As a saxophone player, maintaining consistent practice while traveling can be a real challenge. The bulk and volume of a saxophone often make it impractical to bring along on trips. Enter the Travel Sax 2 from Odisei Music, a compact and lightweight electronic wind instrument designed to solve this very problem. In this review, we’ll delve into whether the Travel Sax 2 truly lives up to its promise as the best practice aid for saxophonists who are constantly on the move.
For musicians like myself at familycircletravel.net, who are always balancing a love for music with the demands of travel, finding a portable practice solution is invaluable. Many of our community members are keen to discover tools that allow them to keep their musical skills sharp without disrupting travel plans or disturbing others. If you’re seeking a silent practice method or a convenient way to maintain your saxophone chops while touring, traveling for work, or simply enjoying holidays, then the Travel Sax 2 might be exactly what you’ve been searching for.
In this comprehensive review, we will explore:
- What the Travel Sax 2 is and, importantly, what it is not in the realm of saxophones.
- Whether it effectively serves its purpose as a practice tool and if it’s the right fit for your needs.
- How to leverage the dedicated Travel Sax app to enhance your practice sessions.
Get 14 Day FREE Trial of Sax School PRO
Exploring Alternatives to the Travel Sax 2
Before we dive into the specifics of the Travel Sax 2 and my personal experiences with it, it’s worth acknowledging the other options available for saxophonists seeking electronic practice instruments. Over the years, I’ve experimented with devices like the Akai Ewi and the Roland Aerophone. While these are innovative instruments and can be enjoyable for performance, their value as direct saxophone practice tools is limited. The primary reason is their use of buttons instead of keys, and a key layout that deviates from the traditional saxophone. This means that practice on these instruments doesn’t directly translate to improved saxophone technique in the same way.
There are also electronic saxophones that attempt to replicate the key layout and feel of a traditional saxophone more closely. However, these instruments often come with a significant drawback: their size. They tend to be nearly as large as an acoustic saxophone, which negates the portability advantage crucial for travel. When you’re already juggling a tenor saxophone, a laptop bag, and luggage, adding another full-sized saxophone case simply isn’t feasible. This is precisely why the Travel Sax 2, with its promise of extreme portability, initially caught my attention.
So, let’s get into the details of what makes the Travel Sax 2 unique and assess if it truly delivers as a travel-friendly practice solution for saxophone players.
What is the Travel Sax 2? Review by Sax School Online
Unveiling the Travel Sax 2: A Deep Dive
The Travel Sax 2 is the evolved second generation of the Travel Sax, created by Odisei Music. The original Travel Sax was pioneering but had limitations, being 3D-printed and relying solely on smartphones for sound generation. Based on user feedback and insights from professional musicians, Odisei Music launched the Travel Sax 2 in 2022, marking a significant upgrade. This version is now constructed with injection-molded ABS plastic, enhancing its durability and finish.
A key improvement in the Travel Sax 2 is the inclusion of real moving keys equipped with stainless steel springs. This design is specifically aimed at replicating the tactile feedback of pressing keys on a conventional saxophone, a crucial element for effective practice.
The Travel Sax 2 boasts an impressive 70 internal sounds, offering a wide sonic palette for practice. It utilizes a USB Type-C output for MIDI connectivity and battery charging, making it versatile and modern. For personal practice, it includes both an internal speaker for immediate sound and a mini-jack output for headphones, enabling silent practice in any environment. Furthermore, connecting a phone or tablet via Bluetooth or mini-jack is straightforward, allowing users to play along with backing tracks, enhancing practice sessions and making them more engaging.
Travel sax review what
Inside the Travel Sax 2 Case: What to Expect
The Travel Sax 2 is packaged in a thoughtfully designed compact case that ensures the instrument is well-protected during travel. The standard package includes an alto saxophone mouthpiece, complete with a ligature and cap, and a traditional cane reed to get you started right away. However, the Travel Sax 2 is also compatible with synthetic reeds, offering flexibility for players who prefer them.
Odisei Music provides three mouthpiece adapters with the Travel Sax 2. These adapters are a welcome addition, broadening the compatibility of the instrument to accommodate most soprano, alto, tenor, or even baritone saxophone mouthpieces. This means you can use your preferred mouthpiece, maintaining a consistent embouchure feel. The case also contains a USB cable for charging and MIDI output, a small pouch to keep accessories organized, and a cleaning cloth to maintain the instrument’s condition.
Expanding Your Setup: Optional Accessories for the Travel Sax 2
Beyond the standard package, Odisei Music offers several optional accessories to further customize and enhance the Travel Sax 2 experience. An extension and a curved neck piece are available, designed to improve ergonomics by allowing you to hold the instrument slightly further away from the body. This can be particularly beneficial for players who find the compact size a bit cramped during extended practice sessions.
Another optional accessory is an alternate mouthpiece, which is suggested by the manufacturer to potentially improve MIDI output performance. While personal experience may vary, these accessories, priced individually around $15, offer affordable ways to tailor the Travel Sax 2 to individual preferences and playing styles.
Travel Sax 2 the instrument Review by Sax School Online
Examining the Instrument: Design and Playability
Let’s take a closer look at the Travel Sax 2 itself. The first thing that strikes you is its incredibly lightweight nature. At just 400 grams (under a pound), it’s remarkably easy to handle and carry.
As for playability, the Travel Sax 2 faithfully replicates the fingering layout of a saxophone, including the essential rollers on the pinky keys. This is a critical feature, as it ensures that your practice directly translates to your acoustic saxophone technique.
To achieve its compact form factor—just over eight inches in length—the distance between the right and left hands has been compressed. Initially, this closer hand position might feel a bit unusual, but adaptation is surprisingly quick. The stainless steel springs in the key mechanism provide a responsive and familiar key action, closely mimicking the bounce-back of a regular saxophone.
Get 14 Day FREE Trial of Sax School PRO
While the key action is generally excellent, I did notice that very rapid passages sometimes require a slightly more deliberate fingering. However, this isn’t a significant drawback. In fact, I believe that consciously focusing on cleaner finger work on the Travel Sax 2 can actually refine technique on the acoustic saxophone as well. It encourages precision and clarity in finger movements.
Travel Sax 2 different key colour options. Sax School Online
The keys themselves are another noteworthy feature. They are available in an array of seven different colors, offering a degree of personalization. Beyond aesthetics, the keys are designed for easy replacement. Should you desire a different color scheme or if a key happens to break, replacement sets are readily available. The instrument even comes with a small tool to facilitate key swapping, making maintenance straightforward, especially beneficial for users in areas with limited access to instrument repair services.
The Travel Sax App: Your Control Center
The Travel Sax 2 operates with a minimalist design, featuring only a power button directly on the instrument. All other controls and settings are managed through the dedicated Travel Sax app. Connecting to the app is a simple process via Bluetooth, initiated by pressing two side keys on the instrument. Once connected, the app becomes your central hub for customizing your practice experience.
Within the app, you can select from the 70 onboard sounds, fine-tune settings to your preferences, transpose the pitch if needed, and even create custom fingerings for advanced techniques like altissimo. A particularly useful feature is the ability to record videos of your practice sessions directly within the app, great for self-assessment and tracking progress. For beginners or those needing a quick reference, the app includes a digital fingering chart, along with a collection of tutorial videos and key shortcut tips to help you get started and maximize your practice. An upcoming feature promises to allow users to keep a detailed log of their practice sessions, adding a valuable element of tracking and accountability.
The beauty of the Travel Sax 2 is its immediate accessibility. For experienced saxophone players, there’s virtually no learning curve. The familiar fingerings mean you can pick it up and start practicing instantly. For those new to the saxophone, it presents an excellent entry point. You can focus on mastering fingerings without the initial challenges of embouchure development. This allows beginners to build a solid foundation in saxophone technique, making the transition to a traditional saxophone smoother when they are ready.
Assessing the Sound Quality of the Travel Sax 2
The Travel Sax 2 is equipped with 70 internal sounds, ranging from sampled acoustic instruments to synthesizer voices. To give you an idea of the sonic capabilities, here’s a brief demo showcasing a selection of these sounds.
[Include audio demo of Travel Sax 2 sounds here if possible, or describe sounds in more detail]
As with most electronic wind instruments, the sound quality across the board is varied. Some sounds are more convincing and sonically pleasing than others. While the saxophone sounds might not be mistaken for a high-end acoustic saxophone by discerning listeners, it’s crucial to remember the intended purpose of the Travel Sax 2. It is designed and marketed as a practice tool, prioritizing portability and silent operation above all else. In this context, the sound quality is perfectly adequate and effective for its intended use.
My Personal Experience: How I Integrate the Travel Sax 2 into My Practice Routine
To truly test its travel-worthiness, I took the Travel Sax 2 with me on a recent vacation to South America. Its minimal space requirement in my luggage was immediately apparent and appreciated. I was able to practice poolside, in hotel rooms, and during travel downtime without disturbing anyone. This portability is a major selling point for me and aligns perfectly with the needs of traveling musicians and those seeking discreet practice options.
For working on technical exercises, solidifying finger patterns, and practicing over chord changes, the Travel Sax 2 performed exceptionally well. It effectively served the purposes I had in mind: convenient and quiet practice on the go.
It’s important to reiterate that the Travel Sax 2, like other electronic wind instruments, won’t develop your acoustic saxophone embouchure, tone, or intonation skills. You can’t refine your saxophone sound or pitch control solely on this device. Therefore, my practice strategy involves a balanced approach. I dedicate time to tone and intonation exercises on my acoustic saxophone when possible, focusing on sound quality and embouchure development. For all other practice—finger technique, scales, arpeggios, and repertoire work—I utilize the Travel Sax 2, capitalizing on its portability and silent operation to practice at any time without disturbing others.
Expanding Functionality: Software Integrations and MIDI Capabilities
Beyond its primary function as a practice tool, the Travel Sax 2 offers additional versatility through software integration. It can be used to input music into notation software like Sibelius or Finale, a boon for composers or arrangers who, like myself, might be more proficient on the saxophone than keyboard instruments.
For those interested in live performance or a wider array of sounds, the Travel Sax 2 can be connected to a laptop to trigger sounds within DAWs (Digital Audio Workstations) such as GarageBand, Logic, Pro Tools, or Ableton. It is also compatible with VST plugins like Respiro or SWAM, expanding its sonic possibilities significantly. With an inexpensive adapter, you can even tap into the vast libraries of software synthesizers available for iOS or Android devices.
While I haven’t personally used the Travel Sax 2 in live performance settings, I have seen videos of musicians doing so. However, it’s worth noting that its expressive capabilities are somewhat limited compared to some other EWIs. It doesn’t feature bite pressure sensors, meaning there’s no natural pitch bending or vibrato beyond what is programmed into the sounds themselves. These effects can be achieved with pedals or additional controllers if desired, but it requires extra setup.
Ultimately, the Travel Sax 2’s strength lies in its core design as a dedicated saxophone practice instrument for any location. Its authentic key action and layout, combined with its incredibly compact size and weight, make it an ideal tool for saxophonists who need to practice on the go. For me, the Travel Sax 2 definitively ticks all the right boxes as a travel practice companion.
Exclusive Discount on Your Travel Sax 2
If you’re ready to experience the portability and practice convenience of the Travel Sax 2, you can click here to visit Odisei Music. Use discount code MCGILLTS2 at checkout to receive €10 off your Travel Sax 2 order.
