The WX5 has no internal sounds, so for me, it was a no brainer to go external. And yes, it took time to develop my current setup.
I started with the WX7, Yamaha's first model, hooked to a TX81z with the output into the PA Mixer. That started to wear out, so I bought a WX11, Yamaha's second model (I know, the numbers don't make sense). When the WX5 came out, I bought one and liked it much better than the two previous models, added the VL70m, and eventually the Patchman sounds and my current setup.
I thought about an EWI. No moving parts sounded good to me, but someone told me that the bite sensor's return to pitch depended on a capacitor, and I wouldn't have complete control over the speed. I know they have bend plates for vibrato with a finger or thumb, but I already knew how with the WX reed, so I never tried it.
Roland makes a wind synthesizer now, and from what I've heard, it's really nice. The top of the line is expensive, and I have so much invested in the WX system that I haven't jumped on it – yet. But some day in the future... ... ...
I play in a duo.
http://www.s-cats.com My wife sings and plays synth (Buchla Tunder tactile MIDI controller) and rhythm guitar. She is also a fantastic singer—world-class.
I play sax, flute, wind synth, and lead guitar on the gig. I also sing, but I classify myself as decent, not great.
With both voices, the sax, flute, and the wind synth voices, we get more variety out than a two-guitar, two male voice duo can. That is an asset, as people find it more interesting for longer periods of time.
You'll find out with the EWI, you will be able to do trumpet, trombone and many other instruments as well as pure synth sounds.
If you care to emulate another instrument, you will find yourself listening carefully to recordings of those instruments, in a way you never listened to them before.
How each instrument expresses itself depends on the instrument even more than the player. Listen to the nuances. How do they get their expression, and then figure out how to emulate it on the synth. This is more important than the actual tone.
You can have the best trumpet sound in the world, but if you play it like you play a piano, or a saxophone, it might sound good, but it won't sound like a trumpet.
A new world of sound awaits you. Enjoy the journey.
Notes ♫