Comments on: Silent WInd

Question: Silent WInd

funboytree — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 04:42:17 -0800

This morning I sat near a guy on a train, who produced a pair of headphones and plugged them into what I can only describe as a silent flute...

The guy then practised on the instrument during the journey. It was about 8 or 9 inches long, clear plastic with electronics visible inside, no moving keys, but some kind of silver sensors. It was played more in the manner of a whistle or bagpipes. What on earth was it ?

By: sonofslim

sonofslim — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 05:09:40 -0800

MIDI instrument. Not sure which.

By: JigSawMan

JigSawMan — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 05:11:43 -0800

Was it this Yamaha instrument?

Click Me!

By: beowulf573

beowulf573 — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 05:52:00 -0800

There are a couple MIDI chanters on the market, including this one that supports headphones directly.

By: medium format

medium format — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 08:25:20 -0800

beowulf573's link led me to the Fagerstrom Technochanter. Comes in black or translucent plastic.

By: medium format

medium format — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 08:29:08 -0800

...although looking at it know, it doesn't look like you actually blow into the technochanter. was this guy putting it in his mouth? (that sounds so dirty)

By: J-Train

J-Train — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 08:37:18 -0800

Yep, having played on an electric bagpipes practice chanter, that sounds just like one.

By: mendel

mendel — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 10:13:41 -0800

Thirding the practice chanter.

("MIDI" is a red herring there. Obviously it's electronic, but it doesn't have to control an external synthesizer in order to be able to play through headphones.)

By: srt19170

srt19170 — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 13:13:03 -0800

There aren't any commercially available electronic tinwhistles (although someone did one as a graduate project and is considering doing a commercial version). So what you saw is likely an electronic pipe chanter of some sort.

If it wasn't in his mouth it was a pipe chanter:

Deger: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wMZFN953co

Fagerstrom: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laAjkq4SMjE

vPipes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elEd63OS590

If it was in his mouth it was probably a "wind controller" of some sort, Yamaha (see above) being the most common.

By: funboytree

funboytree — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 15:07:46 -0800

Thanks - it was the Fagerstrom clear chanter.

It looked better than it sounds.

I'm going to have to get a Yamaha silent guitar for my journey to work....

By: medium format

medium format — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 01:02:04 -0800

actually, the GHB Technopipes sound much better than the chanter once you add the drones. Not cheap at $375US, but they do work as a midi controller and you don't have to keep the bloody bag inflated.

By: monkeymadness

monkeymadness — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 09:22:17 -0800

I had no idea such a thing existed, and I'm all excited about it. To piggyback on funboytree's question, are there recommendations on a starter instrument of this sort, (silent, electronic wind instruments)? I'm a fretted instrument player who longs to learn both clarinet and bagpipes, but startup cost is prohibitive, as is time to play with kiddies napping and apartment neighbors.

By: monkeymadness

monkeymadness — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 09:28:18 -0800

And while I've never seen a silent guitar, there are silent violins out there. Very cool, since you can avoid the dying cat sounds while learning to carry a tune.