Answer: Drop out of signal can be caused by many, many things. The first step in evaluating a drop out problem is to determine the source of the drop out. To do this plug headphones directly into the EWI and play the unit for an amount of time that would usually produce the drop out. If you experience the drop out, you know it is being caused by the EWI unit and not something down the line of amplification or effects. If you do not experience the drop out, the problem is down the line somewhere. Continue down the line of your system, for example to the mixer. Plug your headphones into the mixer and repeat the process. Drop outs can be caused by a bad channel in the mixer so be sure to try a different channel on the mixer as well as different patch cords on the mixer. Continue this process until you locate the source of the drop out.

One frequent cause of drop out is clipping either in the mixer or the amplifier. Check to see that the levels are not exceeding 0db when you are really blowing a loud patch. One loose rule of thumb to consider is that the drop out will be "staticy" if it is coming from a bad cord, even the cord connecting the EWI to the module. If you have determined that the drop out is coming from the EWI check the connections of the multi-pin cord to the controller and the unit. This is the most frequently damaged part of the EWI set up. Unfortunately, the cord is a rather expensive part and is available from International Music Corp. (IMC).

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