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One of the great abilities of the
Akai EWI and EVI Electronic Wind Instruments is the ability to play and process
other MIDI instruments. If you've got a great sax sound on your sampler, you can
not only play it with the EWI and EVI, you can modify the sound through the EWV
2000's filters and VCA. When a MIDI module's audio output is connected to the
External Input of the EWV 2000, that sound can be processed through the low-pass
filter with an envelope, the high-pass filter, and the VCA with an envelope, and
the formant filter. The sound of the external synthesizer or sampler can then be
mixed with the sound of the EWV 2000, if desired. See the diagram below of how
the external sound travels through the EWV 2000. (Editor's note: for a better
understanding of this article, download the image from the image section
entitled "External In").
The formant filter is a special
circuit that is unique to the EWV 2000. This filter simulates the resonant
frequencies found in acoustic instruments. In an acoustic instrument, a certain
range of frequencies is emphasized more that others. This range of frequencies
is called the formant register. The formant register in acoustic instruments is
very important in determining the tone color or timbre of different instruments.
It is one of the factors that makes an oboe sound different than a violin.
Accessing the formant filter in
the EWV 2000 is easy. Simply press the Edit button. Then, press the #8 Effect
button twice. The display will read "Filter" and either
"Off", "1", "2", or "3". moving the
Value slider or Up/Down buttons will change the setting of the filter. The
"1" position simulates the acoustic resonance of a stringed
instrument. The "2" position simulates the resonance of woodwind
instruments. The "3" position is a cross between the "1" and
"2" positions.
The Cello sound in the EWV 2000
is a good example of how the formant filter can dramatically change the sound.
Turn the formant filter off on that sound, and it simply becomes the sound of a
sawtooth wave. Turn it back on, and the sound takes on the rich acoustic
properties of a cello.
Another good use of the formant
filter is with external samplers. Processing a trumpet sample through the
"1" filter setting gives it the character of a muted trumpet. Try
different filter settings on different sounds and notice the effect. The formant
filter is an easy way to increase the tonal possibilities of your EWI or EVI.
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