SPECIAL MESSAGE SECTION This product utilizes batteries or an external power supply (adapter). DO NOT connect this product to any power supply or adapter other than one described in the manual, on the name plate, or specifically recommended by Yamaha. WARNING: Do not place this product in a position where anyone could walk on, trip over ,or roll anything over power or connecting cords of any kind.
PRECAUTIONS PLEASE READ CAREFULLY BEFORE PROCEEDING * Please keep these precautions in a safe place for future reference. WARNING Always follow the basic precautions listed below to avoid the possibility of serious injury or even death from electrical shock, shortcircuiting, damages, fire or other hazards. These precautions include, but are not limited to, the following: • Do not open the instrument or attempt to disassemble the internal parts or modify them in any way.
Congratulations! Your Yamaha WX5 is a state-of-the-art Wind MIDI Controller which takes wind MIDI control to new levels of performance and playability. With precise, responsive wind and lip sensors, a choice of single-reed or recorder type mouthpieces, and a range of fingering modes, the WX5 makes expressive wind control more accessible than ever before.
Main WX5 Features Realistic wind-instrument type response and playability offers unprecedented expressive control. A 16-key layout similar to the standard saxophone layout, and a choice of four fingering modes, make the WX5 easily accessible to most wind players. Beginners can select the fingering mode that they find easiest to play. With a WX5, a tone generator, and a pair of headphones, you can play anytime, anywhere, without worrying about disturbing neighbors.
The WX5 Controls & Connectors 1 Mouthpiece The WX5 is supplied with two mouthpieces: a saxophone-type mouthpiece with a reed, and a recorder-type mouthpiece with no reed. The WX5 is initially shipped with the saxophone-type mouthpiece attached. To remove and replace the mouthpiece see the “Maintenance” section on page 28.
The WX5 Controls & Connectors @ Pitch Bend Wheel Like the pitch bend wheel on keyboard synthesizers, the WX5 pitch bend wheel can be used to produce smooth upward or downward pitch bends. Details on page 13. # Key Hold Button ❖ Attaching the Strap When using the supplied neck strap with the WX5, attack the strap hook to the strap ring as shown in the illustration. The Key Hold button controls any of four assignable key hold functions including sustain. Details on page 14.
Setting Up Since the WX5 is a MIDI controller, it must be used with a MIDI tone generator to produce sound. Yamaha recommends the VL70-m or an MU-series XG tone generator, but just about any MIDI tone generator can be used. WX-Compatible Tone Generators When the WX5 is connected to a WX-compatible tone generator such as the VL70-m via the supplied WX cable (the tone generator must have a WX IN connector) power is supplied to the WX5 via the WX cable and no other power supply is required.
Setting Up Connecting to a Tone Generator Connecting to a Tone Generator with a WX Connector Connecting to a Standard MIDI Tone Generator The Yamaha VL70-m Virtual Acoustic Tone Generator was designed for optimum matching with Yamaha WX-series Wind MIDI Controllers, and is recommended for use with the WX5 to make the most of the WX5’s expressive capabilities. To connect the WX5 to the VL70-m, simply connect the supplied WX cable to the WX5’s WX OUT connector, and to the WX IN connector on the VL70-m.
Preparing to Play Turning the Power On Selecting a Lip Mode: Tight Lip or Loose Lip Whether you are powering the WX5 via the WX cable connected to a VL70-m tone generator, or via an AC adaptor or batteries, the WX5 power is switched on by sliding the POWER switch to the “ON” position. Turn the power off by sliding the POWER switch to the “OFF” position. The WX5 has two basic playing modes: Tight Lip and Loose Lip, described below. Select the mode which best suits your playing style.
Preparing to Play ■ Loose Lip ● LED1 (Lip Sensor Data) In the loose lip mode no pressure (or very slight pressure) is applied to the reed when playing normally. Pressure applied to the reed causes an increase in pitch. Thus, in the loose lip mode only upward pitch bend can be applied, but the amount of upward pitch bend that can be applied is greater than that available in the tight lip mode.
Basic Playing Techniques Fingering Modes The WX5 offers a choice of four fingering modes. Refer to the explanations of each mode, below, and the fingering charts on page 32, to determine which fingering mode is best for you. * * The fingering mode is set via the setup switches, as described on page 23. The WX5 is initially shipped with the Saxophone(a) fingering mode selected.
Basic Playing Techniques ■ Changing the Pitch Bend Wheel Function Octave Shift The octave keys can be used to shift the pitch up or down by one, two, or three octaves while playing, as follows: [Up 2] Octave Key 3 octaves up [Up 1] + [Up 2] Octave Keys 2 octaves up [Up 1] Octave Key 1 octave up [Down 1] Octave Key 1 octave down [Down 1] + [Down 2] Octave Keys 2 octaves down [Down 2] Octave Key 3 octaves down The function of the pitch bend in the upward and downward directions (i.e.
Basic Playing Techniques Key Hold The Key Hold function can be used to hold a specified note while playing other notes, thus allowing more than one note to be played at the same time. You actually have a choice of four different Key Hold functions - Normal Hold, Follow Hold, Sustain, and Portamento - selected by holding the Key Hold button and pressing one of the Octave keys. • When using a monophonic tone generator such as the VL70-m, the Normal Hold and Follow Hold functions cannot be used.
Basic Playing Techniques Press the Key Hold button while no note is being played to disengage the Key Hold function. In the Normal Hold mode, no key off message is transmitted to the tone generator when breath pressure is stopped. Rather, the sound is stopped because the wind sensor produces a volume value of “0”. Depending on the settings of your tone generator, the held note may continue to sound even when breath pressure to the WX5 is stopped.
Program Change Control By using the playing keys and octave keys in conjunction with the Program Change button, it is possible to change voices and other MIDI functions on your tone generator directly from the WX5. • Refer to your tone generator’s owner’s manual for details on the pertinent MIDI settings and functions.
Program Change Control ■ Direct Program Change Entry Specific program change numbers can be directly transmitted from the WX5 by using the playing keys (numbers 1 through 0 are assigned to the keys - see illustration above) while pressing the Program Change button. 1-digit Example: Program Change Number 003 Press the A key (number 3) while holding the Program Change button. Program change number 003 will actually be transmitted when the Program Change key is released.
Program Change Control Changing the MIDI Transmit Channel The WX5 MIDI transmit channel can be changed by pressing the appropriately numbered playing key (see the channel number assignment illustration to the left) while holding the Program Change button and the Key Hold button.
Program Change Control Mono/Poly & Portamento Switching Program Change Button + Down 2 Octave Key MIDI “Portamento OFF” message transmitted. By using the Octave Keys while holding the Program Change button, it is possible to transmit MIDI Mono, Poly, and Portamento mode messages to your tone generator.
Using the Setup Button A number of important WX5 parameters can be changed as required by using the Setup button in conjunction with the Octave keys or Pitch Bend wheel. Sensitivity (Software Wind Gain) The WX5’s software sensitivity setting (software wind gain) can be adjusted in five stages by using the Octave keys while holding the Setup button. The software wind gain settings are: Soft, Medium Soft, Medium, Medium Hard, and Hard. The power-on default setting is “Medium”.
Using the Setup Button • The WX5 hardware wind gain for the wind sensor is set as described on page 25. Set both the hardware and software wind gain for optimum playability. Setup Button + Up 1 and Down 1 Octave Keys Resets the octave to “0”. nrm hrd tht loos nrm wide P/B M/W off on B Fl off on off on PB gen MW filt Octave Transpose The MIDI note numbers transmitted by the WX5 can be shifted up or down by one or two octaves by using the Octave keys in conjunction with the Setup button.
Setup Switch Settings The WX5 has 16 DIP switches which can be used to set up a range of important basic parameters. These switches are not intended for frequent use, but rather to set up the WX5 to match your individual playing requirements. Read the descriptions below carefully before changing the setup switch settings. 1-1 1-2 1-3 1-4 1-5 1-6 1-7 1-8 ● Remove the rubber switch cover, and use a small screwdriver or similar implement to change the switch settings as required.
