NAMM: Akai EWI USB

You've seen the videos and prior posts. Here is the latest press release including price.

"NEW EWI BRINGS WIND-INSTRUMENT EXPRESSION TO ANYONE

EWI USB Delivers Full Electronic Wind Instrument Functionality at Attractive Price

Cumberland, R.I. (Jan. 15, 2009) – Akai Professional, the leader in music technology for wind players, announces shipment of the EWI USB, its latest wind controller. EWI USB and its new operating system will be on display at the 2009 NAMM Show in Anaheim, Calif., January 15 – 18, 2009 at the Akai Professional booth, number 6400.

EWI USB enables anyone, regardless of wind instrument-playing experience, to perform with the expressive capabilities of the wind instrument of their choice. The wind controller features a plug-and-play USB interface for use with the included Aria software, with Garritan and Akai Professional samples as a sound source. EWI USB is Mac and PC compatible.

Professional players will find EWI USB fully capable of performance for stage and studio with a five-octave range, breath modulation with adjustable threshold, pitch bend, adjustable vibrato, transposition and octave shifting capability, and fingering modes to emulate various electronic and acoustic instruments. Further, the Garritan/Plogue Aria software enables instrumentalists to perform with up to four instruments selected from the full collection of more than 75 orchestral, band and synthesizer sounds.

While EWI USB has full professional capabilities, its attractive price point and easy-to-play design make it a perfect choice for wind students. With a removable, dishwasher-safe, interchangeable mouthpiece that works well regardless of embouchure, EWI USB is excellent for introducing students to the world of wind instruments. Former wind instrumentalists who would like to return to playing will find EWI USB easy to adapt to, eliminating much of the embouchure-building time required with a traditional instrument.

Thanks to multiple fingering modes, EWI USB perfectly emulates saxophone, flute and oboe, as well as traditional EWI and EVI trumpet. The result is completely intuitive performance, even for players who have never picked up an electronic instrument.

“With EWI USB, we are delivering an incredibly expressive instrument to a whole new world of wind players,” states Gregg Stein, Director of Marketing, Akai Professional. “Traditionally, electronic wind instruments have fallen into two categories: very expensive professional instruments, and inexpensive instruments of low quality. EWI USB is the first instrument to offer professional quality at such an affordable price.”

EWI USB is now shipping to musical instrument and pro audio retailers at an MSRP of $499."