MIDI Breath Controllers and Sonar X1

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A1MixMan
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2011/06/02 01:29:04 (permalink)

MIDI Breath Controllers and Sonar X1

I want to start a debate about MIDI Breath Controllers as I will be in the market for one soon and I have no idea about them.
 
For example:

 
What are the pros and cons?
 
How well does X1 handle them?
 
Which controllers have you used or heard about?
 
Any recomendations?
 
Ones to stay away from?
 
Various uses?
 
Do you want one?
 
Any comments on the subject are welcome!
 
Thanks!
post edited by A1MixMan - 2011/06/02 01:38:45

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    A1MixMan
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    Re:MIDI Breath Controllers and Sonar X1 2011/06/02 01:30:48 (permalink)
    Do you own one?
    post edited by A1MixMan - 2011/06/02 01:36:36

    A1
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    sergiobklyn
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    Re:MIDI Breath Controllers and Sonar X1 2011/06/02 10:04:19 (permalink)
    I use a Yamaha WX-5 with various hardware synths programmed to respond to breath control (CC#2).  I've purchased banks from Patchmnan Music which I pretty much like, and I've programmed some patches myself.  I've recorded the MIDI data with Sonar X1 without any problems whatsoever.
    On the software side, I use Garritan's libraries and I think that they do a great job with their breath control programming.  There are some great user-made Reaktor instruments that respond well to breath control and I've programmed a couple of E-mu Emulator X3 patches.
    My controller is different than the one you show here, in that mine resembles a sax and your's (Yamaha BC3a/MIDI Solutions Breath Controller combo) needs a keyboard to play the notes.
    I've used an older Yamaha breath controller (BC1) connected directly to a Kurzweil PC2X and it worked great, except for my underwhelming ability to play keyboards.
    Your above setup and mine require a MIDI port.  You could get an Akai EWI USB (http://www.akaipro.com/ewiusb) which connects directly to a computer via USB, but you'd need to learn to play this instrument.  It comes with some Garritan software instruments.
    Sergio
    post edited by sergiobklyn - 2011/06/02 10:05:25
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    JonD
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    Re:MIDI Breath Controllers and Sonar X1 2011/06/02 14:11:20 (permalink)
    AFAIK, there are no longer any Breath controllers selling new on the market (since the last of these, the Yamaha BC3A, was recently discontinued)...

    Wind controllers are another matter...

    (I'd love to have an Akai EWI4000s, but at $700 it's a bit too steep for me).


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    dreamkeeper
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    Re:MIDI Breath Controllers and Sonar X1 2011/06/02 14:38:25 (permalink)
    JonD


    AFAIK, there are no longer any Breath controllers selling new on the market
    They're not working correctly anyway, if you brush your teeth too often...


    Wind controllers are another matter...





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    bentleyousley
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    Re:MIDI Breath Controllers and Sonar X1 2011/06/02 17:02:09 (permalink)
    I went through the same search a couple of years ago: looking for alternate ways to generate continuous midi data for better musical expression. I tried the Yamaha breath controller and others. Personally, it just didn't seem to give me the control I was looking for. One thing I learned: if you have the Midi Solutions box (either the Breath Controller or the Pedal Controller), you can make a controller out of just about anything that will vary resistance. After some experimenting, I used a pressure sensor (used for robotics)between two layers of hard plastic to create a "bite pressure" controller. It was very easy to wire and I even included a potentiometer to adjust the sensitivity range. I like this much better than the breath controller.

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