[Trombone-l] Trombone Wind Controller

[Jeff Albert]

On 3/26/07, Wayne Dyess <TexasTbone at gt.rr.com> wrote:

>
> I, for one, don't want to (a) have to THINK about how I play or (b)
> relearn the trombone.
>
>
> On Mar 26, 2007, at 1:58 PM, David Goldfarb wrote:




  If you make it work like a trombone, then any player should be
> > able to pick it up and play it, no matter what their general
> > approach to
> > the instrument is.
> >


But it is NOT a trombone.  It is a MIDI controller.  The only way it will
work like a trombone is if he makes it out of brass tubing with a bell and a
mouthpiece, and then it would make a really crappy MIDI controller, which is
what he is trying to make.  It will never be more than similar to a
trombone.

As far as changing harmonics with mouth pressure, that seems like there
would be a learning curve to me.  How long did it take any of us to really
learn to control that through our embouchure?  Now we would have to teach a
new set of muscles that same level of control.  Granted they might be near
the muscles that already know how to do it, but...I have my doubts on that
one.

I think the way Akai did their EVI was on the right track.  Your primary 7
positions are on the fundamental, then you have a key to lower it a fourth
(like an F attachment).  Since you get 7 full positions on the f-side as
well with a controller, you are fully chromatic, in a manner just about
every trombonist can deal  with.  A manual octave selector would eliminate
the need to train mouth muscles.  I think only having one octave worth of
fingerings and a manual octave selector would make it easier for any
trombonist to make the thing work in an acceptable manner, more quickly.
This would give the device a higher acceptance ratio among players.

I think trying to make it work exactly LIKE a trombone is a mistake.  You
only need to make it work in a way that trombonists will get it quickly.  It
needs to stay as simple as possible.

But that is just my opinion...

Jeff


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