Wallander WIVI Saxophone Collections Deliver New Levels of Expression to Computer-Based Musicians

The amazing virtual world of Wallander Instruments has expanded exponentially with the recent addition of two brass/reed collections, Saxophones 1 and 2. Designed for easy download into a user's WIVI player, the new instruments are a perfect complement to the extensive Wallander Instruments brass and woodwind libraries that wowed crowds at January NAMM. The Saxophones 1 collection, based on the traditional quartet, contains 12 instruments—three each of baritone, tenor, alto, and soprano saxophone. Saxophones 2 expands the timbral range with 15 instruments—three each of bass, C melody, mezzo-soprano, C soprano, and sopranino saxophones. The wide range of instruments and timbres allows for nearly unlimited musical expression, from free-wheeling solos to intricate ensemble work. The synthesis technology that powers WIVI (Wallander Instruments Visual Instrument) is ideally suited for instruments, such as Saxophones, that respond continuously and dynamically to the player's input. Unlike traditional sampled instruments, WIVI instruments allow the player to alter timbre and dynamics throughout the entire course of a note, and provide for a virtually infinite array of articulations. Wallander Instruments WIVI has taken the computer-based music world by storm, thanks not only to the incredible realism of the instruments, but also to the fact that WIVI solves many of the problems associated with sample-based instruments. For example, divisi is automatic, spatialization and environmental control are handled at the instrument level, making it easy to create the performance soundstage without the use of additional reverb and, since no samples are involved, CPU and hard disk requirements are minimal. WIVI works on Mac/PC and is AU/RTAS/VST capable. The music press has bestowed numerous accolades on WIVI, with comments ranging from "a breakthrough in getting brass and woodwinds to sound right" (Keyboard, Jan. 09) to "Wallander's acoustic behavioral modeling does a remarkable job of reproducing the nuances of notoriously difficult to replicate brass instruments" (Remix, Best of NAMM '09 report). Feedback from composers and musicians has been equally enthusiastic, with the most common reaction being "I gotta have it!" Saxophones 1 and 2 are available at music stores throughout the Americas, with street prices of approximately $399 and $299, respectively.