Akai EWI5000 User manual

User Guide
English
Manual Version 1.0
Sound Editor

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Table of Contents
Introduction.................................................................................................................................4
About the EWI5000 Sound Editor ........................................................................................4
System Requirements and Product Support .....................................................................4
Installation .............................................................................................................................5
Windows®..........................................................................................................................5
Mac OS X®.........................................................................................................................5
Overview......................................................................................................................................6
Graphical Interface ...............................................................................................................6
Operation ....................................................................................................................................7
Using the Controls ................................................................................................................7
Modes ....................................................................................................................................8
Program Management..........................................................................................................9
Selecting Programs ...........................................................................................................9
Saving Programs .............................................................................................................10

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Control Panel.......................................................................................................................11
Main Page........................................................................................................................11
Amp Controls ..............................................................................................................................11
Pitch Controls .............................................................................................................................12
Filter Controls..............................................................................................................................13
LFO Controls...............................................................................................................................14
Envelope Controls.......................................................................................................................15
Effects Page ....................................................................................................................17
Reverb.........................................................................................................................................17
Chorus ........................................................................................................................................18
Delay...........................................................................................................................................19
Settings Page ..................................................................................................................20
Channel / Key Delay....................................................................................................................21
Fingering .....................................................................................................................................22
Hold ............................................................................................................................................23
Interval ........................................................................................................................................25
Glide............................................................................................................................................27
Pitch Up and Pitch Down ............................................................................................................29
Breath .........................................................................................................................................30
Bite..............................................................................................................................................32
Firmware Update ........................................................................................................................33
Trademarks and Licenses .......................................................................................................34

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Introduction
About the EWI5000 Sound Editor
Expand your creative capabilities with the EWI5000 Sound Editor software. This custom
software editor is a powerful platform for manipulating EWI5000's sound library on your Mac®
or PC. Connect EWI5000 to your computer via USB; call up any instrument from the library;
and use the filter, two LFOs, pan knob, tune control, and multiple envelopes to tweak it into
something entirely new. Then, store your edits directly on your EWI5000 for a customized
instrument library that's ready to perform whenever you are.
System Requirements and Product Support
For complete system requirements, compatibility information, and product registration, visit
akaipro.com/ewi5000.
For additional support, visit akaipro.com/support.

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Installation
Windows®
1. Double-click the .exe installer file you downloaded.
2. Follow the on-screen instructions.
Mac OS X®
1. Double-click the .pkg installer file you downloaded.
2. Follow the on-screen instructions.

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Overview
Graphical Interface
The EWI5000 Sound Editor has a straightforward user interface that can be broken down into
two main sections. The Program Management section is always visible. The Control Panel
changes depending on what you have selected.
Program Management: The buttons in this section let you select or save the Preset Bank or
User Bank, switch EWI5000 between Synth Mode or Controller Mode. See Operation >
Program Management to learn more about Programs. See Operation > Modes to learn more
about EWI5000's modes.
Control Panel: Click the Main, Effects, or Settings button to select which page you are
viewing. On the Main Page, use the virtual controls in this section to make adjustments to your
EWI5000's synth parameters. On the Effects Page, use the virtual controls in this section to
apply and adjust effects. On the Settings Page, use the virtual controls in this section to
configure EWI5000's settings. See Operation > Control Panel to learn more.
Program
Management
Control Panel

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Operation
Using the Controls
Here is how to use EWI5000 Sound Editor's controls:
Sliders: Click and drag sliders up or down (or left or right) to
set them. The slider's value will appear next to it.
Knobs: Click and drag knobs clockwise or counterclockwise to
set them. The knob's value will appear next to it.
Buttons: Click buttons to select the page or command or to
switch it between its various setting.
Checkboxes: Click inside a checkbox to select its option.
Fields: Click a field to open its drop-down menu, and then click
the desired option in the menu.

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Modes
You can use your EWI5000 in two different modes: Synth Mode or Controller Mode.
Synth Mode lets you use EWI5000 without software; the sounds are
generated by its internal synth engine. You can access the editor's the
Main page to make adjustments to your EWI5000's synth parameters or
the Effects Page to apply and adjust effects.
Controller Mode lets you use EWI5000 (while connected to your
computer via USB) as a hardware MIDI controller for your music software
or external synthesizer module. While in this mode, you can view only the
Settings page.
To select the mode, click the Mode button at the (next to the EWI5000 logo) to switch
between Synth Mode and Controller Mode.

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Program Management
While in Synth Mode, you can access your EWI5000's Programs to edit them and save them
for later use.
Selecting Programs
To select a Program:
1. Click the Preset Bank button or User Bank button
to select whether you want a Preset Program or a
User Program, respectively.
2. Click the field with the current Program name, and
then select a Program from the drop-down menu
that appears.

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Saving Programs
Important: All Programs are saved to the User Bank.
To save a Program:
1. Click the Save button next to the User Bank button.
2. In the window that appears, click the drop-down menu, and then
select the Program number to which you want to save the current
Program settings.
3. To save the Program, click OK.
To cancel the operation, click Cancel.

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Control Panel
While in Synth Mode, you can use the Control Panel to edit your Programs and save them for
later use. Each area of the Control Panel is described below.
To save your changes, please see Program Management > Saving Programs.
Main Page
The controls described in the following sections are
available when viewing the Main Page.
Amp Controls
Volume: Use this slider to raise or lower the Program's volume.
Important: This is different from EWI5000's Level Button, which
affects the volume of all Programs.
Pan: Use this knob to set the Program's panning in the stereo field.
Reverb: Use this slider to set the Program's Reverb Send level (the
same as on the Effects page). You can also set this by using
EWI5000's Reverb Knob.
Chorus: Use this slider to set the Program's Chorus Send level (the
same as on the Effects page). You can also set this by using
EWI5000's Chorus Knob.
Delay: Use this slider to set the Program's Delay Send level (the same
as on the Effects page). You can also set this by pressing and holding
EWI5000's Trans Button while turning its Bite Knob.

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Pitch Controls
Tuning: Use this slider to set the Program's tuning (-1200 to +1200
cents).
Important: This is different from EWI5000's Semi Knob and Fine
knob, which affect the tuning of all Programs.
Env 2: Use this knob to set how much Envelope 2 (Env2) will
modulate the pitch or tuning of the patch (-1200 to +1200 cents).
Note: There are 100 cents in one semitone and 1200 cents in an
octave.
LFO1 CC Amount
•CC1: Use this knob to set the LFO1 depth according to the CC1 (mod wheel) values sent
from EWI5000.
Note: EWI5000 must be set to send CC1 modulation messages to hear this.
•Breath: Use this knob to set how much Breath control affects the LFO1 depth. The more
air you blow into the mouthpiece, the more you will hear the effect.
LFO 2 CC Amount
•CC1: Use this knob to set the LFO2 depth according to the CC1 (mod wheel) values sent
from EWI5000.
Note: EWI5000 must be set to send CC1 modulation messages to hear this.
•Breath: Use this knob to set how much Breath control affects the LFO2 depth. The more
air you blow into the mouthpiece, the more you will hear the effect.

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Filter Controls
Cutoff: Use this slider to set the cutoff frequency of the filter
effect assigned to the Program. The filter's range is -100% to
+100%, which corresponds to a range of 20 Hz to 20 kHz.
Resonance: Use this slider to set the resonance amount of the
filter.
Env 2: Use this knob to set how much Envelope 2 modulates the
filter's cutoff frequency.
Breath: Use this knob to set how much EWI5000's breath
sensor modulates the filter's cutoff frequency. Its range is -100%
to +100%. At positive values, the filter will open more as you
blow harder into the mouthpiece. At negative values, the filter
will close as you blow harder into the mouthpiece.
Note: This knob has this effects only when EWI5000's breath
sensor is set to send breath messages (CC #2).
Key: Use this knob to set how much the filter affects the audio.
Its range is -100% to +100%. At positive values, the filter's
effect is less intense. At negative values, the filter's effect is
more intense.

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LFO Controls
LFO1
Freq: Use this knob to set the rate at which LFO1 modulates. Its
range is -100% (very slow) to +100% (very fast).
Delay: Use this knob to set how much time occurs before the
LFO affects the audio. Its range is 10ms to 10.0s.
Amp: Use this slider to set the amplitude depth for LFO1.
Filter: Use this slider to set the depth of the filter's cutoff
frequency for LFO1. The filter LFO is bipolar, which lets you
modulate its cutoff positively or negatively.
LFO2
Freq: Use this knob to set the rate at which the LFO2
modulates. Its range is -100% (very slow) to +100% (very fast).
Delay: Use this knob to set how much time occurs before the
LFO affects the audio. Its range is 10ms to 10.0s.
Pitch: Use this knob to set the range of pitch modulation for
LFO2.

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Envelope Controls
Amp Envelope
Delay: Use this knob to set the amount of time
before the note starts.
Attack: Use this knob to set how much time it
takes for the note's amplitude to ascend to the
Program's volume level.
Hold: Use this knob to set how long the note will sound at the Program's maximum amplitude
(the Program's volume) before moving to the Decay stage of the envelope.
Decay: Use this knob to set how much time it takes for the note's amplitude to descend to the
level of the Sustain parameter.
Sustain: Use this knob to set the audio level of the note that the Decay stage will descend to.
Note: EWI5000 does not use the Release stage of a traditional synth envelope.
Key > Decay: Use this knob set how much the Decay value modulates based on the note
being played. The lower the note, the shorter the Decay time will be. The higher the note, the
longer the Decay time will be.
Key > Hold: Use this knob to set how much the Hold value modulates based on the note
being played. The lower the note, the shorter the Hold time will be. The higher the note, the
longer the Hold time will be.

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Envelope 2
Important: Envelope 2's settings have
identical functions to those of the Amp
Envelope, but Envelope 2 modulates the
tuning and filter cutoff frequency. (See the
Pitch Controls and Filter Controls sections
to learn more about how to adjust the
amount of modulation.)
Delay: Use this knob to set the amount of time before the envelope starts.
Attack: Use this knob to set how much time it takes for the pitch or filter cutoff to ascend to
the level of the Program's tuning or filter cutoff.
Hold: Use this knob to set how long the pitch or filter cutoff will remain at the level of the
Program's tuning or filter cutoff before moving to the Decay stage of the envelope.
Decay: Use this knob to set how much time it takes for the pitch or filter cutoff to descend to
the level of the Sustain parameter.
Sustain: Use this knob to set the pitch or filter cutoff that the Decay stage will descend to.
Note: EWI5000 does not use the Release stage of a traditional synth envelope.
Key > Decay: Use this knob set how much the Decay value modulates based on the pitch or
filter cutoff. The lower the note, the shorter the Decay time will be. The higher the note, the
longer the Decay time will be.
Key > Hold: Use this knob to set how much the Hold value modulates based on the pitch or
filter cutoff. The lower the note, the shorter the Hold time will be. The higher the note, the
longer the Hold time will be.

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Effects Page
Reverb
Reverb is a spatial effect, simulating the nuanced reverberation of sound in the space of a
particular room.
Amt (Amount): Use this slider to set the Program's Reverb
Send level (the same as on the Main page). You can also set
this by using EWI5000's Reverb Knob.
Wet: Use this knob to raise or lower the blend between the
"wet" (effected) and "dry" (unaffected) signal. 0% is all dry,
and 100% is all wet, while 50% is an equal mix of both.
Damp: Use this knob to adjust absorption of higher
frequencies as the reverbating sound decays over the time.
Width: Use this knob to adjust the width of the stereo image
generated by the reverb.
Room Size: Use this knob to set the size of the room that the
reverb will simulate.

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Chorus
The Chorus section lets you apply chorus to the sound, which modulates the pitch and a
delay of the input signal, which are then added to the dry signal. In small amounts, this creates
the illusion of multiple voices playing at once.
Amt (Amount): Use this slider to set the Program's Chorus
Send level (the same as on the Main page). You can also set
this by using EWI5000's Chorus Knob.
Rate: Use this knob to adjust the rate of the chorus effect. Its
range is 1.0 Hz to 3.0 Hz.
Depth: Use this knob to adjust the depth or intensity of the
chorus effect.
Tip: To produce more pronounced "shimmering" and "watery"
sounds, set this knob to higher values.

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Delay
The Delay effect produces an echo of the original signal for a specified period of time.
Amount: Use this slider to set the Program's Delay Send level
(the same as on the Main page). You can also set this by
pressing and holding EWI5000's Trans Button while turning its
Bite Knob.
Delay: Use this knob to adjust the rate of the delay effect. Its
range is 0.1 ms to 742.9 ms.
Feedback: Use this knob to adjust how much of the effect's
signal is routed back into the effect again.

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Settings Page
The Settings Page lets you configure your EWI5000 to your preference. The settings you can
edit are identical to those of your EWI5000's Setup Mode (which you can access by pressing
and holding its Setup Button).
The following sections describe each tab of the Settings Page.