Yamaha's digital EZ trumpet

Not to be outdone by Roland's digital accordion, Yamaha has come out with an electronic trumpet that lets you avoid having to do the intense cheekwork yourself, like all that buzzing and blowing that the analogue version demands. Instead, you can eiether hum into the mouthpiece and have it convert your mumblings into trumpet-sounding melodies, play using the valves, or just use some combination of the two. We're sure Louis Armstrong is turning over in his grave about now.

[mike schleif @ Dec 19th 2005 2:23AM]

back in 1988 yamaha (i think) released an electric sax that worked by blowing into a mouth piece as well. you could could even change the sound to various midi "instruments" one of the kids in my elementary school marching band hand one and the band leader even let him play it.

[sowens @ Dec 19th 2005 2:23AM]

This is a disgrace to all trumpet players in the world.

[Maikeru @ Dec 19th 2005 2:23AM]

The electric accordian made sense as it seemed to take a bit a actually know-how to play it. In this case one mode kind of reduces the thing to an electic kazoo that spouts trumpet sounds. If it were to instead able to be played in a more traditional manner, yet yield electronic benefits (such as mute effects and the ability to have numerous brass instruments in one instrument), then this thing would be on par with an electic violin (which can actually produce sounds akin to many different stringed instruments, be amped and thus have the ability to have various pedal effects applied to it)

[Big Ben @ Dec 19th 2005 2:23AM]

Maybe the marketing error is in mixing a 'new' musical product into a 'Trumpet' package, thereby arousing the wrath of the unconvinced.

To get people to have a go using 'kazoo' skills to play encourages the marginally musical - an automatically 'nice' tone (haven't heard it, can't be sure) keeps 'em going when they might give up on making their own music. I'd rather the world had a go (however basic) at making music rather than _just_ playing other peoples recordings.

Remember the Stylophone? Awful, no? But so many stylo-kids progressed to keyboard, or whatever. Eventually.
I'll certainly give this beast a fair go - with my rusty recorder and (sadly lost) DH-100 'skills', and I hope others do too. Ben

PS many years ago we built some true 'electric kazoos' with analogue swept filter/envelope shaper. Surprisingly good fun to play for all, and versatile, too.

[Ashley @ Dec 19th 2005 2:23AM]

personally... WHY? When you can have a rich, awesome tone out of a nice strad by actually playing? Electronic would SUCK! I don't even see why... I agree with that other person, it IS a disgrace to all the trumpet players in the world.. how stupid is an electronic trumpet,I'd much rather play my strad.. I'd also much rather hear a real trumpet playing, that probably can't even have "Bell fire".... wow...how ...stupid...

[Raja @ Dec 19th 2005 2:23AM]

I wonder how many you have commented have played the instrument?
I wonder how many have even read the reference manual?
As a continuous midi controller with a pitch bend capability of 24 semitones (2 octaves) for that price - it seems good.
at the end of the day it is the sound that matters.
it cannot be judged from the perspective of an actual horn but as a synth.
What would the sound be like if it is connected to a synth module such as the vl-1 or vl70m?
Most wind synth such as the yamaha wx5/wx7 akai ewi3020 need 2 hands to play. This needs one or none - freeing up the other hand to use a keyboard controlller etc.
I wonder how this all would work together. Yamaha uses physical modelling to create patches that sound really good.
Based on the specs: uses battery, does not require a synth module, can be connected to an external midi synth module, 16 channels, 24 semitone pitch bend (unheard of in most midi instruments) , etc
this instrument may require further investigation before people judge it too harshly.
The pitch conversion allows the instrument to play chromatic notes or even notes between the chromatic notes. this is regulary used in eastern music.
I would like to hear from someone who has used it.

[Patric @ Dec 19th 2005 2:23AM]

This is a discrace to the trumet playing community. NO machine should play a trumpet, I mean sure, it would be perfect, never mess up, you couldn't miss pitches, but... You can't put feeling into something thats fake

[Stephen White @ Dec 19th 2005 2:23AM]

I think all you people are missing the point. One of the biggest problems I'm having as someone who is trying to play classical and jazz music, is that I don't have a lot of "chop time" to practice my jazz licks. By the time I get done doing all my lip slurs, tongueing excercises, classical etudes, long tone studies and other stuff we're all supposed to be doing-- plus playing with the bands I'm in--I don't have much time to practice jazz licks. I'm going to buy one of these electronic trumpets and use it to practice my jazz licks. Why do you think there are so many freakin' cheesy sax players in bar bands? Because they have enough "chop time" to practice licks all day long. I think this gizmo could help me work on developing my jazz ideas. If nothing else, it could at least get the sound of the licks I want to play in my ear and I could practice fingerings. You people are so closed-minded and ignorant it makes me sick. You should embrace technology, not shun it. You're the same kind of ignorant shmucks who probably didn't buy microwaves or cell phones when they first came out. I think it's a great idea and Yamaha should be commended. How do you know it's so stupid if you never tried it. You people who are criticizing this ingenious device are stupid. I don't care if you're all virtuous trumpet players who can play circles around me. You're still stupid for making fun of technology that you don't understand and that you've never tried.

[Cathy Parker @ Dec 19th 2005 2:23AM]

I would like to say I am for the electronic trumpet. I've never heard one. But, My mother wants to own one so badly. When she was young, she was able to learn to play trumpet by working with the salvation army. She played in church for years and at the many church conventions. When she had to get dental partials, it messed up her mouth. She's tried to play her cornet a couple of times. But, her lip is just not able to take it. She has said so many times how she'd love to have an electronic trumpet. I don't care how it sounds. I wish I could afford to get her one. If the sound is crappy compared to the real trumpet, so what? At least she gets to make her music again.....and she'll be happy at it. Isn't that what music is for anyway...to make us happy?

[Denice Lam @ Dec 19th 2005 2:23AM]

this is a disgrace.. i mean a eletric trumpet ?!?!?! come on if thats the case... theres no point in it. trumpet players play the trumpet because they like it. if u get the eletric one.. its the same as sayin to cheat in a test. it will never sound authentic... and it will sound fake.

[Denice Lam @ Dec 19th 2005 2:23AM]

This is a disgrace!! i mean if you can just hum into the trumpet and get what note you want then theres no point in playin the trumpet... some people like me practice 30 minutes to 2 hours a day to achieve those high notes and if u just hum into it ... ppl like me did the work for nothing...DOWN WITH ELETRIC TRUMPETS!!!!

[Scotty @ Dec 19th 2005 2:23AM]

I think the best way to think of this is more as a novelty instrument, or an entirely new instrument. not an attempt to replace the trumpet.

[Michael @ Dec 19th 2005 2:23AM]

I am all for technology and I have come to accept digital reproduction of music and I am normally against digital production. In this case however, I can see some uses for electrical instruments - namely, practice in the privacy of your apartment or home if you do not live alone. What would be better than for me to learn/practice an instrument late at night wearing headphones and not disturbing you? I am not an instrument player, but there are advantages that I have researched when it comes to electrical instruments. I cannot afford a sound proof room � yet.

I am sure people had the same reaction to electric keyboards, guitars, CDs, MP3s, etc. Digital music is an approximation of the real thing but it is darn good these days.. If you discerning ears and you have heard these instruments, I accept your criticism.

I do not think however that these instruments are attractive.

[Andrew @ Dec 19th 2005 2:23AM]

Brilliant! It's a modern version of the Casio DH series of digital horns. Only this one can teach you the tune and which buttons to press.
I think there will be a good market for this easy to play instrument. There is already some positive feedback on the japanese support/fan site and one opinion site where most users rate it 5 stars...

I have read the manual and will buy one shortly...

Herb Alpert here I come!

[Aldo @ Dec 19th 2005 2:23AM]

To hum is not to play... to watch is not to see

[sunmaster14 @ Dec 19th 2005 2:23AM]

Isn't it funny how people complain about new ideas - as if its an offence to think of something new. Some people want just one way of doing things - if the world was up to them we'd all be wearing safari suits and eating two hard boiled eggs for breakfast.

[Ivan @ Dec 19th 2005 2:23AM]

I always wanted to play the trumpet. I even started to learn couple month ago, I am 38 now. But it is really hard and it requires much more time and dedication then I can afford (work, livivng in apartment, family...etc) With an electroinic trumpet, I could create music and that is what is important. Is it not music what a keyboard player plays?