Yamaha Announces WX5 Wind Controller

January 29, 1998 -- Yamaha Corporation of America continues on the forefront of technology, with the introduction of WX5 Wind MIDI Controller, the next generation of wind controllers at Winter NAMM 1998. The WX5 is designed to connect with most industry standard tone modules, thus eliminating the need for a special tone generator. This exciting new feature of connecting to virtually any synthesizer or tone module, enables the WX5 to work, feel, play and respond at a superior level, agreeable to all woodwind players.

The new WX5 was designed for Virtual Acoustic (VL) technology, which allows it to more closely model a wind instrument. VL technology provides sound quality, expressive capabilities and responsiveness to input from the WX5 which is similar to the manner in which a real instrument works. In essence, it becomes a virtual wind instrument.

The WX5 also allows samples to have a responsiveness similar to woodwind instruments. It controls the samples and allows the necessary degrees of the manipulation of volume and timbre. Also, it was developed to generate different types of data control information for various virtual technologies. "The new WX was designed to send a variety of control information to the virtual acoustic (VL) technologies, that allows them to come to life," states Avery Burdette, product manager, Yamaha Corporation of America, Pro Audio and Combo Division, Digital Musical Instruments Department. "It can control all the nuances and details such as scream, growl and throat parameters, which gives the WX5/VL combination its authenticity."

Features include a new air pressure sensor and newly designed air chamber, which produce faster breath response. Easy access octave switching, and options for General MIDI (XG and GS) tone generator formats are available. The new lip sensing design increases the ease of control and stability, as well as increasing flexibility and expression.

"Saxophonist, woodwind and flute players now have an instrument they can comfortably control and generate expressive MIDI information," says Burdette.

For more information on the Yamaha WX5 Wind MIDI Controller, write Yamaha Corporation of America, Pro Audio & Combo Division, Digital Musical Instruments Department, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622; telephone (714) 522-9011; e-mail info@Yamaha.com; or visit the web sites http://www.yamaha.com.