[code_runner]

As the owner of a (recently revived) ewi-usb… I’m really curious about the mouthpiece bit. What kind of analog sounds are happening while playing this? Do you notice that reed age, strength etc are as impactful as on a real saxophone? Do you feel a need to swap mouthpieces for different styles of playing?

I love the idea and ingenuity to make this happen!

[bwanab]

As a sax player who also plays a Roland Aerophone, I have a similar question. Is the mouthpiece a real sax mouthpiece and reed? If so, that means it's making a lot of noise. One of the main appeals of windsynths is that I can play at times when the people in my household (and neighborhood) don't really want to listen to it.

That said, it's a cool project.

[javier_cardona]

The sounds are synthed sounds (I used fluidsynth) and the haxophone just uses the sound pressure to infer velocity of the notes.

The mouthpiece is optional: you can blow on the neck of the device and will get the exact same sound. But as a sax player, I really prefer to use it with a mouthpiece blowing through it but without making the reed vibrate (so no sound). I find that it helps me maintain proper embouchure and feels more comfortable. And after a solid practice session, I still get that gratifying tingling lower lip feeling.

Thanks for the feedback!

https://github.com/jcard0na/haxo-hw/blob/main/docs/assembly....

[code_runner]

Very cool! Awesome project

[tgv]

The design says that it measures air pressure. So it's just blowing into a tube, much like e.g. the Yamaha BC-1. I've got one, and in the demo video, I hear the same rapid changes in volume/pressure. I would guess it could benefit from having a small, adjustable opening (like the BC-1), which makes it a bit easier to control.

[polishdude20]

Yeah and is the pressure sensor closed so you're actually not blowing but just increasing and decreasing pressure?

[jcard0na]

No, not really. There is sensing tube (which terminates on the sensor) and a venting tube (which lets the air flow through). This is the same technique used in other similar commercial instruments. You can see both tubes in the assembly instructions: https://github.com/jcard0na/haxo-hw/blob/main/docs/assembly....

[polishdude20]

Ahh that makes sense! So is this actually sensing a lower pressure than ambient? Since moving air results in lower pressure?

[skybrian]

Looks like just a pressure sensor. You might be interested in the KontinuumLab channel, from a guy who has done EWI projects with more sensors.

https://www.youtube.com/@KontinuumLAB

Most recently: https://youtu.be/1CXjADjIM1s

[jefftk]

Reading the assembly instructions it's only an air pressure sensor. You can use a real mouthpiece with reed or not, but it won't make noise actually. It also won't detect anything you do with your mouth.

[willcipriano]

Needs a reed sensor.

[jefftk]

If your goal is full fidelity, sure, but they're trying to make a cheap practice device. If you want the former you're probably better off just buying something commercial, at least an AKAI.