New USB Midi Breath Controller available

[wgturner]

Hi everyone,

Just thought I'd pass on a little info I found out about last night at Paul's clinic in town here - there is a new midi breath controller available from these guys:  http://www.tecontrol.se/index_files/USBMIDIBreathController.htm    

If any of you use one of the old Yamaha BC models, and have had a little angst waiting for yours to give out with no replacement in sight (like me...), you can rest easy.  This one connects directly to a USB port and has a software control interface to adjust sensitivity, etc.  As you'll see if you go to the site, it looks basically like a USB stick with a hose coming off of it (with very simple plastic end) - not exactly the coolest thing on the planet, but it works.  At least there is now a replacement alternative available. 

Anyway, just wanted to pass that info along.  Thanks Paul, for letting me check it out after the clinic.

Best,

Greg

[Minimidi]

There are also a review and a youtube video about it: [url]http://www.filmmusicmag.com/?p=11085[/url] [url]

[watercolours]

Yes, I've received mine and it works; would have prefer a kind of real mouthpiece but at last we've a USB breath controller, no need to have an additional box.Hope they will improve it, maybe with a mouthpiece a bit like on an EWI were you you can "bite" to move another control like vibrato or whatever: that would be perfect !!!

[lafauna]

Another one http://www.mrtaudio.com/breath-controller.html

[Minimidi]

@watercolours said:

Hope they will improve it, maybe with a mouthpiece a bit like on an EWI were you you can "bite" to move another control like vibrato or whatever: that would be perfect !!!

There is a new model with bite sensor. I just bought it and am waiting to receive it: [url]http://www.tecontrol.se/products/usb-midi-breath-bite-controller[/url]

[watercolours]

@Minimidi:Hey thanks! I didn't see this new model; did you got some kind of upgrade path?

[mschmitt]

[quote=Minimidi]There is a new model with bite sensor. I just bought it and am waiting to receive it:

Could you please post a review of it when you get it? Especially your impressions on how well it works with VSL instruments. I'm very interested in buying one.

This model is different then the first breath controller in that the "bite senosr" is actually a lip pressure sensor, and it doesn't use a tube to connect to the USB interface. It uses a wire. Seems like it would be great to control velocity x-fade with breath and possibly use the bite sensor to change articulations.

Michael

[Minimidi]

@mschmitt said:

[quote=Minimidi]There is a new model with bite sensor. I just bought it and am waiting to receive it:

Could you please post a review of it when you get it? Especially your impressions on how well it works with VSL instruments. I'm very interested in buying one.

This model is different then the first breath controller in that the "bite senosr" is actually a lip pressure sensor, and it doesn't use a tube to connect to the USB interface. It uses a wire. Seems like it would be great to control velocity x-fade with breath and possibly use the bite sensor to change articulations.

Michael

This new model is even better than the original breath only device. Something I find useful is controlling pitch with the lip, which leaves both my hands completely free. Another thing I like is that the new device can optionally low pass filter both the breath and the lip signals and the filter time constants for attack and decay are independently tunable. This is great for swells. Unfortunately there is no upgrade path. I asked the manufacturer but there is regrettably no way to retrofit the lip sensor onto the original breath only device. It's good anyway to have a backup: after getting used to it I now find the breath controller indispensible.

[cug]

@wgturner said:

Just thought I'd pass on a little info I found out about last night at Paul's clinic in town here - there is a new midi breath controller available from these guys:  http://www.tecontrol.se/index_files/USBMIDIBreathController.htm   

Hey Greg, I was also at the clinic at Wetlake Audio in LA.  Do you remember what the other breath controller was that Paul demoed?  He said it was around 900 Euro.  It's not the MRT, which is closer to the TEC in terms of price.  

By the way, I just ordered the TEC with bite control. I have been using a BC-3 on my Yamaha Motif keyboard but it is showing signs of getting old.  I use it for dynamic swells on woodwinds and brass. I can't imagine doing realistic long notes without it.  I've also used it with some success on strings,

- Carlos

[FredB]

@wgturner said:

Just thought I'd pass on a little info I found out about last night at Paul's clinic in town here - there is a new midi breath controller available from these guys:  http://www.tecontrol.se/index_files/USBMIDIBreathController.htm   

Hey Greg, I was also at the clinic at Wetlake Audio in LA.  Do you remember what the other breath controller was that Paul demoed?  He said it was around 900 Euro.  It's not the MRT, which is closer to the TEC in terms of price.  

By the way, I just ordered the TEC with bite control. I have been using a BC-3 on my Yamaha Motif keyboard but it is showing signs of getting old.  I use it for dynamic swells on woodwinds and brass. I can't imagine doing realistic long notes without it.  I've also used it with some success on strings,

- Carlos

 

I was intrigued by your post so i googled on the subjet.

I think i've found it:

The HB1

http://www.hornberg-research.de/index.php/en/

[Minimidi]

@wgturner said:

Just thought I'd pass on a little info I found out about last night at Paul's clinic in town here - there is a new midi breath controller available from these guys:  http://www.tecontrol.se/index_files/USBMIDIBreathController.htm   

Hey Greg, I was also at the clinic at Wetlake Audio in LA.  Do you remember what the other breath controller was that Paul demoed?  He said it was around 900 Euro.  It's not the MRT, which is closer to the TEC in terms of price.  

By the way, I just ordered the TEC with bite control. I have been using a BC-3 on my Yamaha Motif keyboard but it is showing signs of getting old.  I use it for dynamic swells on woodwinds and brass. I can't imagine doing realistic long notes without it.  I've also used it with some success on strings,

- Carlos

 

I was intrigued by your post so i googled on the subjet.

I think i've found it:

The HB1

http://www.hornberg-research.de/index.php/en/

Yes I saw this a while ago on another forum. In my opinion it looks nice but 900 euro is completely over the top. Had it cost less, I would have given it a shot. I can't understand why they chose to use rare and expensive materials like the "service tree" wood, whatever that is.

Functionally it seems to allow gain/offset sensitivity adjustments, rather than non linear sensitivity with bending.

Also why does it have a display? Maybe only useful if used stand alone on a keyboard. But for soft synts on computers, it just seems redundant and surely it adds to the cost.

[Paul]

Hi, 

I am using both TEControl and the Hornberg HB1 and like both for what they are.

Just received a hardware upgrade on the HB1 with additional parameters (Boost Attack and Boost Release, with adjustable curves to accelerate attack and release, if necessary) to the existing ones, and I have to say, that this exclusive piece of hardware is simply great to play with. The parameters definitely make sense, and you feel how you can adjust them perfectly to your playing style(s). And they come up with ideas that I didn´t even know I was missing!

Of course there is a price tag on the HB1,  but if you look at the production and attention to detail, it pays off, especially if you rely on such a controller in your everyday work. 

If you have not tried a breath controller yet, give it a try, no matter which product you go with. 

Best,
Paul

[sylva]

Hi all!

I just acquired the TEcontrol. I left configuration to CC2 and other factory defaults in place, and configured the track in SONAR 8.53 that I recorded to also to CC2. I recorded the music to the MIDI track from an M-audio Axiom61 controller and used the TEc at the same time to enter CC2 data on the same track. I saw the CC2 curve forming, but at playback I didn't hear the variations I sent via the TEc. I mention that configuring the TEc software as well as the SONAR treck to CC11  works. The instrument used was English Horn from Special Edition and Vienna Ensemble (not Ensemble PRO). 

1. What could be the problem?

2. Is the effect of CC11 comparable with or equivalent to the effect of CC2?

All input welcome and thank you.

S.

[DG]

CC2 can only work if you actually have something assigned to it. I would suggest that you right click velocity xFade in the VP player and blow. Then you will find that xFade is mapped to CC2.

DG

[sylva]

Vielen dank, Dietz!

[Dietz]

You're welcome, but "DG" is the screen-handle of our super-senior user Daryl, not mine. :-)

[DG]

@Dietz said:

You're welcome, but "DG" is the screen-handle of our super-senior user Daryl, not mine. 😊

HAHA. You are welcome to take the credit when I get something right, as long as you agree to do the same when I screw up.

BTW "Seniors" in the UK are pensioners. I'm not quite there yet. 😉

DG

[Dietz]

@DG said:

[...]

BTW "Seniors" in the UK are pensioners. I'm not quite there yet. 😉

DG

Don't we all love the ambiguity of the English language. 🎉

[DG]

@Dietz said:

Don't we all love the ambiguity of the English language. 🎉

I have a great Georg Solti story, but couldn't possibly share it on a public forum.  😮

DG