ruin those dreams is just horrible.

[@GeorgeGonzalez-o1i]

bis key, palm keys, forget it.

[@DrinkCola]

You can't play Altissimo on it

[@bettersax]

Yes you can.

[@lilsniper9738]

@@BebopopotamusI have one u can program fingerings for any note with the app

[@supergiorg1987]

just bring a curved soprano with you on the trip and that's it

[@NatNay-cu3uv]

Way to expensive The actual cost is a fraction of that Pure greed

[@bettersax]

Really? What is the actual cost of making this and how did you find out? Personally I know they spent years in R&D and had to do a kickstarter to get the original project off the ground. Sometimes consumers think things are not priced fairly without knowing any of the actual costs. Please share what you know with us.

[@NatNay-cu3uv]

@@bettersax you know. Dont you.

[@unclemick-synths]

Gotta love people who can't see beyond the material costs of a product! Ever drink soda?🙄

[@bettersax]

I don't know what the cost is to produce this. You said the actual cost is a "fraction of the price" so I assume that means you know right? What is it? How odd would it be though, for someone to be coming up with a way to cheat people out of their money and the idea was a tiny electronic saxophone? Does that not seem like the worst scam idea of all time or is it just me?

[@NatNay-cu3uv]

@@unclemick-synths gotta love people who overcharge ?

[@Actual_Human_Take]

I bet you would win ANY court case if you showed up with this and just DAZZLED the Jury. Your Honour... I rest my (saxamaphone) case.

[@Mamali316]

This product is extremely poor for the reasons below: 1- The keys are very noisy enough that at some point, you can not hear your notes 2- the spring tension are far too hard and after playing this for a while, your are destined to play your acrostic instrument with too much tension, so not good for practice 3- some notes, are too sharp including B 4- way way way way way too overpriced. I would not pay $10:for this junk Above observations by two musicians (including me) at the music shop