NuRAD (EWI/Sax etc. fingering instrument)

The Electronic Valve Instrument was invented back in the early 1970s by Nyle Steiner. The first production instruments were using mechanical switches in a handset connected to an analog synthesizer module, and they were sold from 1975 to 1979 by the Steiner-Parker company. When the company had dissolved, the instrument was produced by Crumar.

In the mid 80s, Steiner designed and built a number of instruments with a more complex synthesizer and touch sensing for the keys. They were referred to as Steinerphones, and and came in both brass and woodwind variety.

In 1987 a new type of EVI was licensed and sold by AKAI. This new version together with its woodwind counterpart released at the same time, the EWI, was using touch sensing for the finger controls and a programmable synth module capable of sending MIDI for controlling other synthesizers. The Akai EVI was discontinued due to not selling as well as the EWI that is still made by AKAI in new incarnations.

For a while Nyle Steiner did conversions of then current model EWIs into EVIs, until in 1998 when he started building and selling the MIDI EVI he had developed. The MIDI EVI was built to work as a controller for MIDI equipped synthesizers, with no sound synthesis capability of its own. For several years this has been the controller/instrument of choice for EVI players, even when the newer EWIs got alternative EVI fingering settings.

In recent years the MIDI EVI has become hard to come by. Steiner has moved on to many other projects and interests, and so very few new EVIs are being built. In 2012 he posted a YouTube video demonstrating a prototype for NuEVI and NuRAD User Guide 2an Arduino based EVI that people could build themselves. In 2017 it was still unclear when the Arduino EVI kit would be available. As the only available EVI would be in kit form and not available as a pre-built instrument, some EVI players started to get a bit concerned about the future of the EVI. With no new instruments being built, the EVI would eventually die. In hope to prevent this, EVI player Steve Anderson initiated a project aiming to create a new EVI. After teaming up with Johan Berglund moving forward with the project, the NuEVI was born.

As popularity of the NuEVI grew, EWI players started to get in touch, wanting an EWI counterpart to the NuEVI. When development was initiated for this new EWI, a number of factors pointed to the RAD EWI as the suitable version to modernize and build for people. The original RAD MIDI EWI was made by Nyle in 2004, for saxophone and EWI player Michael Brecker. The RAD EWI featured a new, radical, redesign putting the keys for left and right hands side by side, and having handles attached so it could be played without the use of a neck strap. Michael Brecker was very pleased with this new controller and used it on tour. No additional RAD EWIs were made though, and the controller could have become just this one-off mythical beast.

Development of the NuRAD was done in parallel with building NuEVIs and while it took more than a year to get it all ready, some ideas for the NuRAD would also be available as optional features for the NuEVI, the PneuBite in particular. The PneuBite is based on the bite sensor in the vintage Steiner Master’s Touch system, and rather than measuring capacitance between two strips of metal, it senses the air pressure in a closed system where squeezing or bending the mouthpiece will alter the pressure. As an improvement over the original, a pressure valve is added, allowing for equalization to ambient air pressure.

At this point the firmware is also successfully adapted from the NuEVI, and the features are basically the same except for the fingerings. Some firmware additions are still planned for the future, like additional fingerings, but the most important ones are in there already. Also in the works now is a set of new polyphonic playing features with harmonizers and improved note rotator functionality.

I am just starting producing these new wind controllers, built to order in a small scale fashion. They are made available to interested parties on a first come, first serve basis. As you have contacted me previously, I am confirming that you are on my list of interested persons.

Please note that the NuRAD is handmade by me in small batches. I am making them available through my company – Berglund Instruments. The NuRADs are built on demand for each person that orders them in the order of payment received. Sales within the EU will also have VAT (25%) on top of that (unless valid EU VAT number is provided). Payment in advance will be required in order to get into the building queue. Payments are made through PayPal or IBAN bank transfer. Payment details will be in the order invitation email that goes out when I reach your place on the waiting list.

Technical information

So, what are the specs, etc.? Well, pretty much like the NuEVI. It comes in the same colors, has the same electronics (Teensy 3.2 microcontroller, MPR121 touch sensors) and lots of hardware and firmware in common. It does come standard with a breath CV jack and the pneuBite though, that is only optional in the NuEVI. The pneuBite is based on the bite sensor of the vintage Steiner product the “Masters Touch”. Instead of measuring the capacitance of two metal strips being flexed by biting, the pneuBite is a closed air pressure system. It gives a more immediate feeling when biting or bending the mouthpiece. An improvement from the Masters Touch system is the addition of a valve that serves for equalizing the pneuBite pressure to ambient pressure (needed when using bite for portamento). Fingerings available are standard EWI, extended range EWI, Saxophone and EVI fingerings. More may be added later. Chord play and midi rotator are features from the NuEVI that are present in the NuRAD too, as well as the nice OLED display and menu system with full manual control over all sensor adjustments and easy setup of CCs, MIDI channel, transposition, and much much more.

More geeky tech info:

Power source: 3xAAA alkaline batteries (6–7 hrs battery time), NiMH rechargeables (9-10 hrs battery time) or USB, alt. optional LiPo battery ($35 extra) with charging through USB port (15 hrs battery time)
Brains: PJRC Teensy 3.2 microcontroller dev board (Cortex M4)
USB: Micro USB jack, class compliant USB MIDI
Type of sensing: Capacitive, using built in Teensy cap touch sense and 3x the MPR121 chip
Sensors: Touch keys and rollers, pitch bend pads (proportional), vibrato/portamento lever, breath sensor, bite sensor (for vibrato or portamento) and lip sensor (extra controller)
Breath sensor system: Closed (like the Akai EWI1000 and the original Steiner EVIs and EWIs), NXP MP3V5004GP piezoresistive transducer, 0 to 3.92 kPa
Body: Main body from 3D printed PLA plastic, top and bottom sheets in transparent laser cut/etched acrylic
DIN MIDI: one MIDI OUT jack
CV output: Built-in 3.5 mm TS jack outputting breath CV 0 to 5V. Digitally generated, so output responds to breath adjustments in the menus. (In addition there is 0 to 3.3V breath CV through unused pin of DIN MIDI jack, or pitch+breath CV output for amplification by optional module or box.)
Length: 46cm (18″)
Weight: 635g (1.4lbs)
Accessories included: Removable handle and neck strap.

Here is a link to user guides and fingering charts

Other combinations can be provided on demand, with possible extra cost for material not in stock and extra waiting time for acquiring material. For example, a red/smoke NuRAD like pictured below would not be anything extra, as that’s standard materials used.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

Pricing

EU pricing

€1595 VAT incl. (€1276 w. VAT excl.) – Base model with AAA battery power.
€1645 VAT incl. (€1316 w. VAT excl.) – Base model with built in LiPo rechargeable battery system
€1845 VAT incl. (€1476 w. VAT excl.) – Base model with build in LiPo + Wireless MIDI

Shipping: €30

USD pricing

$1595 – Base model with AAA battery power
$1645 – Base model with built in LiPo rechargeable battery system
$1845 – Base model with built in LiPo rechargeable battery system + wireless MIDI

Shipping: (calculated at time of purchase)

Color Options