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A
common complaint when using the EWV-2000 (or predecessor) is that
it doesn't have a wide enough dynamic range to be used effectively
with other acoustic instruments, particularly brasses. Some players
have attempted to use a volume pedal to solve this problem. I have
another solution for this problem, which I think should come under
the heading of "cheap tricks".
I
had an old DBX 128 unit gathering dust in my rack, because I use
it only very occasionally to make reel-to-reel tapes. Contained
within the unit is a compressor-expander. The expander section is
capable of expanding the input voltage by as much as 100% (a 2:1
ratio). The expander can be set to function in linear fashion, or
to kick in above a threshold voltage. Expansion is a pretty simple
concept to understand. For instance, if I set the expander to the
above-mentioned 2:1 ratio, a one-volt input signal will become two
volts at the output, and a two-volt input will become four volts,
etc. Everything is doubled. Anyway, I hooked the expander section
of the 128 up to my EWV-2000 and a few really neat things happened!
First
of all, the instrument had a much more "natural" feel.
The dynamic range was much nearer the range of an acoustic instrument,
and the best part was that I could get soft attacks without the
usual "grainy" sound that the EWV gets. On the other side
of the dynamic spectrum, accents had much more punch. I experimented
with hooking the expander up first and last in the signal path.
Remember, if the expander is last, EVERYTHING, including effects,
delay, etc. gets expanded. This can create some wild noises. Because
I use mostly "acoustic" sounds in my playing, I decided
to put the expander at the beginning of the chain, just after the
sound leaves the EWV. I did not have to use very much expansion
to get the "feel" I wanted. My first inclination, of course,
was to crank the sucker to the max, but this gave the musical line
the feel of a ham actor who OVer EMphasizes EVerything. you know
what I mean? The best setting for my purposes ended up being about
20-30% expansion of the EWV's output signal. this gave the instrument
a great playing feel.
I
have had the opportunity to try out the expander using the EVI with
our faculty brass quintet, and it is much more able to keep up with
the dynamic range that brasses can produce. Expanders are made by
DBX, Valley People, Lexicon, Kepex, and Aphex, to name a few. They
are not expensive until you begin adding bells and whistles to them,
so check out one that's in your price range.
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Expanders
are included in many multi-effects processors such as the one I
use, the Korg A-2. They will work well when the EWI line is running
directly to the effects unit (not in an effects loop). A dedicated
unit like the DBX will provide a better result and are available
in 1/2 rack space units. -Ed.
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