Ever use a breath controller?

[Llarion]

I've always wondered if using a MIDI breath controller made the articulation of sampled synth sounds that much better. When playing flute and sax parts on my Triton and Proteus, I notice that the held notes seem to have accurate timbre, but the attacks and releases are what makes it sound, well, "synthesized".

 

Do any of you have enough experience with them to know if it's worth it? I have a James Taylor DVD and in it keyboardist extraordinaire Clifford Carter uses one in a couple of places, and it seemed like the sound just flowed more naturally. He was very comfortable with it. If it's really worth doing, and not impossible to learn, I'd probably consider getting one.

[Mark Zeger]

I had one years ago for my Yamaha V50 because it had programs set up for BC. I just never got the hang of it and didn't have patience to practice.

 

I have a great example of a BC in use. It's a Yamaha MIDI sequence for the V50 of "Babylon Sisters" (I saved it as a SMF when I sold the keyboard). The melodica lead line and background saxes were done with a BC. The phrasing is outstanding.

 

I would imagine using a BC with a Yamaha VL1 would be amazing.

[marino]

Originally posted by Mark Zeger:

I would imagine using a BC with a Yamaha VL1 would be amazing.

Indeed. I have a VL1m, and without the breath controller, most of its sounds are just nothing. With the BC they come to life, because they control the modeled physical properties of the emulated instruments. I've found that an emulated wind instrument from the VL1 layers very well with analog-type sounds, with the BC controlling mostly the filter.

You have to practice your BC, however; if you're a total novice, it won't come out right the first time. I played the clarinet a bit as a kid, so that helped a lot.

However, you could always massage your BC data in a sequencer... Tedious, if you ask me.

[Llarion]

Sequencer? What's that?

 

(the only sequencing I've ever done is programming my drum computer)

[zeronyne]

I, like Marino, have had the same experience with the VL1m. With sampled sounds, however, you need to really set up the patch correctly. The controller numbers that the breath controller sends out have to be carefully scaled and assigned.

[Sonata]

I just saw a performance by a Yamaha specialist on the tutorial video I bought for my Motif, and the breath controller really made the saxophone sound fabulous. I don't think most people could tell the difference between that and the real thing. I imagine if you've never played a wind instrument it might be tricky to learn how to use it properly.

[linwood]

Yea, get one Phil. Great for winds and brass. I always used one back in the dx7 days. My only advise is be carefull with the cord. At least once or twice your gonna knock the cord and almost take your front teeth out. At least I did.

[Tusker]

I've been using BC2 controller with the AN1X to have lots of fun.

 

The primary benefit to me is not in the tonguing (response is a tad slow ... unlike a wind controller). But adjusting dynamics and timbre during the sustain portion of the note. For some reason, it comes out much better than a slider or a pedal would.

 

You won't get all the articulations of course. The BC's have no lip pressure, but the wind controllers do. Still unlike a sax, you can't get lip pressure to interact with breath pressure. Still the wind controllers are capable of far more than the breath controllers are.

 

Using it... It usually makes sense to have some brightness (cutoff) and volume stuff controlled by it. And use pedals or ribbons for some of the other articulations (squeal, grunt, etc). Some allow the BC to control the volume fully (no breath=no sound). Others use it as an overlay of expression. You can use the BC quite well for electronic-sounding stuff as well ... like pad washes or modulated gurgles.

 

I think the primary reason the controller works, is because your phrasing becomes more ... well phrase oriented. And the sentence/breathing sensibility is burned into all our psyche's.

 

It takes work. I used to play the french horn but I had to work on my breathing after starting the BC. It's occasionally frustrating, but a worthwhile tool.

 

Phil, I've heard some georgous leads on wind controller by Mark Douthit which inspire me. Someday I hope to use the BC live. Meanwhile, it's been useful on some tracks and my technique is improving ...

 

Hope this helps,

 

Jerry

[Llarion]

There is a difference betwen a "breath" controller and a "wind" controller? Big $$ difference?

[Tusker]

This is the Yamaha BC3:

 

http://www.zzounds.com/media/fit,100by150/quality,65/YAMBC3A.jpg which goes for about $80. It sends a single midi controller message that can be routed through the mod matrix of a synth to one or more destinations. It provides expressive control of this one parameter.

 

This is the Yamaha WX5:

 

http://www.zzounds.com/media/fit,325by400/quality,85/YAMWX5.jpg

 

which goes for about $600. It has a lip sensor for lip pressure, in addition to the breath pressure. It sends ALL the midi information that a synth module requires.

 

If you are a good woodwind player, the latter makes sense ... but it's an entirely new instrument (fingering, embouchure, etc.) for a keyboard player to learn.

 

A good keyboard player using a BC can trigger some of the expressions that a good sax player with a wind controller can do. And do some things besides (with other controllers). But there are extremely organic expressions on a wind controller (especially with the VL1) that would be hard to emulate with a BC and a synth.

 

Best,

 

Jerry

[FrankieP]

I got a BC3...

Use it in tandem with my VL card I installed in my Motif. It works great and really makes the patches in the VL card sound more realistic. The only thing though, I get outta breath very easily and after using it, sometimes I feel a lil dizzy. That's what happens when you freaking smoked for years and years. Thank God I quit that habit!!!

[Dasher]

I have a BC-3 and a VL-70m. They work well together, much more expressive than aftertouch or mod wheel. And with thde Kurzweil 2600, the ribbon controller can send pitch bend AND pressure, useful for natural, non-LFO vibrato and 'lip'.

 

Takes practice, but it's well worth it (so is stopping smoking!)

 

Dasher