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Sound:
The built in sounds could do with some work, ESPECIALLY the guitar tones; pressing any notes that aren't in a power chord form creates a TON of dissonance, but it's only a problem on the electric guitar channels. Some of the instrumental tones (i.e. violin and saxophone) are actually pretty good for a synth. The built in synth tones are pretty great, but if you have the money to buy this, you're probably investing in a nice midi box, which I would recommend in the highest if you want a lot of sound control. Output can be really low volume depending on what you're amping through. I recommend anything Roland or Peavy for that.
Feature:
AWESOME effect control, and is basically the the only reason to get this, and what a great reason it is! the touch pad is superbly sensitive, the modulation bar generally adds exactly what you're looking for, and the D-beam is unbelievably versatile. the program changes are pretty intuitive, so switching sounds and
Ease of Use:
There is a learning curve. There are a lot of effect available and not all of them are easy to find or access. the manual is pretty general stuff, so you really have to teach yourself how to make the effects work for your music. The sound editor is kind of a pain in the butt, but if you're well versed in that kind of thing, it's pretty good.
Quality:
Top notch quality, though as with all electronics, treat it with care. I HIGHLY recommend the SKB case for the Ax-Synth; it's really well built and solid, and makes travel really fast and painless.
Value:
REALLY EXPENSIVE. Kinda obvious. but if you know what you're doing, this is worth every penny EVER.
Manufacturer Support:
No need; gotta love Roland products!
The Wow Factor:
Very sexy compared to being stuck behind a keyboard rig, And it's a riot at shows if only for the novelty. It is a pretty instrument though, so you won't be let down in that respect.
Overall:
If you're going to buy this thing, buy it for the effects, the effects, the effects. the sheer volume of control you have over the sound is stunning, though the built in tones are sometimes below par.
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Sound:
The preset sounds are fun to mess around with, and after learning how to work the components, like D-Beam and pitch-bend, it's really easy to personalize the music you play. By itself, the AX synth doesn't sound that impressive. it is designed to be a lead instrument, and as such, has no sequencers or beats, but with just a small bank of keyboards, there's no limit to what this thing can do. I'm just getting started on learning how to use it as a MIDI controller, but I've found it really easy to match its own sounds with those of other keyboards, creating a wide variety of polyphony. with no on-board amp, the sound quality of the AX depends entirely on the amp you use, and I use a Honeytone 9V mini amp, or an Altec Lansing InMotion iPod dock to practice with. the honeytone is adequate, but it has little bass response, so a lot of the tones don't transfer, but the Altec Dock has an amazing range of sound reproduction for its small size, and can amplify the sound to compete with or dominate my other keyboards.
my favourite thing about this synth is that it's really easy to mimic the leads in some of my favourite songs. My least favourite thing is that there's no real documentation on how to work the synth editor software. This being my first Synthesizer, I don't know what the controls do, and everything in the manual seems to assume that you know what's going on.
Feature:
the only accessories provided with the AXS synth is the synth editor software and a DC converter to power the keyboard. The cord on the dc line is extremely small, so be prepared to stand in one place while using it. it was probably intended only to be used when hooking it up to the computer to modify the sounds, though. I reccomend the following accessories: 8x Energizer rechargeable batteries, Energizer 15 minute quick recharger, AX synth gig bag.
Ease of Use:
after a few hours of fiddling around, I quickly got the hang of how to work the setting and what they can do. the manual makes it seem really hard to change the settings, but it's just the way it was written. it's easier in real life. I had figured out most of the MIDI controller properties in a matter of minutes without even using the manual. As I said before, my main difficulty is modifying the synth sounds, but that will change after a bit of experience.
Quality:
Very sturdy construction. my synth has been knocked over, dropped and hiked over long distances with no apparent defect added to the product (all within the gig bag). shallow cosmetic scuffs come naturally to the keys, and fingerprints and other light marks buff off easily with a microfiber rag. The very tip of the neck has sustained a few paint transfers, but they have faded away with time. The manual spent a lot of time telling you to keep it steady, not drop it, etc., but from what I've seen, it's very durable.
Value:
I purchased this mostly because of the on-board synthesizer. the previous models would force you to buy an external sound unit, which adds heavily to the deceptively low price tag, but this comes with a powerful synthesizer with decent presets.
The Wow Factor:
its black. heck yeah, it's sexy. the smooth curves of the AX synth is what really convinced me to get it over the newer Lucina model. the necks are comfortable to hold, there are multiple pegs for the strap, so it can be held for easier access to different octaves, and overall, it's just plain beautiful.
Overall:
This sucker should last at least five years. if it breaks, I'd definitely replace it with the same model, unless Roland goes back to its style with the next model (being a keytar, it's about looks almost as much as it is about practicality).
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