Anyone here using a breath controller for enhancing previously laid down MIDI?

[Huertaaj]

Hi all: I know that discussing breath controllers may be a little off-topic here but please allow me to ask for your opinion. I exclusively use S1 for composing based on MIDI while using ONLY the mouse for input since I can't play keyboard to save my life. Because of that, some of the instruments in my songs can sound a little dry even though I modify the appropriate automations (expression, modulation, etc..) as much as possible given my limited abilities. I have watched various online videos demonstrating breath controllers but they always demonstrate "live" while playing of the keyboard or some other breath-sensitive instrument. Based on what I see, I believe that if I composed a MIDI song and then attached a breath controller to my head and programmed it to control and "record" the necessary automation parameters "while the MIDI plays back" (not live), then I could do the necessary blowing and wiggling my head to add more nuance to the instrument. I imagine that I could vastly improve the "feel" of a saxophone, trumpet, and other instrument that I like to use in my music.

So, my question is.....Am I dreaming? Is this doable? Does anyone in this S1 group do this and if so what kind of results do you get? Will Studio One in its current state allow me to do this or am I wasting my time even thinking about this?

Thanks so much for your help.

 

[Brian]

I don't have a dedicated breath-only controller, but you should be able to route it to any MIDI CC that you wish and record it with an existing MIDI track. I think the main reason people are demoing while playing live is that it gives you an expression ability while your fingers are busy making notes. I do have an Akai Electronic Wind Instrument that adds breath and bite CC data, but I still see that as something I only use while playing it "live" (recording MIDI). Adding some CC data after recording a part is IMHO more easily done with a fader/modwheel/etc or just drawing it in. The benefit of the breath controller (to me) is mimicking the instrument you are playing while you are playing it. Full disclosure: My EWI skills are just as poor as on keyboard, so I still depend completely on MIDI editing.

 

[Huertaaj]

Thanks for your info Brian: I've been waiting to see if anyone else would answer but it looks like that won't be the case. I suppose that some day I might get a breath controller to verify for myself whether it will work or not. In my opinion it will likely be a reasonable investment just for my own knowledge.