What the faff is this thing? The Vangoa EWI

Find out more instruments on the Vangoa Official Website:

#Vangoa

Become a member to get early access:

Send me stuff!
POBox 5107
Wellington 6140
New Zealand

[rodneytrotter]

Originally i was a woodwind player but you got me into brass by insulting woodwind. Im now playing trumpet cornet and tennor horn

[dcallan]

I have an Akai EWI got it years ago its great to play when you dont want to bother other people. That had a thumb sensor on the back to change octaves. But its a lot more like an instrument in the feel and price. Interesting video 2x👍

[snspi]

Never thought I’d see you cover an EWI on this channel! I use an AKAI EWI 4000s, which is basically a professional version of this. 8 octaves, built in virtual analogue synthesiser, biphonic playing, portamento etc. The newer AKAI models use sampled instruments which aren’t great but get the job done. Older models had a dedicated synth module which, despite all the menu diving, were quite powerful. 4000s is right in the middle. Roland has the Aerophone series which apparently is quite good, though I haven’t gotten to try them out yet. Same goes with Yamaha’s old WX series.

[rebeccaabraham]

Interesting to see the knockers having fun! I’ve played trad flute for 40 years and I’ve just ordered one of the updated versions of these instruments, knowing the internal sounds are ‘not-of-the-highest-quality’, because of the ways it can be used as a midi controller for a proper synth module for jamming/gigs and as an input device to a DAW… plus it’s fun to take down the beach and make silly noises! Don’t knock an instrument in comparison to another instrument - glory in what it can actually do for you and your music - and have fun with it!

[xander]

I believe the pronuniciation is ee-wee

Also as a note, an EWI was used for the solo in Sungazer's track "Drunk", showing exactly just how capable these are.

[davidmdyer]

You really left out the most interesting thing about it which was on the cover of the box, and that's that it's a MIDI controller, i.e., it can control synthesizers either through a computer or a MIDI interface using USB. As far as it being superior to a recorder (without the MIDI part), now you're selling the recorder short. the recorder is a far more responsive and expressive instrument, the ONLY thing this does better through its little speaker is dynamics, and that's without any change in tone color, it's just like a volume knob, so not such a big deal. but back to MIDI again, if you use its midi capabilities, it's quite amazing and the LEAST expensive MIDI controller out there, even less than many plastic recorders.

[jonthebru]

Many years ago I owned an EMI sax with several voices. It was a fun device, but after it ceased working I never got another one. This looks like it would be fun to learn on and to noodle about.

[cbrown]

They should have added a 12th-up button to mimic instruments like the clarinet at least. There are other venting options too that change the register of a wind instrument.

[laurencefinston]

An important point would be what kind of connections are included in this instrument. If there's a jack for a phono plug, then it would be easy to connect it to effect pedals. Alternatively, if there's one for a a phone plug, then an adapter can be used. Another point would be how strong the signal is. For example, I have an electronic keyboard with a jack for a phone plug but I have to amplify the signal in order to drive most of my effects.

I've seen instruments like this before, and although I like experimenting with electronics, have never been motivated to buy one. In most cases, with electronic instruments, what they mostly do is create a signal. While I find the idea of using my breath to actuate the signal is somewhat interesting, in practice I've found that it doesn't make that much difference how you do this: by pressing a key, a button, plucking or bowing a string, etc.

To anyone who thinks recorders are one-dimensional, I would recommend trying a really good recorder. There is no comparison to something like this. Admittedly, a single recorder isn't as versatile as, say, a piano or a violin, but you don't have to play only one. Once you've learned it, it's not difficult to adjust to the different sizes and they sound great played as an ensemble. Similar to brass, in fact. The different models, e.g., Renaissance vs. Baroque, also have quite different sounds, not to mention the different woods. I really don't think that making recorders out of woods like grenadilla or rosewood is a good use of a disappearing resource, but they are available, as well as ones made of all kinds of other woods and, of course, plastic. I think a good quality recorder made of plastic would probably be more satisfying in the long run than this instrument.

[rjones]

Thanks for the video. Thanks for mentioning the manual. I think you are the first to even mention it out of the 4 videos I have viewed on YouTube. For the physical manual I suspect there was a packaging limitation. However Vangoa can make it available online if and when they add the product to their web site. It would be nice if they also produced a larger format users guide type manual.

[priscillatalitasilva]

How to clean the inside of the midi flute?The entrance is very small.

[joedee]

I was hoping you were going to play something on it :-(

[timarmstrong]

It's just like a flute. You blow in one end, move your fingers up & down a bit & music comes out there other end.😊

[Cay_k]

what music did you use in the outro of this video? I've tried to find it but can't find much.

[Legocoder]

Please do an updated mellophone review

[patrickgrogan]

There is also the EVI, which is similar in design to a trumpet.

[rasmusn.e.m]

While the Akai EWI's sound a lot more like a real instrument, I can think of a few uses of this where the particular children's toy piano preset sounds would actually work quite well.

[tomnesler]

One thing I wish could be added to this instrument is the ability to tune it to the outside world. Regular instruments you can detune to match other instruments. I don't think that would be too hard to do.

[priscillatalitasilva]

Can I play with baroque recorder fingering?

[DJKickstarter]

Connect it to computer with the USB, run a plug-in in a vst host and get mind blown.