MDT close-up

Morrison and the MDT in the studio

Australian company Marshall Morrison Instruments have released a new “digital trumpet” for brass musicians. The Morrison Digital Trumpet, or MDT, is a brass-style MIDI wind controller invented and designed by robotics and electronics expert Steve Marshall with the eminent Australian multi-instrumentalist James Morrison.

The MDT has been specifically designed for trumpet players to make it as easy as possible to transition from the acoustic trumpet. Morrison has been working with Steve Marshall for more than five years to create an instrument that “feels right when first picked up by a trumpet player”. Although it has an ultra-modern look, it has a familiar feel due to trumpet-like hand position, standard valve movement, and normal trumpet mouthpiece.

As a MIDI wind controller, the MDT makes no sound on its own. It triggers and controls any MIDI-capable sound device such as a MIDI synthesizer, MIDI sound module, or computer running soft synths etc. When connected to the MIDI sound source, the MDT gives the player access to a very wide range of sound possibilities. The maker comments, “by allowing the brass player access to additional timbres from a connected MIDI sound source, the player becomes far more valuable to prospective employers.”

Playing technique

• The player simply blows: the lips are not buzzed.
• The player controls the loudness with their breath. The harder one blows the louder the sound. The breath sensor is highly responsive, allowing for high speed tonguing and smooth notes.
• The notes are selected with a combination of right hand trumpet fingerings and a series of buttons on the left hand which select the octave and half octave. The right hand fingering is identical for every octave.
• The right thumb has access to three controllers. These are usually set to pitchbend up, pitchbend down, and vibrato. These are programmable and can be changed based on a player's needs. These three thumb sensors allow expressive control over the connected MIDI synthesizer.

Marshall Morrison’s press release lists a number of other features of the MDT, including ease of connection to computer and recording systems and all that that implies; ease of transposition; use of headphones for silent practice; “stage appeal” (please see the photos) and many others. The MDT is now shipping and available for purchase. Interested readers are encouraged to visit the websites listed below for complete information.

Websites:
In the USA: Patchman Music
Outside the USA: Morrison Digital Trumpet