Jump to content

Roland AX-7: Difference between revisions

Edit links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
redirect
Undid revision 888802379 by Popcornduff (talk) There was zero support for this merge. This survived an AfD as "keep" which was the last true gauge of consensus.
Tags: Removed redirect Undo
Line 1: Line 1:
{{mergeto|Roland keytars|discuss=Talk:Roland AX-1#Merger proposal|date=December 2018}}
⚫
#REDIRECT [[Roland keytars]]
[[Image:Roland AX-7.jpg|thumb|right|An AX-7]]
[[Image:Herbie Hancock 2005.JPG|right|thumb|[[Herbie Hancock]] performing with a Roland AX-7 at the [[XM]] Sonic Stage at The [[Bonnaroo]] Music & Arts Festival]]
The '''Roland AX-7''' is a [[keytar]] that was manufactured by [[Roland Corporation]] from 2001 to 2007. This modern instrument contains many more advanced features than early keytars such as its predecessor, the [[Roland AX-1]], and the [[Yamaha Corporation|Yamaha]] [[Yamaha SHS-10|SHS-10]]. It runs on 6 [[AA battery|AA batteries]] or an external power source. It has a 45 [[velocity sensitive]] keys (without aftertouch), and a 3-character [[LED]] display. Several features aimed towards stage performance are present, such as a [[pitch bend]] ribbon, [[touchpad]]-like expression bar, [[sustain]] switch, and volume control knob, all on the upper neck of the instrument. There is also a proprietary "D-Beam" interface, made up of [[infrared]] sensors that detect nearby motion.

In 2007 the Roland AX-7 was discontinued and is succeeded by the [[Roland AX-Synth]] since 2009.

== MIDI functionality ==
This instrument functions as a [[MIDI]] controller; it produces MIDI messages that are sent to an external [[synthesizer]] or [[sound module]]. (Thus it produces no sound on its own.) It is fully compatible with [[General MIDI]], [[General MIDI Level 2]], and Roland's own [[MIDI#GS and XG|GS MIDI]] implementation. It has both MIDI in and out ports, and can store up to 128 patches.

==Popular opinion==

The overall opinion of the Roland AX-7 is pretty consistent. Several reviewers have said that the AX-7 excels in Features, like the D-beam and volume knob. It also has good scores in Reliability and Sounds, even though it has no voices of its own programmed onto the keytar. However, some said that it lacks in Ease of Use and Customer Support. Some said that the user’s manual is too confusing for more lighthearted synth users, and the Customer Support knows almost nothing about the product. Nearly every review on one site agrees with that, but the overall review, out of 10, is a 9.2.<ref>http://reviews.harmony-central.com/review/Keyboard+And+MIDI/product/Roland/AX-7/10/1</ref>
On another site the users all agree that it is a valuable keytar; they all gave it 4-5 out of 5 stars and thought that the AX-7 was an excellent keytar.<ref>http://www.sonicstate.com/synth_reviews/roland_ax7/</ref>

==Famous Roland AX-7 musicians==
*[[Tim Blake]] of the space rock band Hawkwind
Steve Etherington Producer, Composer, Session multi instrumentlist & Rubettes member
*[[Herbie Hancock]]
*[[Vadim Pruzhanov]] of the [[power metal]] band [[DragonForce]].
*[[Henrik Klingenberg]] of the power metal band [[Sonata Arctica]]. (Also [[Roland AX-1]] and [[Roland AX-Synth|AX-Synth]])
*[[Victoria Asher]] of the band [[Cobra Starship]].
*[[Christopher Bowes]] of the [[Pirate Metal]] band [[Alestorm]].
*[[Robert Lamm]] of the rock band [[Chicago (band)]].
*[[Donald Fagen]] of the rock band [[Steely Dan]]. He also won a [[Grammy award]].
*[[Adam Wakeman]], a keytarist for [[Ozzy Osbourne]]
*[[Beresford Romeo]], from [[Soul II Soul]]
*[[Chick Corea]]
*[[Chris Marion]], from [[Little River Band]]
*[[Daisuke Asakura]], a Japanese [[pop artist]]
*[[Andy Qunta]], from [[Icehouse (band)|Icehouse]]
*David A. Stewart, a [[BRIT award]] winning [[artist]]
*[[David Britton]], founder of [[Weird Fantasy]]
*[[Pablo Lescano]], founder, keytarist and singer of [[Damas Gratis]]
*[[Didier Marouani]], a [[French people|French]] [[composer]]
*[[En Esch]], from KFMDM and [[Slick Idiot]]
*[[Simon Kvamm]], from the Danish band [[Nephew]]
*[[A.R.Rahman]], Indian composer and Academy Award winner for Slumdog Millionaire{{cn|date=March 2016}}
*Joe Felix, from The Mix. plays it connected to a Kenton MidiStream Wireless Midi System

== See also ==
⚫
* [[Roland AX-1]]
* [[Roland AX-Synth]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
*{{cite news |title=Keytar Lives: Roland's AX-7 |url=http://createdigitalmusic.com/2005/04/21/keytar-lives-rolands-ax-7/ |publisher= Create Digital Music | first=Peter|last= Kirn |date= April 21, 2005}}
* [http://www.roland.com/products/en/AX-7/ Official Roland AX-7 website]

{{Roland}}

[[Category:Keytars]]
[[Category:MIDI controllers]]
[[Category:Digital synthesizers]]

Revision as of 16:08, 21 March 2019

An AX-7
Herbie Hancock performing with a Roland AX-7 at the XM Sonic Stage at The Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival

The Roland AX-7 is a keytar that was manufactured by Roland Corporation from 2001 to 2007. This modern instrument contains many more advanced features than early keytars such as its predecessor, the Roland AX-1, and the Yamaha SHS-10. It runs on 6 AA batteries or an external power source. It has a 45 velocity sensitive keys (without aftertouch), and a 3-character LED display. Several features aimed towards stage performance are present, such as a pitch bend ribbon, touchpad-like expression bar, sustain switch, and volume control knob, all on the upper neck of the instrument. There is also a proprietary "D-Beam" interface, made up of infrared sensors that detect nearby motion.

In 2007 the Roland AX-7 was discontinued and is succeeded by the Roland AX-Synth since 2009.

MIDI functionality

This instrument functions as a MIDI controller; it produces MIDI messages that are sent to an external synthesizer or sound module. (Thus it produces no sound on its own.) It is fully compatible with General MIDI, General MIDI Level 2, and Roland's own GS MIDI implementation. It has both MIDI in and out ports, and can store up to 128 patches.

The overall opinion of the Roland AX-7 is pretty consistent. Several reviewers have said that the AX-7 excels in Features, like the D-beam and volume knob. It also has good scores in Reliability and Sounds, even though it has no voices of its own programmed onto the keytar. However, some said that it lacks in Ease of Use and Customer Support. Some said that the user’s manual is too confusing for more lighthearted synth users, and the Customer Support knows almost nothing about the product. Nearly every review on one site agrees with that, but the overall review, out of 10, is a 9.2.[1] On another site the users all agree that it is a valuable keytar; they all gave it 4-5 out of 5 stars and thought that the AX-7 was an excellent keytar.[2]

Famous Roland AX-7 musicians

Steve Etherington Producer, Composer, Session multi instrumentlist & Rubettes member

See also

References

  1. ^ http://reviews.harmony-central.com/review/Keyboard+And+MIDI/product/Roland/AX-7/10/1
  2. ^ http://www.sonicstate.com/synth_reviews/roland_ax7/
  • Kirn, Peter (April 21, 2005). "Keytar Lives: Roland's AX-7". Create Digital Music.
  • Official Roland AX-7 website
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Roland_AX-7&oldid=888812597"