As the name suggests Woodwind instruments are thus called due to the original designs being manufactured from wood, although traditional woodwind instruments such as the Saxophone and Flute are today made from materials other than wood.
A musical tone is produced by the user blowing or forcing air against the edge of the instrument or by the vibration of a thin piece of internal wood commonly called a reed. A significant differential between woodwind instruments and brass instruments is the fact that woodwind instruments are in fact non-directional. In basic terms this means that when played the sound from the woodwind instrument travels in all directions with an equal amount of volume.
By comparison, the Saxophone is extremely directional as the tones played are forced directly out of the bell. This needs to be appreciated when the respective instruments are being recorded and microphone placement needs to be modified accordingly.
