Electronic instruments like the EWI 5000 or EWI Solo use sensors to detect user performance and determine how the instrument should sound in response. These sensors translate your fingering positions into notes, the breath pressure into volume, and your movements into a smooth glide from one note to the next. However, if set incorrectly, they could also be the source behind stray notes and sounds you did not intend to play. 


Calibrating your sensors and setting them properly is a crucial part of maintaining your EWIs performance, and it's simple to do. We recommend all EWI users calibrate their sensors regularly, and especially if it is responding unexpectedly. 




TABLE OF CONTENTS


Understanding the Editing Controls

To best understand and execute your EWI 5000's calibration, we must first familiarize ourselves with the relevant controls and the parameters they affect. Please see the images below denoting the controls that will be used and referenced throughout this guide.



Setup and Trans buttons, Chorus, LFO, and Reverb Dials





HOLD and INTERVAL Buttons



Tips for Successful Calibration

While the discrete steps for calibrating each sensor are outlined in-full below, there are some helpful strategies to keep in mind prior to beginning the calibration process:


  1. Calibrate these parameters in the order they appear in this guide. Start with Note Keys/Program Button, followed by the Breath Sensor, then the Glide Plate, and, lastly, the Pitch Bend plates.
  2. The Glide Plate and Pitch Bend Plates share some interdependencies in their programming. As a result, calibration changes to one may cause changes in performance in the other. For this reason, it is recommended to first calibrate the Glide Plate and leave the Pitch Bend Plates at factory default settings unless absolutely necessary.
  3. Pay attention to the discrete numbers listed on the display upon editing a parameter. Do not assume that all parameters merit a uniform numeric value. 
  4. Be wary of setting high dynamic range parameters. If the dynamic range parameter is set too high, it is likely that the EWI's output will sound overdriven and distorted.
  5. After completing the calibration steps, note the numeric values of each parameter for reference in future calibrations.


Calibrating your Sensors

Now that we've familiarized ourselves with the controls necessary to complete the calibration process, we will now review the steps for calibrating each of your sensors: Your note keys, breath sensor, glide plate, and pitch-bend.


Calibrating Note Keys and Program Button:

To calibrate the Note Keys and Program Button:


  1. Press and hold the Setup Button to enter Setup Mode
  2. Press the Hold Button or Interval Button to scroll through the options until CL (Calibration) appears in the display.
  3. Release the Setup Button. The display will show the current sensor. Use the Hold Button or Interval Button to navigate to dL (Key Delay)
  4. Turn the Chorus Parameter Knob to adjust the note keys' sensitivity. 00 is the lowest sensitivity, while 99 is the highest. You can touch the note keys or Program Button to test the setting. The Setup Button LED will light up when the EWI5000 detects that you are touching a note key. The Trans Button LED will light up when the EWI5000 detects that you are touching the Program Button. 
  5.  To return to Performance Mode, press the Setup Button until the display is blank. 



Calibrating the Breath Sensor

To calibrate the Breath Sensor:


  1. Press and hold the Setup Button to enter Setup Mode.
  2. Press the Hold Button or Interval Button to scroll through the options until CL (Calibration) appears in the display.
  3. Release the Setup Button. The display will show the current sensor. Use the Hold Button or Interval Button to navigate to bS (Breath Sensor). 
  4. You can use the Chorus, LFO, and Reverb Parameter Knobs to adjust the sensor. You can also blow into the mouthpiece to test the setting. The Setup Button LED will light up when the EWI5000 detects your breath in the mouthpiece. The Trans Button LED will light up when the breath sensor is at its maximum value 
    • Turn the Chorus Parameter Knob to adjust the breath sensor's sensitivity. 00 is the lowest sensitivity, while 99 is the highest. We recommend turning this knob while not blowing into the mouthpiece and setting it just below the point where the Setup Button LED lights up. 
    • Turn the LFO Parameter Knob to adjust the breath sensor's dynamic range. 00 is the smallest range, while 99 is the largest. We recommend blowing into the mouthpiece with your "maximum" force and setting this knob just above the point where the Trans Button LED lights up. 
    • Turn the Reverb Parameter Knob to adjust the breath sensor's rate of change. 00 is the lowest rate, while 99 is the highest. 
  5. To return to Performance Mode, press the Setup Button until the display is blank.



Calibrating the Glide Plate

To calibrate the Glide Plate:


  1. Press and hold the Setup Button to enter Setup Mode.
  2. Press the Hold Button or Interval Button to scroll through the options until CL (Calibration) appears in the display. 
  3. Release the Setup Button. The display will show the current sensor. Use the Hold Button or Interval Button to navigate to GL (Glide Plate). 
  4. You can use the Chorus, LFO, and Reverb Parameter Knobs to adjust the sensor. You can touch the glide plate to test the setting. The Setup Button LED will light up when the EWI5000 detects you are touching the glide plate. The Trans Button LED will light up when the glide plate is at its maximum value. 
    • Turn the Chorus Parameter Knob to adjust the glide plate's sensitivity. 00 is the lowest sensitivity, while 99 is the highest. We recommend turning this knob while not touching the glide plate and setting it just below the point where the Setup Button LED lights up. 
    • Turn the LFO Parameter Knob to adjust the glide plate's dynamic range. 00 is the smallest range, while 99 is the largest. We recommend touching the glide plate as you would to get a maximum value, and setting this knob just above the point where the Trans Button LED lights up. 
    • Turn the Reverb Parameter Knob to adjust the glide plate's rate of change. 00 is the lowest rate, while 99 is the highest. 

      Important: You may also want to touch each of the pitch-bend plates to ensure they are not triggering the glide plate. The glide plate and pitch-bend plates are all partially associated, so their sensitivities may need to be adjusted relative to each other. 5. To return to Performance Mode, press the Setup Button until the display is blank. 
  5. To return to Performance Mode, press the Setup Button until the display is blank.



Calibrating the Pitch Bend Up/Down Plates

To calibrate the Pitch Bend Up/Down Plates:

  1. Press and hold the Setup Button to enter Setup Mode.
  2. Press the Hold Button or Interval Button to scroll through the options until CL (Calibration) appears in the display.
  3. Release the Setup Button. The display will show the current sensor. Use the Hold Button or Interval Button to navigate to PU (Pitch-Bend Up Plate) or Pd (Pitch-Bend Down Plate). 
  4. You can use the Chorus, LFO, and Reverb Parameter Knobs to adjust the sensor. You can touch the pitch-bend plate to test the setting. The Setup Button LED will light up when the EWI5000 detects you are touching the pitch-bend plate. The Trans Button LED will light up when the pitch-bend plate is at its maximum value. 
    • Turn the Chorus Parameter Knob to adjust the pitch-bend plate's sensitivity. 00 is the lowest sensitivity, while 99 is the highest. We recommend turning this knob while not touching the pitch-bend plate and setting it just below the point where the Setup Button LED lights up. 
    • Turn the LFO Parameter Knob to adjust the pitch-bend plate's dynamic range. 00 is the smallest range, while 99 is the largest. We recommend touching the pitch-bend plate as you would to get a maximum value, and setting this knob just above the point where the Trans Button LED lights up. 
    • Turn the Reverb Parameter Knob to adjust the pitch-bend plate's rate of change. 00 is the lowest rate, while 99 is the highest. 

      Important: You may want to touch other pitch-bend plate or glide plate to ensure they are not triggering the pitch-bend plate you are adjusting. The glide plate and pitch-bend plates are all partially associated, so their sensitivities may need to be adjusted relative to each other. 5. To return to Performance Mode, press the Setup Button until the display is blank. 
  5. To return to Performance Mode, press the Setup Button until the display is blank.



Example Calibration Parameters

The specific calibration parameters for any EWI controller will, by nature, vary from performer to performer due to differences in playing style and application. However, if you are new to the EWI ecosystem and lack a frame of reference for the 'usual' calibration settings, we have included an example list of recommended parameter settings below to set a general benchmark.


Note Keys/Program Button

  • Key Delay: 15


Breath Sensor

  • Sensitivity: 40
  • Dynamic Range: 55
  • Rate of Change: 88


Glide Plate

  • Sensitivity: 75
  • Dynamic Range:15
  • Rate of Change: 55


Pitch Bend Plates

  • Due to the programmatic interdependencies between the Pitch Bend Plates and the Glide Plate, it is recommended to keep the Pitch Bend Plates at factory default settings unless your intended application absolutely merits a change in this setting.



Restoring Factory Default Settings

If you feel the need to restart the calibration process from scratch, you can restore your EWI5000 to factory settings via the following steps:


  1. Disconnect the EWI5000 from your computer. 
  2. Power off the EWI5000 by pressing and holding the Power Button for a full second and then releasing it. 
  3. Press and hold the Setup Button, Trans Button, FX Button, and Level Button.
  4. Power on the EWI5000 by pressing and holding the Power Button for a full second. 
  5. Release all buttons.