1. I N T R O D U C T I O N
1.1 F I N A L L Y – M I D I F O R S A X P L A Y E R S
Thank you for purchasing the SYNTHOPHONE MIDI sax. We hope, that this new
instrument will give you a rewarding way of working with today's synthesizers. The
SYNTHOPHONE feels and plays like a sax, ut in addition is also capa le of
producing some amazing new effects like hords, which change within a diatonic
context along your melodic lines. The MIDI format of the SYNTHOPHONE allows you
to choose from a large selection of today's synthesizers, ena les you to play into
sequencers and even use notation programs that will turn your music into written
parts immediately. With special control through ommand fingerings it is possi le to
leave your synthesizers ackstage, since you can select your sounds and their ideal
performance parameters directly from the instrument.
Please read through this manual arefully efore unpacking the SYNTHOPHONE.
Make sure all precautions are taken efore plugging in your new instrument.
1.2 T H E S Y N T H O P H O N E – S O M E B A C K G R O U N D
The design of the SYNTHOPHONE goes ack to the pre-MIDI times of 1981, where
a first prototype (a woodstick with Boehm-like keys) was designed y Martin Hurni. It
was connected to a dedicated analog synthesizer system. This first stage of the
SYNTHOPHONE was followed y a real alto sax with its keys connected to a
switching system to give a more realistic playing feel. At ARS ELECTRONICA '84
contest, the first prize was given to the design of the SYNTHOPHONE for it's "most
original and future-oriented development in the field of electronic sound production."
At a out the same time, MIDI was to ecome a standard, and so the next prototype
was MIDI-equipped, although a separate hardware unit was still necessary to convert
a sax into a MIDI-controller. A later model then was selfcontained: the processor was
put into the ell of the sax. This new SYNTHOPHONE was uilt in late 1986 and then
refined to e produced y SOFTWIND INSTRUMENTS.
The instrument of today is a fully equipped MIDI ontroller, which connects to any
modern MIDI synthesizer. DYNAMIC HARMONY was implemented as a software
update and further new software features can e added through simple EPROM hip
ex hange, which in most cases are done y musicians themselves.
The sax is here to stay, and therefore you should expect your SYNTHOPHONE to
have a long musical future, too. It is you, the performer, who can give us a very
valua le feed ack on the design and additional features of the SYNTHOPHONE, so
please do not hesitate to send us a few lines, outlining your ideas and your
suggestions. Thank you for your cooperation.
