Akai EWI SOLO (2020)

Name: Akai EWI SOLO
Brand: Akai

A standalone wind controller with built-in sounds, speaker, and OLED display, designed for portable performance.

Overview

The Akai EWI SOLO is a portable electronic wind instrument (EWI) introduced in August 2020 as the latest model from AKAI PROFESSIONAL. It's the first EWI with a built-in speaker and OLED display, so you can play it with no external module or amplifier. It carries 200 premium onboard sounds derived from the flagship EWI5000, and it responds right away to subtle breath and bite control. It's made for woodwind and brass players and supports several fingering modes: classic EWI, sax, flute, oboe, and an EVI brass-style mode developed by Matt Traum based on Nyle Steiner’s EVI.

The internal rechargeable lithium-ion battery gives over 12 hours of play time, which suits practice and impromptu gigs anywhere. There are dedicated FX controls for reverb, delay, and chorus, plus editing for pitch, tuning, and dual LFOs. Akai offers a free sound editor for deeper customization.

Specifications

Sounds	200 sounds
Battery	internal, rechargeable long-life lithium-ion battery for 12+ hours of uninterrupted play time
Display	beautiful OLED display
Speaker	built-in speaker
Audio Input	1/8" aux input
Headphone Output	1/8-inch headphone output
Line Output	1/4-inch output
USB Connectivity	USB-MIDI connectivity
FX Controls	dedicated FX controls to add Reverb, Delay and Chorus, plus editing facilities for Pitch, Tuning and Dual LFOs
Sensors	ultra-responsive mouthpiece, with a breath sensor and bite sensor
Playing Modes	multiple playing modes
Octave Rollers	Octave rollers instantly shift the note key's range, effortlessly changing the playable register.
Glide Plate	portamento using the conveniently located glide plate
Sound Editor	Akai also has provided a free sound editor for the EWI SOLO.
Dimensions (W x H x D)	765 x 76 x 82 mm
Weight	800 g
Polyphony	dual note polyphony
Controls	touch sensitive keys, octave rollers, a glide strip
Fingering Modes	classic EWI, sax, flute, oboe, and EVI brass-style fingering
Included Accessories	Includes USB cable

Design

The EWI SOLO is the most portable model in Akai's lineup, since it has a built-in speaker and OLED display and runs as a standalone instrument with an onboard sound generator. The speaker is calibrated for natural sound reproduction. The mouthpiece has both breath and bite sensors. Touch-sensitive keys, octave rollers, and a glide plate handle expressive control. It inherits core performance features from the flagship EWI5000, including multiple synth engines and premium sound content.

Context

The EWI SOLO sits below the flagship EWI5000 in Akai’s EWI line but carries many of its core capabilities. It succeeds earlier models like the EWI USB and EWI 4000s, with better portability and self-contained performance. It's marketed as a modern evolution of the EWI line, aimed at performers and educators who want a compact, battery-powered wind controller that plays immediately with minimal setup.

Market

As of 2026, the EWI SOLO is still available through authorized dealers like Patchman Music. Original pricing varied between $499 and $549, and current market prices range from $410 to $699 depending on retailer and condition. Some users have reported intermittent power issues, dropped notes, and connectivity problems, though no widespread failure patterns are documented. Patchman Music confirms they repair Akai EWIs, which points to ongoing service support.